Kuchingites know it is the end of the year when the Second Time Around Books fair is in town.
The annual book fair is famous for offering up to 90% discounts on a wide range of books.
This year, the Second Time Around Books fair is being held at The Hills from Nov 3 till Dec 9. There are at least 100,000 used books for children and adults alike up for grabs.
And the fun part is it has a bargain section with up to 8,000 books for only RM1, RM2 and RM3.
Here at KajoMag, we want to make the most of our RM10 and these were the books we bought in the bargain section of Second Time Around Books:
1.Perfect Timing by Olga Bicos
Thanks to the magic of the Internet and the ever-ready smartphone, you can read the reviews first if you want to take a chance on an unknown writer.
Luckily for me, this 1998 book by Cuban author Olga Bicos had great reviews on Amazon. According to the reviewers, Perfect Timing is one of her best works. (Score!)
The story follows Cherish, Alec and Conor who survive a horrible airplane crash. A year after the incident, Cherish receives a strange message which unites her with Alec and Conor.
2.Home for Christmas by Anita Stansfield
Since Christmas is around the corner, how about a book which complements the season? Home for Christmas by Anita Stansfield is a romance story. (Yes, there is a section on Romance at the Second Time Around Books fair for those who want to indulge that guilty pleasure.)
The reviews found online for Home for Christmas are mixed; some say it is a must-read during the holidays to get the Christmas mood going, while others found it too cheeky.
Nonetheless for that dose of Christmas spirit, perhaps this book is worth a try.
3.Sleepers by Lorenzo Carcaterra
As you can see from the cover, Hollywood made a MAJOR MOTION PICTURE out of this book which is a nonfiction story about four friends who took the law into their own hands.
Set in the 60s, after a prank goes wrong and leaves a man seriously injured, the four friends are sent to a juvenile detention centre where they are sexually abused by the prison guards.
The story follows what happens years after their release.
4.Night by Elie Wiesel
I first heard about this book when it was featured on Oprah’s Book Club in 2006. Then I tried to find it in nearby bookstores but failed. Back then there was no MPH Online or Book Depository and in the end the book slipped out of my mind.
So I actually gasped the moment I saw Night by Elie Wiesel which was selling at the price of RM1.
First published in 1960, the book is about Wiesel’s experience with his father in the Nazi German concentration camps at Auschwitz and Buchenwald in 1944-1945.
5.Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray
Here is another tip when it comes to choosing a book title; when in doubt, choose a classic because you can never go wrong with a classic. This classic English novel was first published as a 19-volume monthly serial from 1847-1848.
Vanity Fair follows the lives of Becky Sharp and Emily Sedly during and after the Napoleonic Wars.
6.Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah
The first Kristin Hannah book I read was about 5 years ago. So I thought it was about time to break the long drought and pick – not so much of a favourite – but a familiar author.
Firefly Lane is about two friends Tully Hart and Kate Mularkey. One chose marriage and motherhood while the other opted for career and celebrity.
What I gained from my first impression was that it was a typical Hallmark friendship movie, making it a quick vacation read.
7.Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick
So far, we have picked up a Hallmark movie plot, a Christmas romance, a 19th century classic and even some true stories.
The last book which rounded up our RM10 total purchase at Second Time Around Books fair is an adult fantasy novel.
It focuses on Nora Grey, a teenager whose life is at risk after starting a romance with Patch. And in true adult fantasy fashion, Patch is actually a fallen angel with a dark connection to Nora.
With so many books to pick at Second Time Around Books, try to be a little bit more adventurous with your reading. Of course, there were more famous writers at the fair such as Sidney Sheldon, Mary Higgins Clark, Danielle Steele and so on.
Pick a new writer for yourself or try a different genre, you might be surprised what you can find at the Second Time Around Books even with only RM10.
