Nigeria’s Port Harcourt has now taken the Unesco-bestowed title of World Book Capital after Bangkok completed its term last month. It had been a year that books and reading culture were supposed to receive a big boost. The campaign, however, has been met with criticism as it seemed to focus more on the surface topics rather than something more fundamental, like promoting a love of reading among Thais.
Candide Books.
Likewise, to consider the typically overwhelming amount of people going to a book fair, which takes place twice a year in Bangkok, is perhaps a little misleading as to what the reading culture and bookselling business in Thailand really is. While various chain bookstores seem to be thriving — with magazines and self-help books on the best-seller shelves — independent bookstores, which can be another indicator of the health of the industry, have been struggling to survive, from those in Bangkok to Chiang Mai to Pattani.
The Publishers and Booksellers Association of Thailand president Charan Homtientong said that the World Book Capital title didn’t help independent bookstores in Thailand, and it didn’t create anything positive for the publishing industry as a whole.
“The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s campaign and activities focus more on the surface rather the real content,” said Charan. “In the future, if they have a good project like this again, they should really contemplate more to produce something good out of it.”
Charan said that major chain bookstores are a big factor in why there will be less independent bookstores in the future — the situation is no different from that of independent convenience stores.
“What we can do is to help them become more well-known [by, for example] organising the national independent bookstore fair that’s coming up next month,” said Charan. “We try to encourage people to buy books in their local bookstores. With some support, I believe that there will be a lot of newcomers in the industry.”
Charan said that the independent bookstore industry can be like the boutique hotel business, which has become popular in recent years.
“There’s a special appeal to it and there’s conversation in these bookstores. It has a lot to do with Thai people’s lifestyles nowadays which is mostly about going to department stores. Going into bookstores in department stores is like talking to a machine that can’t respond in the aspect of feelings and emotions.”
Despite the tendency to believe there will be fewer independent bookstores in the future, a recent launch of Candide Books at The Jam Factory near Khlong San Pier is a courageous testament against the rise of big chains. The owner, Duangruethai Asanachatang, who is also at the helm as managing editor of Betweentheline Publishing, believes the trend of independent stores is coming back again.
“The number of people interested in opening this kind of bookstore is increasing. But we have to understand that the profits we’ll get from this business [are small].”
As to whether these bookstores will survive, Duangruethai believes it depends on all parties in the industry.
“Readers should give importance to buying books in these stores. For us, we have to develop ourselves in becoming different from the chain stores. We have to build a clear character. We have to be able to answer our readers as to why they should buy books from us. At Candide Books, we can say that our books have been carefully selected and we have free activities and talks that will help promote reading culture.”
Co-owner of Buku Books and More in Pattani province, Daranee Thongsiri, said even though there are quite a few independent bookstores that have opened, with many more to follow, she doesn’t know how much the people who frequent big chain bookstores will care.
“We don’t sell mainstream books, like those how-to ones,” said Daranee. “Mostly they are literature, history and politics. The problem we face is that we need a lot of money to get each book we want in store and we can’t afford that.”
One major problem for independent bookstores is that there’s a lot of discounts at book fairs and in chain stores, and because of that, Daranee said people don’t come to buy books at her shop.
“We only get a small percentage from the sale as it is and we can’t go further than that.”
“We can’t hope for any organisation to help us,” added Daranee. “What we can do is to create a bookstore that’s unique, where people don’t come to just buy books and go. We constantly host talks, organise activities, recommend books on our Facebook page. We try to find what’s uniquely ours and promote that.”
For co-founder Rodjaraeg Wattanapanit of Book Re:public in Chiang Mai, the surge of popularity of independent stores might have to do with the current political and social situation in the country.
“People want to read books more because they want to find the answers,” said Rodjaraeg. “You can’t find some books in those chain stores either because such books are not interesting to them or they don’t fit their concept of the store.”
She said one of the appeals of independent bookstores is how no two shops are the same.
“Each store is small and you can’t fit everything in. The store reflects very clearly the character of the owner. Each store has its uniqueness. Activities and talks held in the stores are also very important. I believe people who own a business like this want the books to be talked about and discussed. It makes people want to read and know more about the books.”
When asked what will really make the independent bookstore industry grow, Rodjaraeg said it has to do with everyone involved in the business.
“It’s the whole cycle: the writers, the publishers, the distributors, and the bookshops. Our place is very end of the line. What’s best is for all parties to sit down and talk, to not take advantage of each other too much, to compromise and to help one another.”
Independent bookstores around the country
Bookmoby Readers’ Cafe
- Founded by SEA Write Award-winning author Prabda Yoon, the store offers books on various subjects, from literature, history, politics, economics, philosophy and religion to art. It often holds literature-related talks and events.
4/F Bangkok Art and Culture Centre, Tue-Sat 11am-8pm. Call 02-106-3671 or visit facebook.com/bookmoby.
Passport Bookshop
- Dubbed as a book oasis, the store not only provides a good selection of books on Southeast Asia but also good coffee and tea.
523 Prasumeru Road, Pranakorn, Tue-Sun 10.30am-7pm. Call 02-629-0694.
Dasa
- One of the biggest English-language second-hand bookstores in Bangkok, Dasa not only offers a massive number of books over their three floors, but it’s also a place to sell your old books.
714/4 Sukhumvit Road (Between Soi 26-28), daily 10am-8pm. Call 02-661-2993 or visit dasabookcafe.com.
Sunthorn Pu
- Named after the great Thai poet, this shop in Rayong province offers books on all subjects with a stress on pocketbooks, travel books and SEA Write Award-winning works.
38/1 Pho Thong Road, Amphoe Klang, Rayong Province, Tue-Sun 9am-8pm. Call 086-405-6502.
Once Bookk
- Established almost four years ago, this small bookshop in Uthai Thani sells new releases at the front and also invites customers to browse through old and rare books at the back. Most of the books are literature, religion and philosophy.
36 Narongwithi Road, Uthai Thani Province, daily 8am-8pm. Call 089-741-8756.
Book Re:public.
Buku Books and More.
