Recently, we had a book event at the beautiful Xiaoyan bookshop (小陽。日栽書屋) in Pingtung City talking about Tâigael: Stories from Taiwanese & Gaelic and Hilda Hoy’s Mother Tongue.
Xiaoyan bookshop - the name of which, literally translated, is “Little Sun” - stocks an impressive array of secondhand books, hosts cultural events and is housed in one of the many preserved pre-WWII Japanese military quarters in the centre of the city.
These gorgeous Japanese style buildings, made of carved, ornate wood and surrounded by lush, green gardens are now home to cafés, shops and many cultural exhibitions. As a collective, the houses form what is known as the Shengli New Village Victory Star V.I.P. Zone. It’s a lovely area for exploring, relaxing, reading, writing and feeling inspired.
We had an incredibly fun afternoon full of rich conversations – in many languages - and connections with people from Taiwan, Japan, Albania, America and beyond. Thank you to Hilda Tsai at Xiaoyan bookshop for inviting and hosting us and to everyone who came along, bought books and contributed to such a delightful gathering!
Wind&Bones co-director Will has also written a lovely article about the event, which will definitely make you feel a bit better about the world. And you can read it here - https://www.willbuckingham.com/a-little-sun/
