Delhi book fair: ‘Not a full package, but not a dampener too’

New Delhi, Aug 25 (IANS) Even as the stalls in Delhi book fair attract visitors with discounts and clearance sales, and the fair itself with free entry, readers' reactions are a mixed bag.

Many found the fair underdelivering in terms of size and variety in books on offer, with quite a few voicing praises.

Riya, a student who came looking for English novels and non-fiction books, pointed at the dominance of Indian literature.

"I've begun to find some titles I was looking for in this segment, but not all. The previous segments were full of mostly Hindi, spiritual literature," she told IANS.

Even as some readers complain of lack of a significant variety and even stalls not accepting card payments, many say it was not a complete dampener.

Bhargavi, a Class 10 student, who says she visits the fair every year, said although she is familiar with most books on sale, it is still a good exploring opportunity.

"My parents are readers, so I have been a voracious reader since Class 1. What I see here is something I've mostly seen everywhere. So, it's quite general in that way," she said.

"But, organising such a big thing is not a child's play. If you go to a book shop, you won't explore even half as much as one does here."

Her mother, Renuka, who is a lawyer and an avid reader, said she found a number of latest titles here.

"It's not a complete package, but not a complete dampener also," she said.

Another parent told IANS that she came looking for children's books, and found engaging content along with interactive learning tools.

As the scaled-down Delhi book fair does hold interest, most visitors suggest at least one visit to test waters for themselves.

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