Celeb authors still cashing in on their fame

Renowned authors have been continuing to enjoy the fruits of their popularity amid dried presence of readers in this year’s Amar Ekushey Book Fair. 

The book fair has witnessed many changes this time except the readers’ interest in books written by prominent writers, said the publishers.

These veteran authors along with a number of young yet popular writers have succeeded to keep their readerships intact amid emergence of a number of promising new faces. Readers have been crowding the stalls where the newly published books of celebrated authors are available and buying those with autographs of their favourite writers.

“I used to stock up on books for the entire year at the Amar Ekushey Book Fair, and novels by Humayun Ahmed and Imadul Haq Milan were always at the top of my list. Their blend of simple language, vivid and accurate descriptions, and profound insight into the human psyche are truly remarkable. But I also purchase books by other established and emerging authors,” Nahida Parvin, a reader, told the Daily Sun on Thursday, the fifteenth day of the fair, while buying books from the stall of Anyaprokash.

Anyaprokash’s publisher Mazharul Islam said they have brought many new books but still the appeal of novels by Humayun Ahmed is unmatchable.

Anyaprokash has brought popular young writer Sadat Hossain’s new novel “Bibha o Bibhrom”, which is going good.

Somoy Prokashon’s publisher Farid Ahmed said his house has published the only new science fiction, “Jilon 025”, by Muhammad Zafar Iqbal.

“We have been publishing Muhammad Zafar Iqbal’s science fiction novels for many years. He didn’t pen any new titles last year. This year we have come up with ‘Jilon 025’ and have received amazing response. He has separate readership among the teenagers,” he said.

Eminent author Harishankar Jaladas has penned his new novel, “Ghototkoch” this year. This is a continuation of his series on characters of “Mahabharata”. Many readers were seen taking his autograph after purchasing the novel from Oitijjhya stall.

Asked whether his refuge in mythological characters is an escape from reality as his earlier novels portray people belongs to lower social ladder, he said his mythology series has a connection with his previous works.

“Be it ‘Shupornokha’, ‘Sworgosundori Urboshi’, ‘Eklobyo’, ‘Korno’, ‘Upekkhito Shita’ or ‘Shupornokha’, all these characters are deprived in ‘Mahabharata’ just like the characters of my earlier novels who are dispossessed in real life. My latest works are to educate readers apart from continuing my passion to highlight underprivileged sections of the society,” Harishankar Jaladas told the Daily Sun.

Speaking about the novels and short stories by new authors, he said he reads their works and often appreciates them and shares his observation personally.

Jaladas, however, was a bit frustrated about the future of young writers as most visitors at the book fair were only taking selfies and photos instead of purchasing books.

Prothoma has brought Masud Ahmad new novel, “Labonyer Mukh”. The novel portraying the life of Jibananda Das’s wife Labonyo Das speaks of a journey apart from presenting the philosophy of life of a poet’s wife.

Kotha Prokash publisher Jashim Uddin said they have bagged good response bringing Imtiar Shamim’s first part of novel’s collection, “Uponnash Songroho 1”.

Among the non-fiction works by some popular writers, Mohiuddin Ahmed’s “Amar Kotha Koibe Pakhi” and “Hasina”, Serajul Islam Chowdhury’s “Boktrita Somogro”, Nurul Kabir’s “Dwiralap”, Ahmed Mostafa Kamal’s short story compilation “Kotipoy Jyotichinho”, Razu Alauddin’s “Bhashar Protibha, Bikriti o Birodhita” have attracted many readers’ attention, said the readers and publishers on Thursday.