Guess What? Ayu Utami<\/p>\n
What happens when a new writer exits a bookstore in a mall and
\nfinds boys and girls begging for money to buy books? She is
\ntouched, of course, especially when she has just had her first
\nnovel published.<\/p>\n
Ayu Utami, the young novelist whose book Saman was just
\npublished, however, said she was worried that the children were
\n\"professionally organized\".<\/p>\n
\"I had just told my audience how happy I was to be momentarily
\ndeceived by the illusion of malls. People are still busy shopping
\nand it was hard to find a parking space; it was easy to forget
\nthe ongoing monetary crisis.\" Ayu said.<\/p>\n
\"A moment later, as I left, I was bewildered by a group of
\nchildren begging for money to buy books. I did not give them any
\nmoney, fearing that they might be professionally organized. Then
\nI talked with (writer) Leila S. Chudori who experienced the same
\nthing.\"<\/p>\n
The conversation did not stop there. Together with Leila, Ayu
\nhelped in organizing the Cultural Book Fair in the parking lot of
\nTeater Utan Kayu in Rawamangun, East Jakarta.<\/p>\n
The book fair, opened July 20 to July 31 during office hours,
\nis meant to maintain public interest in literature despite the
\ncrisis. Literature to pop books in many languages are sold at
\nbargain prices. Some of the books are brand new, donated by
\npublishers. Others are secondhand books donated by individuals.
\nThe organizers said more donations would be welcome. (Yudhanta)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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