Is There A Decent Bookshop In Pattya?

[Mobi]

Is there anything resembling a halfway decent bookshop anywhere in Pattaya? Or is the 'Bookazine'outlets at Big C and Royal Garden Shopping Mall the sum total offering for those of a literary turn of mind? Bangkok is flooded with decent Bookshops and I'm at a loss to understand the dearth in this neck of the woods. At the risk of giving offence; is there no demand? Are the inhabitants too sozzled, too illiterate or just too busy f..ing to get their heads into a good book? Stupid question, probably...

[Ulysses G.]

Book-a-zine's it dude, but not too bad, considering.

[Florin]

I haven't been to Pattaya in ages, but in other resort places (Koh Samet, Chang, etc.) I noticed rather large collections that can be borrowed in some hotels...dog-eared and maybe not what you're looking for, but worth a look if such a thing exists in Pattaya.

[davethailand]

Is there anything resembling a halfway decent bookshop anywhere in Pattaya? Or is the 'Bookazine'outlets at Big C and Royal Garden Shopping Mall the sum total offering for those of a literary turn of mind? Bangkok is flooded with decent Bookshops and I'm at a loss to understand the dearth in this neck of the woods. At the risk of giving offence; is there no demand? Are the inhabitants too sozzled, too illiterate or just too busy f..ing to get their heads into a good book? Stupid question, probably...

Your right. stupid question, stupid comments

there are a few book shops around not only bookazine.

[MattFS218]

Bookzine is okay, I'd check out the used bookstore upstairs at Tops, I think it's called Pattaya Beach Books....I sell all my new, USA purchased books there after I finish reading em

matt

[syd barrett]

Is there anything resembling a halfway decent bookshop anywhere in Pattaya? Or is the 'Bookazine'outlets at Big C and Royal Garden Shopping Mall the sum total offering for those of a literary turn of mind? Bangkok is flooded with decent Bookshops and I'm at a loss to understand the dearth in this neck of the woods. At the risk of giving offence; is there no demand? Are the inhabitants too sozzled, too illiterate or just too busy f..ing to get their heads into a good book? Stupid question, probably...

Dear Mobi D'Ark; it is T.V. posts like your own, that make my blood boil. I am a nice guy, I am not being nasty; just helping you on your way in Pattaya. Read on; and learn.

There are two dedicated bookshops in Pattaya and a continually changing range of second hand book stores. Bookazine, one and two are situated in Royal Garden and Big C respectively. They offer an excellent range of fiction and non fiction. I have seen, just recently, English classics and airport/pulp fiction on offer in both stores.

You are English; and are clearly trying (and not succeeding) to impress us with your 'Bottom' Rick Mayall turn of phrase; However, there can never be a 'dearth' of bookshops, only a 'paucity'.

Apart from that, welcome to the forum, and happy reading; I no longer get 'sozzled' and devote my time to 'pelvic entertainment with the female species' as Rick from 'Bottom' would say.........

Thank you and good evening.

SB.

[Pattaya_Fox]

Is there anything resembling a halfway decent bookshop anywhere in Pattaya? Or is the 'Bookazine'outlets at Big C and Royal Garden Shopping Mall the sum total offering for those of a literary turn of mind? Bangkok is flooded with decent Bookshops and I'm at a loss to understand the dearth in this neck of the woods. At the risk of giving offence; is there no demand? Are the inhabitants too sozzled, too illiterate or just too busy f..ing to get their heads into a good book? Stupid question, probably...

My initial reaction to your utterance was to call you a PRATT, which is probably what most of the residents who have read this think of you. However as you are ignorant of the residents and it seems the area I will refrain from calling you a PRATT on this occasion.

You could try Duang Kamoi (DK) in Soi Post Office.

I am sure that your wandering book lusty proboscis will find something of interest here to bury it`s end in.

[Phil Conners]

Another bookshop on Royal Garden, top floor is not bad.

