The festival differs from a book fair by its target audience. While book fairs, especially major ones, tend to be business events geared toward publishers and booksellers, festivals are for the readers -- that is, every one of us. The organizers have packed 140 events into three days, and many promise to be fun. Stalik Khankishiyev, the author of a best-selling "macho" cookbook, will be teaching a master class devoted to plov, the pinnacle of Central Asian cuisine; Anton Zhigulsky's eponymous publishing house will present "book appreciation," combining the promotion of its books about rum, brandy, pipes and tea with the actual stuff they write about. More sober-minded people can enjoy themselves, too, for instance, at a discussion by leading historians and sociologists about history books in today's Russia. A full schedule can be found at www.moscowbookfest.ru.
Unlike many events that claim to be "international," this festival lives up to its title. Thanks to the British Council and similar organizations, some first-rate authors are coming to Moscow, including such stars of the British literary scene as Tibor Fischer and the Booker laureate Graham Swift. Russian stars are also expected; some are even set to break up with the nocturnal traditions of Moscow literati and participate in improvised discussions over a morning cup of coffee. This series of events is called "Breakfast with a Star," and the early risers are to include, among others, poet Dmitry Prigov and glamour authoress Oksana Robski.
"I wanted the festival to be something that blows up the artificial literary boundaries of today's Russia," Alexander Gavrilov, the mastermind behind the festival, said in a telephone interview. "A book is for everyone -- not just for the highbrow few."
One unusual aspect of the festival is that some events require tickets. Even with the symbolic prices (50 to 100 rubles, or less than $4), it is unusual to charge for book-related activities in Moscow. But the organizers wanted to make a point and prove that people would be prepared to pay in order to listen to a literary discussion or hear a favorite author.
"Of course, Moscow is not the best place for a festival of this kind," Gavrilov said. "This city is overfed, spoiled and lazy. I have a dream: I want to see festivals of this kind springing up in Russia's alternative 'cultural capitals,' which are rather numerous. But this thing here -- it's a start. It will be fun."
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