Book lovers converge at Sharjah to listen to constellation of writers
- Last updated: November 10, 2025 | 10:48
Raghib Hassan, Staff Reporter
Words of wisdom were pouring in at the 44th Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) during the weekend. Audiences had memorable time interacting with many beautiful minds on Friday and Saturday. The Intellectual Hall of SIBF was flooded with book lovers on Friday evening. Huge number of audiences had gathered to listen their favourite author Dr. Julie Smith. Dr Julie is a clinical psychologist and international bestselling author. Her first book “Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before?” has sold over two million copies across the world and has been translated into 45 languages. She is the author of the New York Times bestseller, “Open When...” She has over 10 million followers across social media platforms where she shares insights from therapy that we can all use in our everyday life. She lives in England.
Such was the charm of Dr. Julie that her fans carrying books with them had arrived at the venue much before the actual time. As expected Dr. Julie captivated her fans with her inspiring talks.
Reflecting on her journey from psychologist to global educator, Dr. Julie spoke of her recovery from early-stage breast cancer last year, which reshaped her sense of focus. “You can’t control what happens, but you can choose where to focus. Once I began taking small actions and seeking advice, I felt a renewed sense of control and clarity.”
On finding balance, Dr. Julie admitted: “I’m more careful now about what I say yes or no to. I think about my family and values first. My way of replenishing is simple – spending time on farms, surrounded by greenery and animals.” She said, “We pay attention to our physical health but mental health too is equally important, but we don’t pay much attention to it. We should always try to find a balance between physical and mental health.” She said, “We are living in a hustle culture and feel burnt out very often but we need to prioritise our life.”
She encouarged, “Learn to say no when required and don’t feel low when something goes wrong with you and don’t be harsh on self. Life is all about highs and lows and you should be able to bounce back. It is natural for us to get diverted from the target but bring yourself back onto the stage. Take charge of your life.”
“Ask yourself what matters most – health, family, purpose. Give each a score and see how your actions align with those values. That clarity guides you to better decisions,” she explained.
After listening to a clinical psychologist on Friday evening, book lovers converged on Saturday evening to get a glimpse of Nigerian superstar Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, who regaled the audience in her style. Chimamanda grew up in Nigeria. Her work has been translated into over 55 languages. She is the author of the novels “Purple Hibiscus,” “Half of a Yellow Sun,” “Americanah” and many more. Her recent works include the essay “Notes on Grief” (on losing her father), the children’s book “Mama’s Sleeping Scarf” (published under the pseudonym Nwa Grace James), and the novel “Dream Count” (published in March 2025).
Chimamanda was delighted to be at the SIBF. She said, “I want to read novels written by Emirati writers. I am curious to know particularly about Sharjah.
Praising SIBF she said,” It is wonderful to see such a lovely audiences here. I am incredibly excited to see diversity of people at this fest. I am in awe of this place.”
When asked to comment about the writer’s block, she jokingly said, “I don’t like the term. I am very superstitious. I better not talk about it. I feel I need to find an alternative word for this.”
“All I can say is that all the creative people go for a dry spell,” she observed.
Talking about the importance of literary fest, she said, “It is very important for writers and readers both. Reading is very essential and we learn a lot by reading books.”
She is popularly referred as the voice of generation. Talking about the compliment, she said, “I just want to write stories and I hope people can connect to my stories. That is what I want to do.”
A recipient of the MacArthur Fellowship, Chimamanda divides her time between the United States and Nigeria. Dressed in Nigerian attire she literally mesmerised the audiences with her sense of style. Talking about her fashion sense, she said, “How you present yourself to others is very important and I like to wear Nigerian attire.”
Her deep-rooted connection with her home country and family can be understood from the fact that she mentioned many times about her father and mother in an hour of talk. She said “I still can’t believe that my parents are no more. I have not been able to overcome from my mother’s loss till now.”
My father was very kind, humble and very strong man. He would always encourage me. In fact, both of my parents were every supportive, she concluded.
Over 12 days, SIBF 2025 will feature more than 1,200 events, including panel discussions and sessions. Of these, 300 events fall under the cultural programme, delivered by 66 international speakers from 19 countries, 62 Arab speakers from 20 countries, and 30 Emirati participants. Speakers from 10 countries are participating for the first time: Iceland, Jamaica, Nigeria, Mali, Chad, Angola, Mozambique, Guinea, Senegal, and Vietnam.