What is on your bookshelf?
One cold January afternoon, a group of reading and book lovers from JSC AlES gathered in an informal atmosphere in the CoffeeVarka coffee shop to discuss what they had read over a cup of tea or coffee. Everyone was keen and read differently, so the exchange of stories, emotions and the list of authors enriched each participant of the meeting and broadened the literary interest. Thus, as a result of the meeting and discussion, the idea of the “KnigoVarka” club was born and the decision was made to choose a book of the month together, read it, and then gather in the coffee shop and discuss it.
The other day we had a regular meeting of book lovers. They discussed the novel “Honor” by the Turkish writer Elif Shafak about love and misunderstanding, in which the motifs of East and West are intertwined. The topic is also very close to our society, which is why the discussion was lively and interested.
“We haven’t even noticed how we have read and discussed 9 books together since the creation of the club”, says Dina Karabalina, Chief Specialist of the Human Resources Division of the Human Resources Department. – During this period we have got acquainted with the works of American, British, Turkish, Irish writers. A new book is a new view, new worldview, everyday life, traditions, problems, joys, advice, discovery of heroes. I like the format of our book club, when after reading one of the participants talks about the author and the other – about his work. And then each of us shares our ‘aftertaste’ of the book”.
On the list of books already read: Afghan-American writer Khaled Hosseini’s “A Thousand Splendid Suns”; French writer, dramatist Françoise Sagan’s “A Little Sun in Cold Water”; American writer, editor Mary Ann Shaffer’s “The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society”; American writer, war correspondent, Nobel Prize winner Ernest Hemingway’s “The Old Man and the Sea”; American writer, philosopher and pilot Richard Bach’s “Jonathan Livingston Seagull Named”; and others.
“I was excited to join the book club, and it’s a great experience! – Aizada Tleukhan, Chief Specialist of the Personnel Training Division of the Human Resources Department, shares her impressions. – I like the atmosphere of communication with like-minded people, where everyone can share their impressions about the books they have read. Thanks to the club I have broadened my horizons and learnt about many interesting authors and works. I would like to note that in the corporate newspaper “AlES News” book lovers recommend their favourite works every month”.
“Knigovarka” is a book club where we do not boringly discuss literature, – this is how Gaukhar Temirova, Specialist of the Personnel Training Division of the Human Resources Department, characterised the regular literary meetings in the CoffeeVarka coffee shop.
“At the first meeting of the club, I set myself a goal of reading 12 books this year, but I have already read 9 books thanks to “Knigovarka”. The book club gives us the opportunity to hear alternative opinions and to look at what we read from a different angle. In addition, our discussions help us learn to express our thoughts clearly, defend our opinions and debate," concludes Gauhar.
The club was created by reading enthusiasts at CHPP-1 n.a. B.Orazbayev, but judging by the interest in the idea, we can soon expect similar clubs to appear in other production departments of JSC AlES . After all, “Knigovarka” has succeeded in almost unthinkable in our digital age – to return the book, and most importantly – the process of thoughtful reading of good literature – both classics and modern literature – to their daily lives. Reading is both recreation, pleasure and labour, forcing us to think, experience and comprehend what we read. But today, for every day you read a book, millions of others didn’t …