Carolyn Talks Turin's Book Fair, Palestine, Israel and Just Getting Along
It seems as if there were any place in the world
where people could honor free speech and respect
diverse opinion it would be at an event where
books are celebrated.
See the subjunctive case I've used above? When
"were" is used that way, readers sense that the
opposite is true. Unfortunately, the rarely used
subjunctive case seems necessary once again and
this time we're using it in the same breath with
the hallowed word "books."
Turin (Italy) is host to one of the world's largest
book fairs and this year it is a scene of turmoil.
Israel and Palestine and their supporters and
detractors are so polarized that they don't seem
able to come together even in the cause of reading
and literacy. A book fair celebrates learning
through reading. It is a place for people to come
together with open minds, learn about one another,
make an effort to see the other in a new way,
come to understand and appreciate the other's
ways.
In fact, a slogan at this fair touts "Reading
is Freedom."
Rather than endorsing a clear message like this,
Palestinian supporters march through Turin to
protest. The city posts hundreds of riot police
along the route. Israeli flags are burned. Boycotts
are sprouting. And all because the fair organizers
are honoring Israeli writers at the fair, some
of whom have been critical of their own government's
policies.
It's all so simple, really. Everyone should come
to the fair. In this world that feels more and
more polarized, everyone should pick up a book
by an Israeli writer and a Palestinian one. They
should try walking the streets the other walks,
speaking the talk the other talks.
We could choose books by and about other races,
other religions, other nationalities, other political
parties. We could choose poetry or great fiction
or religious tracts or nonfiction. Our choices
could be old books or new ones. They could be
simple books or difficult. Then we could find
a nice warm place by a fire or by a window and
read them and consider - actually concentrate
- on opening our minds to something new.
That's what book fairs are for.
Tips
and Tidbits
(Each
month in this box, Carolyn lists a Tidbit
that will help authors write or promote
better. She will also include a Tip to help
readers find a treasure among long-neglected
books or a sapphire among the newly-published.)
Writers'
Tidbit: Are you blogging? I resisted
for a long time because they would take
up so much of my writing time. It turns
out that blogging is writing. Even large
publishers are suggesting that their writers
open a blog slanted to the subject of his
or her new book. They suggest doing that
30 days before the book is released and
continuing it at least 90 days after. For
the life of me, I can't see why an author
would want to stop there. The Net has opened
a new world. With a blog as part of a great
media campaign, there is no reason why a
book might not live on indefinitely. My
"new book" blog celebrates words and great
editing upon the release of The Frugal
Book Promoter. Find it at thefrugaleditor.blogspot.com.
Readers' Tip: Spring is
book fair time. And Book Expo America! time.
You can tell that I have the celebration
of books on my mind. Choose one. A small
one. A big one. Go to
HowToDoItFrugally.com and click on the
Resources for Readers page. Scroll
down a bit and you'll find a long list of
book fairs to choose from. There is one
in almost every part of the country. Then
go. Fairs are about more than just buying
books (though it would be nice if you supported
authors and did just that! Within your budget,
of course!) They almost always include demonstrations,
seminars, speakers, children's areas and
good food. |
2008
Past Columns
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Turin's Book
Fair, Palestine, Israel and Just Getting Along |
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