Bookfest Chișinău 2023: Eighth edition a literary success
The Bookfest Chișinău International Book Fair concluded its five-day run on Sunday, drawing large crowds to a series of literary events. Visitors had the chance to attend book launches, author signings, and literary debates.
The sheer number of visitors made navigating the aisles a real challenge. One mother, juggling her children, said she couldn't even find time to browse for herself. Another visitor described books as transformative experiences that become part of one's life.
Writer Vitalie Ciobanu noted the importance of physical books in an increasingly digital world. "We are assailed by so much information, especially online, and the book itself, as an object and a celebration of the spirit, is somewhat lacking for us," he said. "This place is privileged because we can also find very good books from the best Romanian publishing houses."
Romanian novelist Mircea Cărtărescu came to Chișinău to launch his fifth journal volume, "Seven Strange Years." "There's no difference for me; I feel right at home among you all," Cărtărescu said, adding that the work is his "oldest and most extensive writing," which he began 52 years ago.
Meanwhile, writer Sabina Fati launched "Who Covets the Mouths of the Danube," a book she describes as a "radiography of an area at the confluence of history, geopolitics, and national identity." She explained that the work offers a glimpse into what war means for both ordinary people and intellectuals and explores whether the region can escape the nostalgia of Homo Sovieticus.
Also presenting was novelist Radu Paraschivescu, who launched his new epistolary novel, "The Bracelet on Your Ankle," along with the sixth volume of his popular satirical anthology, "In Virtue of Ineptitude." When asked if people get offended by his work, Paraschivescu responded, "Whether they are or not is their business. They could simply buy the book and give me fewer reasons for volume seven."
The eighth edition of Bookfest saw visitors peruse over 40,000 recently published volumes from 30 publishing houses in Romania and Moldova. The event was held under the patronage of Moldovan President Maia Sandu and the President of Romania, Nicușor Dan.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
