I couldn’t believe my eyes when I went to the bookstore today and found Tash Aw’s The Harmony Silk Factory going for RM9.90. This is for a hardback copy with slipcover! I went to the counter and asked the salesgirl if the pricetag was accurate. She smiled and nodded.
RM9.90. The book is a Riverhead Books publication and the inner slipcover states that it retails for US$24.95.
There must be a catch somewhere.
At first I thought the bookstore was selling fakes. But since it was a large bookstore chain, that didn’t seem possible. Then a closer examination of the book revealed its defect: a tear on the inside of the hardcover. The publisher must have dumped negotiated to sell the defective copies via this Malaysian bookstore chain. I’m not complaining. The defect is slight and as long as the content is intact (reading the book will tell), I’m very, very happy to have got a Malaysian lit volume on my bookshelves for about the same price as a McDonald’s value meal.
Filed under: At the Stores, Reads
Hi Eliza
I’ve just started reading Tash Aw’s book. It is quite yummy so far. It would be good to compare notes. Have you checked out shelfari.com out btw? If you do, I’m there as ‘Niki’. We can share books.
Take care!
n.