5 Tips for Every Bookworm Visiting A Middle Eastern Book Fair

Here are five tips to make sure your experience of a book fair was worth the wait and you aren’t left feeling you’ve spent more than you should have paid.

For every bookworm, the International Book Fair in their own country is the highlight of each year where publishers from all around the Arab speaking world gather in one place bringing their books and culture. So, to keep our experience worth the wait, here are five tips based on my visits that you may benefit from.

1. Don’t spend your money on the first publisher you set eyes on.

Many publishers publish the same books varying in prices and quality so you’ll most likely find different versions that suit your requirement better as you stroll down the aisles and search through the publishers.

2. Remember comfort is essential.

Books can become very heavy, irritating, and straining to the shoulders and arms if held for too long, so remember to bring your shopping trolleys or suitcases with wheels to carry your books. You’ll most likely be able to buy these trolleys at the book fair if you don’t have your own. Remember to wear comfortable shoes and leave those sandals and heels at home.

Note for the Ladies: Wear practical Abayas to avoid any physical disturbance. Cross-Body light handbags are recommended to avoid any unnecessary extra weight.

3. Morning visits are the best.

Morning visits tend to be less crowded than the night visits and you’ll find the salesperson in a better mood and more willing to bargain than they would in a crowd of buyers end of the day.

4. Beware of emotional manipulation:

Some salespeople will try to emotionally manipulate you into buying their books such as passing out flowers or initiating small talk which will make it harder for you to refuse them after creating a certain bond with them.

5. How to make a booklist:

It’s important to keep in mind the following while you make your booklist -to buy list-:

• The Publisher.
• The Country of Origin: Some publishers will have the same name, but different origins.
• The Author’s Name.
• The Book’s Title.

Note: If you didn’t make a booklist and you’re hesitant about a certain book, be sure to read reviews on GoodReads or book reviewing accounts on social media. If you’re buying any sequels, pay attention to the order.

Happy book shopping!