Lions Monster Bookfair to be held in Waikanae

One of the many books for sale at the Lions Monster Bookfair.

Much to Lions' relief, about 50,000 donated books will be taken out of storage on October 15 and set up in the Waikanae Memorial Hall in readiness for the 23nd consecutive Lions Monster Bookfair on Saturday and Sunday, October 17 and 18.

Project manager Peter Cresswell said months of work is nearing its end for Lions but even as this one was coming up, planning for another possible lockdown had to be considered "as to whether we would have to cancel again, or to work out a plan that would ensure the safety of the hundreds who normally come to buy".

"So, it was with a huge sigh of relief that we have been able to proceed as normal and to once again seek to raise close to $40,000 for Kāpiti's needy organisations."

The two days of the book fair will see people from throughout the district congregating, even before the doors open at 8am on the Saturday.

"As always the range and quantity of books for sale is mind-blowing and there are titles to suit everyone.

"A classic is Sea Devil, by James Bade, a detailed account of Count Felix von Luckner, one of the 20th century's most controversial figures.

"During the First World War his job as a German captain, was to capture and destroy allied shipping.

One of the many books for sale at the Lions Monster Bookfair.

"However, his ship became stranded in the Pacific in 1917 and he and his crew were captured and became prisoners of war in New Zealand.

"He visited New Zealand in 1938 and later got into trouble with the Nazis for his anti-fascist views."

Another great read is New Zealand Shipwrecks, detailing more than 200 disasters at sea.

And for art lovers there are beautiful coffee-table publications such as New Zealand's Romantic Landscapes featuring paintings by John Gully 1819-1888 and Rei Hamon: Artist of the New Zealand Bush.

There's also hundreds of other military titles, biographies, hardback and paperback fiction, health, music, cooking, gardening, travel and children's books and puzzles.

"And the sale is all for great causes.

"Hopefully $35,000 will go to this year's beneficiaries, including the Wellington Children's Hospital, Wellington Free Ambulance, the Malaghan Institute, the Life Flight Trust, Paraparaumu Beach School Dyslexia teaching programme and the Virtuoso Strings."