just to pass the time: Big Bad Wolf Book Sale 2014

4th December 2014

I won a preview pass for The Big Bad Wolf Book Sale this year. Well, I think the organizer gave a lot of preview passes, so I had the chance to win that. Hahaha! Like previous years, I took half day leave to go to this book sale with my friend, Dila. Since this was a preview sale (one day before the actual sales begin), the crowd was less, and I could browse more leisurely.

The Big Bad Wolf Book Sale is held at MIECC, beside The Mines. Last year, we parked the car on the road side outside the MIECC, so this year, we already make up our mind to park inside MIECC, however, somehow we took a wrong turn and went into The Mines car park instead. Well, since we were hungry, we went to The Mines to have our lunches before proceeded to MIECC. (have to build up energy for the books lifting!)

After lunch and with a very full stomach, me and Dila walked to the MIECC. Well, since today was not the actual sales yet, MIECC looked a bit creepy, it's quite dark and lack of human presence. The Big Bad Wolf Book Sale was the only happening thing in MIECC, near the exhibition hall for The Big Bad Wolf, we could see crowd, mostly the staffs for The Big Bad Wolf in orange uniform.

Reached the front entrance of the book sale, this year, the entrance and exit was in opposite direction from last year location. Outside the entrance hall, it's a good spot to take photos and selfie. There are illumination of Big Bad Wolf. and many signboards for people to take selfie. Hahaha.

The Big Bad Wolf illumination - a good spot to take selfie

Once going inside the hall, the first thing to enter the eyes was this chair double up as bookshelf, it's actually quite gook looking.

a piece of furniture double up as book shelf

Since today was preview sale, it's not so crowded and easy to maneuver around. Once inside, the staff would offer empty corrugated box to anyone not coming with trolley or luggage. I took one box and started to browse. Generally, I think the books selection was quite similar with last year. However, I still couldn't find Neil Gaiman, sad!

There were many box sets, like "The Harry Potter", "The Lord of the rings", "Diary of the Wimpy Kid", etc. Well, it could be a really nice gift with the nice packaging. Plus, buying the whole set can save the reader from the trouble to find the rest of the books from a series.

One of the funny things was the staff had to announce now and then for the people who lost their friends or kids, "XXX, your friend is waiting for you at yyy!", "ZZZ, your mother is looking for you!". Hahaha, people getting lost at the sea of books.

The staffs of this book sale were very helpful, instead of finding the books or author myself, I would ask the staffs and they would help. I think they are very enthusiastic and passionate. Thumbs up for them.

I think the biggest differences between the preview sale and real sale was that the paying was breeze here. Since there were not many people in this preview sale, I didn't even have to queue up to pay, very fast. I think one of the annoying things during the sales was to queue up for up to half an hour to pay.

Big Bad Wolf book sale

I think the curious corner is worth a visit itself. The posters and collectibles are quite nice. I was very tempted to buy a poster of Audrey Hepburn, it looks very nice. However, I have no space in my house, so have to control myself.

curious corner

I bought 3 interesting badges from a stall outside The Big Bad Wolf Book Sale. Tempted to put the one with "Keep Calm and cuma buat tak tahu" in office.

interesting badges

Below are the books I bought. All cost RM88, this was the first time I bought less than RM100 on a book sale.

2 books from Salman Rushdie

comics (Snoopy)

Discworld series from Terry Pratchett

the hobbit

the bling ring - because Emma Watson starred in the movie

Initially, I couldn't find this "The time keeper", but after asking the staff, he even brought me there and find one for me. There were 3 different versions of "For one more day" though, however I read the book before, so didn't buy.

Mitch Albom - the time keeper

Price and Prejudice and Zombies

Five star billionaire - Tash Aw

For this 1Q84, initially from the cover, I thought it was 1984, so I took it, but since it is from Murakami, I bought it anyway, I hope this is better than "Norwegian Wood".