Review by Rui Pastorin
As I walked towards the Macao Polytechnic University’s (MPU) Multisport Pavilion yesterday afternoon, I could not help but feel a sense of excitement. The annual Macau Book Carnival, which is now in its 28th edition, was going on and I was hoping to take photos and find a story, as well as hopefully come home with my next read.
The bookfair is being held by the Macao Association of Literary Promotion.
As I entered the solemn venue at around 4:30 p.m. after having wrapped up an interview nearby, I was immediately greeted with thousands of titles on display. Unfortunately, however, it seemed to be a slow day, with only a few people there and some more trickling in as time went by.
But still, I noticed that those who were there seemed eager to scour through a sea of books displayed on tables across the pavilion, the area of which spans over 6,200 square metres.
Every now and then, you could hear the sound of people flipping pages in the books to determine if what they held was going to be their next read. But what I found most pleasantly surprising was seeing at least two separate families who brought along their young children to perhaps cultivate a love for reading and to look through the books available themselves. And there was certainly a lot to choose from.
On display were a wide selection of publications such as novels, works on culture and history, children’s books, comics, locally published works penned by our very own writers and the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC), to name a few, along with various toys and board games. The best part? There seem to be great deals to be found in every corner.
As a book lover, I eventually found myself engrossed in browsing book after book. The books available feature those in Chinese and Portuguese, while there are also English books on offer, though admittedly the selection does not seem to be as vast in comparison. However, there are certainly gems to be found and it wasn’t long before I was carrying around four books as I continued to go around the fair, among which were copies of American short story writer and poet Raymond Carver’s (1938-1988) “Will You Please Be Quiet, Please?” a short story collection for 50 patacas and American author Stephen King’s 2021 novel “Billy Summer” for 30 patacas. For the four books that I picked up, the total stood at 136.5 patacas. Needless to say, it was definitely a bargain. And with a few days left, you might also have a chance at finding something for a good deal.
The free-admission carnival is on until Sunday. Apart from buying books, carnival-goers will also be able to join a raft of activities ranging from book launches to magic shows. One can visit the bookfair from 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. from Monday to Friday and from 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. during the weekend, with details available on the event’s Facebook page.
Readers browse books showcased during the 28th edition of the Macau Book Carnival taking place at the Macao Polytechnic University’s (MPU) Multisport Pavilion yesterday afternoon. – Photos: Rui Pastorin
