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A book affair

Have we bid adieu to the age of reading printed books ? Have we outgrown the excitement of buying books? Do good bargains continue to please us? Is our purchase of books based on their online reviews ? Are book fairs on their way down? Perhaps, unnervingly, I might answer these questions in the affirmative. My trip to Strand Book fair this year epitomizes the shift in the general trend from print culture to the digital culture, the shift in buying books at sales to online shopping for books and of course e-books that can be downloaded for free ! I have seen the sale of withdrawn books at the BCL attract more enthusiastic book lovers than the turnout at Strand this year.

Strand Book Fair had always been a rejuvenating experience. The feverish run from station to the venue (mostly, Sunderbai Hall), the first step into the bewitching book world the cheer of a strandian serendipity (one was sure to find a long craved for book ! and long lost friends ), long queues, (Saturday afternoons would be swamped), bags full of books, books and more books. The sudden awareness of fatigue and hunger would lead invariably to a quick snack on the way back home, a heart brimming with pleasure and feet still holding on to the promised hot water.

This year was a disappointment. The collection was nothing to write home about, the turnout seemed low. The enthusiasm dipped and a general helplessness loomed large. A resigned, stoical acceptance of fate. A fate Strand would have long seen coming. It is now a matter of time. Those glorious days have indeed gone with the wind.

- Big Sham






Comments

  1. UnknownFebruary 26, 2012 at 2:08 AM

    I agree that it is really unfortunate to see the transition of holding book in our hands to digital books. Strand Book Fair was pretty much a disappointment but I believe the books I wanted were not in stock at the book store itself. Do give Kitab Khana near Flora Fountain a try, it has a better pricing range and a wider repertoire of books.

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