Here is my list Kadalodiyin kambodia, Alwai and madarasapattinam of Narasaiya sir South Indian image of God and Goddesses by H krishna Sastri Vichitra chittan, SMS Emden, Thirumalai thirudan by Dhivakar sir
I was thinking of not buying any books as many of the books which I bought in the previous books fairs (the last i visited was 2007) are still lying unread :(. but gave into temptation and wanted to buy 'Thevaram' series. But the best i could find exceeded my budget and had to cotent myself with just three volumes of 'appar's thevaram from Uma publication (just 3 of the 7 volumes cost me 500 :( ). And a few kids book for my daughter and neice exhasted my budget of 1000 and so stopped with 'learn sanskrit in 30 days' :)
Both logistically and economically book fair has lost its charm. With the travel cost of these days, the 10% discount doesnt make much difference and buying books at the nearest book shop makes more sense to me. But the greatest advantage of book fair, is to get to know what books are there in the market, which I think is the prime goal of the fair and it serves its purpose.
I have listed a few books in a separate thread but here is the complete list. Writing it in the same order as I purchased
1. Who moved my cheese 2. Men are from Mars women are from Venus 3. Rajiv Kolai Vazhakku 4. Sujatha Sirukadhai Thoguppu -- Part 1 5. Srirangathu Kadhaigal 6. Kolai Udhir Kaalam 7. Sujatha Kuru Novel Thoguppu -- Part 1 / Part 2 / Part 3 8. Kaviri Maindhan - Complete Set 9. Udayar - Complete Set
For us, this year was more of a ritual visit than to buy (not to boast, but we now have more books than we can ever read all our lives with the library thingy) - I still ended up buying a few childrens books apart from:
- dalai lama (by Muruganantham)
Muruganantham presented me with a copy of 'dandi yathirai' for the help I extended during the writing of the book - Thank you, Muruganantham. I thought it rather amusing (and sad) to see that he himself had to 'buy' a copy to give me one... Vikatan stands a notch down than before in my view.
One book I was expecting, that didnt make it was Kanchi.
chandamama publications collector edition was pathetic and didnt trigger any feelings to own one. It was appaling that the person in charge kept insisting that he would give 10% discount on subscriptions over and over again (as if we didnt know he had to - to participate in the fair)
Pricing - I also find it amusing that both publishers and book shops price the book at MRP and provide it at a 10% discount - I mean, shouldnt publishers sell at 10% less than their cost?
Duplicates - I guess if we remove the duplicate showpieces of books like those like Kalki and Sandilyan among the various stalls, they alone would shrink the size of the book fair by 10-20% so much repetition. I understand that every stall-owner wants to sell more, but it adds to the monotonity of the visitors - over years, the visit has become more and more boring - more of meet the friends, rather than find a new treasure (book)
Really I should thank you for the help you have extended to me. As a matter of fact, Vikatan did provide me copies which are due to the writer. I should not have let you know that I have purchased book for you.
Here is the books list I bought this time.. wanted to buy PS, Udayar (and few books suggested PSVP members) but due to budget cuts from High command :-) couldn't buy them.. targetting them for next year...
1. பார்த்திபன் கனவு (கல்கி) 2. ராஜிவ் கொலை வழக்கு மர்மம் விலகும் நேரம் (கிழக்கு : கே ரகோத்தமன்) 3. தீராக்காதலி (உயிர்மை : சாரு நிவேதிதா) 4. தாழப் பறக்காத பரத்தையர் கொடி (உயிர்மை : பிரபஞ்சன்) 5. சாந்தாமணியும் இன்ன பிற காதல்கதைகளும் (உயிர்மை : வாமு கோமு ) 6. இந்தியப் பிரிவினை (கிழக்கு : மருதன்) 7. அய்யனார் கம்மா (அகநாழிகை : நர்சிம்) 8. ஒரு பொருளாதார அடியாளின் ஒப்புதல் வாக்குமூலம் (விடியல் : இரா முருகவேள்) 9, 10. அகத்தா கிறிஸ்டியின் இரு ஆங்கிலப் புத்தகங்கள் 11. The Golden Gate by Alistair Maclean + ஜீனியருக்கான சிறு சிறு கதை, கலரிங் புத்தகங்கள்..
I forgot to share this info from book fair. Not sure how far it is true.
I was checking out the PS books (chumma oru second copy vangalamnu...) and when I was chatting with the sales man in Vanathi pathipagam, I asked him, why dontyou publish PS with pictures...there is a huge market for PS with pictuers and even if it is sold at 1000 or 2000 rs. people are ready to buy.
he told me that its in print and because of the demand for book fair, they didnt include the pictures in the book fair prints. Within a month or 3 PS will be released with pictures (hopefully maniams') and another sales man seconded this.
