Insta-worthy bookshops, cosy indie spaces delight book lovers, visitors

Despite the rise of e-books and online shopping, the book retail scene in the Klang Valley remains vibrant.

- Hazlin Hassan

My 10-year-old son looked up at the towering shelves, his curiosity piqued. "How do you reach the books up there?" he asked.

We were at BookXcess at Rex KL, a cultural and retail hub repurposed from a 1940s cinema.

With shelves that almost reach the tall ceiling, labyrinthine aisles, and graffiti murals, the bookstore blends nostalgia and modernity - an Instagrammable delight.

Many visitors snap selfies against the shelves and staircases in the Malaysian bookshop, or browse its discounted books, stationery and board games.

Despite the rise of e-books and online shopping as well as the demise of chains such as Times Bookstores and Borders, the book retail scene in the Klang Valley encompassing Kuala Lumpur and neighbouring Selangor state remains vibrant.

In recent years, international brands have landed on Malaysian shores, injecting much excitement in the industry.

In 2022, Japanese chain Tsutaya and Taiwan's Eslite opened here, joining Japan's Kinokuniya, which has been in the country since 1990, with one store in Kuala Lumpur.

While Eslite has a single store, Tsutaya now has three: two in the Klang Valley and one in Johor.

Joining the scene are local indie bookstores as well as BookXcess.

The bookstore chain, which started in 2006 as a 500 sq ft store in the Selangor suburb of Petaling Jaya, now has 23 locations across Malaysia and four in Singapore.

MORE THAN JUST BOOKS

BookXcess' success lies in its ability to blend books that are sold at a discount, with lifestyle and ambience.

It showcases trendy aesthetics and quirky concepts such as "Blind Date with a Book", where books are wrapped in brown paper with brief descriptions.

Its branch at The Gardens Mall in Kuala Lumpur sits on the rooftop with a view of surrounding skyscrapers. Many of its outlets partner with cafes and restaurants, allowing customers to have coffee or lunch while reading their new books.