Reading is the best investment one can make for oneself, and if you
want to make this investment, walk into the annual Goa Book Fair coming
up once again in Margao in South Goa from January 4 to 8, 2024, at the
centrally-located Ravindra Bhavan.
This is the second edition of the Goa Book Fair, the last one was held
in February 2023. The fair will be open to all from 10 am to 8 pm
daily.
According to the organisers, there will be a wide selection of books
displayed by publishers and booksellers from diverse parts of the
country. This will include books both for general readers and also for
children. This time, there is a wider range of languages represented
too.
Attendees can look forward to engaging sessions, book readings,
discussions, and workshops. "The book fair, the only of its kind in
Goa, encourages participation from schools, so as to inculcate and
nourish a love for books and reading among the younger ones," said
Leonard Fernandes, co-founder of the Margao-based The Dogears
Bookshop, which is organising the Goa Book Fair.
Fernandes, and Queenie Rodrigues, husband and wife duo, have also been
behind the successful Publishing Next conference, which is annually
held in Goa. In 9 editions starting in 2011, the conference has
brought together publishers and publishing professionals from across
the country in Goa to discuss issues related to diverse aspects of the
book trade.
The first edition of the Goa Book Fair was organised in February 2023.
There were 23 participating stalls. Attendees were able to browse
through books across genres such as fiction, non-fiction, poetry,
self-help, and also a wide variety of books in Konkani and those
related to Goa.
"The Goa Book Fair serves as a platform for publishers from across the
country to showcase their books to a discerning readership in the
State. With the range in genres and languages that we expect to have
this year, we believe that visitors to the book fair are in for a
wonderful experience," Rodrigues said.
"This year we have an exciting programme schedule that will appeal to
adults and children alike. We hope that more children will visit this
year, and take advantage of the wide variety of books on display," she
said.