Guernsey Press

Literary festival ‘a landmark event in Guernsey calendar’

THE Guernsey Literary Festival continues to inspire islanders, young and old, according to those attending the festival’s events.

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Guernsey Literary Festival attendee Sasha Kazantseva -Miller at the festival’s hub.

The annual festival returned on Thursday, with various events taking place until Sunday.

Sasha Kazantseva-Miller had yesterday attended a talk at the festival hub in Market Square.

The talk was by adventurer, entrepreneur, environmentalist and writer Huw Kingston, who spoke about his new book, Mediterranean.

‘I think it’s a landmark event in the calendar for Guernsey,’ she said.

‘It’s excellent for everyone, from young kids to the elderly, and I think it’s fantastic to see it grow.

‘I’ve come to a few talks in the past and I’m going to a few tomorrow with my children.

‘It’s very important for me to inspire the love of reading to them.

‘To inspire love for the world, culture and learning.

‘I also support the literary festival through my business and it’s very important for us to continue to do so.’

Festival-goer Clare Ogier added: ‘It’s very important, I love it, I always come. It can give people some fresh ideas about life.’

Huw Kingston’s book tells the story of his year-long circumnavigation of the Mediterranean by sea kayak, foot, ocean rowboat and bike – a journey that Ms Ogier found engaging.

‘It was fantastic, really interesting, fascinating,’ she said.

‘Particularly because it wasn’t just an adventure, he raised money for children. Children who are being taken as refugees to the Mediterranean from Syria and so many other places.

‘He also highlighted a problem that we have here, and something I’m always talking about, which is the waste caused by using plastic bottles.’

Ms Kazantseva-Miller was also touched by the talk.

‘It was inspiring, awakening and revealing,’ she said.

‘It helps you connect deeper, to perhaps your own purpose in life.’