Ubud Writers & Readers Festival

Sophal Ear escaped the Khmer Rouge due to his mother’s unflinching determination and moved to the US at the age of ten. He has overcome both genocide and poverty to … The post In-Conversation // Sophal Ear: Escaping the Khmer Rouge appeared first on Ubud Writers & Readers Festival.

Anaesthesia is a modern miracle. But how much do we really know about what happens to us on the operating table? Is pain still pain if we are not awake … The post In-Conversation: Kate Cole-Adams: Anesthesia appeared first on Ubud Writers & Readers Festival.

Did that Minion just say terima kasih? French-Indonesian animated film director and voice actor Pierre Coffin is the man behind the little yellow characters from the Despicable Me franchise, emblazoned … The post In-Conversation // Pierre Coffin: Movies and Minions appeared first on Ubud Writers & Readers Festival.

“I’ve always tried to think of poetry as an active ingredient in the language…” From a life-long passion for rock music to his post as Oxford Professor of Poetry, poet, … The post In-Conversation // Simon Armitage: From Punk to Poet appeared first on Ubud Writers & Readers Festival.

Described by the Observer Food Monthly as “a happy mix of scholarly and gluttonous”, Fuchsia Dunlop’s stories and recipes take us deep into the culinary heart of China. Join a … The post In-Conversation // Fuchsia Dunlop: Land of Plenty appeared first on Ubud Writers & Readers Festival.

With Wild Swans, Jung Chang illuminated the lives of three generations of women in China. Former rocket factory worker Lijia Zhang’s Lotus, inspired by her grandmother’s experiences, tells the story … The post In-Conversation // Jung Chang: Writing Modern China appeared first on Ubud Writers & Readers Festival.

“Nowadays everyone’s got to appear to be doing something,” notes Robert Dessaix. We’re working longer hours, consuming more than ever, and treat being busy as a status symbol. In a … The post In-Conversation // Robert Dessaix: The Pleasures of Leisure appeared first on Ubud Writers & Readers Festival.

Having studied, worked and traveled in Southeast Asia as a journalist and peace mediator for more than three decades, Michael Vatikiotis peers beyond brand new shopping malls and shiny glass … The post In-Conversation // Michael Vatikiotis: Blood & Silk appeared first on Ubud Writers & Readers Festival.

Héctor Abad’s depictions of contemporary Colombian society have won readers around the world. In Oblivion, the memoir of his father’s life and murder by Colombian paramilitaries, personal events are the … The post In-Conversation // Héctor Abad: First Person appeared first on Ubud Writers & Readers Festival.

He’s the wit and wickedness behind the beloved Inspector Rebus and Detective Malcolm Fox, read in 22 languages around the world. Celebrating 30 years of Rebus, Ian Rankin brought a … The post In-Conversation // Ian Rankin: A Life of Crime appeared first on Ubud Writers & Readers Festival.

A tireless advocate for the rights of women and minorities in her home of Malaysia, Marina Mahathir is admired (and occasionally admonished) for telling it straight. She joins Michael Vatikiotis, … The post In Conversation // Marina Mahathir: Telling it Straight appeared first on Ubud Writers & Readers Festival.

A living legend of Indonesian literature, Nh. Dini will reveal the flame that sustained her prolific writing career spanning more than five decades. Listen in as she narrates her colorful … The post In-Conversation // Nh. Dini: A Living Literary Legend appeared first on Ubud Writers & Readers Festival.

Spanning decades and diasporas, Madeleine Thien’s stories “remind us what fiction can do” (New Statesman). She takes the UWRF stage to discuss the Booker-shortlisted Do Not Say We Have Nothing, … The post In-Conversation // Madeleine Thien: Do Not Say We Have Nothing appeared first on Ubud Writers & Readers Festival.

From busloads of tourists and bustling beaches, to Balinese Hinduism and a global voice, Bali is a place that knows how to adapt. Join this high-spirited session for a look … The post Evolving Indonesia // Paradise Revisited appeared first on Ubud Writers & Readers Festival.

For nearly 1,000 years, Balinese Hinduism – a unique blend of animism, ancestral worship, and Indian philosophies – has given the island splendid rituals and inter-faith harmony. What makes Balinese … The post Evolving Indonesia // Mystical Bali appeared first on Ubud Writers & Readers Festival.

Rich with local lore, legendary beasts and mythical monsters, listen in as writers from the far corners of the Indonesian archipelago explore the culture of their regions and its impact … The post Evolving Indonesia // Island Lore appeared first on Ubud Writers & Readers Festival.

Overwhelmed by English and dominated by Bahasa, many say the Balinese language has reached the brink of extinction. Listen in as these speakers argue the case for Balinese, and why … The post Evolving Indonesia // Mother Tongue appeared first on Ubud Writers & Readers Festival.

Should we extend our compassion to all beings? Join extraodinary activists and authors for a conversation on compassion for the natural world, the next moves in sustainability, and how to … The post Tat Tvam Asi // Mother Nature appeared first on Ubud Writers & Readers Festival.

Last year, we explored the 17,000 islands of imagination. Set sail again beyond Jakarta and Bali with these translators and curators to hear how the Festival’s Emerging Writers Program has … The post Evolving Indonesia // Reading the Archipelago appeared first on Ubud Writers & Readers Festival.

Forget blackboards and musty textbooks, strap in for a super-charged history lesson where we consider how (and why) literature can keep us from repeating the mistakes of history. Featuring Juan … The post Tat Tvam Asi // The Past is Present appeared first on Ubud Writers & Readers Festival.