Dear audience,
What does integrity mean for a writer? Is it recognizability of style? Or is it when someone puts their convictions, their very person, on the line, and, after major success, chooses against the obvious next career move, in favor of humanitarian ideals? After the worldwide success of her debut novel «The God of Small Things» (HarperCollins, 1997), she could have produced a second or third book before long, but Arundhati Roy chooses to do what matters to her most.
In the eighth episode of our podcast «Read, Read, Read», we look back. In 2009, Arundhati Roy spoke with Gabriele von Arnim at the ILB about the impact of her debut and about why, rather than simply writing her next novel, she chose to engage politically — in her home country of India and on the global stage. The conversation was recorded one day after her opening address, titled «The Fading Light of Democracy».
Were you in the audience in 2009? Were you at the Deutsches Theater last year, when Arundhati Roy presented her memoir «Mother Mary Comes to Me» (Hamish Hamilton, 2025) as part of our 25th anniversary program? You can find the video recording on our YouTube channel.
We would love to hear what you think of «Read, Read, Read». Tune in, rate the podcast, and write to us.
You can find the podcast episodes here | apple and here | spotify.
We wish you a wonderful weekend and give you a book recommendation to take with you from this episode: Etel Adnan’s «Journey to Mount Tamalpais» (The Post-Apollo Press, 1986). A slim volume about a mountain in Marin County, California, and about what it means to give a place your full, undivided attention.
Don’t forget: We announce the complete program of the 26th International Literature Festival Berlin when advance ticket sales open on July 1.
We hope you enjoy listening and discovering!
Warm regards
Simone Schröder
Head of Program
International Literature Festival Berlin