Samuel Credits Fiction for Empathy at Sharjah Book Fair
Lebanese actress Cynthia Samuel discussed how fictional characters expose readers to different personalities, emotions and experiences.
Updated on Nov. 11, 2026 in Books
Lebanese actress, model and writer Cynthia Samuel spoke about books and reading during the session 'When Characters Come to Life' at the 45th Sharjah International Book Fair. The session was hosted by Mohamed Qais.
Why it matters
The session highlights how reading shapes personal perspective and emotional understanding, a theme of interest to readers and the literary community at the Sharjah book fair. It offers a personal account of reading habits from a public figure in the cultural sector.
Samuel reported reading 14 books last month and said she first read The Secret at age 13. The source does not provide a comparison with other readers or the titles of the books read last month.
The players
Cynthia Samuel
Cynthia Samuel is a Lebanese actress, model and writer who spoke about her reading habits and the role of characters in readers' lives.
Sharjah International Book Fair
The Sharjah International Book Fair is an annual literary event in the United Arab Emirates whose 45th edition hosted the session.
The details
At the session 'When Characters Come to Life,' hosted by Mohamed Qais, Samuel said fictional characters expose readers to different personalities, emotions and experiences. She also recalled reading The Secret at 13 as part of her early reading history.
Timeline
Samuel first read The Secret at age 13.
Samuel reported reading 14 books in the month before the session.
The session was held during the 45th Sharjah International Book Fair, reported on November 11, 2026.
Cultural Context
The session took place within the 45th edition of the Sharjah International Book Fair, a long-running regional literary festival that programs author and public-figure discussions about reading.
Readers interested in the role of fiction can use the session's central idea to reflect on how the books they choose expose them to different emotions and viewpoints. The session offers a concrete example of reading habits to consider when choosing titles.
The takeaway
Fictional characters can widen a reader's understanding of other personalities and emotions, as Samuel argued at the Sharjah session. Choosing varied books is one practical way to apply that idea.
Further reading
Explore more reading and literary coverage in our Books section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Gulf Today.
