A fine shortlist of nominees for the third ‘Arabic Booker’ has so far been overshadowed by manufactured controversy, Youssef Rakha writes.
* By Youssef Rakha, published in The National

This year’s Cairo book fair will be held from January 28th to February 10th 2010, at the Cairo international fairground.

Beirut’s international Book fair will be held from December 11th to 24th, 2009, at the BIEL exhibit center.

The Sharjah International Book Fair is currently holding its 28th edition. The fair, started on November 11th, 2009, is ongoing until November 21st.

The 16th edition of the Lebanese Francophone book fair was held in Beirut, at the BIEL exhibit center, from October 23rd through November 1st, and was particularly successful.

Frankfurt book fair had a new daily this year, ‘Publishing Perspectives’, keeping trade visitors updated with the latest news and tracking the buzz. Yasmina Jraissati, RAYA agency gave an interview, and presented mubtada wa khabar, the collaborative platform for the Arab book industry that will have its first launch on Friday October 23rd, at the BIEL, Beirut. Do not miss if you’re in town!