Step in and it feels like the childhood of a 90s’ kid has been summed up in a shelf. Many books that have faded away into the labyrinths of our memories resurface here. Harry Potter tomes, Lord of the Rings opuses, Amar Chitra Kathas and Shikari Shambu comics, Malory Towers and the St Clare series, Goosebumps collections… you name them, they are here. The 41st edition of the Chennai Book Fair is also the best place where the old and the new coexist. Works of the 2017 Man Booker Prize winner George Saunders share space with classics by Charles Dickens and George Eliot. The fair, organised by the Booksellers and Publishers Association (BAPSA) features 10,000 new books, displayed in stalls put up by over 700 different exhibitors.
New writers
Independent publishers also find this to be the perfect platform to meet new writers from the city. At the Notion Press stall, literary agents exchange cards with wordsmiths for new publishing prospects. Chairs are arranged in front of the stall for people to socialise even after their book haul is completed. The idea of having a stall at a book fair is not just to sell books, says Jana Pillai, who manages the stall.“We want to strike publishing deals with new authors. There is definitely a surge in Chennai. Around 50 to 70 authors registered when we started four years ago. This year, we got around 100 to 200 registrations.” The stall also promotes the works of these new writers that are being adapted into movies.
What also catches our attention at this stall is the merchandise. If you are a Shakespeare loyalist, it will be hard to say “no” to the T-shirts with logos inspired by Macbeth and Hamlet . “In fact, people are buying more of the merchandise than books. We have six designs, 100 T-shirts from each category. Almost 50% of the Shakespeare collection is sold out. So, the Bard still sells,” he smiles.
There are some tempting offers as well. Head to the Mayura stall that offers one hard bound novel free if you buy two, for ₹300. They also sell children’s books and Tamil reams for ₹30, ₹20 and ₹50. Tamil literature is rather well represented too. There are over 400 stalls dedicated to regional language books. For children, there are also colouring books, image-intensive alphabet pamphlets and collections of nursery rhymes and word games to choose from. And of course, there is no dearth of fiction. Tinkle offers its subscription rates at a discount; a one year subscription of Double Digest is for ₹899, instead of ₹1,440, magazine for ₹590, instead of ₹720 and the combo pack for ₹1,299, instead of ₹1,560. Comic aficionados will be thrilled to find English translations of the iconic Ponniyin Selvan by Kalki at all the leading stalls.
Works of Elizabeth Gilbert, Sudha Murthy, and Anuja Chauhan are some of the favourite picks for those gunning for popular fiction. For the serious literary geeks, there’s the Paul Beattys and Arundhathi Roys to fall back on. It is also a paradise for literature students. Darshana Surendran, who comes here every year, has her hands full of books by Jane Austen and the Bronte sisters. She is happy these are available for a steal. “I am getting four novels for ₹ 300. I love historical novels. You really have to comb through the shelves to find some gems,” she says. The Indian Association for the Blind has also set up a stall selling books in braille. “This is our third year at the fair. People are taking an interest in our stall. Many of them are keen to learn braille, even though they are not visually challenged,” says P Kumaravel, the Chennai coordinator for the association. There are the quintessential Tamil literary works of Subramania Bharati such as the Cuckoo’s Song , Aathichudi , a collection of single line verses by Avvaiyar and Thirukkural . Place your order for the braille version of your favourite book, and they will deliver the copy to your house in a matter of days, adds Kumaravel.
The entire festival has a bazaar-like ambience to it. Do not miss the pani puri , kadalai , sundal and cotton candy stalls. Children, carting their comic books, make a beeline for these. Indulge in a minor accessory shopathon. Choose from shimmering, festive jhumkis too. Leave the premises with not just books, but memories of an evening well spent with your friends and family.
The fair is on at St George’s School Grounds on Poonamallee Road till January 22. Passes are priced at ₹10.
