Mohammed Bin Rashid Library Organises a Reading Evening for First-time Authors

In line with its strategy to encourage literary works and introduce the community to up-and-coming writers, the Mohammed Bin Rashid Library organised a unique reading evening for promising, first-time published authors. The evening allowed the authors to share with the audience their thought process and creativity journey that led to their first publications.

The evening kicked off with a reading by Noha Matar from her collection of short stories “The Face He Drew.” In this collection, Noha delves into the depth of the human psyche and the experiences that shape our identities, from a philosophical point of view. She explores the various aspect that form the individual, and art and drawing as a vehicle to journey into a deeper understanding of oneself. Her reading focused on an excerpt with a unique emotional aspect.

Author Asma Al Hosani read from her book “What if Our Dreams Had a Voice,” which focuses on the hopes and dreams of each individual and their power as a driver to achieve our goals, in a unique narrative and poetic approach. Al Hosani also touched on her experience to mix between reality and fiction, and how literature can offer our hopes and dreams a much-needed voice.

For her part, author Alaa Bassam offered a reading from her book “Guardian of the Sky,” a story which takes the readers on a thrilling journey through a fictional world of myth and reality with a unique style. She also offers a glimpse into her thought process and her inspirations to build such a complicated world.

Last, but not least, Rashid Al Hamadi shared a reading from his book “White and Black.” An exploration of the duality of life, the book left a deep impact on readers and attendees. Al Hamadi also talked about his experience in putting his ideas to papers and create this unique literary work.

The highly-interactive evening was moderated by Khalid Al Muhairi, encouraging a dialogue between the authors and the audience. The attendees also asked questions about the books and writing experiences that took the conversation to the next level.

The evening was the embodiment of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Library's mission to support promising authors and promote the local literary scene. The evening went beyond celebrating the new publications, and opened a window into cultural and intellectual landscapes, teeming with life and creativity.