It’s raining books

Coimbatore: The Coimbatore Book Festival, which is back after a two-year gap at Codissia Trade Fair Complex in the city, has something to offer people of all ages and interests.
People started thronging the fair the moment it was opened on Saturday morning. The crowd slowly swelled, keeping sellers busy throughout the day.
From children to the elderly, people from all walks of life are visiting the fair. Stalls selling English fiction are attracting youths, who are looking for discounts and offers.
B Kanimozhi, a Class XII student, said she was looking for autobiographies. “I bought Wings of Fire, the autobiography of the Missile Man of India and former President A P J Abdul Kalam,” she told TOI.
The collection of books this year is better than previous years, said K Vimal, an avid reader from Peelamedu. “It is also more crowded this year,” he said.
Demand for Ponniyin Selvan, the historical fiction written by Kalki, has gone up, thanks to director Mani Ratnam’s take on the classic. “There has been good demand for the book since the morning. Mostly youths are asking for it,” said Saravanan, a seller from Erode.
Popularity of the book has prompted R Jaiganesh, proprietor of Gowra Book Centre in Trichy, to profit from it. “Keeping in mind the demand for Ponniyin Selvan, I have made an offer. The 1,500-worth book will be given away for for free if you buy books worth 3,000,” he said.
Jaiganesh, a regular at book festivals, denied reports of declining reading culture among the youth. “Every year, the number of young visitors is increasing, not just in Coimbatore, but throughout Tamil Nadu,” he said.
Youths mostly prefer crime thrillers and romantic novels, said Karan Nayyar, proprietor of Yashika Enterprises in New Delhi.
Quiz competitions were conducted to keep the visitors engaged. Cultural programmes and lectures by popular speakers will be conducted in evenings.