I know of at least 4 second hand book stores as well:

1) Jeremys Bookstore, Soi Chaiyapoon near Soi Buakao

2) Middle of Soi Buakao

3) Tops top floor

4) Soi Postoffice near Beach Road.

Most are of course the usual airport carp but some great books can be found.

[johnnyk]

What a surprise, BKK has many more good bookshops than Pattaya.

Considering BKK has a population about 100X that of Pattaya, it should.

[Thaiquila]

Isn't that another Bookazine at Jomtien beach right near the Police Box?

It is small but the featured books looked more high brow than in the malls.

I have also heard that Bookazine will order any amazon.com book from the USA that they don't stock for you at a special freight rate they get because of their volume of shipping. Not sure if this is really true, but if so, problem solved, eh?

[johnnyk]

Yes there is. It's small but nice to cop a newspaper and walk across to the beach.

[Mobi]

Is there anything resembling a halfway decent bookshop anywhere in Pattaya? Or is the 'Bookazine'outlets at Big C and Royal Garden Shopping Mall the sum total offering for those of a literary turn of mind? Bangkok is flooded with decent Bookshops and I'm at a loss to understand the dearth in this neck of the woods. At the risk of giving offence; is there no demand? Are the inhabitants too sozzled, too illiterate or just too busy f..ing to get their heads into a good book? Stupid question, probably...

Dear Mobi D'Ark; it is T.V. posts like your own, that make my blood boil. I am a nice guy, I am not being nasty; just helping you on your way in Pattaya. Read on; and learn.

There are two dedicated bookshops in Pattaya and a continually changing range of second hand book stores. Bookazine, one and two are situated in Royal Garden and Big C respectively. They offer an excellent range of fiction and non fiction. I have seen, just recently, English classics and airport/pulp fiction on offer in both stores.

You are English; and are clearly trying (and not succeeding) to impress us with your 'Bottom' Rick Mayall turn of phrase; However, there can never be a 'dearth' of bookshops, only a 'paucity'.

Apart from that, welcome to the forum, and happy reading; I no longer get 'sozzled' and devote my time to 'pelvic entertainment with the female species' as Rick from 'Bottom' would say.........

Thank you and good evening.

SB.

Dear SB,

I'm sorry I made your blood boil -wasn't my intention.

I wasn't trying to impress anyone - gave that up years ago. Just my feeble attemps at humour. Having said that, all the farangs I have met so far seem to be permanently innebriated and would proabaly fall off their bar stools at the mere mention of reading a book. I am sure I am mixing in the wrong circles and now remain assured there is a veritable army of readers out there somewhere.

I did go to Bookazine in Big C and Royal garden - Ok if you're a bit desperate, but not much of a choice really. ( in my opinion, I hasten to add). I shall certainly try all the other places, especially the 2nd hand stores that the forum has recommended. Thank you very much, one and all.

Just for the record:

QUOTE: OXFORD THESAURUS: DEARTH "SCARSITY;WANT;NEED;LACK;DEFICIENCY;SPARSENESS OR SPARSITY; INSUFFICIENCY; INADEQUACITY;SHORTAGE.........

Need I go on?....

[naka]

Is there anything resembling a halfway decent bookshop anywhere in Pattaya? Or is the 'Bookazine'outlets at Big C and Royal Garden Shopping Mall the sum total offering for those of a literary turn of mind? Bangkok is flooded with decent Bookshops and I'm at a loss to understand the dearth in this neck of the woods. At the risk of giving offence; is there no demand? Are the inhabitants too sozzled, too illiterate or just too busy f..ing to get their heads into a good book? Stupid question, probably...

Re. your nasty post.

Are you too old or decrepit to do any of what you call f..ing or too dumb to go online and buy anythining you could ever want to read from Amazon.com ?

Naka.

[Mobi]

[

My initial reaction to your utterance was to call you a PRATT, which is probably what most of the residents who have read this think of you. However as you are ignorant of the residents and it seems the area I will refrain from calling you a PRATT on this occasion.

You could try Duang Kamoi (DK) in Soi Post Office.

