A REAL PAGE-TURNER
Literary stargazers will be kept busy throughout next month's second annual Hong Kong International Literary Festival (April 15 to 21).
With an emphasis on 'good writing in English with Asian roots' they can expect to mingle with some of the biggest names in the business.
The programme kicks off on April 15 with a Dymocks-sponsored event featuring Indian author Amitav Ghosh at the Fringe Club in Central and there's little rest from then on with a hectic schedule of literary luncheons, poetry readings, a trivia night, audience-panel discussions with literary agents, writers and publishers, a meet-the-authors party and book signing, and sessions on creating fiction, creative non-fiction, biographies and capturing the spirit of Hong Kong.
Fans of Chinese literature have some tough choices to make on the first weekend of the festival. On Saturday, April 20, they have their pick of 'Writing In English Or Chinese?', a session featuring Anhua Gao (To The Edge Of The Sky), Hwee Hwee Tan (Mammon Inc), Annie Wang (Lili: A Novel Of Tiananmen) and Hong Ying (Summer Of Betrayal); and 'Writing Around The Region', a discussion between authors from Singapore, India, Thailand and Indonesia about the political and social diversity of East Asia and its writers.
Likewise on Sunday, April 21, when the programme offers 'Asian Englishes' and 'Writing About Mainland China'.
There is one glaring omission. While the programme is strong, cementing the festival's position as the most prestigious English-language writing event in Asia, it does little to take advantage of and showcase the SAR's unique attractions and cultural experiences. The festival could be held in almost any city in East Asia and its official title, the Standard Chartered International Literary Festival, highlights this fact.
