The Case for Book Fairs

Come the end of autumn, throughout the land of Wellington, the various Rotary Bookfairs come into bloom. And glorious places they are (for those who like that kind of thing), with a wide selection of soft and hard cover novels to cater for almost every taste. From sobre non-fiction accounts of modern economics, to garrishly-covered romances from the poison pens of Kitty Kelly and Jackie Collins, the bookfairs provide the chance for people throughout the land and dispose of reading materials they want not, and for others to pick up some much loved literature and take it into their hearts.

Yup, I am a big fan of the book fairs, and I try to make it to most of them. Normally, the event of the season tends to be the first one, the Heretaunga book fair. However, this year, the winner by a country mile had to be the Wainuiomata Rotary offering ($5 for a bag; $10 for a box) - definitely worth the trip! The Johnsonville one... well, it was okay.

However, while a wonderful experience for those who enjoy perusing pre-loved books, the events are not without their perils. Top of the list of dangers are those who arrive at these special events the earliest. The crazed, the blood-thirty grannies. Clutching large knitted bags in their gnarled claws, these women of a certain age look all innocent and light, but put them near a table covered in Mills and Boon romances or with the opportunity to get some pre- and post-Coronation Street reading materials, and the normally placid, biscuit-offering paragons or maternal fortitude are turned into rabid, unhinged creatures from another dimension, hell bent on maiming and trampling over anyone who gets in their way. Saliva dribbles from dentured mouths, and blue rinse is used as mace. There are no rules, except survival of the most determined.

But I am willing to put myself through it all again - the Wellington Inner City Mission bookfair tends to mark the beginning of spring (daffodils? what be these mythical outdoor apparitions) and I intend to be there. Though I may perhaps leave the grannies of doom a bit of breathing room and go in the afternoon...

Verdict: Required reading for unfussy booklovers