The first day of the Sharjah International Book Fair has been proof that young people in the UAE, and the region, are as enthusiastic as ever about reading and books.
Throughout the day, children, families and book lovers of all ages — fittingly, this year's fair is titled Spread the Word — explored the five monumental halls at the Expo Centre Sharjah.
A staple of the emirate's cultural calendar, the Sharjah International Book Fair has entered its 41st event with 2,213 publishers from 95 countries sharing their books, ranging from fiction, memoirs and children’s books to rare manuscripts.
Despite the challenges of working in the age of smartphones and streaming, publishers are out in full force, attracting large crowds of visitors to their booths with all manner of offerings.
Hall 1, the Intellectual Hall, is hosting a diverse range of publishers from across the Arab world, hailing from the UAE, Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, Palestine, Yemen, Algeria, Morocco, Oman, Bahrain and Sudan. These include larger commercial publishers specialising in educational content, as well as smaller publishers focused on novels and translated works of fiction.
Many are displaying the authors or books that best represent the literary landscape of their countries. However, it is interesting to note that throughout Hall 1, often displayed front and centre are titles from three specific genres.
The first is memoirs, written or translated into Arabic — ranging from political figures such as Saddam Hussein and Barack Obama to classic Arab artists including Egyptian actress and singer Soad Hosny and Syrian-Egyptian singer and actor Farid Al Atrash.
The second is an array of international bestselling fiction titles translated into Arabic — including classics such as George Orwell’s 1984, Leo Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina and Fyodor Dostoevsky’s Demons, as well as contemporary novels including Forty Rules of Love by Elif Shafak and Kevin Kwan’s hugely popular trilogies Crazy Rich Asians, China Rich Girlfriend and Rich People Problems.
Most of the book covers of the contemporary translated novels are the same as their original counterpart, with some alterations to accommodate Arabic fonts. The theory around book cover design in the West has been developed into a fine art, where a vast amount of market research and money has been expended in creating compelling visuals to draw a prospective reader’s attention, before they've even read the book's title.
It is unfortunate to see that this vital means of connecting with readers has yet to be embraced by many Arabic publishers — particularly those in the business of publishing adult fiction, which remains weighed down by poor font, colour and image selection. This lack of attention to the visual aspect of reading unfairly positions even the most riveting Arabic books within the international publishing landscape.
However, this doesn't seem to be the case when it comes to the third popular genre, children’s books. There is a variety of diverse children’s Arabic titles on show, mostly educational, where much thought and effort has clearly been placed into the design and packaging of these books.
Other halls are displaying international stands from countries such as Turkey, Canada, the Philippines, France and this year's guest of honour, Italy.
One of the most inspiring aspects of the festival is the number of high school children looking through books and talking to publishers and booksellers. Without a smartphone in sight, most of the pupils are excited to examine a range of books in the international section.
Elsewhere, the Peter Harrington Rare Books booth is displaying pages of an ancient Quran written in Kufic script and a 1997 first edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone in paperback.
The Mohammed Bin Rashid Library booth, meanwhile, is also showcasing some wonderful memorabilia, which caught the attention of students and adults on the first day.
These include the first Avengers comic, featuring Thor, Ant-Man, the Hulk and Iron Man from 1963, a first edition of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl from 1964 and a first edition of Prince Caspian from the Narnia series by C S Lewis from 1951.
Unsurprisingly, some of the most popular booths are those selling English young adult fiction. These include fantasy series such as Percy Jackson & the Olympians by Rick Riordan, Game of Thrones by George R R Martin, The School for aGood and Evil by Soman Chainani and a number of graphic novels and comics.
Not only have these books recently been adapted to shows or movies, but they've also been packaged in a way that reflects the clear, gripping visuals that make the book feel as precious as the stories inside.
The Sharjah International Book Fair runs until November 13 at Expo Centre Sharjah. More information is at www.sibf.com
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AI traffic lights to ease congestion at seven points to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Street
The seven points are:
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Zidane's managerial achievements
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Profile of MoneyFellows
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What is an FTO Designation?
FTO designations impose immigration restrictions on members of the organisation simply by virtue of their membership and triggers a criminal prohibition on knowingly providing material support or resources to the designated organisation as well as asset freezes.
It is a crime for a person in the United States or subject to the jurisdiction of the United States to knowingly provide “material support or resources” to or receive military-type training from or on behalf of a designated FTO.
Representatives and members of a designated FTO, if they are aliens, are inadmissible to and, in certain circumstances removable from, the United States.
Except as authorised by the Secretary of the Treasury, any US financial institution that becomes aware that it has possession of or control over funds in which an FTO or its agent has an interest must retain possession of or control over the funds and report the funds to the Treasury Department.
Source: US Department of State
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Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
What is Diwali?
The Hindu festival is at once a celebration of the autumn harvest and the triumph of good over evil, as outlined in the Ramayana.
According to the Sanskrit epic, penned by the sage Valmiki, Diwali marks the time that the exiled king Rama – a mortal with superhuman powers – returned home to the city of Ayodhya with his wife Sita and brother Lakshman, after vanquishing the 10-headed demon Ravana and conquering his kingdom of Lanka. The people of Ayodhya are believed to have lit thousands of earthen lamps to illuminate the city and to guide the royal family home.
In its current iteration, Diwali is celebrated with a puja to welcome the goodness of prosperity Lakshmi (an incarnation of Sita) into the home, which is decorated with diyas (oil lamps) or fairy lights and rangoli designs with coloured powder. Fireworks light up the sky in some parts of the word, and sweetmeats are made (or bought) by most households. It is customary to get new clothes stitched, and visit friends and family to exchange gifts and greetings.
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
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- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
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Five expert hiking tips
Always check the weather forecast before setting off
Make sure you have plenty of water
Set off early to avoid sudden weather changes in the afternoon
Wear appropriate clothing and footwear
Take your litter home with you
