KOLKATA: To bring back the Generation Next to paper editions, a unique literary event took place today with over 50 youngsters were involved in 'book dating' by sharing views on their most favourite and hated titles with the randomly selected partner.
"Swipe Right, Booklovers" is a unique curated event where people in their 20s/30s mixed and mingled to discuss the books they loved, each sitting face-to-face for five minutes, and then moving to the next chair to strike up conversation with a new friend. It is a unique way to share one's love for books with a new friend and who knows they can become lifetime friends sharing a common love," an organiser said.
"This is also part of our effort to rekindle the love for paperbacks and hardbound volumes among today's generation who are always more networked on Twitter, WhatsApp and facebook and read e-editions," the organiser said adding the participants could be from any profession but would have to be between the age group of 18-30."
"So far it has been quite amazing. Those five minute conversation format with each partner and I discussed about my favourite title 'The Book Thief' with all the three new friends I met and found to be on similar vibes with one. When we are having same conversation we can make friends," Umer Parikh, first year student of a city college said.
The book lovers also clicked favourite moments at the selfie zone to frame the first ever literary speed dating.
CEO, Oxford Book Store, the organiser of the event, Swagat Sengupta said, "This specially curated event is to provide one unique experience to the young book lovers of the city so they can build a community of book worms - where they can meet, love, interact, recommend and discuss everything related to the literary world."
Explaining the format, he said, "each participant gets 5 minutes to interact with a fellow book lover of the opposite gender/ same gender before moving on to the next participant.
At the end of the event the participant can connect individually with the book loving partner and they can buy books together as a couple united by common love for literature