The problem is not the absence of books, but lack of skill at finding readers

Serhiy ZHADAN (Kharkiv):

It’s a marginal phenomenon, but I think that the situation could improve, so that it will become mainstream. Apparently, it takes finding the readership. From what I know, our publishers mostly work for a narrow circle of philologists and Ukrainists (while the true readership is outside their interests). Therefore, I believe that we have to concentrate on book marketing and thus establish contact with our readers. Also, it is necessary to lower the book’s prime cost. It is only thus that Ukrainian books can become a mainstream phenomenon. Metamorphoses in the age groups of audiences during literary soirees were the harbingers of changes for the better. Ten years ago, such events were attended mostly by people in their middle age and over. Today, the audience is mostly young. Sashko Irvanets and I made a promotional tour of Ukraine and every meeting gathered an audience as though it were a rock show.

Yurko POKALCHUK:

I don’t think we should go to excesses. This phenomenon is turning from marginal into normal. Any extremist, categorical concept is always erroneous. What marginality? My experience shows that all one needs is to write an interesting book and it could well become a bestseller. Of course, we don’t earn nearly as much as writers should, but I am happy to know that my books are selling well and that people are starting to read in Ukrainian. Everything will change for the better if we have support from the government.

Vasyl SHKLIAR:

There are many popular books selling well in Ukraine, and everyone would like to have copies in one’s home library, yet no one reads them. Other books may sell worse, but if one buys a copy, one is sure to read it.

Unfortunately, this phenomenon could be described as marginal now that the market is dominated by imported literature. Ukrainian books, however, show better progress even under the current conditions than some would prefer. Seed cast on the rocks is taking root. The situation with Ukrainian books, complicated as it is, is better than it could be in this alien cultural and information environment.

One could say ironically that today’s event gathered a small audience owing to the cold weather. I believe that such gatherings can’t solve the problem of book-selling. I feel ill at ease here, I don’t like taking part in such events, yet if my presence will make at least one person really fond of my works attend, I would come here in any weather, because I, in turn, respect all such people. They are actually the heroes of my books, all those nice people with such keen awareness of national and general human dignity.

Andriy KURKOV:

This phenomenon is partially marginal (because there is marginal literature), but we are mainstream offshoots, and this is something Ukraine badly needs. These offshoots lack adequate book advertising. I think that such events should be held at other publishing houses, at various places, alongside each other, at least once a week. Such projects are harder to organizes in other localities, but book presentations should be organized once a month or once every two months. We’ll do our best to make such arrangements.

Mariya MATIOS:

I think that it’s neither a marginal nor a mainstream phenomenon. It’s an object in the cultural space, if I may say so. The trouble with Ukrainian books is not their absence or poor quality, but the fact that the Ukrainian book distribution system was consciously destroyed. As a school student at the remote town of Rozstoky, I had no problem buying any book published anywhere in the Soviet Union or Ukraine. Now this district center, located nine km from the oblast one, has no bookstores. That’s the problem, call it marginal, mainstream, or whatever. And so I say for all to hear that I’ll wash the feet of whomever restores the book distribution system with my hair.