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| Rory Stewart |
The people I meet.
The festival is about bringing people together to celebrate the spoken word.
The challenges and the cycles of life: renewal and recharge.
After only a few days, I meet many interesting people.
The people who attended are from so many different backgrounds, viewpoints and voices. We need more room and platforms for free debate.
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| Kenny MacAskill |
There is supposed to be intermittent showers but its been mostly warm and sunny so far. Typical changeable August – perhaps more so than usual even.
We need to new voices, but more than ever we need as many diverse voices as possible. So many of us feel betrayed, confused, let down, and not sure where the answers are anymore. We are in a great state of flux, things are shifting and great change is inevitable. At Biblos restaurant- I wonder is the festival too big these days, with too much average and too little great? Another year gone. But I'm always inspired and often exhausted!
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| Rachel Long |
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| Isabella Hammad |
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| Heida Ásgeirsdóttir |
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| Inua Ellams |
The theme this year was – We need new stories.
One of the most original voices I’ve read in recent years over the present political madness of Brexit, is Irish Times writer Fintan OToole. His event at eibf sold out instantly when tickets went on sale- so I was surprised when I joined the long queue to see him that is was doing his talk in the small Spark tent on George street, rather than the main New York Times tent.
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| Clare Balding |
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| Nicola Sturgeon and Arundhati Roy |
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| Fintan O’Toole |
I am presently reading O’Toole’s recent book, Heroic Failure, on the Brexit carry on, and what an excellent story teller he is in his well researched tale. Things are badly off kilter and we certainly need well researched and original new voices.
Question? Is EIBF, or rather why does eibf not cater for the young adults, if not why not?
Photography - Some people have a presence or inner light that shines through in their photos. Perhaps its experience, character or simply knowing who you are. At eibf there is such a great variety of characters to shoot – from explorers, composers, journalists, illustrators, scientists, poets, comedians, politicians,.
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| Tania Nwachukwu |
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| Amna Saleem |
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| Denis mina |
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| Miriam Khan |
**TALKS
Gender Debate: What is Gender in the 21stcentury.
Her Scotland, author Rosemary Gorling
Lowland Clearances, Tom Devine
**BOOKS
Fintan O’Toole – Heroic Failure
Tom Devine – The Scottish Clearances
David McCraw - Truth in Our Times
Robert Crawford – The Book of Iona
Marina Warner – Forms of Enchantment : Writing on Arts and Artists
