BookXcess Gurney Paragon: A Must-Visit Penang Bookstore

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Indoor Places to Visit in Penang

BookXcess

Hello there,

I'm NomadsSalmi, a FIRE movement travel blogger!😊

During a previous trip to Kuala Lumpur,

I stumbled upon an absolutely fantastic bookstore. ​

It was a bookstore called BookXcess,

and I remember losing track of time browsing through its extensive collection of art books and various genres.

By chance, when I visited Gurney Paragon shopping center

near my accommodation, I discovered there was a BookXcess here too!

Today, I'll introduce you to BookXcess at Gurney Paragon.

BookXcess Penang: Location & Opening Hours

Location

The BookXcess store is located on the

7th and 8th floors of Gurney Paragon Mall.

While Kuala Lumpur has several branches,

this is the only one in Penang.

It's a bit of a distance from George Town.

Opening Hours

Daily from 10:00 AM - 10:00 PM.

Exploring the Bookstore

Since it occupies almost an entire floor,

the space is quite expansive.

It might be slightly smaller than the Kuala Lumpur branch I visited,

but it still takes a while to explore everything.

The first thing that caught my eye was

the massive bookshelf spanning two floors.

This bookshelf is said to be the longest and tallest in all of Malaysia,

measuring 70 meters long and 10 meters high.

It almost feels like Seoul's iconic Starfield Library, doesn't it?

While the 8th floor has some posters and a few books,

the selection isn't vast, and most of the books are on the 7th floor.

I snapped this photo from the escalator going up to the 8th floor, and you can see just how many books there are, all beautifully organized.

Beyond its stunning interior, BookXcess has another major advantage:

the books are generally very affordable.

I found the reason for this on the BookXcess website.

They acquire unsold books from publishers who have over-printed, taking advantage of stock clearances to buy them at low prices and then resell them to customers.

Of course, all books are new, and they do not sell used books.

Perhaps because of this, rather than having a large quantity of the same book,

it feels like there's a diverse selection of books, each in smaller quantities.

Throughout the store, you'll find cozy spots to sit and relax,

Even if you're not planning to buy a book, it's a perfect place to quietly unwind for a bit,

especially if you're tired from shopping at the mall.

Most of the books here are in English.

You'll find a fantastic selection of art books,

covering diverse fields like music, cooking, and architecture.

One little thing that I found a bit disappointing, though,

is that unlike books in Korea,

all the books here are shrink-wrapped.

It meant that even if I wanted to flick through a book,

I couldn't actually look inside.

Given that many are art books and similar collectibles,

if a book gets damaged, it can't be sold,

so it makes sense that they're all carefully wrapped.

Even though I couldn't open them up,

just admiring the book covers brought me so much joy!

Seriously, how do they manage to make every single cover design so captivating?

Beyond just the fascinating topics, many of which caught my eye,

I found myself wanting to buy books,

even if just to use them as decorative pieces! 🤣

And guess what? You can even catch a glimpse of the sea from here!

If you step just outside the entrance,

you can witness a stunning sunset,

so I highly recommend visiting around dusk.

My husband had bought a coloring book in Korea to try out as a hobby during our month-long stay,

but if I had known there were so many different types of coloring books here,

I would have bought one here in Malaysia instead!

This is truly just a fraction of their collection;

coloring books alone fill an entire wall!

So, if you're into coloring,

you'll easily spend a long time here.

Here's something I thought was a truly brilliant idea:

Since all the books are packaged,

with only a few keywords of the book inside written on the wrapping,

you purchase a book based solely on those clues.

It's called the Blind Date With a Book corner.

There's also a dedicated section for children's books,

with recommended age ranges clearly marked.

I think these surprise book gifts would make wonderful travel souvenirs!

Of course, most of them will be in English,

so that's something to keep in mind.

My husband and I both adore bookstores,

and we ended up spending ages

just at this BookXcess branch!

It's a delightful spot even if you just browse the captivating covers,

so if you're a book lover,

or if you're seeking a cool, tranquil escape from the Penang heat,

I wholeheartedly recommend BookXcess at Gurney Paragon!

I truly hope my post helps you

plan an amazing and enjoyable trip! ❤️