Regardless of whether it is due to increased education, encouragement from parents, and more options, there is a large readership that is building which then begs the question: What are people reading?
“People usually come looking for bestsellers,” says Suresh Maharjan of United Book Store in Thamel.
Jiwan Pradhan, in-charge at Ekta Educational Palace, Man Bhawan, states, “Novels by Erich Segal and Stephen King were previously in high demand but now readers are more likely to pick up books by Nicholas Sparks, as well as the Twilight and Harry Potter series.”
Bhagwati Thapa who owns Summit Book House in Thamel mentions that another big hit right now is Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts.
The Nepali population seems more enthralled by contemporary literature, according to Sanjay Maharjan of Pilgrims Book House in Thamel. He says, “Those who come looking for classics are mostly students of the Arts.” Otherwise, the younger population of Nepal is up-to-date and always looking for trendy reading like Five Point Someone by Cheten Bhagat.
Along with International bestsellers, Dipendra Shrestha, sales executive at Saraswati Book Center in Pulchowk, says, “Nepali authors like Manjushree Thapa and Samrat Upadhyay are also really popular.” Seasons of Flight by Manjushree Thapa and Unleashing Nepal by Sujeev Shakya are currently some of the most sought-out books.
Mamata Shrestha, owner of Godawari Books at Bag Bazaar, says, “My store sells mostly Nepali books. But Paulo Coelho, and especially his The Alchemist, is always in demand. So I keep a few English books too.” She shares that most of her Nepali customers seek English books in order to improve their English.
Although there is a preference for English texts, Shiva Ram Shrestha, owner of Himalayan Book Center at Bag Bazaar who sells only Nepali books says that he doesn’t have too many customers who are under 30, but as of the last five years, the number of younger population seeking Nepali books has doubled.
Not all the bookstores sell Nepali books, but Madhav Lal Maharjan, CEO, Mandala Book Point at Jamal, says, “Nepali novels are well accepted, as are biographies.” Currently the top selling Nepali books are Maile Dekheko Darbar by Gen Bibek Shah, Mero Ma by Krishna Prasad Bhattarai, Chhapamarko Chhoro by Mahesh Bikram Shah, Karnali Blues by Buddhisagar, and the books Soch, Khoj, and Ma Sakchhu by Karna Sakya.
While reading in English, Kathmanu’s population also appears to be picking up on self-help books since the last seven years. Those most likely to be picked off the shelves include You Can Win by Shiv Khera, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People and The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Teenagers by Stephen R. Covey, How to Win Friends and Influence People and How to Stop Worrying and Start Living, both by Dale Carnegie. Another long term favorite remains Men Are from Mars and Women Are from Venus by John Gray.
With international and local reading materials available at affordable prices and combined with secondhand bookstores and shops that buy back books at 50%, there is ample opportunity to pick up a book and catch up on what the rest of the city is reading.
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