Ruskin Bond, along with Upendra Arora and Randhir Arora, at a book release function in Doon on Sunday.
By PRABEER SIKDAR
DEHRADUN, 26 April 2009:
Ruskin Bond’s books commands a respectable fan following in India (his star status is no less than a Bollywood star as he is always sought after by autograph hunters. This was evident during a book release function in Doon on Sunday). But it is not just his books that raise a storm among Doon’s literary circles.
One book topping the charts in Doon is Rhonda Byrne's The Secret. Despite the fact that the English version (a Hindi version also available) costs a mammoth Rs 680, the price has not deterred its sale in any way. “The book has a The Alchemist feel,” said Randhir Arora, owner of Astley Hall based Book World.
“Though the book is a hit with all age groups, it is mainly preferred by marketing professionals and those who want to enhance their personality,” he disclosed, pointing out that slowdown effect has increased its demand.
“This book takes one to a utopian world, where everything is possible.”
Following its tremendous success, The Secret’s publisher has hiked its price thrice. “Till July 2008, it was priced Rs 495. After that, it jumped its price again to Rs 550, which continued till August 2008. Later, its price was hiked to Rs 680,” Arora said.
Watch them out
Among the recent books to watch out for are Paulo Coelho’s (author of the all time hit The Alchemist) ‘The Winner Stands Alone’ and NR Narayana Murthy’s ‘A better India, A better World’ (non-fiction).
Released by PM Manmohan Singh a week ago, Murthy’s book (Rs 499) has reportedly made a good beginning. “This book is primarily meant for students and educationalists, and contains lot of ideas for a better tomorrow,” informed Arora.
Local books
Two recent books by local authors, which are also doing above average business, so far, are Ganesh Saili’s Mussoorie across the Ages and Ganguli’s Doon Rediscovered. “So far, we have sold 20 copies of Saili’s book,” added Arora.
Love Stories
Those who consider poetry and non-fiction as drab and boring, need not feel lose out, as recently, Srishti Publication has come out with some novellas on love and romance, for the young.
Priced for Rs 100 each, these mini novellas, which are written by first time authors, can be termed as the Indian version of hugely popular Mills & Boons.
Some of the well-known titles on teen romance currently available in Doon’s well-known book stores like The Green Bookshop, Book World etc are Arpit Dugar’s Nothing for you my dear, Tushar Raheja’s ‘Anything for you, ma'am’ (an IITian’s love story), Abhijit Bhaduri’s Mediocre But Arrogant (a B-School love story), Animesh Verma’s ‘Love, Life And Dream On’ (school love story) etc.
Other popular teen love novellas, which have caught the imagination of the young brigade are Novoneel Chakraborty’s ‘A Thing Beyond Forever: The Reward For Every True Love Is Not Love’ and Ravinder Singh’s ‘I Too Had A Love Story’ (online love story of two strangers who meets through a matrimonial site) etc.
According to Upendra Arora, proprietor of the Rajpur Road based ‘The Green Bookshop’, such books do well ‘because they can ‘connect’ with and form a rapport with the youngsters’. “Apart from this, these books also come cheap,” he reasoned.
No comments:
Post a Comment