Why a book fair is one of the best places to be

The Sharjah International Book Fair is certainly one of the best things about living in Sharjah. Having attended and participated in the festival for the last nine years, I am continually amazed by the size and scope of this event. The Fair is an unparalleled draw for everyone from the region who is interested in reading, writing, philosophy or creativity.
To walk the floors there is to experience a thirst for knowledge and fascination for stories in various forms.
It is impossible not to be inspired by the crowds of people flocking to meet their favourite authors or making a beeline to avail discounts on an assortment of books and reading accessories. I recently tweeted that 'I will never stop being inspired by families who have shopping trolleys full of books' because I am a firm believer that now, more than ever - we need to teach children that intellectual curiosity must begin early and not end when you graduate from university.
The international reach of the Fair is fascinating with a glittering list of attendees and authors from across the globe. In the last nine years I have been privileged to listen to the likes of APJ Abdul Kalam, Jeffery Archer, William Dalrymple, Arundhati Roy and Dan Brown. This year my friends and I sat in the audience as Shashi and Kanishk Tharoor, Chetan Bhagat and others shared from their rich experiences. Having said all of that, the Fair is so much more than just another 'literary festival'.
While the cavernous halls are a treasure trove of rich-pickings; all round could be found an array of activities designed to make the experience immersive, educational, engaging and social.
From story-telling sessions to writing seminars to book launchings to live performances and even a selfie booth, there was an entire slew of reading and writing events and seminars lined up.
For me, a key part of the exhibition this year was the large number of tech players who conducted sessions that explored the ways in which content can now be treated and delivered online and how social media is transforming literary habits.
I also loved the added focus on cyber-bullying and ethical use of digital information from experts like Marwan El Nemr and others.
What came across strongly through the sessions was that at its core, the Fair is a celebration of the written word and concerted effort by the organisers to allow readers an educational, intellectually stimulating and enriching experience.
Each year I am intrigued by the thousands of people who come out of the woodwork for this event. As they maneuver through the crowded halls filled with books I often wonder what brings them back every year.
Readers take away different things from books and are affected differently based on their individual experiences or contexts.
I guess that's why we keep going back to the Sharjah International Book Fair- it is so incredible to be in that kind of a hallowed space where language and understanding converge and powerful ideas are born and expressed - the kind that can impact our lives significantly.

City Times reader Sydney Michael Atkins is an educationist and bibliophile