I am sure that your wandering book lusty proboscis will find something of interest here to bury it`s end in.

Hi P Fox

You're very welcome to call me a PRATT (or indeed a PRAT). I've been called far worse and survived.

Thanks for the info on DK, they are usually good places, so I'll wander down and take a look. Maybe my hairy proboscis will discover something of interest.

Re. your nasty post.

Are you too old or decrepit to do any of what you call f..ing or too dumb to go online and buy anythining you could ever want to read from Amazon.com ?

Naka.

Re your nasty post.

Yes I am old, but not too decrepit to indulge in alittle f...ing - however, it doesn't consume my life. Amazon's great - but (a) I like to browse before buying and ( I have grave doubts that anything ordered through Amazon would actually get delivered.

Anyway, thanks for the suggestion, it is appreciated. ya: ya: ya:

[Jai Dee]

I am sure that your wandering book lusty proboscis will find something of interest here to bury it`s end in.

Great line Pattaya_Fox.

[hughden]

Don't worry about Amazon. I have been buying from them for the last 17 years living in Asia and every package arrived promptly; some within 3 days of despatch.

[Mobi]

Don't worry about Amazon. I have been buying from them for the last 17 years living in Asia and every package arrived promptly; some within 3 days of despatch.

Thanks for the info Hughden. I'll give it a go

[Artisan]

There's another branch of DK Books near the junction of Pattaya Klang and Beach Road, on the opposite side of the road to the Nova Lodge Hotel. The range of second hand books is excellent.

[Thaigreg]

Hi,

Have you ever thought of trying e-books? Available instantly on your computer and you can download to a PDA or other readable devices.

[thaiflyer1]

I/ll add another one to the list............BookVariety on the ground floor at Carrefour.

Looks to be well stocked .

[Wanraya]

There's also an English language library on Sukhumvit almost opposite the Index shop. Its called North Star and membership is 1100 baht a year.

[OxfordWill]

And in answer to your wider question over culture - yes, there is a lack of western 'culture' in most of Thailand. That's probably why most of us go there...

[OldAsiaHand]

Bangkok is flooded with decent Bookshops....

I only wish that were actually the case. Maybe they just look good when you are looking at them from Pattaya.

With a couple of arguable exceptions, this 'flood' of shops all stock exactly the same things -- whatever massmarket paperbacks happen to be current. New books in their initial hardback editions are very poorly stocked anywhere in Thailand. In my experience, you have as good a chance (or better) to find the latest US and UK books in Bookazine as you do anywhere else. Sad, but true.

[Mobi]

Bangkok is flooded with decent Bookshops....

I only wish that were actually the case. Maybe they just look good when you are looking at them from Pattaya.

With a couple of arguable exceptions, this 'flood' of shops all stock exactly the same things -- whatever massmarket paperbacks happen to be current. New books in their initial hardback editions are very poorly stocked anywhere in Thailand. In my experience, you have as good a chance (or better) to find the latest US and UK books in Bookazine as you do anywhere else. Sad, but true.

I guess it depends on what you're looking for. On Sukhumvit alone, there's Asia Books, near Soi 19 (3 floors); there's a very large bookshop with a Japanese name in the Emporium, and Central Chidlom is no slouch in the book department. They easily match an Ottokars or whatever in the UK and I would say that Asia Books has a greater selection of classical/modern literature by author's name than most British book stores will stock.

Anyway its all irrelevant - I'm looking in Pattaya and have had a great deal of valuable advice; thank you all very much.

[Ulysses G.]

Bangkok is flooded with decent Bookshops....

I only wish that were actually the case. Maybe they just look good when you are looking at them from Pattaya.

With a couple of arguable exceptions, this 'flood' of shops all stock exactly the same things -- whatever massmarket paperbacks happen to be current. New books in their initial hardback editions are very poorly stocked anywhere in Thailand. In my experience, you have as good a chance (or better) to find the latest US and UK books in Bookazine as you do anywhere else. Sad, but true.

