The Bookworm’s International Literary Festival 2012
Posted: January 29th, 2012 | Author: LumDimSum | Filed under: Food For Thought, Hot Tips, Special Events, Upcoming Events | Tags: 2 Kolegas, Alan Bissett, Albert Sánchez Piñol, Andrei Kurkov, Beijing Improv, Carol Birch, Catherine Sampson, Chris Womersley, City of the Dragon, Di An, Gary Shteyngart, Han Dong, International Literary Festival, Jonathan Fenby, Jonathan White, Joshua Knelman, Kadi Hughes, Kjersti Skomsvold, Luka Lesson, Mai Jia, Mara Hvistendahl, Paul French, Peter Brown, Qaisra Shahraz, Rowan Simons, Sally Kindberg, The Bookworm, Tim Clare, Time Clare, Tom Pattinson, Yrsa Sigurðardóttir | No Comments »
“Every March, The Bookworm is transformed into a hub of literary, intellectual and creative activity as we celebrate all things books with The Bookworm International Literary Festival.”
The International Literary Festival at The Bookworm has grown exponentially each year and 2012 is not only bringing more authors, more booktalks, panel discussions and chances to meet your favorite authors, but also writing and publishing workshops, a Chinese program, a Children’s Programme, International School’s Programme, Migrant School’s Programme, and Footnotes Programme with film screenings, performances, music and special live literature events.
“We seek to showcase the modern voices of Chinese authors to the world and bring some of the world’s leading literary lights to China.” – The Bookworm
Featuring international literary sensations, brilliant debut novelists and China’s leading intellectuals, this year’s festival promises to be as diverse as ever with an eclectic range of events for people of all ages, backgrounds and interests to enjoy.
With so many events lined up, it may seem overwhelming at first to digest the action-packed 2-week festival program. But thanks to the generous help of Festival Director Kadi Hughes, she has taken the time to explain her top 10 “must-see” events this 2012 International Literary Festival at The Bookworm.
Festival Director Kadi Hughes’s Top 10 Picks:
(listed in chronological order)
1. Sunday March 11 6pm
If You Didn’t Laugh, You’d Cry with Gary Shteyngart & Andrei Kurkov
Gary Shteyngart and Andrei Kurkov both write novels that criticize and comment on the ills of modern society. And they are very, very funny. I am a huge fan of humor writing, which often doesn’t get the same respect that more dramatic writing receives. But comedy is something that is often much more difficult to perfect. I am incredibly excited to see these two very talented and funny men in conversation.
2. Monday, March 12 10 am
You Will Be My Friend! with Peter Brown
Peter Brown writes and illustrates gorgeous picture books that remind me of all the books I loved to read (and read again and again) when I was a kid. His latest is about Lulu the Bear who is trying to make friends with a bevy of other animals.
3. Wednesday, March 14 6pm
Knifepoint with Mai Jia
Mai Jia writes incredibly cool spy thrillers (think a Chinese James Bond, but with more lady trouble). Agents double crossing each other for political and romantic intrigue, all in a glamorous setting of Shanghai during the Republican era.
4. Thursday, March 15 8pm
City of the Dragon with Di An
Di An is a post-80′s generation literary sensation. Only some excerpts and a few pieces of her work have been translated into English so this event will be a great chance to hear from one of China’s most exciting new writers. Like a lot of people, I don’t read a lot in Mandarin so our events with Chinese writers are a way for me to find out more about the literary scene and culture in China.
5. Saturday, March 17 4pm
Sally Kindberg Comic Workshop
Sally Kindberg is a very cool and hilarious illustrator and comic novelist. She will be instructing us how to turn our stories into graphic tales, using the comic strip as a platform. She has a great style and this workshop will be a huge hit. She will be leading a lot of events for kids but this is an adult workshop – because why should the kiddies get all the fun?
6. Saturday, March 17th 9 pm
Slam! Luka Lesson & Tim Clare at 2 Kolegas
I know, I know. Slam poetry has an image of beatniks in dimly lit cafes scatting about the rain. But! Luka Lesson and Tim Clare are anything but that. Both are brilliant performers with very different styles. Melbourne-base Lesson puts on fun and soulful hip-hop-esqe shows. Clare’s performances are a bit poetry, a bit stand-up comedy and a bit ukelele. That’s right. Ukulele.
7. Sunday, March 18 12pm
Men & Monsters with Carol Birch & Albert Sánchez Piñol
Carol Birch’s Jamrach’s Menagrie was one of my favorite books of 2011, full of all the things I love: adventure on the high seas, exotic animals, Victorian ruffians and really, really dark surprises. Albert Sánchez Piñol’s Cold Skin is so unnerving that I may or may not have needed to sleep with the lights on after I finished it. A young scientist is posted to tint island in the south Atlantic, alone except for the attendant of a light house and an unending army of attacking humanoid reptilian creatures. Both of these writers tackle of the subject of ‘the heart of darkness” and what happens to humans when they are pushed to their moral and ethical breaking point.
