Celebrating the joy of the written word

In this day and age we encounter multiple forms of information feeders, quick images and capsules of messages and news fed to us constantly through so many channels. There is a global line of communication, which became our common and familiar mode of reception. We all have developed our favorite tool to access or gather knowledge and information. Our relationship with books and newspapers has changed. Almost everything is affected by screens and the digital media. Instead of carrying a physical book, we can read on the Kindle. This shift is affecting how we consume news and gain knowledge.

I consider myself old-fashioned, in the sense that my relationship with pen and paper and filling a page of a notebook with words is still strong and gives me great pleasure.  I cannot write anything without feeling the marking of each letter on a page, understanding the flow of letters that quickly fill up the lines in a notebook.

We often hear about publications that chose to become paperless, and chose to be presented in a digital format only.  Having said this, there is still a conscious platform bringing publishers and books from international cities to share and exchange and exhibit. On March 28, the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities celebrated the opening of the 18th edition of the International Book Fair in the heart of Muharraq, at Arad Fort.

The event that concluded yesterday was a platform that allowed us to interact and celebrate authors, publications, and the knowledge that is offered in a dynamic and vibrant setting.   An extensive cultural agenda was put together to parallel the book fair. Talks, poetry readings, seminars, book signing sessions, kids programs and music became part of this international event. It was a well-rounded experience for all audiences.

There was an exciting vibe surrounding this book fair, a vibe that celebrated knowledge and creative exchange. It was an occasion to celebrate the most rooted and classical form of knowledge transfer. We can all raise awareness and promote the importance of supporting authors and publishers.