Reading and Conversation with Tamar Shapiro
Apr 19, 2026 | 5pm ET
Reading at The United Church (1920 G Street NW, Washington, DC) | Speaker: Tamar Shapiro
Co-sponsored by The German Historical Institute Washington, the Goethe Institut, the United Church, the German Luther Church of Washington DC, Swiss Club of Washington, DC, and the German American Heritage Museum.
On Sunday, April 19: Washington, DC–based author Tamar Shapiro will read from her debut novel Restitution. The novel tells the story of two siblings whose family fled East Germany in the 1950s. After the fall of the Berlin Wall, they face a difficult decision: should they try to reclaim their grandparents’ house—now inhabited by another family?
Set against the backdrop of German history, Restitution explores questions of home, memory, belonging, and justice. The novel examines how historical events shape family lives across generations and what it means to confront one’s past.
Following the reading, Tamar Shapiro will speak about her personal connection to the book. The evening will conclude with an open conversation with the audience. Drinks and light refreshments will be served. A used German-language book exchange will take place at the same time.
About the Speaker
Tamar Shapiro’s debut novel, Restitution, was published in September 2025 and named one of the 49 Must-Read Books of Fall 2025 by Town and Country Magazine. Her writing has also appeared in Poets and Writers, Electric Literature, Literary Hub, and the Washington Independent Review of Books. A former housing attorney and non-profit leader, Shapiro received an MFA from Randolph College in January 2026.