Department of Cultural Affairs

By Yali Chen
SATFF REPORTER

The 2011 Taipei Literature Festival kicked off on February 19, opening with a series of activities including twelve speeches on the development of independent bookstores from Feb. to May, a book exhibition of Taiwanese literature from March to April, and ten literary films in April.

Hsieh Hsiao-yun, Commissioner of the Taipei City's Department of Cultural Affairs, said that the number of book lovers visiting the Taipei International Book Exhibition Feb.9-14 reached 600,000 people this year.

“That figure showed a rise in local book fans,” she said, inviting those who love literature to enjoy the 3-month literary feast.

Twelve speeches on the development and idea exchanges between independent bookstore owners and writers will be given from Feb. 19 to May 15, said Sappho Liu – owner of the New Taipei City-based Small Small Bookshop and one of the Taipei Literature Festival curators.

Besides the Small Small Bookshop, these book stores also include the Tonsan Bookstore, a specialist in academic books in the humanities and social sciences; the Gingin’s Bookstore, which specializes in gay and lesbian literature; the Mollie Used Books, which sells secondhand books about literature, history, philosophy, business and language learning; and the Bookman Books Co., a specialist in different languages plus English and American literature.

To celebrate the Republic of China’s centennial year, the Taipei city government is showcasing a list of 108 books that can present the history of Taiwanese literary development, said John Lin, Executive Director of the Mollie Used Books whose pseudonym is “Fu Yueh-an,” and also one of the Taipei Literature Festival curators.

Some of these books were out of print but others are still in print. One book titled Taipei People written by a prolific author Pai Hsien-yung, Lin said, has been published in four editions with various book cover designs between the 1980s and the 2000s.

Besides meeting their favorite authors, readers can also join three free guided tours by Liu Ke-hsiang – a well-known ecological writer and bird lover.

The 10 films, all adaptations from popular novels and classic literature, will be screened at the Spot-Taipei Film House from April 23 to April 30.

For more information on the 2011 Taipei Literature Festival, go to http://www.culture.gov.tw or http://2011TLF.culture.gov.tw