You probably thought you'd never find romantic and practical in the same sentence, but this is exactly what you get in defense of patronising used books. Aside from the obvious – it's more affordable this way – buying secondhand books is also sustainable and a good first step towards living a lower carbon lifestyle. There’s also the thrill of thrifting, of giving a preloved thing a new lease of life – which is a whole different art and sport on its own – and discovering rare books you otherwise would not find in big bookstores. Let's not forget the pleasure and sentimentality in the act of smelling old books, as well, although in these pandemic times we suggest you don't go around doing exactly this for your own safety.
If you aren't supporting your local used bookstores yet – just why?! Now is the time do so. In Hong Kong, here are some secondhand bookshops to check out to find your next great read.
My Book Room
My Book Room on Lai Chi Kok Road is the place to be whether or not you're a book collector. This secondhand bookshop sells a wide variety of reads, from humanities and literature to arts, philosophy, anthropology, sociology, and history both in English and Chinese. Just some of the great reads we've spotted from its arsenal are J.D. Salinger's "The Catcher in the Rye," George Orwell's classic "Animal Farm," Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night," Jean-Paul Sartre's "No Exit and Three Other Plays," and more.
VIBE
If you love books and music, we suggest you head on over to VIBE in Silvermine Bay, Lantau Island. This book and music shop sells new and preloved books in English, Chinese, and French, as well as vinyl records, CDs, DVDs, turntables, headphones, and other knickknacks! You can check out VIBE’s book collection and other goodies on sale on its website.
Flow Bookshop and Lily Bookshop
Flow Bookshop and partner bookshop Lily Bookshop are mainstays in Hong Kong's secondhand bookstore scene. We love their extensive range of books and magazines, which you can glimpse from both bookshops’ Facebook pages where they regularly upload photos of new arrivals. Some good reads we've spotted so far are John le Carré "Smiley's People" and "A Legacy of Spies," Stephen King horror "The Shining," and even The New Yorker staff writer Jia Tolentino's debut essay collection "Trick Mirror."
If you're on the hunt for a rare read, you'll be glad to know that Lily Bookshop also specialises in antique, first edition, and out-of-print books.
BooksMart
BooksMart, located in Kwai Fung Crescent, Kwai Fong, New Territories, opened in January 2008 and currently has over 10,000 titles both new and used available to just about any kind of reader out there. If you're a college student, have young children at home, or just on the hunt for a new read, then you'll surely find a book or two from BooksMart's list, which includes activity books, young adult books, children's books, non-fiction, and textbooks on different specialisations. Its book prices range from HK$10 to HK$60. The bookshop's physical store is currently only open from Mondays to Thursdays from 11 AM to 4 PM and Saturdays from 11 AM to 2 PM. Go here to read its guidelines on how to order books.
Other Secondhand Bookshops to Check Out
