DEC 1, 2024
nimishdubey
A new trend I am seeing in bookstores is the constant rain of "author signing" sessions. Now, honestly; I have nothing against signing books at bookstores (I have signed a few) but what really bothers me is when these events take over the book store entirely. It is amazing how often one arrives at a book store (generally after a fair bit of travel - hey, this is Delhi and bookstores are not as numerous as they once were - only to find the store crammed with "fans and followers" and even the store's staff clustered around an author signing a book. Needless to say, it is impossible to browse or read at these times, and one even feels annoyed and disappointed, as a book store is a place of zen for many of us e. And I am not the only one who feels this way. Many of the folks who love reading and bookstores echo this sentiment. It is akin to being told you cannot go a temple because a VIP and their followers have turned up.
❤️
Now, I am not saying that bookstores should not host these sessions. At the end of the day, it is a business and if book signing sessions do boost sales, well and good. However, driving away or annoying regular and loyal customers is not good business either. Ideally, a book store should have a separate space for events as the Oxford Book Store at Connaught Place but if there is a paucity of place (hey, this is Delhi), perhaps these sessions could be better scheduled or maybe even kept at a different location? Of course it is easier said than done - budgets have to be kept in mind and so on. All I am saying is that regular readers need not be forgotten or ignored in the celeb chatter. We are the ones who come there even when there is no author signing books.
(The images used are only indicative and do not represent any dislike or favour of mine).
him
This might be one of the worst things for upcoming or wish-to-be authors like me because I hate signing anything, including cheques and such paperwork.