We wrapped up the year 2021 in a festive way by reflecting on our favourite books and films on our Instagram, Facebook and Twitter channels. Curious to know which stories we just couldn't get out of our minds?
Read more about Book recommendations from the Writers Unlimited team
"How many hours do you have?" Chris Keulemans asked.
"Can I tell a joke?" Mira Feticu asked.
Everything was allowed under the subtle lead by moderator Canan Marasligil, hospitable as she was. And so a precise conversation unfolded about hospitality in cultures, in language, with other authors, but also about solidarity, shame, transnationalism and 'fuck off'. It became apparent that hospitality, gastvrijheid in dutch requires a larger cultural and social debate - and an ode to the word. Because what a beautiful Dutch word gastvrijheid is!
Writers Unlimited keeps it cool and moves the 27th edition of Winternachten international literature festival The Hague from January to 16-19 June 2022. With the current Covid measures it is not possible to organise the festival in the middle of January in the way we are expected to: full of sparkling conversations and intimate encounters with Dutch and international writers, poets, spoken word artists and musical performers from The Netherlands and abroad.
Read more about Winternachten keeps it cool: festival moves to June 2022
In response to 1984 in which writing is not allowed, Arnon Grunberg told that not writing would not be the greatest punishment for him, but that he should not be allowed to read. "That would be the ultimate torture. You can write in your head, but not to be touched by words that is unbearable."
We look back on a special evening in the Central Library in The Hague in which film editor Gerlinda Heywegen and writer Arnon Grunberg fillet our time on the basis of film fragments based on George Orwell's novel 1984.
Writers Hannah Loontjens, Annelies Verbeke, Vilan van de Loo and Gustaaf Peek paid an astute tribute to Lin Scholte in Museum Sophiahof. Extra special: Lin Scholtes granddaughter was at the venue and brougt the original manuscript of Bibi Koetis voor altijd!
Read more about Lin Scholte forever!
