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The artist Ai Weiwei, who has not been seen since he was apprehended by Chinese authorities on April 3, 2011, has been permitted a visit by his wife, the artist Lu Qing.

I find myself wondering if there might be a storytelling session for children in English one of these days -- an Heure du conte en anglais. All of which is reason to be encouraged by the organization of the Forum itself -- and by the evident care taken to be inclusive.

In these poems there’s much ado about walking and climbing, using one’s legs in muck and water, and leaving behind one’s footprint in the sand. We can take the walk to mean an entire poetic apprehension of the poet’s experience in the world. Yes, I quite like that.

Bringing the art world together to condemn Ai Weiwei's disappearance: Sculptor Anish Kapoor has condemned China's "barbaric" detention of artist Ai Weiwei and has called on galleries to close for a day in protest. Ai - an outspoken critic of China's human rights record - has not been heard from since he was arrested in Beijing at the start of April. Kapoor has dedicated his monumental Leviathan art installation in Paris, unveiled on Tuesday, to Ai. Artists must speak with "a communal voice", he told BBC Radio 4's Today.

"Written in a gracefully accessible prose and enlivened by a wry wit, unaffectedly modest but confident in tone, alert to resentments and undercurrents, on this subject which she knows so intimately and thoroughly, Leith’s book is a necessary read. Besides, I am indexed. And one feels one has arrived when one has been indexed." -- Kenneth Radu

For those who cannot be there, and for those who can.

Weekend Forum on Quebec writing at the Grande Bibliothèque.

“The world is changing, and we’re trying to change with it.”

Pitched battles between publishers and librarians are not going to help anyone survive the digital revolution.

I have to speak for the generations who don’t have any way to speak out. Before they speak out the first sentence, they are crushed. I also have to speak out for the people around me who are afraid… So I want to set an example: You can do it. And this is OK, to speak out.  -- Ai Weiwei