Visually-Impaired Version 
Book lovers were honored at Maqsut Narikbayev University following the completion of a large-scale book marathon held at the university.
The competition lasted for five months and attracted strong interest among students. The initiative was organized to promote a reading culture within the university community. It is worth noting that last year, during an award ceremony for cultural and arts professionals, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev emphasized that in order to build a progressive state, Kazakhstan must first become a reading nation.
Throughout the marathon, participants read one book each month, exploring works of Kazakh and international fiction, fantasy literature, and business publications. In addition, 55 meetings and discussions were held in the university library, where students answered questions about the books they had read. Another requirement of the мараthon was recording video reviews of the books and maintaining reading journals with personal reflections on the works.
Nine students advanced to the final stage. To determine the winners, an intellectual quiz was organized, during which participants demonstrated detailed knowledge of all the books they had read. As a result of the marathon, Diana Kakharman, a student of the MNU Law School, won first place.
“I am very happy to have been part of the book marathon. It helped me develop a culture and discipline of reading. I have loved books since childhood, and this project became a real challenge for me. Chingiz Aitmatov’s novel Farewell, Gulsary! left the strongest impression on me. The book had a deep emotional impact,” said Diana Kakharman.
The finalists received valuable prizes, including an iPad, a smartwatch, and a smart speaker. The second book marathon is scheduled for the next academic year.