There aren't many bookshops anywhere that are much better than Kinokiniya in the Emporium, unless one insists on hard-backs which they don't stock a lot of because they are so difficult to sell to travelers and expats.

[Mobi]

Bangkok is flooded with decent Bookshops....

I only wish that were actually the case. Maybe they just look good when you are looking at them from Pattaya.

With a couple of arguable exceptions, this 'flood' of shops all stock exactly the same things -- whatever massmarket paperbacks happen to be current. New books in their initial hardback editions are very poorly stocked anywhere in Thailand. In my experience, you have as good a chance (or better) to find the latest US and UK books in Bookazine as you do anywhere else. Sad, but true.

There aren't many bookshops anywhere that are much better than Kinokiniya in the Emporium, unless one insists on hard-backs which they don't stock a lot of because they are so difficult to sell to travelers and expats.

Thank you Ulysysses G, that's exactly what I thought. And thank you for the name. You've inspired me, think I'll hop on a bus tomorrow and go there.

[Wanraya]

Bangkok is flooded with decent Bookshops....

I only wish that were actually the case. Maybe they just look good when you are looking at them from Pattaya.

With a couple of arguable exceptions, this 'flood' of shops all stock exactly the same things -- whatever massmarket paperbacks happen to be current. New books in their initial hardback editions are very poorly stocked anywhere in Thailand. In my experience, you have as good a chance (or better) to find the latest US and UK books in Bookazine as you do anywhere else. Sad, but true.

There aren't many bookshops anywhere that are much better than Kinokiniya in the Emporium, unless one insists on hard-backs which they don't stock a lot of because they are so difficult to sell to travelers and expats.

Thank you Ulysysses G, that's exactly what I thought. And thank you for the name. You've inspired me, think I'll hop on a bus tomorrow and go there.

I think I will make a visit to check out this bookstore as well. Where is the Emporium in Bangkok? What is the best method of getting there from Ekamai bus station?

[Mobi]

Bangkok is flooded with decent Bookshops....

I only wish that were actually the case. Maybe they just look good when you are looking at them from Pattaya.

With a couple of arguable exceptions, this 'flood' of shops all stock exactly the same things -- whatever massmarket paperbacks happen to be current. New books in their initial hardback editions are very poorly stocked anywhere in Thailand. In my experience, you have as good a chance (or better) to find the latest US and UK books in Bookazine as you do anywhere else. Sad, but true.

There aren't many bookshops anywhere that are much better than Kinokiniya in the Emporium, unless one insists on hard-backs which they don't stock a lot of because they are so difficult to sell to travelers and expats.

Thank you Ulysysses G, that's exactly what I thought. And thank you for the name. You've inspired me, think I'll hop on a bus tomorrow and go there.

I think I will make a visit to check out this bookstore as well. Where is the Emporium in Bangkok? What is the best method of getting there from Ekamai bus station?

Get on the skytrain at Ekami, get off at Prompong (2 stops I think). Follow the signs, there is a walkway right into the Emporium, which is a very upmarket mall and department store.

Why aren't there any proper department stores in Pattaya? (here we go again...)

[Jai Dee]

I think I will make a visit to check out this bookstore as well. Where is the Emporium in Bangkok? What is the best method of getting there from Ekamai bus station?

Get the skytrain from Ekkamai to Prom Pong.

Emporioum is on your left.

/Edit - whoops... just saw your post Mobi.

[OldAsiaHand]

There aren't many bookshops anywhere that are much better than Kinokiniya in the Emporium, unless one insists on hard-backs which they don't stock a lot of because they are so difficult to sell to travelers and expats.

It's just silly to say that Kino in the Emporium is as good as any bookstore 'anywhere'. Surely you are either an employee or Japanese.

And as to 'hardbacks...are so difficult to sell to...expats' -- what in the world is THAT supposed to mean? They aren't in any other country I know of. Are you suggesting we have a different sort of expat here in Thailand? Nah, you of all people wouldn't be saying that.......

Edited January 31, 2006 by OldAsiaHand