Why Kyrgyzstan does not write best-sellers?

Books are not so popular nowadays as they were before. People, especially young prefer TV, Radio and Internet, which to their opinion are easier to comprehend than taking trouble of reading books. Such negative tendency surely affects writers. I am quite sure that the main part of the Kyrgyz population can hardly remember any best-seller, except for Chingiz Aitmatov’s works. The news agency “24.kg” decided to find out why nobody writes best-sellers in Kyrgyzstan and what book they would like to continue.

Svetlana, a painter:

I do not know why. I am not interested in popular literature. I read what is interesting for me and my taste and liking often do not match with the majority’s. As to the second question, I completely agree the popular Russian comedian Mikhail Jvanetsky, who thinks that “one should start writing only when it is beyond endurance.”

Elena Voronina, director of the non-commercial organizations on children rights’ protection:

There is no real literature in Kyrgyzstan as we have lost true artists in words, such as Chingiz Aitmatov, Tugelbai Sydykbekov and other writers who essentially contributed to the culture of Kyrgyz people.

As a girl I dreamt of continuing the adventure tales of Jules Vern and Jack London. Now, when adult, I would like to make additions to Bible. Probably, I would serve the universal human values of the sacred book under a new dressing to match the modern reality. The world has changed and the important values lost their relevance.

Olga Medvedeva, a programmer:

Maybe good books are written in our country but the people practically give up reading them. Everything that draws my interest I can find on Internet. I think that a lot of young people will agree with me. It is cheaper to read a book on-line than to buy it. In general I did not hear about best-seller authors or about celebrated books’ presentations in Kyrgyzstan.

And what about the second question I would probably change the end of Anna Karenina, as it has a very tragic ending. 

Gulnara Derbisheva, Member of Kyrgyz Parliament:

Unfortunately, publication of books became a large problem in Kyrgyzstan. None of the local publishing houses worth its establishment due to the sharp decrease of reading culture. Remember the well-known movie Adventures of Shurik where all characters are reading books. It is a pity but Kyrgyzstan does not have a culture of reading anymore. We have to read foreign best-sellers. Probably there are good authors in our republic but I do not know them. I have heard that Felix Kulov presented his autobiographic book. But I would not buy it because I can hardly find something interesting there.

In regard to the second question, I could write and continue some works. One of these days I have read the novel by an unknown but talented author in one of the Kyrgyz newspapers.  I am a romantic person and spring definitely has its influence on me. I think I could write a novel or something like that.

I would like to continue the book of Irina Hakamada “Sex in big-time politics.” The work is about difficulties which women dealing with politics face. The author deliberately did not finish the book in order everybody can make a conclusion on their own. I would make additions to it taking into account Kyrgyz women mentality - wise, flexible and have high moral standards.

Omor Sultanov, chairman of the Kyrgyz Writers’ Association:

 In order to ask the first question you should read all works of the Kyrgyz writers. Have you done it? National authors write a lot of good stuff but often they can not publish them due to lack of finances or possibility to advertise the edition.

Decrease of people’s interest in reading also has its effect. For the last years I wrote some adventure novels, such as “Captive pirates”, “Dragon’s island”, “Nameless horseman”. To the mind of reading public, these are good novels. It is worth to point out that best-seller is quite a relative notion.

Boris Kubaev, Deputy Chief of the Kyrgyz Education and Science Ministry:

Nobody writes best-sellers in our country because many people replaced books and other culture values with money. But we should not forget that material values are harmless till they do not damage the morality. I am sure that best-sellers will appear in Kyrgyzstan as there are a lot of talented and gifted persons in our country.

I have no moral right to continue the existing masterpieces but I plan to finish up my own book “The Karachai and Balkars in XX century” by the end of April.

Natasha, a bookshop assistant:

Probably somebody writes best-sellers in Kyrgyzstan but I did not hear about anybody else but Chingiz Aitmatov. Customers mainly ask for his books. By the way, the recently released autobiography of Felix Kulov is gaining popularity, as many people ask about it. Educational and informative literature is still in high demand.

I would not make additions to any book as I do respect opinions of every author.