Venkatesh - can you pls check with Vanathi and confirm this. I came back without buying a copy of PS as i thought aother 3 months will be worth a wait.
As usual Vikadan - Palaniappa Bros - Vanathi - Manimegalai like Popular Publishing crowded..
Could see various Editions of Ponniyinselvan, tamil agarathi, thiruvasagam etc.
As usual in Madras University stall - The Colas - Tamil Lexicon avl.
Did not notice Banarasidas or Asian.. missed to see Thanjai Tamil University stall also.
Picked Dalailama (Muruganandam) - Rajakesari (missed to ask for Paisasam) - Emden (to gift) some animation CDs on panchathandram - mulla etc for kids (soft view - THF) - Narasayya's Kadalodi - Aalavoy.
Could see good sales for CHOs books too. Picked Hindumahasamudram in Alliance ... Bagavath Gita in Tamil (discounted rate) Rs. 100.
Even on a working day good amount of visitors... But did not see active purchases..
On the contrary - opposite side - Old Books shops - there is good crowd / sales. Picked Knowledge series well-bound 20 Volumes @ Rs. 50 / each. Religeous preachings by Kanchi seer - Baba like wise for Rs. 20 / each.
Popular english fictions are also avl for Rs. 20.
Some research books - travel books - Interior - Biographies etc., are avl for throw away prices between Rs. 20 - 50.
every stall had a 100 books stacked in front > > Even on a working day good amount of visitors... > But did not see active purchases..
YES
sales seemed to have been best on saturday sunday hopefully next week also
venketesh > > On the contrary - opposite side - Old Books shops - there is good crowd / sales. Picked Knowledge series well-bound 20 Volumes @ Rs. 50 / each. Religeous preachings by Kanchi seer - Baba like wise for Rs. 20 / each. > > Popular english fictions are also avl for Rs. 20. > > Some research books - travel books - Interior - Biographies etc., are avl for throw away prices between Rs. 20 - 50. > > sps > > ---------- > > > > > > > > > >
Banarasidas was i think was towards the left side of the fair. Got a catalogue which is almost a mini book by itself.
I think everyone is feeling that the book fair has lost its charm. Maybe because of over 'hype' in recent years, there is huge crowd but the purchasing crowd is the same old crowd...thats why sales is not as proportional to crowd.
Was searching for Ramakrishna mutt stall but could not find it.
If I were you I'll start with the Golden Gate..its an impressive book read it a long while ago..the heroine if I am not mistaken has a weird name April Wednesday!
Sri
If I can stop one heart from breaking,I shall not live in vain; If I can ease one life the aching,Or cool one pain, Or help one fainting robin, Into his nest again, I shall not live in vain. Emily Dickinson
I was at the book fair on the 30th evening when it was inaugurated by the CM also was there on the next day. I was in Chennai for 10 days due to an unfortunate event in my sister's family.
// Dear Venkat If I were you I'll start with the Golden Gate..its an impressive book read it a long while ago..the heroine if I am not mistaken has a weird name April Wednesday! Sri //
Thanks Sri.. I haven't yet read alister. Picked up the book as the plot was interesting. Thanks for your recommendation. Already started reading it.
I am just back from book fair....raided two shops...here is the list totally 25 books ....
Cilapatikaram - Ramachandra Dikshitar Tamil India - M.s.Purnalingam pillai Collected papers of Thani Nayagam Landscape and Poetry - Thani Nayagam Chieftains of Sangam Age - K.D. Thirunavukkarasu Six long poems from Sangam Tamil - N .Raghunathan Four Long poems from sangam tamil Social life of tamils - the classical period - S. Singaravelu Manimekalai Translation - A.Madhaviah 401 kadhal kavithaikal - kurunthokai oru arimugam - sujatha Purananuru oru eliya arimugam - Sujatha Maritime History fo South India Meengal Andrum Indrum S.parimala Love lyrics long ago - A.V.Subrahmaniyan Encyclopedia of tamil literature vol 1,2,3 Kalinkathu parani in english Studies in Tamilogy -S.v.Subrahmaniyan tamil poetry through ages: ten idylls murukan the lord of kurunji land Tamil social history vol 1,2,3
rendu varusham kalichu india vanthuruken....that too seeing all books in my list in store..couldnt resist... 25 book didnt cost me even $100... ethaye if i had bought just 2 books in US it would have costed me more than $100...it would have taken me another 3 years to apply all these books in interlibrary loan and get it... Already I have got 60 books through interlibrary loan and scanned them ...By the time I leave india I would scan these books and leave... so in pen drive of 2 gb I have unique collection of books on sangam literature...a collection which cannot be found in any other library in the world except in my pen drive!...
