A section of the reconstructed Royal Palace in Mandalay seen here in September, 2014. PHOTO/COCONUTS MEDIA
This website is called Coconuts Yangon. As the name ever so subtly suggests, we write about Yangon. So what we’re about to say might seem unorthodox. But here it goes. This weekend, leave Yangon. Head north to Mandalay. Why? Why else? Literature.
Starting on Saturday, the third annual Irrawaddy Literary Festival is kicking off in Myanmar’s second-largest city. The schedule, which was released in full on Thursday, is jam-packed with guest authors and panel discussions. Here are 3 reasons why the program is not to be missed.
1) Some of the talks sound awesome
Three days of discussions about books may get old to some, but take a look at the titles of some of these talks. On Saturday at 2pm, it’s Dr. Khin Maung Nyo on “Failures in Myanmar Literature.” On Sunday, Yin Yin Nu talks about “The Beauty of Old Trees,” and the same day, blogger Ny Phone Latt will present “The Death of Spellings.”
2) The bench of foreign authors is deep
Though British novelist Ian McEwan won’t be attending this year, apparently due to a scheduling change (he came the past two years), there is a veritable platoon of writers parachuting in from abroad, most of whom are hosting their own discussions, including Louis de Bernieres (Captain Corelli’s Mandolin), Anne Enright (The Gathering), and Rosalind Russell (Burma’s Spring).
3) Support literature in Myanmar
The literary scene in Myanmar is not as big as it could be. Attending the festival, meeting local writers and buying a few books of fiction and poetry is an easy way to support a good cause. Also, the next festival isn’t until next year! There’s no time like the present.
