Shelf Interest: The Selfless Act of Breathing Chat - Members Only

Join us to for our virtual discussion of "The Selfless Act of Breathing". 

What themes jumped out to you?

Did you relate to Michael's character?

How did you feel about Michael's escape plan?

About the book:

“The Selfless Act of Breathing” is about a British-Congolese teacher living in London on the cusp of two identities. On paper, he seems to have it all - a teacher loved by his students, popular with his colleagues and enjoys the pride of his mother who emigrated from Congo. But behind closed doors, he’s been struggling with the overwhelming sense that he can’t improve the injustice he sees - from the efforts of changing the lives of his students to his attempts to transcend the violence that marginalises young black men around the world. Longing to escape the shadows of his thoughts, he sets off spontaneously to America.

About the author:

JJ Bola is a Congolese-British poet, writer and educator who migrated from the Democratic Republic of Congo, to the UK at the age of 6. He is passionate about using the power of storytelling to uplift, empower and transform. Having written two novels; No Place to Call Home and the Selfless Act of Breathing, his writing styles explores themes of displacement and belonging.