In a few short weeks I’ll be boarding a jetplane and returning to the UAE for the 30th annual
Sharjah International Book Fair. It goes without saying that I can’t wait!
Sharjah International Book Fair this year has
a really exciting program, including many leading Arab authors, a country focus on India, a city focus on Edinburgh, a genre focus on comics, a children’s program and a #geekfest!
I’m looking forward to meeting lots of excellent literary people from the Middle East, India and internationally also, as well as catch up with friends I have met on previous bookish adventures. I also can’t wait to discover more about the literature of this region – last year I came back with
lots of books, something that will no doubt be repeated.
Personally, I’m looking forward to more time away from Melbourne, and also to spend a few weeks in a
dry zone. Last year I had an excellent time at the book fair, discovering Sharjah, and
not drinking. It was a magical time, I felt happy and open and on top of the world. You know when everything just feels
right?
This is me blissing out among Sharjah’s many palm tress…
I only wish I had started learning Arabic a year ago when I got home from Sharjah! I am going to start relearning what I picked up last year now, and hopefully add a few more words to my artillery before I go…