8. Sunday, March 18 4pm
Life to the Fullest with Kjersti Skomsvold
Kjertsi Skomsvold is a debut novelist from Norway. Her book The Faster I Walk, the Smaller I Am is a heartbreaking account of an elderly woman at the end of her life. As she reflects back, she realizes that no one will know that she has ever lived, that nothing she has done has ever mattered. So yes, I cried a lot reading this one. But Skomsvold has a very dark sense of humor with hilarious commentary sprinkled throughout. I am always excited to read and hear new writers talk – it’s always exciting!
9. Monday, March 19 6pm
The Underbelly with Paul French, Chris Womersley and Yrsa Sigurðardóttir (moderated by Catherine Sampson)
Criminals, thugs, gangsters and thieves, what’s not to love? This is a panel of writers from all over the world (Australia, Iceland, UK/China) who write about all the dark and scary things on the fringes of society.
10. Thursday, March 22 1pm
They Think It’s all Over… sports writing with Alan Bissett, Peter Sampson and Rowan Simons (moderated by Jonathan White)
I am not a huge sports fan but sports writers are some of the best wordsmiths. It’s a tricky task to take something that is so visual and turn it into compelling writing. This is a panel of a novelist, a sports journalist and a memoirist who all are very passionate about sports. Plus I am expecting some heated debate over which football team is best and all that barroom chatter.
A massive thanks to Kadi for sharing some of her top picks!!
A Few More….LDS Picks for The Bookworm’s International Literary Festival 2012:
-
Opening Event: Super Sad True Love Story with Gary Shteyngart. Friday, March 9 at 8PM (RMB 180)
Gary Shteyngart’s wickedly funny Super Sad True Love Story is a dystopian love story set in the not-too-distant future. -
Tiger Head, Snake Tails: China today, how it got there and where it is heading with Jonathan Fenby. Sat, March 10 at 12PM (RMB 80)
Economists, policy makers and armchair historians alike have made popular sport debating the future role of China. Will China rule the world? Or is all just smoke and mirrors? -
“A Funny Thing Happened…” by Beijing Improv Performance. Sat., March 10 at 10PM (RMB 50)
The oldest and largest English-language improvisational theatre organization in China, Beijing Improv’s Mainstage English Players, trained at the best improv schools from around the world, put on a side-splitting show for our festival audience. -
Unnatural Selection: The Consequences of a World Full of Men with Mara Hvistendahl. Sun., March 11 at 10AM (RMB 80)
There are over 160 million females “missing” from Asia’s population. This gender imbalance, caused in part by sex selective abortions, has dire consequences for the entire world. -
Hot Art with Joshua Knelman and AAB’s Tom Pattinson. Thurs, March 15 at 1PM (RMB 65)
Canadian journalist Joshua Knelman immersed himself for four years in the enigmatic high-stakes world of international art theft. -
From Banished to Screwed with Han Dong. Sat., March 17 at 12PM (RMB 65)
Han Dong has been a major voice in Chinese literature since he burst onto the scene in the 1990s. -
The Holy Woman with Qaisra Shahraz. Sun., March 18 at 10AM (RMB 65)
Pakistani-born British writer Qaisra Shahraz’s novels, with their strong female characters and multilayered plots, explore the complex relationship between faith and family, tradition and independence in the Muslim world. -
Putong Hua – Animal Encounters. Live storytelling with Tim Clare, Kjersti Skomsvold and Chris Womersley. Sun., March 18 at 10PM (RMB 50)
A special live storytelling event! We’ve trawled pubs, playhouses, classrooms and street corners to find some of the Beijing’s best storytellers. -
Death Drive - Performance by Tim Clare. Mon, March 19 at 8PM (RMB 80)
British writer and poet Time Clare performs his brutally honest stand-up show, Death Drive, told through poetry, true stories and the ukulele. -
The Moira Monologues – a “One-Woman” Performance by Alan Bissett. Wed., March 21 at 10PM (RMB 50)
Alan Bissett performs his “one-woman” show, based on stories and characters from his childhood in Falkirk.
For a full list of The Bookworm’s International Literary Festival Events, see here.
Last year, certain events were sold out within days of tickets being released. Hurry as tickets are going fast!
Tickets are exclusively being sold at The Bookworm (starting January 30 for Friends of the Festival and to the General Public on February 6) from 9AM-9PM daily.
What qualifies a “Friend of the Festival”? Want to support The Bookworm’s International Literary Festival and get hooked up to early-bird tickets and VIP events?
“Our festival simply would not be possible without the invaluable support of our sponsors and friends of the festival. From international flights to marketing materials, the festival relies on the support of many. Your donations – large or small – are what keep us going and help us bring you a world-class festival.”
Friends of the Festival Benefits:
- Early-bird tickets: the ticket office opens to Friends of the Festival before opening to the public
- Invitation to a special VIP events and cocktail parties for Friends of the Festival, sponsors and authors
- Name listed on our website
- Great literary karma!
Friends of the Festival Levels
- 1st Edition – 5,000rmb
- Gold Leaf – 1,000 rmb
- Leather Bound - 500rmb
The Bookworm International Literary Festival Event Details:
- Date: Friday, March 9- Friday, March 23 (2 weeks)
- Tickets: Exclusively sold at The Bookworm starting January 30 for Friends of the Festival and to General Public on February 6
- Location: The Bookworm
- Address: Sanlitun Nanjie, 三里屯南街4号楼
- Tel: 6503 2050
- Website: http://bookwormfestival.com/
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