Beirut book fair faces industry challenges and snow

Asharq Al-Awsat

Visitors at this year’s 57th Annual Beirut Book Fair may be forgiven for emitting an ironic chuckle upon their arrival, because the slogan that welcomes visitors to the fair—emblazoned at the entrance in large, bold letters—reads: “No book, no revolution.”

Since the eruption of the Arab revolutions that have convulsed the region since 2011, Arab readers seem to have abandoned their bookish pursuits, apparently more concerned with toppling their leaders than spending time immersed in a good book. As a result, sales in the region have declined sharply and markets targeted by publishers have dried up significantly.

Source: Asharq Al Awsat FULL STORY