Book lovers get ready for literature treat

Contrary to what poet TS Eliot declared in his famous poem The Waste Land, November (rather than April) is probably the cruelest month for Mumbai’s culture vultures. With back-to-back festivals, you need to have some serious stamina to keep up with the city’s cultural scene this month. The 14th Mumbai Film Festival ended last week and it’s already time for the third edition of literature live!.

As soon as literature live! draws to a close, Prithvi Festival, with a selection of critically-acclaimed plays, will begin. For the time being, though, it’s time to plan treks down to NCPA for five days of literary hobnobbing at this year’s literature live!.

Between October 31 and November 4, literature live! brings you book launches, a chance to listen to famous names from the world of publishing and performances inspired by works of literature. Among the new titles that will be unveiled at the festival are Shobhaa De’s Sethji, Kali Rising by Ashok Banker, Nilanjana Roy’s The Wildings and Breaking 80 by literary-agent-turned author, David Godwin.

The star attraction is Nobel laureate Sir VS Naipaul, who has a flair for saying controversial things.  While it’s unlikely that any other participant would match Naipaul for shock value, here are the panels that promise to be equally entertaining and well worth a commute to Nariman Point.