Dubai: #GNBookClub is off to a great start — hundreds have registered since we opened it up about two weeks ago, as part of our support of the nationwide #UAEreads campaign.
The pace has been brisk, with reviews, competitions and discussions. A daily poll question on Twitter allows readers to have their say, whereas the more passionate have sent in “experiential reviews” of the book/s that have left a mark on their lives. Added into that mix were musings by journalists from the newsroom — an interesting exercise so far. You can log on to www.gulfnews.com to read all the contributions.
Jabeen Hajwane, a Dubai resident, thinks #GNBookClub is a good way to get more people interested in reading.
She told Gulf News: “It is an exciting opportunity to be able to write reviews. I read a lot — almost 100 books a year. I used to post book covers and reviews on other channels, but such a club is a good way to get your reviews out.”
Sailakshmi Pallavur Sivaram, a librarian based in Dubai, agreed. She said: “I think this is an amazing initiative. I love reading and am a little obsessed with starting a book and finishing it, whether it’s good or not. The idea of the country going out of its way to read makes me extremely happy.
“Gulf News has a large reach and the book club is an interactive platform, which is better than just asking people to read. I am not a fan of book clubs, because I don’t like to step out of my comfort zone. But #GNBookClub is a social way of discussing a book, which doesn’t force you to do something out of your comfort zone and works within the span of your time and space.”
Shabbir Bandukwala, a financial controller based in Dubai, hopes that such initiatives will convince people to read more.
He said: “Hopefully, when people start interacting more and sharing their book reviews with #GNBookClub, they will get to know what others are reading and will be interested in reading more. However, we need more libraries to remain open till late in the night. This would work as an incentive for people to read more.”
Isobel Abulhoul, CEO and Trustee of the Emirates Literature Foundation and Festival Director, said: “The #GNBookClub is a wonderful initiative in the Year of Reading. It will certainly encourage people to read more and, hopefully, try new genres and different authors. The Emirates Literature Foundation’s vision is to encourage people to read for pleasure.
“Becoming a regular reader allows us to learn more about the world we live in, both the past and the present, plus increasing our empathy towards others, be they of different nationalities, cultures or religions. The book club will allow the solitary act of reading to become a shared pastime and spark meaningful discussion. Book groups are social, intelligent gatherings that lead to extraordinary conversations!”
Apart from this, we have our own editors contributing with book reviews, along with a host of giveaways, quizzes and competitions planned. If you’re interested in reading, become a part of the conversation by following us on Twitter, @gulf_news, or visit our website, www.gulfnews.com/your-say/gn-book-club.
