Dubai "I would take a risk," is what Isobel Abulhoul, director of Emirates Airline Festival of Literature, said on how she would select a session to attend during the festival.
One hundred and fifty sessions. More than 120 authors, some best selling ones, a host of lesser known and many first timers. And all this in a matter of five days.
Choosing gets tough when it comes to selecting the one that you'd want to attend whether as an avid reader who has some favourites and a host of dislikes or an undecided first timer.
Literary insiders shared tips and their views on how a festival-goer could make the most out of the five day event.
"I am risk taker," said Isobel, adding, "Sometimes I pick a book I would like, but there are times I would pick something that I totally hate. I would like to go for one such session which I do not like. At least you have a passion for it. Chances are you may just discover that you like what you thought you did not, or, you may know why you cannot like that particular author or his writing."
"So I would say , if there is an author you love, make attending his or her session a priority but also take some risk."
Kamal Abdul Malek who confesses not being a risk-taker, said: "I look at the festival as a buffet lunch. Just as I would go for my main course first, I pick one or two authors that I love and later, as a dessert, I would go in for those I have never attempted before." His top picks include a conversation with Ebrahim Al Koni and David Nicholls. "For me attending yesterday's talk by David Nicholls was a great discovery, I am now reading his book One Day and feel I am understanding myself better. Sometimes reading an author you never had leads you to understand the undiscovered aspects of your own psyche, and now I would attend that session."
Hesham Wyne, who took to full-time writing about two years ago, said his interaction with the festival was quite personal.
"In March 2010 I attended that festival and thought why I could not do it. In April, I quit my job and took to writing as a full time profession."
Delightful interaction
Wyne also feels that apart from attending the sessions, a festival-goer can get a lot of value out of mingling and interacting with others. "They are celebrities, but not on a pedestal. They are here to interact with people, readers. It is my third year at the festival and I have had some very delightful interaction. It is a great chance to meet not only people related to novels, but also poetry and music."
Aspen Aman, who has been attending the literature festival since it started, suggested that festival-goers look at workshops and attend Fringe, which has a lot of fun events for children and also adults.
"Apart from attending the sessions, one can really avail of the opportunity to attend some of the workshops. For instance, a workshop ‘Lets read Arabic', would be a great chance for non-Arabic speakers to start learning and get insight into the language."
As a lot of events get sold out fast, I would say that next year you should get the schedule as early as possible from the website and select your sessions well in advance, she advised.
The first thing, according to Aman, is that you have to pick and choose.
"Take time to go through the programme and just do not go for the big names. It is a great opportunity to meet them, but you should also give yourself the opportunity to discover."
Among the ones that she would like to discover, she added, was the workshop on Cryptic Crossword.
Vivienne Wordley, a literary insider, said the event was a mix of events, workshops, debates and a real potpourri of authors. "The good thing is everything is translated into English and Arabic which makes the festival quite inclusive.
Here are the top picks from these literary insiders:
- Aspen Aman: Nawal El Saadawi
- Kamal Abdelmalek: Ibrahim Al Koni
- Hisham Wyne: In conversation with Riz Khan
- Isobel Abulhoul: Session by Ariana Bundy
- Vivianne Wordley: An event in Arish Heritage Venue
Experts on how you can make the most out of the festival:
- Decide your sessions well in advance
- Pick up one or two favourite authors and also select atleast one who you do not know about or you do no particularly like
- Explore and discover new authors
- Listening to translations could be a different experience altogether
- Apart from sessions, take the opportunity to attend workshops and fun events of The Fringe.
What's up: Friday fun day
- You can look forward to meeting Chetan Bhagat, Ebrahim Al Koni, Mark Billingham, Nicholas Sparks, A. C. Grayling, Bobby Chinn, Gassan Amhaz, and Martin Kemp
Some of the workshops to be held Friday include:
- Calligraphy workshop in English and Arabic for 8+ year olds
- Fiona Lindsay's workshop on story telling: A practical theatre workshop bringing stories to life
- Master class on Creativity Demystified by David Almond
- How to get noticed and sell your books master class by Alexander McNabb
- How to get published - master class by Luigi Bonomi
- Kate Pullnger on story telling in the digital age
- Chetan Bhagat on Want to Change your life
- Paolo Giordano, Italian author in conversation with Rosie Goldsmith
