Review: That Al Salasil Book Store
By danderma | February 17, 2011
I read somewhere that That Al Salasil Book Store has finally opened in the Avenues so i went over today to take a look and see what they sell… especially since i was told it’s going to be the biggest book store in Q8…
Located on the 1st floor of the Avenues Phase II, Next to Maphisto, Costa, and Soccer Scene… the book store from the outside is very big and goes from one end of the floor other… It also has 3 different entrances…
The first thing i saw when i entered the book store is the Arabic Translation of those English Books… Twilight Trilogy, Dan Brown books…
Looking to the left i saw a good sized area of books to check out… but it wasn’t huge. Not even close. I think Al3ojairy Book store stocks more books and the book store in Muthana Complex is at least twice as big in size…
Smaller sized than my expectations yet that didn’t stop me from checking it out… the amount of English books isn’t big… i overheard a British lady stating that she thought she’d find more books but she was disappointed. I was disappointed as well but i think there might be progress one day in the future?
There are a few documentary DVD collections…
Moving on to the Arabic books… i began looking for my favourite Arabic authours… the only book i could find for Najeeb Ma7fouth were his famous Trilogy… which was surprising to say the least!
Anees man900r had a very big collection though…
Mo96afa Ameen, who is my favourite Arabic author of all time by the way, had a small collection…
Of course there was a section for the Arabs’ most favourite reading topic…
I was surprised to see a book talking about she3a & sunna… something you wouldn’t usually find in our bookshops. Then again it was the only book there…
To the right i found the Kids Section which was big…
Little books and toys and educational stuff were available plus little tables with little chairs for the kids to sit at and read…
Chairs are available for shoppers to sit down and flip through a book… good idea…
They seem to be opening a coffee shop soon… another good idea!
This is what i have bought today…
Afterwards i felt VERY HAPPY… because i was able to shop in a book store in the Avenues… then walk towards pinkberry and sit down to read a fresh new book in peace! At LAST we have a decent book store in a mall in Kuwait…
All in all i had a good experience. People were browsing the shelves and buying books. I do think they need to do the following in order to provide a better service and a better reading and shopping experience…
- Provide Shopping Baskets
- Get more English books for popular authors and not just Dan Brown and Paulo Coelho… Cecilia Ahern, Dorothy Koomson, Marian Keyes, Emily Griffith, and many many more are tame enough to pass through censorship.
- Provide more biographies in English and Arabic.
- Provide more books for Najeeb Ma7footh and Mo96afa Ameen. Other writers i like are Yosef Al Seba3e and E7san 3bdil Qudoos and they are many more… where are their books?!
- Their collection of cookbooks is very limited. They need more.
- Provide books in other languages (Japanese Manga, French, Spanish, etc.)
- Sell other book types like Audio Books for example or electronic downloads for the Kindle.
- Provide loyalty card where you collect points when you purchase books
- Provide more religious variety of books.
22 Comments
nemo on February 17, 2011 at 19:35.
At Last We Have a BOOKSTORE!!
It’s a disappointment (looking at the pictures), but maybe that’s only because it just opened … ?
I think we should give them some time
danderma on February 17, 2011 at 21:49.
Nemo: exactly my thoughts…
Eybayn ma3a il wagt… if they bring newer books and keep up to date with the latest publications worldwide it would be lovely
john alkuwait on February 17, 2011 at 20:32.
thanks for the thorough review. now i know what to expect if i go there.
danderma on February 17, 2011 at 21:50.
John: You are most welcome
Saku on February 17, 2011 at 21:04.
Heya theres Manga! thanx!
danderma on February 17, 2011 at 21:51.
Saku: Actually no there are no mangas
I was suggesting they sell mangas
ahmad on May 22, 2012 at 11:21.
in the that alsalasil bookshop there is naruto or bleach or one piece please replay my comment
danderma on May 22, 2012 at 11:34.
I’m sorry what are you saying exactly?
ahmad on May 23, 2012 at 22:01.
sorry i meant : do they sell naruto or one piece or bleach (manga) please replay me
danderma on May 23, 2012 at 23:07.
I’m not really sure, sorry about that. You can always contact them via their facebook page and ask though, but I don’t really think so. Kinokuniya Dubai might do so for sure.
QWERTY on February 17, 2011 at 22:18.
Ma3aref maktabat el3ojair! Wain sayra?
Thanks for the review. Keep them flowing in o enshala when we google AlSalasil Kuwait yours will be the first result, 7alech 7al mark at 248am
danderma on February 17, 2011 at 23:11.
QWERTY: el3jeery jdam mojama3 il neqra in Hawalli… it doesn’t look big from the outside but inside it’s a treasure trove of books…
Insha2 Allah Allah ysm3 minik ya rab
TanGo on February 17, 2011 at 23:39.
From my experience in Kuwait over the past 18 years, one has to be very lucky to find the books they really want and like,, like what happens in Kuwait Bookshop in Muthanna,, sometimes they have book JEMS that disappear overnight if you dont get lucky and spot your copy on time,,,
Overall bookshops here do not carry varieties that are very important like books on design, history, politics, etc.. They usually stick to SAFE publications / but may be this is because of the censorship,,
danderma on February 17, 2011 at 23:45.
Tango: i know what you mean… some of the books i want i’ve seen in bookshops in Hawalli where there is only one copy to buy and i was lucky to be there in time to buy it… many want books on design and architecture but i guess there isn’t enough demand in Q8 to actually stock them… as for history and politics well censorship leaves nothing
i find our censorship laws quite baffling for there are books allowed in KSA & UAE but are banned in Q8 in the name of censorship!
Summer on February 19, 2011 at 00:13.
I seriously love your reviews! because for some reason everything you say about something; it turns out to be true.
I’m really looking forward to going there, but judging from the pictures I don’t think I’ll be able to find my favorite authors. They’re really not famous. I’m not sure if they have this or not, but they should offer a book ordering service. That would be very cool. :p
danderma on February 19, 2011 at 09:58.
Summer: LooL i solemnly swear to say the truth and nothing but the truth :p
I am interested… what authors are you looking for?
Joory on February 19, 2011 at 01:21.
Did they have “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” ?
I’m looking for that novel !
danderma on February 19, 2011 at 09:50.
Joory: Chinni sheft.ha… tra i have a copy that i have never read it’s new tawha yaya min London o i am selling it if you want …
check it here… http://chillpillbox.com/?p=4098
Joory on February 22, 2011 at 01:42.
I asked the blogger if I could buy just that book !
danderma on February 22, 2011 at 08:33.
Joory: If you want only that book i will sell it to you shrayech?
Joory on February 23, 2011 at 00:19.
Really !!!
Ok great
danderma on February 23, 2011 at 11:18.
Joory: I will email you