With the surge of film adaptations and the constant pull of social media, embracing creative experiences through the written word may seem like a daunting prospect, especially when overshadowed by our shrinking attention span.

However, on April 19, literary enthusiasts from across LAU’s schools united to challenge this notion through a vibrant celebration of books and reading on the annual Literature Day.

Led by The Page Turner Club, a student society focused on rekindling interest in reading and supported by the Communication, Arts, and Languages department, the event held on the Beirut campus garnered enthusiastic participation from both students and faculty.

While the department traditionally organizes the event each year, this time around, the club assumed leadership. “We thought that the best way to bring back our club to the spotlight is to take charge of this event,” said Reem El Zouheiry, the club’s president and a senior English literature student. “We also wanted more people to know about the English major and the interesting electives they can take.”

In addition to a poetry reading competition and a scavenger hunt, the event featured literary booths showcasing various genres such as contemporary fiction, mystery, and sci-fi, inviting the community to immerse themselves in diverse literary experiences through interactive games and discussions.

Among the booth participants were Fadi Murad and Haddy Raad, second- and third-year psychology students respectively. They presented chapters from classical literary works covered in their English elective classes, such as The Odyssey and One Thousand and One Nights, in bite-sized, student-friendly formats like podcasts and interactive presentations. 

Reem Makarem, a first-year computer engineering student, was also among the participants who represented the gothic genre through a game booth. “I volunteered today not just because I love reading but also to connect with people who share my interests,” she said.