Great books at great prices at Sharjah fair

Sharjah - Price monitoring to be stringent, say organisers of book fair which will begin on November 4

Monitoring and control over book prices at the 34th Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) will be more stringent, organisers have revealed.
The event, which will host 1,502 publishers from 64 countries and more than 900 events, will be held from November 4 to 14.
Up to 25 per cent discount will be on offer for the 1.5 million titles on display at the book fair in Sharjah Expo Centre.
"Publishing houses found hiking prices without permission from the price control committee of the book fair will be debarred from the event. Last year, many publishing houses were debarred for failure to follow rules," Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri, Director of SIBF, told Khaleej Times on the sidelines of a Press conference held in Sharjah on Tuesday.
The 2015 edition will see 890 local and Arab publishing houses, and 433 foreign publishing houses. The book fair will also see participation from 13 exhibitors for a joint conference with the American Library Association (ALA).
Al Ameri said the SIBF will see more than 900 events, including an 'intellectual programme' featuring a poetry evening by five internationally acclaimed poets. A seminar called 'Voice from Around the World' will feature four Arab and foreign novelists, who will discuss the importance of place and culture in their novels.
Another seminar, 'From Business to Novel Writing', will have three internationally renowned writers taking part. Pakistani writer Tanzila Khan will present an inspirational session called 'My Life Journey-Disabled Woman Overcomes Barriers'.
Inaugural comic stand
For the first time at SIBF, a comic stand has been set up in collaboration with ComicCave, the largest distributor of comic products in the UAE. The comic stand will extend over an area of 150sqm and will see participation from 26 specialised publishing houses.
The stand will include models, magazines, games and gifts, including popular characters such as Batman, Superman, the Avengers, Hello Kitty, Tan Tan, and Japanese Manga, among others. Other events include workshops and a variety of shows for children and adults.
Cultural Cafe
The Cultural Cafe will see 33 seminars throughout the 11-day fair, with three daily seminars, at 6pm, 7pm and 8pm, spanning various literary and cultural topics, book reviews and interactive discussions. The seminars will involve more than 50 Emirati and Arab speakers. The 'kids programme' will include theatrical and circus performances, storyteller and reading sessions, puppet theatre, scientific and mathematical workshops, and book signing events.
Highlights include a one man show 'Wakhd Balek' by comedian Mohammed Salem, and puppet show 'Pinocchio', in addition to exciting interactive scientific experiments, called 'Chemical Puzzle'.
afkarali@khaleejtimes.com

Personalities at SIBF 2015
Arab guests
> Mohamed Sobhy - Egyptian actor
> Dr Saad Al Bazie - Saudi critic and intellectual
> Wedad Al Kuwari - Qatari writer and actor
> Dr Ibrahim Ghloum Bahraini - playwright and critic
> Lina Al Hassan - Syrian novelist
> Nada Al Haj - Lebanese poet
> Suzann Abu Al Hawa - Palestinian novelist and poet
> Dr Sabri Mussalam Hammadi - Iraqi critic and academician
Foreign guests
> John McCarthy - British author
> Ben Okri - Nigerian writer
> Fatima Bhutto - Pakistani writer and poet
> Mohanlal - Indian actor
> K. Sachidanandan - Indian poet, writer and critic
> Shojo Okitani - Japanese Novelist and translator
> Allen Proctor - South African writer and filmmaker
> Mattanur Sankarankutty - Indian percussionist

• UAE
• Sharjah