Collection of popular Odia books on display at the Bhubaneswar Book Fair. Picture by Sanjib Mukherjee

Bhubaneswar, Feb 16: For Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen, Calcutta might be a second home, but she has no less following here.

The three Odia translations of Taslima’s works — Lajja, Tume Nisabda: Tume Katha Kuha Naahin and Naahin Kicchi Naahin — are the highest selling works of fiction at the ongoing Bhubaneswar Book Fair. These books are such a huge rage at the fair that they are selling more than the works of Odia writers and English novels.

“Taslima has managed to create a deep impact on the minds of Odia book lovers. Every day we get a large number of readers looking for her books,” said Jyotiranjan Jena of Paschima Publications.

Though Taslima is a big hit with the capital’s bookworms, the trend at the fair also shows a strong love for classics and novels. Odia classics and novels also have a similar edge over short stories and poems.

In keeping with last year’s trend, Asit Mohanty’s Adhyaya Ekabinsha and Jagannath Prasad Das’s Desha, Kal, Patra still retain the top positions. Other novels that are also doing well are Garba Karibara Katha by Hrusikesh Panda, Manoj Das’s Katha O Kahani, Barrister Govinda Das’s Amabasyara Chandra and Chittaranjan Das’s Taranga Tadita.

Though few in number, there are takers for Odia poetry as well. A recently released anthology of poems by Krupasindhu Nayak — Byatha Jeunthi Thila — is one of the best selling poetry books at the book fair. Sahaja Sundari by Runu Mohanty, Kabya Kabitara Pruthibi by Braj Nayak and Harmonium Ra Todi by Haraprasad Das are some of the poetry collectibles that are catching the readers’ attention.

Bilasini Mohanty’s Anabrita Abiskar, a compilation of 50 short stories, is one of the many short story books to receive good reviews from the Odia readers.

“I like Bibhuti Patnaik’s works and am planning to buy two of his best works — Premika and Badhu Nirupama,” said a student of RD College, Barsa Pradhan.

However, the trend among English book lovers is just the opposite. It’s Chetan Bhagat and romantic short story writers from India that have taken the lead. Chetan’s Revolution 2020, Two States and Three Mistakes of My Life are selling like hot cakes.

Ravinder Singh’s Can Love Happen Twice?, Vikrant Khanna’s When Life Kicked Me, and Nikita Singh’s Love @ Facebook are also selling well at the fair.

Off-beat books on history such as Haraprasad Das’s Odia Rajya Ra Jibana Katha, Barrister Govind Das’s Ei Moro Delhi and books on religion such as Y. Masih’s Religious Philosophy are doing well at the fair.

“What is best about the Bhubaneswar book fair is its good collection of non-fiction books, especially on religion. I have bought the Rig Veda and a few Sanskrit books from one of the stalls here,” said software engineer Abhishek Panda.