WELCOME TO KAZAKHSTAN

On April 23, Kazakhstan celebrates National Book Day, established at the initiative of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. In a time of rapid change, books retain the ability to slow down time, reconnect with inner dialogue, and discover new meanings through personal stories and experiences.Contemporary Kazakhstani literature increasingly addresses the theme of humanity—childhood, family, and inner development. In this context, works in which the personal becomes universal, and a private story reflects an entire generation, occupy a special place.One such author is Unzila Mynbay, a writer, member of the Writers' Union of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and author of "Women of My Home" and "Champions from Childhood." In an interview with Qazaq Culture, Unzila Mynbay discusses the role of books in modern society, personal sources of inspiration, and why it is especially important to read more today.– Kazakhstan celebrates National Book Day on April 23. What role do you think books play in modern society?"I believe that it's precisely because books at some point began to lose their former significance in public life that they are receiving special attention today at the state level. The establishment of National Book Day is an important sign and the right emphasis, setting a benchmark for the development of a reading nation. And I see this as a very important and timely step.Any state needs a strong value system—one that helps people feel a connection to their country, a responsibility to their native land, respect for family, society, and themselves. And books have always been and remain one of the main sources for the formation of these feelings, meanings, and aspirations."—How did your literary career begin, and when did you decide to become a writer? How important is a specialized education for a writer?—I always wanted to be a writer. After dreaming of being an actress, a president, a fortune teller. But while those were fleeting ideas, the desire to write while overlooking a forest lake never left me. Even when I was working as a corporate lawyer.And then I gave birth to my third child. And, as with any terrible event, when they piece you back together, and you suddenly open your eyes and begin speaking in the dead languages ​​of Ancient Rome, so too, waking up after my third childbirth, I decided that I was now a writer. I remember giving birth to my third child and feeling very clearly, even tangibly, that I wanted to read a book. Then I realized I hadn't read in a long time.I wanted to re-experience that state when a book completely captivates you, when you read without stopping, experiencing powerful emotions, rediscovering your sensitivity to words and to life.I went to the library, where they recommended Dina Rubina's stories. At that point, I hadn't read anything for a long time—it seemed I hadn't gotten around to books since school: youth, family, children, new life. But these texts became a powerful inner impulse for me. I read and felt myself gradually filling up—with language, intonation, the precision of imagery, the depth of human experience. And at some point, this fulfillment naturally evolved into a desire to write myself—to express what had accumulated within.As for professional education, I think it's certainly important: it provides a framework, a range of readings, an understanding of literature as a craft and as an art. But, in my opinion, education alone is not enough. A writer begins where there's an inner need to speak and the ability to feel the world more deeply than usual.– Why do the themes of family and the role of women occupy a special place in your work? Where do you draw your inspiration?– Probably because I wholeheartedly believe in family and the power of close relationships. Everything most important to me is connected to home, childhood, parents, husband, and children—that's where the strongest feelings and deepest memories are born.I'm inspired by the people around me. Each person is a separate universe for me. I want to write about sensitive men, whom society doesn't always allow to be vulnerable, about women, whose daily, almost unnoticed heroism often goes unnoticed, about children, for whom our adult decisions become the whole world. For me, family is the beginning of any story. It's where a person is formed: their strength, their traumas, their capacity for love, or their desire for solitude.– What role does literature play in shaping values, and how can we instill the habit of reading in the younger generation today?– Literature still shapes values, but it's important that it be relatable and understandable to the modern reader. Reading today lacks appeal – it needs to be "repackaged": books need to be made visually interesting, contemporary, so that they're as engaging as familiar elements of everyday culture.The way authors write is also important. Complex, overloaded language is off-putting – the text must be lively, honest, and speak to the reader in a common language. You need to understand who your audience is. People today have little time, so short forms, dynamic texts, and short fiction are becoming more popular and help rekindle interest in reading.Book clubs are also effective. At first, you read out of responsibility, to meet a deadline, but then genuine interest and pleasure emerge. This is how a habit gradually develops—and a love of books returns.– What book would you recommend reading today and why?– Honestly, I'd recommend my book, "Women of My House." Not just because it's my interview, but because it's a collection of stories about our contemporaries—ones that are filled with warmth, humor, and sincerity.At the center is a woman and the world she holds dear: children, family, work, inner struggles. These are stories of everyday strength, of unsung heroism, of life without grand titles or awards.For me, this book is an honest cross-section of society, where the main characters are ordinary women: our mothers, sisters, neighbors. Not great in the traditional sense, but truly strong—just without the big words.