Anyone who thinks the book is a relic of the 20th century isn't paying attention to the Vancouver Writers Fest.

This year, the annual event smashed a record with attendance topping 17,000.

That approaches the size of the crowd at the average Vancouver Canucks home game.

Of course, artistic director Hal Wake's programming and the efforts of more than 350 volunteers have a lot to do with the organization's success.

Highlights of this year's Vancouver Writers Fest included the only Canadian appearance of Man Booker Prize winner Marlon James.

Another event featured all five finalists for the Scotiabank Giller Prize, including Vancouver's Anakana Schofield.

And for the first time, the Vancouver Writers Fest showcased the Punjabi-language equivalent of the Giller with finalists for the Dhahan Prize for Punjabi Literature.

Human-rights issues also took the forefront this year. One of the more timely events was called "1,000 Lashes". Ensaf Haider, the wife of jailed Saudi blogger Raif Badawi, spoke at St. Andrew's–Wesley United Church about her husband's ordeal.

She was joined by former Al Jazeera journalist Mohamed Fahmy, who spent more than 400 days doing hard time in jail in Cairo. (He was recently pardoned and returned to Vancouver, where he lived in the 1990s.)

Badawi has been convicted of insulting Islam and was sentenced to 1,000 lashes and 10 years in prison. The barbaric punishment is taking place in 50 installments of 20 lashes each. (Read the verdict translated into English here.)

Today in recognition of his courage, Badawi won the European Union's Sakharov prize for human rights.

The Guardian reported that in the European Parliament, Liberal bloc leader Guy Verhofstadt said the award was designed to send a message to Saudi authorities.

“We urge His Majesty King Salman to release Raif Badawi from prison and in any case to end the barbaric punishment of flogging,” Verhofstadt said.

Keep in mind that the Vancouver Writers Fest isn't just a one-week event. The organization hosts events throughout the year.

The next big name on the calendar is novelist John Irving, who will be at the Vancouver Playhouse on December 1. (Tickets are available at Vancouvertix.com.)

Humorist, author, and broadcaster David Sedaris is also coming to Vancouver, with an event scheduled at the Vogue Theatre on May 8.

For more information, see the Vancouver Writers Fest website. Like the Vancouver International Film Festival, the Vancouver Writers Fest ranks among the best in the world at what it does. Kudos to everyone who made this year's series of events such a success.