“Jeddah Bookstore”… the paths of novels and poetry create communication skills
The coastal city of Jeddah lives inspiring literary experiences, starting from the paths of creative writing, the main rules of the novel, and poetry evenings, all the way to communication and investment skills, through a daily program full of dozens of diverse activities within the book fair held by the “Literature, Publishing and Translation Authority” in Saudi Arabia.
In addition to dialogue platforms and cultural and artistic seminars, it attends workshops covering the topics of art, reading, writing, publishing, book making, and translation, in addition to other programs, amid a large attendance of visitors from inside and outside the Kingdom.
Dialogue seminars and workshops witnessed a large attendance (Literature, Publishing and Translation Authority)
The Jeddah Book Fair is a cultural window that brings together literary, publishing and translation makers from local and international institutions and companies, with readers and those interested, in a way that expresses young people’s interest in books and in the cultural, literary and artistic forums that it witnesses throughout its ten days, with the participation of an elite group of influential thinkers and authors.
Novel paths
The “Let the Novel Speak” symposium discussed the paths of the novel in attracting the reader towards enjoyable reading, the time it takes to write it, the basic rules on which it is built, in addition to the importance of criticism. The Iraqi writer Hawraa Al-Nadawi touched on the problem of literary criticism, and explained that the novel requires a long period of time before its publication to complete the reviews, reviewing the experience of writing her novel, which was nominated for the Arab Booker Prize, and took a year of review.
“Let the Novel Speak” symposium discussed paths that attract the reader (Middle East)
For her part, Egyptian novelist Rasha Samir explained that writing a novel is different from writing a story, noting that both writings are subject to rules that determine their path. The historical novel is considered one of the most difficult types of novels to write, pointing out that the first critic is the reader, and any errors in the historical narrative or interruptions in events cause him to refrain from reading.
In turn, the writer and critic Abdullah Al-Aqibi stated that the time of writing the novel has no importance except in relation to the richness of the content for the recipient, stressing the importance of reading critical books before writing the novel. It is a road map for the writer, especially the beginner.
Novelist Jaber Madkhali speaking at the “Novel Sketch” workshop (Asharq Al-Awsat)
“Novel Sketch”
The “Novel Sketch” workshop outlined the main features of constructing a novel work. It indicated the necessity of tracking characters, focusing on the plot that the hero seeks to untangle during the narration.
In this context, the novelist and journalist Jaber Madkhali explained that the structure of the novel in general can constantly change while its basic pillars that constitute it remain, indicating that change lies in the creation of new ideas, or different types of the novel. He pointed out the need for the writer, upon completing the first draft of his novel, to create a map to trace each character individually, in terms of their roles, the successive times, and the places they inhabited. This is what sticks in the reader’s mind.
He also focused on the necessity of choosing the end of the novel carefully, so that it summarizes what reminds the reader of the facts at its beginning, body, and end, preferring that the conclusion be open.
He stated that the plot is an essential part of the structure of the novel, and through it the hero discovers the solutions to the knot, explaining that it represents suspense and excitement. With the start of the conflict, events develop to harm the characters and push them to find a solution. This element appears in the first scenes of the novel, and its solution is known as solving the knot.
Dr. Raed Al-Sufyani speaking at the Reality of the Sector symposium (Literature, Publishing and Translation Authority)
Investing in the culture sector
At the discussion table, “The reality of the cultural sector and the future of investment in it” was attended, in a symposium in which the Director of the Cultural Research and Studies Department at the Ministry of Culture, Dr. Raed Al-Sufyani, spoke about the “Cultural Situation Report” in which the Ministry monitors cultural activity in the Kingdom, noting that this report established A reference for measuring the cultural situation and understanding trends in the sector’s growth and development.
Al-Sufyani explained that the report monitored the cultural situation since 2019, including features and statistics in Arabic and English, and is characterized by transparency and interaction through polling more than 3,000 participants on the reality of culture, making it a road map for culture by monitoring the challenges it faces.
Attendance at a symposium on the reality of the cultural sector and the future of investment in it (Literature, Publishing and Translation Authority)
communication skills
Also, the “Communication Skills with the Deaf in Sign Language” workshop explained that this language differs according to the language of the country, just like spoken languages. It also addressed the training and educational aspects for those who wish to attain professional communication with the deaf.
The founder of the Saudi Sign Language Interpreters Association, Ali Al-Hazani, revealed that there are 12 million deaf people in the Arab world, and about 720,000 in Saudi Arabia, according to the latest published statistics, indicating that the number of sign language interpreters is 103 Saudis, pointing to the importance of training a number of government sector employees. On important language signals, including hospital emergencies and police, to achieve rapid response.
From the workshop “Communication Skills with the Deaf in Sign Language” (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Stage show
Also, the cultural program of the exhibition witnessed the presentation of the play “A Poet’s Story” by author Sami Al-Jamaan, directed by Fahd Al-Dosari, and starring Turki Al-Youssef, Nermin Mohsen, and Abdul Aziz Al-Mubadil, amid a large attendance that filled the “Roshan Cultural Theater.”
Al-Dosari said that the play is an embodiment of the life of the Saudi poet Hamad Al-Hajji, known as the poet of pain and suffering, as his poetry reflected the severity of his health conditions.
From the theatrical performance that depicted the life of the Saudi poet Hamad Al-Hajji (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Experiences of opera singers
A symposium entitled “Music in the Kingdom, Beginnings and Aspirations” brought together visitors to the exhibition with Saudi opera singers, namely Remaz Aqbi, Sawsan Al-Bahiti, and Lulwa Al-Sharif. They were interviewed by Samah Al-Eryani, in the presence of musicians and those interested in music.
Oqbi spoke about her experience with the art of opera, explaining that there is a great investment in music and support she receives from the Ministry of Culture, describing her beginnings in opera singing as difficult.
Artist Sawsan Al-Bahiti is a speaker at a dialogue symposium on music (Literature, Publishing and Translation Authority)
In turn, Al-Bahiti talked about opera exercises, reviewing how he performed them, stressing that the vocal cords develop for the better with practice.
For her part, Al-Sharif said that music was her first passion. Despite some fear and hesitation, she chose jazz because she was influenced by the stories, describing it as difficult, adding: “I was keen to develop myself, especially since the demand for it was remarkable. I aspire to present Saudi jazz in the white dialect, and to reach operatic art in a new way.”
Artist Lulwa Al-Sharif during the music symposium (Literature, Publishing and Translation Authority)
It is noteworthy that the Jeddah Book Fair will receive visitors until next Saturday, presenting cultural events that the “Literature, Publishing and Translation Authority” in Saudi Arabia has been keen to address different age groups, hobbies and interests.
Part of the dialogue symposium entitled “Music in the Kingdom, Beginnings and Ambitions” (Asharq Al-Awsat)
