Guess What? Ayu Utami

What happens when a new writer exits a bookstore in a mall and finds boys and girls begging for money to buy books? She is touched, of course, especially when she has just had her first novel published.

Ayu Utami, the young novelist whose book Saman was just published, however, said she was worried that the children were "professionally organized".

"I had just told my audience how happy I was to be momentarily deceived by the illusion of malls. People are still busy shopping and it was hard to find a parking space; it was easy to forget the ongoing monetary crisis." Ayu said.

"A moment later, as I left, I was bewildered by a group of children begging for money to buy books. I did not give them any money, fearing that they might be professionally organized. Then I talked with (writer) Leila S. Chudori who experienced the same thing."

The conversation did not stop there. Together with Leila, Ayu helped in organizing the Cultural Book Fair in the parking lot of Teater Utan Kayu in Rawamangun, East Jakarta.

The book fair, opened July 20 to July 31 during office hours, is meant to maintain public interest in literature despite the crisis. Literature to pop books in many languages are sold at bargain prices. Some of the books are brand new, donated by publishers. Others are secondhand books donated by individuals. The organizers said more donations would be welcome. (Yudhanta)