08 Feb 2011 07:53:12
It is good that Pakistan brings their new interesting books to the literature festival, but critics said that from that literature that they saw, wasn’t something amazing or brilliant.
Now into a second year and determined to become an annual fixture on the international circuit, the Karachi Literature Festival portrays the softer face of a country more often associated with terrorism than award-winning prose.
Students, authors, budding writers and avid readers descended on a hotel in an exclusive neighbourhood near the Arabian Sea for two days of book launches, workshops, dance, music and theatrical exhibits that ended Sunday.
"It's to promote our authors, who are underrated and do not get the credit they're due, and also to interest people in reading and buying books," organiser and Oxford University Press managing director Ameena Saiyid told AFP.
Perhaps surprisingly, it was a British former Roman Catholic nun who pulled the biggest crowds -- children and glamorous housewives were reduced to sitting on the floor to hear her speak.
It was a rock-star welcome for Karen Armstrong, the best-selling author on religion. Her call for a more compassionate society resonated strongly with an audience deeply rooted in religion but fearful about the rise of radical Islam.
At other events, some of Pakistan's best known novelists offered a tantalising glimpse into their creativity, while Indian literary TV host Sunil Sethi launched his book "The Big Bookshelf" and dispensed interviewing tips.
Now into a second year and determined to become an annual fixture on the international circuit, the Karachi Literature Festival portrays the softer face of a country more often associated with terrorism than award-winning prose.
Students, authors, budding writers and avid readers descended on a hotel in an exclusive neighbourhood near the Arabian Sea for two days of book launches, workshops, dance, music and theatrical exhibits that ended Sunday.
"It's to promote our authors, who are underrated and do not get the credit they're due, and also to interest people in reading and buying books," organiser and Oxford University Press managing director Ameena Saiyid told AFP.
Perhaps surprisingly, it was a British former Roman Catholic nun who pulled the biggest crowds -- children and glamorous housewives were reduced to sitting on the floor to hear her speak.
It was a rock-star welcome for Karen Armstrong, the best-selling author on religion. Her call for a more compassionate society resonated strongly with an audience deeply rooted in religion but fearful about the rise of radical Islam.
At other events, some of Pakistan's best known novelists offered a tantalising glimpse into their creativity, while Indian literary TV host Sunil Sethi launched his book "The Big Bookshelf" and dispensed interviewing tips.
