Coming back to book and readers’ preferences

In an interview with Tert.am, Mr Arkmenik Nikoghosyan, Chief Editor for the Antares publishing house, spoke of International Book Giving Day and of a campaign organized by the Antares publishing house on this occasion.

The event is an opportunity to choose a book, “share” it by means of the Facebook and, receiving 300 and more “Likes”, to get the book as a present on February 19. The books will be presented to the first 50 participants that will receive the necessary number of “Likes.”

New books are published and translated, but readers remain committed to their tastes and favored authors. ‘My Name Is Red’ by Orhan Pamuk, ‘The Hunchback of Notre Dame’ by Victor Hugo, ‘The Red and the Black’ by Stendhal, ‘Nineteen Eighty-Four’ by George Orwell are in demand.

The ‘Classical and modern Armenian literature album’ event is in progress now, Mr Nikoghosyan said.

“Of importance is the circulation of the book and, besides the ‘Likes’, numerous Facebook users inquire about where the books are on sale. That is, they can not only know about books, but also purchase them at a discount,” he said.

Last year, 200 books were given during a similar event.

“Young people are mostly taking an active part in the event. However, we have a reading society. Even computers soon turn into major means for reading. I think we are step by step coming back to the book,” Mr Nikoghosyan said.

Chairman of the Writers’ Union of Armenia Edward Militonyan noted that the Union is cooperating with the Antares publishing house, and their joint efforts are producing certain results. The union plans to organize events and meetings at schools to encourage reading, on February 19.

“We must give books to one another, present books as a value in our life,” Mr Militonyan said.

Numerous meetings and events prove attention to literature now and there is a need to properly present high-quality books and good authors.

Speaking of the lacking demand for contemporary writers, Mr Militonyan said:

“We have mistrusted contemporary writers for more than twenty years. We have made classical writers our icons, and it is our complex. We start praising our good writers after they die.”

One has to read first to form a clear judgement about the writer, he said.

Certain writers are translated into different languages and presentations of their works need media coverage. The Union of Writers once planned a program of presenting contemporary writers.

Film art critic and journalist Nvard Simonyan, who participates in events organized by the Antares publishing houses and wants to have The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco, says:

“I cannot say we are a backward people without love for writing, pen or books. We should not develop a complex about that. According to the world’s bookshops, they register the highest number of best-sellers.

But it is only by meeting the demands of people with a good taste that you can shape tastes. So we should urge internet shops to disseminate serious literature even if it is in few copies.”

According to her, reading a “paper book” is a luxury now, and many people prefer audiobooks.

Speaking of the campaign organized by the Antares publishing house, Ms Sinomyan said that Antares created a publishing boom in Armenia.

“I have joined their ‘300 Likes’ Facebook campaign, and I am going to win in this free, fair and transparent election.”