Readers, schoolchildren throng to Amman Book Fair

AMMAN — Over 350 local, regional and international booksellers are participating in the annual Amman Book Fair, which opened on Thursday, September 26 and will wrap up on Saturday, according to organisers.

This year’s exhibition, called “unprecedented” by chairman of the fair’s committee Ahmad Yazouri, is "the largest in the fair’s history", organisers said.  Tunisia is the “guest of honour”, offering cultural shows throughout the nine exhibition days, the organisers said.

With 22 countries participating, the fair has been described by most as “highly organised” and “entertaining”, the organisers said.

Mohammed Odai, who represents an Egyptian publishing house, said the fair “becomes bigger and more organised every year”.

He added: “We have been participating in the fair for three years now, and this time it has one of the most impressive turnouts.”

The theme, “Al Quds is Palestine’s Capital”, is a repeat from last year, which Yazouri said “stresses the stance of the Kingdom and its people on the pressing issue, in light of the Deal of the Century”.

University and school buses have been visiting the fair extensively, according to organisers. 

Suhail Ammouri, a teacher in the Ahliyya Schools, said children of all ages are “enjoying themselves while reading and learning”.

Schoolchildren, who come for young-adult and children's books,  are “perhaps the fair’s biggest buyers", said Ammouri.

Book signings, lectures, cultural shows and children's shows are also taking place at the fair, organisers said.

“My cousin and I came all the way from Irbid to listen to the great author Ibrahim Nasrallah talk about his novel-writing experiences, as we are both aspiring writers,” said Fawzi Abu Saleem, a 15-year-old.

He added: “For most of us, this is our only chance to hear a great writer give such a talk.”

The fair is being held at the Amman International Motor Show from 10am to 10pm, except on Friday, when it is open from 5pm until 10pm.