Ayb School hosted an online panel discussion titled “Contemporary Literature: What to read?” The invited speakers were author and editor-in-chief of Yerevan Magazine Artavazd Yeghiazaryan, literary critic, editor-in-chief of Antares publishing house Arkmenik Nikoghosyan and Ayb School Armenian language group head, Board of Trustees member and AUA lecturer Anahit Hovhannisyan. 2014 mentor-graduate Gayane Aramyan acted as the host of the meeting, which started with Charents’ poem recitation delivered by Satenik Maghakyan.
The discussion focused on a number of topics, specifically whether the phenomenon of a book is eternal. “Yes, book is a phenomenon, and the last book will cease to exist when the last man disappears from Earth,” Arkmenik Nikoghosyan says.
The participants also discussed the works of contemporary Armenian writers. Asked which are the main problems the authors come across while preparing to publish their books, Mr. Nikoghosyan said no issue emerge in terms of organization of the process. The only issue, according to him, is make the sale dynamic and effective.
What does a reader look for in a book? “As a reader, I opt for alternative literature. I like divorcing from reality and project into the world created by the author,” Anahit Hovhannisyan responds.
Artavazd Yeghiazaryan, in turn, remarked that adults can instill love for books into children in case the right book is offered at the right moment, while Mr. Nikoghosyan added that in order to have a book-reading society contemporary authors should write about what is happening at the moment.
To make the discussion complete, the speakers named the books they would advise Middle and High School students to read:
Artavazd Yeghiazaryan - The Mystery of Dragon Stones
Hrachya Saribekyan - The Sun of Twins
Grig - Kidnapping that rocked the cats’ city, Jesus’ Cat
Mher Israelyan - You should live before you die, I am the king of the world
Neil Gaiman - American Gods
Vahram Martirosyan - Cotton walls
Ilf and Petrov - The twelve chairs
Gurgen Khanjyan - In and out
Hambardzum Hambardzumyan - A Korean delicacy
Armenuhi Stepanyan, grade 10
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