Focus on Books

Books for your home library
 

by Prof. Sunanda Mahendra

'You are known by the books you own' seems to be a saying of a book publisher or a bookseller. But strange enough, this was stated by none other than the Indian statesman Pandit Nehru.

Once addressing a group of young people, who came to see him asking several questions as to how he managed to remember so much of details pertaining to the world history referring to the book 'The Glimpses of World History', Nehru had commented on the efforts he made on building his own library especially out of second hand books sold at a cheaper rate and reading them avidly keeping notes on the pages of the books.

Later on these notes had been of immense use to him while he was a prisoner writing letters to his daughter culminating in several publications.

This fact I remembered as I was walking towards the Colombo Public Library auditorium responding to a newspaper advertisement that announced that there will be books at a reduced rate ranging from fifty percent to ninety percent from the original price.

In fact I was so happy that I spent quite a number of hours browsing through the shelves to see that the throbbing crowd who had entered the premises had bought almost all the best ones and left a few good ones for me. Anyway I was not really frustrated as I had the chance of buying some Indian books that I felt was not bad for the sum I spent on buying them.

Some of the books were shop soiled and some worn off. But I felt extremely happy to see some of the faces of the young male and female buyers concentrating heavily on the selection of books and had the chance to talk to them.

"I want to build my own home library in a small scale so came to buy some books." Said one young teacher of literature known to me. "There are some rare books that I want to buy for they will not be perhaps printed once again." Said a senior university lecturer.

"This son of mine wanted to come and buy some children's books as he is fond of reading." Said one of the mothers, who had come with her little one, who was busy leafing through the books. "So has he selected his books?" I asked the mother. "He is quite careful about the selection of books. It will take hours for him to finish doing that."

I had the chance to chat with some of the sellers or people in charge of this clearance sale "What are the types of books you sell most?" I approached one of them. "Oh without any doubt the favourite category is translations of novels, short stories, biographies and other subject areas from other languages. Then comes the children's books and even there, the translations matter very much." I wanted to know the number of children's books published every year.

One of the publishing managers said that they had printed at least hundred children's books during 2004 but according to the available records the move becomes slow without sufficient book promotion especially via media channels.

"We don't have a properly laid down book promotion system. But look how the Harry Potter books are promoted all over the world including our own country. To be frank, we don't even have a translation of any of these Potter stuff. But it looks as if even the Sinhala newspapers are making a big 'ha hoo' about it. Can't the Sinhala newspapers devote more space for our own books?"

I surmised that the particular publisher was worried. I tried my best to console him by citing the space in some papers devoted to books and literature but perhaps unseen by the particular person. Then I came to know that at least a number of books published of all types exceed a record number of fifty per month.

Some sort of healthy plan should usher in to build one's own home library commencing from a small scale shelf to a large scale cupboard full of books. In some well-to-do houses one is sure to see anything under the sun with the exception of books, at least a pocket dictionary. This is no exaggeration, since I have observed it for myself.

In a recent editorial in 'The Times of Britain', I read an interesting account of the parent child relationship regarding the book reading habit. The editorial stated that parental involvement is a key factor in reading matters. The problem of reading will not be solved by merely getting down books to children.

The parents should also be willing to read them and gauge for themselves what is embedded. Children learn by example. Thus the verdict is that the parents who read, produce children who read. Just as those, who watch television all day have children who take after. These are some of the eye opening factors pertaining to the book promotion.

The chief book promotion as I see it in our own country is the ceremonial launching of a book indeed a great historical event for a writer but reluctantly supported by the publisher where sometimes it so happens that the writer invites a singer to help him to gather a crowd. The book launching sessions will have to be changed from the present trend, and the publisher concerned should be aware of the value of such an event.

This is a bitter truth. A few years ago a certain publisher printed and distributed a book newsletter informing the reader at large the new publications of all publishers irrespective of any favour to a particular group. But I think the system died for some reason or other.

Then we come to the standard of books published in our own country especially the supplementary English readers. Recently an English teacher showed me several inexcusable errors in a book meant to be read by students and teachers at primary level of education.

On further enquiry the publishers had been careless to have not corrected the proof marks of the writer. This means to say that the carelessness in the publications may prevent a book being promoted well among the readers and rejected from libraries.

Though I dislike to generalize the issue may it be said in good earnest that many a writer [especially the Sinhala writer] is worried over his efforts on the publishing situation mainly due to the lack of inspiration on the part of the publishers and most of them are desirous of being author publishers [or vanity publishers as they are known].

"We can't possibly devote time for writing and do the same for selling. Can we?" Asked one young writer. As the literary month [Sahitya Masaya] of September is nearing most publishers are seen preparing their floors for the new books and clearing the old ones.

But for the book lovers, good books never grow old. Some good publishers bring out old books for the new generation. I am made to know that the National library and Documentation Centre sources are also preparing for the event as it happened last time in the most excellent mannerimaginable.

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