The book fair this time was a rather squidgy affair. The usual rainy season culprits of our paradise isle - water, mud, floating Kottu-mee cups were very much there with pointed elbows, ample derriers, hefty bosoms and smelly armpits (I am of the opinion that deodorant must be made mandatory by law) that are occasionally shoved in your face (without your consent of course) with stray umbrella spokes jutting out in life-threatening angles - it was a potentially fatal experience. Knowing full well the dangers of this perilous pilgrimage, I nevertheless set out quite resolute, umbrella bared, hair tied up, booted-up for weather and wearing my carefully mastered and manicured 'I will bite your balls off' look, I set out for the wilderness with a fluttering of heart.
The book fair trip for me is like climbing Sri Pada - you know it's going to be hard, you know it's going to be an uphill battle all the way and you know it can be fatal, but you do it anyway over and over again, sometimes even more than twice each year because you know that the view at the top is completely worth it. I however, much to my heartache, could only visit once this time. Usually I go the day right after the opening, taking a day off from work, but alas, having recently changed livelihoods, I can no longer afford to do that. So I had to console myself by only visiting it once - on a weekend too - the reason that even after so many days my shoulders are still in shock that I put them through what I put them through that day and my calf muscles feel like they are made of stone - if stones can hurt as much.
Gaah! Now I know what stretching myself to the limits really mean *winces as lifting arm*
Needless to say it was a sensorial extravaganza. Sweat, unwashed hair, damp clothes, (why can't people smell nice? I like people who smell nice) trampled grass, mud, hot dogs, dog excrement, perfume - it was simply too much for my over-sensitive nose. It gave up half way and I was glad - for once.
The only thing good about the rain is that it seems to wash away the pervy folk from such venues as well. I received next to no unnecessary attention this time (probably because I was looking very dangerous wielding two very dangerous looking knapsacks on either shoulder, possibly containing machine guns and god knows what else). Of course there were the usual stare games and one or two even opened their mouths to comment but one look square into their eyes made them swallow whatever they were going to say- as is the case most of the time with these gallant gentlemen with so many complements, comments and opinions about the opposite sex. If you look like you will put up a fight, these spineless mongrels will often give up.
Oh but the rain was but a little inconvenience to the teeny bopper Romeos. Little boys young enough to be my nephews coat tailing and I almost asked - yes, child what do you want. While I am flattered that they may be thinking that I'm closer to their age than I actually am (or maybe they have that older woman syndrome that every boy that age seems to be suffering from), it's very amusing when it ceases to be annoying. Really children, you must have a tighter reign on those hormones of yours.
On the plus side though, it seems that the book prices had gone down considerably this year! I covered the whole deal with less than 10K (that is about 1/3 of what I would usually spend at the event) and bagged quite a lot of gems this time! Sarasavi had a great collection with whopping 20% and 30% discounts and I finally managed to bag a complete works of Edgar Allan Poe and a complete illustrated Hans Christian Anderson for just 1200/- something each! I quite liked the Godage stall as well with their large amount of Sinhala classics and poetry. (managed to bag another GB Senanayake, woohoo!) Vijita Yapa lacked variety but from what they had they allowed 20% discounts. Makeen was filled from top to bottom with these new age candy floss vampire chronicles and attracted a teenage crowd that liked to block the aisles oh-so-casually chatting with each other. And despite braving the teenage giggling battalions, I failed to find anything of value there. Dean the Bookman didn't have anything for me this year either but he assured me that he will bring his most cherished valuables to the Good Market to which I agreed. I did find this other gem of a second hand bookshop there (of which I forget the name) where I found a few beautiful specimen priced at Rs 150/- each. How cool is that!
Again as in my earlier book fair posts here and here, I must simply stress on the importance of a higher priced, redeemable entrance ticket that will control the unwanted crowd and for god's sake, introduction of shopping carts! While I appreciate the annual workout, I have no intention of spending the rest of the week as if I've been in a WWE championship match with the likes of Yokozuna, Big Show and the McGuire twins. The book fair is most of us bookholics' excuse to really play fast and loose and be all promiscuous with these sexy paged, nice smelling things and we want to do it in the most comfortable way possible. While we would be most skimpily dressed to brave the weather, stopping every two steps with one hand on hip, panting very audibly, sweating bullets and swearing at the next person who steps on our toes while balancing several weigh-a-ton bags on either arm is hardly the most attractive picture. Sigh.
