Children flood book fair

The 22nd edition of the Malta Book Fair has already enjoyed a good turnout since it opened at the Mediterranean Conference Centre, in Valletta, yesterday.

Among the visitors in the morning were about 1,000 schoolchildren, the National Book Council, which is organising the fair, said.

Children are, indeed, a focus of this year's fair and various activities have been dedicated to them, including storytelling by persons from the media.

The event is not just a book fair, but also a venue for cultural activities, including the launch of Trevor Zahra's book, Shab, today.

"The fair is not only an opportunity for the public to encounter a vast number of books under one roof, but also offers us authors the chance to meet the public, allowing everyone to better understand the complex world of the book," Mr Zahra said.

Despite TV, computers and short attention spans, children today read more, he maintains. "It's never enough, but all in all, reading has increased and books have become more present in homes. In almost every town and village is a well-equipped public library, and some are being managed very professionally."

Speaking about the influence of TV, the author said it is an integral part of children's lives and has a central role in homes. But if used well, he is confident it should not kill reading, stressing on the importance of "children meeting books" and discovering the pleasure they can derive from them at a young age.

"It is a pity that when children grow, go to Junior College and start to sit for their O levels, they start to read only their textbooks and abandon reading for fun."

Mr Zahra was pleased to observe the growing number of young writers, who were taking their writing seriously. "There was a time when writing was considered to be a frivolous hobby. Today, however, we have a number of writers who have understood that literature is a way of life. I am convinced that some of these, who are already showing great talent, are destined to be the pillars of our literature in the future."

Mr Zahra's book, Shab, discusses a number of themes that touch adolescents closely: The traumas they face when their parents separate; the crush they may have on a teacher; their first, or "puppy" love.

But according to the author, the most relevant point is that the main character is creating a scrapbook about his secret girlfriend, which is actually printed in the book, but it is sealed, and the readers can only access it when they reach that particular section of the book.

Mr Zahra clearly does not shun technology, blinded by a love for the literary world. On the contrary, the two go together as evidenced in his latest work. The protagonist of Shab has also constructed a website on clouds.

Mr Zahra started planning the book in 2000 and has since modified the story considerably. The actual writing took him about two months, but its planning was spread over six years.

Other highlights of the fair include a discussion on the state of literature in Malta at 7 p.m. today. Participants are Immanuel Mifsud, Gorg Mallia, Maria Grech Ganado, George Peresso and Joe Mizzi.

The public is invited to attend Let's Discuss Literature, which will take place in the MCC's Temi Zammit Hall.

Other events include the National Book Prize ceremony tomorrow and the launch of Karl Schembri's novel, Il-Manifest Tal-Killer, at 6 p.m. on Saturday, followed by Poezijaplus at 7.30 p.m.

The 22nd edition of the fair is ending in style, with the opportunity to meet the famed children's writer Annie Dalton.

The book bonanza was attended by Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi yesterday and is open until Sunday.

Opening hours are from 9 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. and 5 to 9 p.m. today; and from 9 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. and 5 to 10 p.m. tomorrow. On Saturday, it is open from 9 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. and 4 to 10 p.m., and from 10 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. and 3 to 9 p.m. on Sunday.

A bus shuttle service, number 98, is running from the Valletta terminus at a nominal fare. Entrance to the fair is free of charge and each visitor is being given a ticket with the chance to win one of the books donated by the exhibitors.