Most of these books in the list cost only 30-70 rs(except for the encyclopedia and the collections).
I am surely not going to read all these books fully..but I use them as reference - and refer them whenever need instantly ( some members would surely vouch for my reference capabilities).
Everybody has some madness in them...my madness is to collect all English works on Sangam literature and have a one of kind pen drive library!
Happy New Year to all the members. Visiting the book fair after two years was a nice experience. More good to see friends.
Here is my list
1. Vengaiyin Mainthan - Akilan 2. Paranthagan Makal - Vikraman 3. Rajakesari - Gokul (paisasam was not available) 4. Dalai Lama - Muruganantham 5. Manase Relax please I+II - Swami Sugabodhanandha 6. Paalangal - Sivashankari 7. Thamizh book for my son and some activity books & Amar Chithra Katha for the lil ones at home.
Vishwaksenan's Indra Dhanasu, S.Balasubrmanian's Moha Malar and E.Balakrishnan Naidu's Danaiykkan Kottai are the books am looking to buy.
Seriously this topic is not worth while to discuss in a public forum...if you have grievance in my spending on books send me email in [email protected] and I will explain you as much as I can on why I spend money on books. Making an issue out it in public doesn't look good. The forum can be used for much better topics than discussing how much a person spends on something they like.
Dear Swetha Madam My books (Indhira Dhanusu and other 4) are going to be released only in the first week of Feb., the publisher has just informed me. I too was expecting the release for the Book Fair, but due to some circumstnces the publisher was unable to make it. Little disappointment for me also.
i would also have appreciated had you sent me a private mail regarding this ...
please understand sir... never was an issue made out of your spending sir.. afterall its yours... and why should i have grievance on your spending sir??
now business asusual has started in the forum sir..
Visitied the bookfair today.Lot of crowd as expected :) All major publishers like vaanathi,palaniappa,alliance,kizhakku etc were overcrowded. Got to see paisaasam in PB. I got the following books.
1) Rajakesari 2) Paisaasam 3) SMS Emden 4) VisithraSithan 5) Thevan books from alliance. Couldnt get Miss.Janaki :-( 6) Short novels by SVV from alliance 7) Thalaianai Manthropadesam (as recommended by DB) 8) Some Indira Soundararajan novels.
Forgot Muruganatham's DalaiLama. Remembered it only when i came out. Will try to get it from the publisher directly.
Large number of Paisaasam copies is now available.So, our members can get the same when they visit either today or tomorrow.
Hi Buy Devan books from Kizhakku. Their books are of a much higher quality & priced well. Esp. their Thuppariyum Sambu omnibus edition is too good. I have Miss Janaki but from alliance :( Shobha
I have got all Devan books from Kizhakku. But they havent published everything of Devan.Infact i have some works duplicated between Kizhakku and Alliance. So got the lesser known Devan works like appalakatchery, balli samiyin thuppu etc from Alliance today.
i had a chance to spend some time with artist padmavasan. it was wonderful morning with hot idly - and refreshing to see how he was encouraging his little boy to sketch as well - he evaluates every sketch of him and put down the date as well. Self and arvind spent over two hours convincing the EO of perur temple to allow us to photo graph the famous pillar sculptures and finally he relented after seeing our work. I was showing the photos to sri padmavasan when he went he recounted his experience in sketching the same at perur. he went in and brought out the original sketches of perur pillars !!.
incidentally , he did mention that alliance have come out with a two volume work on the travels of Kanchi Paramacharya. the highlight was the 60 odd sketches of silpi that adorn this work. I immdly set out to mylapore to get it - rs 550, the collection of sketches were superb but the size of book restricted the size of the art work - yet a real treasure trove for silpi fans - there was a sketch of the perur temple by the master himself in the collection.
incidentally when in coimbatore, i got introduced to a friend whose father was running a centre for srividya meditation near the foot hills of anuvaavi temple. we left early morning after seeking confirmation that there were no elephant around. my joy knew no bounds when i found two sketches of silpi adorning the walls of the medidation centre !!
will try and feature all these in poetryinstone shortly.
hi members in this bookfair pls try agatha chirstie's tamil transelated novels, its in kannadasan pathipakam there try crooked house, and death in clouds these are excellent novels.