Book (Af) Fair !!

My tryst with books is probably as old as I am, but in quaint small town Shimla where I grew up in the 80s and 90s there were just two good bookstores and the others were basically stationers calling themselves booksellers.

Whenever my father traveled work to Delhi or bigger cities he would get me books. In those days Russian translated tales and abridged English classics were all I got. The only good library around was a State Library but access to children was limited.

I first saw a proper book fair much later in life in Chandigarh and even then though the first urge used to be to make the best bargain in the limited budget I had as a student, what I loved most was the vision and smell of books.

Ever since I moved to the NCR in 2004 I have attended every edition of the World Book Fair in Delhi, barring one or two. So why do I got to book fairs?

I have started asking myself this question more often now, since I also have a child now who seems to have inherited the same passion.

Surprisingly in this age and time too when there are thousands of books available for easy access in a device like the Amazon Kindle, paper books have still not lost their charm or appeal.

So what drives me to books, specifically book fairs and the most special annual pilgrimage of all the World Book Fair in Delhi?

Well firstly book fairs are not just buying and selling of books but an experience of a fascinating world of languages and cultures via literature and the printed word. I use the word PILGRIMAGE often for them because the reasons remain mostly the same that used to be for spiritual pilgrimages for pilgrims. The tangible presence of so many books- their smell, vision, touch is a succor for my reader soul.

I feel some kind of redemption for all my other economic and worldly vices by spending time, attention and money on books.

One of my favorite tactile activities other than cuddling and kissing loved ones is diving into a pile of old books and smelling them, literally inhaling them,feeling the flavors of several decades on their paper skins and reaching a readerorgasm !

What are your reasons for loving or hating books?

Have you ever fallen in live with book fairs?

How THE ALCHEMIST altered me !

Those were the days of a heady pen-friendship that was gradually taking a romantic turn. In late teens in small town Shimla the keen reader me had access to books available only in the rustic, colonial State Library where new titles were rare and arrived couple of years later when they were no longer new.

And there it came as a birthday gift from the mystery pen-friend I was falling in love with – Paulo Coelho’s THE ALCHEMIST.

The inscription read- So that you believe in your dreams!

The shepherd boy’s story had me hooked right from the word go. It connected directly to my wanderlust and traveller’s soul and I was also mesmerised that how a distant friend knew what would grasp my attention firmly.

I loved the way this tale was not just ancient wisdom/folklore turned into modern day motivational and inspirational story but at its core it was essentially a love story.

I was battling with depression; the book uplifted my spirit in magical ways and helped me see light. It made me believe in love and the miracles we simple humans could achieve in love for someone whom we love deeply.

Over the years I bought several copies of this book to gift to almost everyone I knew. This is one book I always recommend for self-help and motivation. It also got me hooked on to Paulo Coelho's blog which led me to become a blogger too a few years down the line.

I today possess several editions of the book, including my favorite of the entire lot is the illustrated one that I often read snippets from to my young daughter.

This is one book that has reinforced my belief that books are the best legacy, the best gift and the most precious unending joy.

The Alchemist has surely altered my chemistry as a reader forever!

“THIS POST IS WRITTEN FOR NOVEMBERSCHILD IN ASSOCIATION WITH KALAMPEDIA – QUEST FOR KNOWLEDGE”.