Caption goes here photo courtesy of Big Bad Wolf
The true country of readers is the library. If not, then a book shop. If not, then a bookselling event.
Running from tomorrow until Aug 21 at Impact Muang Thong Thani, Hall 9, the Big Bad Wolf Book Sale, billed as the world’s biggest jamboree of discounted books, is in Bangkok for the first time.
Something to take note here: The Big Bad Wolf is different from the book fairs organised a few times a year in Bangkok in that it offers only English-language books — fiction, nonfiction, biographies, cooking, history, art, children’s books and more — at what looks like a big discount of 60-80%. Rare and limited edition books are said to be available, as well.
Also, the main feature of the event is a marathon book shopping. On the two weekends, the fair will open for 60 hours, meaning bargain hunters can shop for books as if they were going to 7-Eleven.
The market of English-language books in Thailand is growing but naturally limited, and the idea of a large English-language book fair is a welcome but also challenging move.
“The main objective is to encourage Thai people to learn more English, as well as to gain more readership in general,” says Surachet Worawongwasu, managing director of Ready 2 Read. “By offering quality books at low prices, we hope to get more people to start reading.”
In fact, Big Bad Wolf originated not in the strictly English-speaking country: the founder is Andrew Yap, a Malaysian businessman who saw need for quality English books in Malaysia and he went on tour to source books at great prices from various suppliers. At the first edition of the sale in Kuala Lumpur in 2009, there were 150,000 books. In 2015, there were 3.5 million books and 500,000 visitors to the fair.
Besides selling books, the fair also initiates the Red Readerhood Project to share books to underprivileged readers. One thousand books will also be presented to HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn for use in her royal initiatives.
So clear your shelves and head to Impact Muang Thong Thani.
This source first appeared on Bangkok Post Lifestyle.