– According to the Armenian readers of our times, the Armenian literature is more dead than alive. At least the modern literature does not seem attractive enough to open our writers’ books.
– Literature never dies, it always moves. It is clear that one can’t tell an ordinary reader what to do or to go to a book store and buy books. The condition that may make people buy books is the interest to reading, of course if people need it.
– Yes, they will buy books, but the world literature is so interesting, and there are so many books that people mostly refer the classics or foreign famous authors.
– If the readers get acquainted to our modern writers, I believe they will prefer their books. The views are common and the language is their language, thus they will like these works.
– Let’s say readers may buy the books of modern writers. What efforts should modern writers make to make it interesting for the readers to read?
– This is an interesting period for the Armenian literature like it was in 60s. But it is a paradox that readers don’t know anything about their writers. Let’s understand the writers. It is a problem for them to deliver their books to readers after having written these books. It is a pity that writers say that they are their best readers.
– Maybe the reason is the personal characteristics of the writer such as their fame and civic standpoint. People don’t know the faces of modern writers; they don’t have an opportunity to meet them.
– Believe me it is worth recognizing them, as well as their faces. We have very interesting writers and I will tell some names. Recently Anush Alibekyan published an article entitled “Welcome, my tale”, which was addressed to the youth specifically. I don’t think that young people may not read it with interest. The writer has brought a new word.
– What does it mean to bring a new word?
– It means that the writer lives in her own inner world, and tries to introduce this inner world to the reader in an interesting manner. At least if one sees himself in a story, he will definitely read this story till the end. Nowadays readers read very hard; it is more difficult for people to read. They watch easy TV programs and it is difficult for them to read.
– Paulo Coelho has found a way to interest people easily; he writes short sentences and small chapters. The impression is that his stories are written by a computer but the entire world, including Armenia, accept him with great pleasure.
– The factor of the hero is important. Coelho’s hero with 51 million published copies is either a prostitute or shepherd. The writer should understand that the most important thing is not only the scenario but the hero as well. Coelho understood it; he brought an ordinary person into the world of literature and made a hero from him. All the other things are about professional work. The writer’s biggest goal is to touch the reader’s heart.
– Due to my profession I often read books. To be honest I have not been able to read the books I took till the end because the fake component was too much there. Why does the reader have to waste time on it? The level of world literature is high and writers would be better either not to write a book, or if they do they should do something more than the others, otherwise they can’t demand from readers to take and read their books.
– If you learn about the writer before reading and than read the book, it will be easier for you to read. For example, when Violet Grigoryan wrote her first collection entitled “The truth, I am telling the truth”, it was a great revolution in the poetry. She has a poem, in which she imagines the world without her. I can’t imagine a reader, who can ignore these words.
– Certainly Violet Grigoryan said a new word.
– She broke all the walls and created something new.
– You know the modern literature well and you can give us a good advise what to read.
– I would recommend the writings of Susanna Harutyunyan as she has a new understanding about the life and a new world. I would recommend Alice Hovhannisyan too. I think readers would also be interested in Armen Martirosyan, Vahan Vardanyan, Manase, Artak Hambardzumyan, Artashes Ghazaryan, Hrachya Tamrazyan, Hrachya Beyleryan, Khachik Manukyan…
– Literary criticism is the way that connects the writer with the reader. But we don’t have famous literary critics either to direct the readers to the right choice. There are no public discussions on any books. I can remember only Violet Grigoryan’s collection, which was harshly criticized in Armen Shekoyan’s article. But it was a long time ago.
– Literary criticism is highly useful. When a creation is born, the literary critics think about giving a life to this new work. The way from the writer to the reader through the literary critics is very important. However the problem is not only the fact that readers don’t know writers, but the writers don’t know each other either.
Or they don’t want to know each other.
– In this case the slogan “art for art” does not work either. Everyone is admired with his/her works. Of course there are some discussions but not too much; writers and readers have to find their places too.
– Writers can find themselves, but readers even if they look for themselves, they don’t find themselves in the writings of modern writers…