Why literature matters

First Ladies Eliza Reid of Iceland and Dr. Jenni Haukio of Finland, both authors, along with bestselling English writer and illustrator Neil Gaiman acting as moderator, engaged us in rousing conversations a few weeks back on how reading and literature rest in the heart of Nordic societies. The seventh floor of the New York Public Library’s Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library division burst with lively exchanges as the audience learned a thing or two from their rich traditions and best practices.

Ms. Reid, a Canadian by birth who studied in Oxford where she met a schoolmate who would be the future president of Iceland, spoke about the Icelanders’ love of their literary traditions and “deep, deep respect to literature.” She describes her adopted country as one with “distinct landscape, atrocious weather, very few trees but with tourist friendly volcanic eruptions.” If I had not read about Iceland as one of the countries with the highest happiness indices and the highest literacy rates in the world, I would feel sorry for the 380,000 or so Icelanders in their natural environment.

Icelandic authors and poets draw inspiration from their atypical geographical setting and it is through this distinctive immersive experience where they create poems, novels and stories. In the very words of the sprightly First Lady who has made Iceland home for 20 years, “We express our creativity through the written word.”

There is an Icelandic tradition that I find quite relatable and utterly jealous of. I love giving books to family and special people, children especially, on their birthdays or special occasions like Christmas inasmuch as it is my joy to receive one. Buying books and reading them – whether second-hand or fresh off the press – are my guilty pleasures.

Iceland’s First Lady said that books are the most popular Christmas gifts in her country because tradition has it that on Christmas Eve everyone – from children to the elderly – reads a book. It is not that family members hold a book and read while partaking of a festive meal but I visualize this as a settling down scene post revelry.

It is a custom that is so ingrained in their culture, which is why they have “Jolabokaflod” or the Christmas book flood from September to December when the most number of books are sold in Iceland. During this season, flyers with the list of books, especially newly published ones, are distributed or mailed to allow people to make their book shopping list.

I think of how we could adopt this book-giving custom in addition to sweets or food hampers for Christmas. And why not? Our annual book fair takes place every September, which is also when budding writers or veteran authors launch their works.

While it is now past the book fair, it is never too late for publishers to beef up their marketing efforts towards further promoting books as gifts by creating greater awareness and perhaps coming up with a campaign, our own version of “Jolabokaflod.” For children especially, we are not lacking in pieces of literature. We have an array of fantastic books, many in two languages, depending on the child’s age or reading level. These books come in affordable bundles from publishing companies like Adarna House, Tahanan books etc., which are available at bookstores or online. I know because I am a suki when it comes to these types of gifts.

Dr. Haukio, who designed the Tiny Stories project “What I want for every child” for UNICEF that brought together more than 300 authors, poets and novelists from around the world, edited a Finnish poetry anthology to honor her country’s 100 years of independence. She spoke about the universality of literature, where “there is only you and me, a human soul and a human soul.” For her, understanding literature “can build international relations.”

Instead of material capital, learning and education are Finland’s priorities. There is a free library in every municipality (the First Lady emphasized “free” and “every”) where about eight million books are circulated. Finland ranks second highest in Europe in terms of book reading, with an average of 5.3 hours spent per week for books.

Societies that put a premium on their citizens’ literacy and literary traditions are in a very fortunate status. I hope our LGUs and philanthropists would one day seriously collaborate to build free libraries in every city or municipality in our country. Imagine our children and adults alike eagerly heading towards a town library, some holding books to return, others empty handed ready to borrow new titles.

Neil Gaiman asked about the extent by which their countries’ landscapes and environment influence literature. Ms. Reid suggested that because of its “small nation complex” and Iceland’s unique weather conditions, storytelling has become a way of life.

Poets and writers “eke out a living” from their natural surroundings. The government offers numerous subsidies and grants to encourage more writers. I was particularly intrigued that in Iceland there are more statues for writers than politicians and they have a museum dedicated to writers.

Dr. Haukio said that “our relationship with nature is at the core of our identity and living in the middle of nature all the more makes the relationship between human and animals central in literature.” Finnish are proud of their oral folk poetry tradition and know their national epic “Kalevala” by heart.

Expressing concern about the world feeling “less safe, messed up and weird,” Neil Gaiman asked the multi-hyphenated First Ladies how they think literature can help dissipate these disturbing feelings. Dr. Haukio believes that literature “can take us a moment away from our environment.” It is calming and therapeutic.

Ms. Reid on one hand looks at literature as “a form of escapism, reminding us that after darkness comes the dawn.” In these unsettling times, this is precisely the message we need.