Despite everything, I am looking forward to the next year's book fair already. My bookcases are overflowing and what with this year's books still sitting orphaned on my writing table for the want of a home, might I suggest a separate stall and discounts for bookcases and shelves as well at the book fair? The likes of us who are convicted bibliophiles would appreciate that, thank you very much.
Ah the many challenged of a bibliophile. If only I could find a livelihood where I would be paid to just sit at home and read what I liked!
Gaah! Now I know what stretching myself to the limits really mean *winces as lifting arm*
Needless to say it was a sensorial extravaganza. Sweat, unwashed hair, damp clothes, (why can't people smell nice? I like people who smell nice) trampled grass, mud, hot dogs, dog excrement, perfume - it was simply too much for my over-sensitive nose. It gave up half way and I was glad - for once.
The only thing good about the rain is that it seems to wash away the pervy folk from such venues as well. I received next to no unnecessary attention this time (probably because I was looking very dangerous wielding two very dangerous looking knapsacks on either shoulder, possibly containing machine guns and god knows what else). Of course there were the usual stare games and one or two even opened their mouths to comment but one look square into their eyes made them swallow whatever they were going to say- as is the case most of the time with these gallant gentlemen with so many complements, comments and opinions about the opposite sex. If you look like you will put up a fight, these spineless mongrels will often give up.
Oh but the rain was but a little inconvenience to the teeny bopper Romeos. Little boys young enough to be my nephews coat tailing and I almost asked - yes, child what do you want. While I am flattered that they may be thinking that I'm closer to their age than I actually am (or maybe they have that older woman syndrome that every boy that age seems to be suffering from), it's very amusing when it ceases to be annoying. Really children, you must have a tighter reign on those hormones of yours.
On the plus side though, it seems that the book prices had gone down considerably this year! I covered the whole deal with less than 10K (that is about 1/3 of what I would usually spend at the event) and bagged quite a lot of gems this time! Sarasavi had a great collection with whopping 20% and 30% discounts and I finally managed to bag a complete works of Edgar Allan Poe and a complete illustrated Hans Christian Anderson for just 1200/- something each! I quite liked the Godage stall as well with their large amount of Sinhala classics and poetry. (managed to bag another GB Senanayake, woohoo!) Vijita Yapa lacked variety but from what they had they allowed 20% discounts. Makeen was filled from top to bottom with these new age candy floss vampire chronicles and attracted a teenage crowd that liked to block the aisles oh-so-casually chatting with each other. And despite braving the teenage giggling battalions, I failed to find anything of value there. Dean the Bookman didn't have anything for me this year either but he assured me that he will bring his most cherished valuables to the Good Market to which I agreed. I did find this other gem of a second hand bookshop there (of which I forget the name) where I found a few beautiful specimen priced at Rs 150/- each. How cool is that!
Again as in my earlier book fair posts here and here, I must simply stress on the importance of a higher priced, redeemable entrance ticket that will control the unwanted crowd and for god's sake, introduction of shopping carts! While I appreciate the annual workout, I have no intention of spending the rest of the week as if I've been in a WWE championship match with the likes of Yokozuna, Big Show and the McGuire twins. The book fair is most of us bookholics' excuse to really play fast and loose and be all promiscuous with these sexy paged, nice smelling things and we want to do it in the most comfortable way possible. While we would be most skimpily dressed to brave the weather, stopping every two steps with one hand on hip, panting very audibly, sweating bullets and swearing at the next person who steps on our toes while balancing several weigh-a-ton bags on either arm is hardly the most attractive picture. Sigh.
Despite everything, I am looking forward to the next year's book fair already. My bookcases are overflowing and what with this year's books still sitting orphaned on my writing table for the want of a home, might I suggest a separate stall and discounts for bookcases and shelves as well at the book fair? The likes of us who are convicted bibliophiles would appreciate that, thank you very much.
Ah the many challenged of a bibliophile. If only I could find a livelihood where I would be paid to just sit at home and read what I liked!
1 comment:
Hi,
your writing is pleasant to read. Enjoyable. I liked the article. :)
I didn't go to the book fair this year cause I've recently been invaded by e-books. I bought an Amazon Kindle and you can either buy books on Amazon and read on it, or you can download free e-books as well. Nowadays, the demand for hard copies is shrinking, don't you think?
I love the smell of books though, that's one thing you miss in e-books. But oh well. Again, it's a nice article. :) And that's the end of my lengthy comment. :P
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