When does the reading with Miriam Davoudvandi take place?

The event takes place on Monday, November 30, 2026, at 7:00 PM.

Where does the event take place?

The reading takes place in the foyer of FFT Düsseldorf at Konrad-Adenauer-Platz 1 in 40210 Düsseldorf.

What is the cost of admission?

The regular admission fee is 8 euros. Discounts are also available according to FFT.

What is We Can't Afford This about?

The book deals with poverty, social origin, shame, relationships, mental health, and the consequences of financial inequality in everyday life.

Is the event venue accessible?

The FFT offers wheelchair spaces and beanbag seating. The venue in KAP1 is accessible via elevators.

Will there be a discussion accompanying the reading?

The event is announced as a reading with discussion.

Miriam Davoudvandi talks about poverty, origin, and the precious feeling of belonging

Name: Miriam Davoudvandi reads from "We Can't Afford This"
Start: 2026-11-30T19:00:00+01:00
End: 2026-11-30T21:00:00+01:00
Location: FFT Düsseldorf

When Poverty Becomes a Life Story: Miriam Davoudvandi at FFT Düsseldorf

On November 30, 2026, Miriam Davoudvandi will read in the foyer of FFT Düsseldorf from her book We Can't Afford This. The reading with discussion takes us into a present where money decides not only about consumption but also about belonging, relationships, mental health, and societal participation.

A Literary Voice on Heritage and Shame

Davoudvandi candidly, touchingly, and with a keen sense of humor recounts her experience growing up in social housing among single-family homes. Her personal memories of lacking financial means intertwine with a precise analysis of the shame that arises when invitations, clothing, or leisure activities become a matter of money.

The book addresses people who wore Victory shoes instead of Nikes, who did not want to invite friends home, or who learned early on to understand the phrase We Can't Afford This as a social boundary. The language remains close to everyday life while simultaneously opening up a larger cultural discourse about classism, social origin, and upward mobility.

Pop Culture, Psychology, and Social Reality

As a freelance journalist, moderator, and author, Miriam Davoudvandi works at the intersections of pop culture, politics, and psyche. Her literary perspective combines personal narratives with social observation. Central questions include dating, friendships, family formation, mental health, and the feeling of not belonging.

The connection between artistic language and analysis is especially compelling: The private does not appear as an isolated individual experience but as a reflection of structural inequality. With humor and pop cultural references, Davoudvandi makes it visible how economic conditions remain inscribed in bodies, biographies, and relationships.

Reading Atmosphere and Author Encounter

The format of reading and discussion promises an immediate literary experience. Davoudvandi's voice gives space to the memories, while the subsequent conversation translates the book's perspectives into Düsseldorf's cultural and social discourse. The intimate atmosphere of the FFT foyer creates a fitting framework for an author encounter about social reality, literary quality, and personal experience.

The event is organized in cooperation with the Literature Office NRW and the Cultural List Düsseldorf e.V. The FFT is located in KAP1 at Konrad-Adenauer-Platz and is easily accessible from Düsseldorf Central Station as well as from Worringer Platz. Wheelchair spaces and beanbag seating are available according to FFT information.

Conclusion: An Evening About What Money Does to People

Miriam Davoudvandi's reading from We Can't Afford This combines autobiographical storytelling, social analysis, and linguistic precision. Visitors can expect a thoughtful, humorous, and compelling evening about poverty, origin, and the invisible rules of social belonging. Those who understand literature as a conversation about reality will experience here a reading with special resonance.