Guess What? Ayu Utami

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)