Bookworms and beer drinkers, this one’s for you. ‘Books & Beers’, a ten-day Bangkok festival celebrating the simple joy of a good read and a cold pint, returns this month under the cheeky banner ‘Drink Hard, Read Harder’, and it’s every bit as gloriously indulgent as it sounds.
The programme caters to seasoned page-turners and curious newcomers alike. Book Talk sessions are the big draw, giving you the chance to meet authors, translators and publishing folk, hear titles dissected from fresh angles and natter about all things literary. Live music and a steady stream of drinks keep the whole affair wonderfully laid-back.
Photograph: Books & BeersBangkok
At the heart of it all sits the book fair, where independent shops and publishers cram an enormous spread of titles under one roof, Thai literature, translated fiction, light novels and a generous helping of Boys’ Love (BL) reads. Special promotions run throughout, making it a proper treasure trove for anyone who can’t resist a new spine.
Reading isn’t the only thing on offer, mind. Hands-on workshops keep your fingers busy while a craft market showcases handmade goods and one-off creations from local makers.
New for this year is the ‘Books & Beers Club’, a relaxed corner where readers settle in, recommend titles and compare notes, swapping the usual solitude of a good book for something far more sociable. On Saturday July 4, from 3pm-5pm, popular booktokers and content creators including Paeng (paengggg), Nong Ro Jo (thewinterburrow) and Toey Yee (nohomebut) drop by to share their favourite reads and reading habits.
Catch the lot at Singha Complex from June 26-July 5, open daily 11a-10pm. Hop on the MRT and alight at Phetchaburi Station (Exit 2) – and best of all, entry is free.
