Moroccan novelist Abdel Wahid Estito launched an individual cultural initiative to encourage reading in the time of Corona, which consisted of dedicating his novel “Just a millimeter away” (or Zahrlisa) to an unknown readership in Tangiers.
Under the hashtag # 10_Novels_10_Place, Esteto wrote on his Facebook page: “What is the idea? From time to time, I will leave a copy behind – with a dedication – in one of the public places in Tangiers, for a reader to take it … Who knows? This may be the beginning of his reading era … and most importantly … his love for Tangier!The writer emphasized that the current situation made him think of a method that does not depend on direct communication, through which he communicates his story to readers he does not know, explaining: “If the novel succeeded in invading the Facebook pioneers in their world, then the rest of the readers should have their share of this beautiful involvement. I know that some will throw the novel in the nearest garbage can, but I hope that other readers will find some fun in it under harsh conditions that everyone lives.Regarding the possibility of expanding the idea further, Estito added: “Of course, it will not be limited to 10 novels only … it is just a symbolic number. Also, the matter will not be limited to Tangiers, and will expand to include other cities later.”
It is also noteworthy that the novel “Just a millimeter away” is the first Arab “Facebook” novel, and in 2018 it won the Arab Creativity Award in Dubai.