When Tom Stoppard was quoted in The New York Times as saying that he had writer's block because there were just too many problems in the world, it may have come to some as a surprise to see that he made this declaration from the Paraty Book Festival in Brazil.

The five year old festival wants to rival with the established big names such Hay-on-Wye, Adelaide, Toronto’s Harbourfront, the Berlin Festival, Edinburgh and Mantua by attracting a roster of prestigious names. And it does succeed. Among the guests this year, Richard Price, David Sedaris, Misha Glenny, Pierre Bayard, Tom Stoppard, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie -- who we can be certain enjoyed the intimacy of the little coastal and historical town.