Initiate kids to read horror: Spanish writer

Hyderabad: “You should fight stereotypes with stereotypes by showing how they are easy and useful to describe a character but not always the right choice,” said Spanish author Harkaitz Cano during a panel discussion at HLF on Saturday.

Works of Cano, also a poet, have been translated into nine languages, including German and English. The panel discussion revolved round busting stereotypes and also about the rising problems of plagiarism in literature, be it Spanish or Indian.

The discussion also dealt with the introduction of more horror stories into Indian fiction. Ana Cristina Herreros, popular Spanish author of ‘The book of Spanish Monsters and Magical geography’, encouraged the horror genre, saying even youngsters in Spain would choose a horror book.

“Horror writing is a different thing altogether and it will be a diversion from normal tales. Introducing children to such writing widens their reading habits,” the author said.

Alejandro Palomas, author of ‘A Love’ and recipient of the Nadal Prize, spoke about the sensitivity needed in writing. When questioned about the hardships of writing on suicide and other problems associated with youngsters, he said, “Indian literature is more explicit. We can see rape, suicide and other issues written which is a novel way for getting these issues across to the readers.” It was observed that it was a bold move made by Indian writers which was not found in other literature.  

The second day of the literary festival also had a panel discussion on the public voice of women, attended by Colombian novelist Laura Restrepo Gonzalez. She said many women in Colombia, who were subjected to violence on a daily basis, were invisible to the eye and would never find a voice.

“It is difficult when you live in a situation of conflict every day to make children believe that real life is better than death. We need more voices speaking and writing from these situations,” she said.