Aggressive mood at Romanian book fair

The Gaudeamus International Book and Education Fair closed its doors in Bukarest last weekend with a record number of visitors. But after years of growth the fair badly needs a new location, writes the daily Gândul: "Certainly, one can only be delighted with the number of visitors at the Gaudeamus fair, as well as with the record sales figures for certain books. ... These are signs of normality in a society which needs to get itself back on track with the help of such cultural events. Less normal, however, is the increasingly aggressive mood at this fair. The pushing and shoving, the noise, the lack of oxygen, the cramped space and the inability to move or even relax all do more to keep visitors away from the books than to foster a conducive atmosphere. The fair has been growing for years now. It's time the organisers ... started thinking of the public. The book fair should have a suitable environment the next time it rolls around."

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