One of the most important fairs in this field, second only to the Frankfurt fair, is the Cairo International Book Fair, which takes place every year in Egypt. If you love reading, and you want to discover Arab-language novelists, poets and essayists, both emerging and famous, you cannot miss this event, which was first held in 1969, and that with the passing of time has become one of the most important cultural events in the Middle East. To have an idea of the importance of the fair, you only need to consider the past editions? results: around 3 millions visitors take part in it every year to satisfy their desire to read, and they can do that thanks to 40 millions books, which are displayed in the fair exhibitory spaces. Also the number of exhibitors (publishers coming from 80 different countries, as well as various Arab cultural associations take part in the fair) has increased and reached 3000 units.
Exhibitors come from all over the world, and although the fair is focused on Arab-language works, this does not mean that no space is given to works written by authors coming from other countries and who write using other languages. The main purpose of the fair, as well as the aim of the GEBO (General Egyptian Book Organisation), an association that deals with the organisation of this and other book fairs in Egypt, is that of building a link between Arab and other cultures, providing publishers, readers and professionals with a space where they can exchange ideas and opinions. And it is for this reason that since its first edition the fair has chosen a different country as a guest of honour every year. Italy and Germany have already been invited in some of the past editions, while this year's guest of honour will be Great Britain. Great Britain will play an important role in a number of activities during the fair. Some events, for example, like lectures and meetings with authors, will host about ten British writers.
The fair is not only a great books exhibition, but also an important cultural event, which includes interesting and diversified happenings (lectures, debates, poetry readings), which will make Egypt's capital city the ideal meeting point for intellectuals, writers, artists and literature lovers.
If you have a passion for art and literature, nothing is better than a travel to Cairo during the International Book Fair. If you want to be sure to find a place where to sleep, book in advance a cheap hotel in Cairo.
Date: 21st January - 2nd February 2009
Location: Cairo, Egypt
Over 50,000 m? will host books of all genres and works by authors coming from all around the world. The Paris book fair, which in 2008 was completely renewed, stand out from other similar events just because of the diversity of the works that are displayed and the variety of events that it hosts, which make this fair an appealing event for all reading lovers. The fair, indeed, is intended to support reading and to make as many people as possible discover or rediscover the pleasure of reading, no matter the readers? category or the literary genre, and it does so through a series of different special sections: the place des livres, the club for young readers, the bar des sciences, the comic book/manga strip, the tomorrow's re@d and the lecteur studio. The place des livre is a space dedicated to debates, conferences and meetings with the authors, in which many issues will be dealt with, while the bar des sciences, as the name suggests, is dedicated to scientific knowledge, and will host the greatest experts and researchers in the field, who will interact with visitors. The book fair looks also at the future of books and at the different ways to read a book: in the tomorrow's re@d space people will have the possibility to discover the latest innovations in the field of e-books and similar tools, while in the lecteur studio visitors will be given the opportunity to record their voice while reading, to understand how an audio book is realised.
The fair will have something to offer also to children and to comics lovers: while the latter will have the chance to discover the latest publications in a space entirely devoted to them, which will include also screenings, quizzes and cosplays (2009 marks the 20th anniversary of the first translation of a manga in France), children will immerse themselves in the magic of reading in the club for young readers, which will host books presentations, workshops, linguistic games, as well as an exhibition of children's books? illustrations realised by Mexican artists.
And Mexico will be a guest of honour in this edition of the fair: a wide section, indeed, will be dedicated to Mexican writers, to give visitors the possibility to discover famous writers as well as new talents, and to learn something more about yesterday's and today's Mexican literature.
If you love reading, the Paris book fair will make you happy, also because it is always worth making a trip to Paris, home to artists, writers and thinkers.
Tickets: 7 euro, free for people under 18 years old, students under 26 years old and unemployed
Date: 13th ? 18th March 2009
Location: VIPARIS, Porte de Versailles, Pavillon 1, Paris, France
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