WRAPPED UP IN BOOKS (2010 EDITION)

[defrog]

The Hong Kong Book Fair will be wrapping up today. The bridal unit and I went last night. Report follows.

For those of you who’ve signed on with this blog within the last 12 months, some brief exposition: the HK Book Fair is where every book store and book publisher in Greater China gather in the Convention Centre and form one giant book store for a week that sells books at discounts and charges you a modest entry fee to shop there.

Much of it was business as usual, to include stands like this.



It’s not porn, more like the local version of gravure/idol/cosplay photo books. But this year they did ban the models from holding autograph sessions at the stands due to massive traffic congestion last year (and stealing the thunder of every other stand, supposedly). Because, you know, the book fair is supposed to be about reading and crap.

Anyway, this year’s fair did sport a few surprises:

1. An e-book section

Which seems odd, I know. But it was companies showing off either e-book readers or books designed for iPads. I didn’t make it to that section, since I don’t have a Kindle or an iPad and I’m not in the market for either anyway (not right now). But it’s cool that they had a dedicated section for them.

2. A better organized English language section

This is worth mentioning because, as I’ve said in previous posts, usually aroung 90% of the books on sale are Chinese language books. This year it’s more like 80.2%, which is impressive (or as close as makes no odds, since I’m completely making those numbers up).

Also, this year they put them all in one place, which is convenient for people like me who can be in and out in a few hours (or actually less, since (1) many stands carry copies of the same English titles and (2) about 87% of them are written by Stephanie Meyer, Charlaine Harris and PC/Kristin Cast. (The other 13% are written by Stieg Larsson.)

I’m joking, of course. More or less. There’s a little more variety than that, but seriously, it’s mostly mainstream Top 10 Bestseller stuff, young adult vampire romances, business management tips, or Mitch Albom. On the bright side, this speeds up my browsing time considerably.

Also, credit to Metro Books, who made a mark their first year at the fair by (1) having a big selection and (2) arranging books in alphabetical order by author.

3. Western celebrity authors making personal appearances

If Frederick Forsyth and Anthony Horowitz count as celebrities, that is. Stephen Fry certainly does, but I missed him, unfortunately. It’s probably as well, since I’ve never actually read any of his books (though I’ve been seriously considering it). So, you know, that would be awkward.

4. Cheapness

English-language books are generally more expensive in HK compared to Chinese-language books (import costs, you see), and usually the discounts were limited to 20%. This year, almost everyone was offering at least 40% off, and 60% in some cases. I confess, I'm not sure if that was the result of going on the next-to-last day. 

Result: I bought ten (10) books for an average of HK$50 (around US$6.50).

Specifically, these ten.



You may envy me now.

On the downside, I just increased the size of my “to read” pile by 45%.

DISCLAIMER: A couple of those books are there mainly to fulfill a “Four for HK$100” deal – namely the Harry Dresden book. I’m not that big on urban fantasy, or faerie lore of any persuasion, but some people have recommended the series, and I needed that fourth book, so for US$3.00, why not?

And so much for the HK Book Fair. Now we celebrate with shelf-arranging and foot massages.

Turn the page,

This is dF

Comments

[bedsitter23.livejournal.com]

I had a couple people recommend the Dresden stuff to me, too. I figure I should try him at some point just to find out.