Shanghai Book Fair Opens to Attract International Literary A-listers

　　The annual Shanghai Book Fair has returned, and as it celebrates it's tenth anniversary, organizers say the week-long event has attracted a growing number of international literary A-listers.

 

　　Yun Feng takes us to Shanghai for more.

 

　　The weeklong Shanghai Book Fair has opened to hundreds of thousands of readers here from Shanghai, other parts of the country, and around the world. Held at the Shanghai Exhibition Centre from Wednesday it will host a record number of international literary A-listers giving free book signings and open readings.

 

　　Zhou Siqin is head of the press office of the book fair.

 

　　Ms. Zhou says more guests from home and abroad are invited to attend the Shanghai book fair. And this year, more than 900 literary celebrities¹ will meet the audience. She describes that the book fair is in many ways a carnival² of cultures.

 

　　The highlights of the international literary A-listers include Russian-American poet and critic Ilya Kamingsky; award-winning Italian author Paolo Giordano; Canadian science fiction writer Robert J Sawyer; and veteran British cultural commentator³ Norman Lebrecht.

 

　　It is the first time for Paolo Giordano to come to Shanghai. His second book Human Body has been translated into Chinese, and will be presented to readers at the fair. Talking about traveling to different places and attending book talks, he really regards it as another part of the life he didn't prepare for.

 

　　Prior to the official opening day, dozens of writer and critics from home and abroad already started conversations. Su Tong is one of the renowned⁴ Chinese writers attending the forum⁵ discussion called Reviewing Literary Reviews.

 

　　When giving his ideas Su Tong says he is deeply worried about the new and complex relationship the book reviews have with this internet age.

 

　　As usual the majority of books are written in Chinese, English or Japanese and are available to buy for a discounted rate around 20 per cent. And this year you've got more browsing⁶ time, as closing times have been extended from 6pm to 9pm daily.

 

　　For China Now, I am Yunfeng.

1 celebrities   

n.（尤指娱乐界的）名人( celebrity的名词复数 )；名流；名声；名誉

参考例句：

• He only invited A-list celebrities to his parties. 他只邀请头等名流参加他的聚会。
• a TV chat show full of B-list celebrities 由众多二流人物参加的电视访谈节目

2 carnival   

n.嘉年华会，狂欢，狂欢节，巡回表演

参考例句：

• I got some good shots of the carnival.我有几个狂欢节的精彩镜头。
• Our street puts on a carnival every year.我们街的居民每年举行一次嘉年华会。

3 commentator   

n.注释者，解说者；实况广播评论员

参考例句：

• He is a good commentator because he can get across the game.他能简单地解说这场比赛，是个好的解说者。
• The commentator made a big mistake during the live broadcast.在直播节目中评论员犯了个大错误。

4 renowned   

adj.著名的，有名望的，声誉鹊起的

参考例句：

• He is one of the world's renowned writers.他是世界上知名的作家之一。
• She is renowned for her advocacy of human rights.她以提倡人权而闻名。

5 forum   

n.论坛，讨论会

参考例句：

• They're holding a forum on new ways of teaching history.他们正在举行历史教学讨论会。
• The organisation would provide a forum where problems could be discussed.这个组织将提供一个可以讨论问题的平台。

6 browsing   

v.吃草( browse的现在分词 )；随意翻阅；（在商店里）随便看看；（在计算机上）浏览信息

参考例句：

• He sits browsing over[through] a book. 他坐着翻阅书籍。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Cattle is browsing in the field. 牛正在田里吃草。 来自《简明英汉词典》