Kemang's bookstore swaps used books for baskets<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): There are few shops where you can swap books for
\nbaskets but the Maharani bookstore in the expatriate ghetto of
\nKemang is one. Opposite Chic's Mart on Jalan Kemang Selatan,
\nSouth Jakarta, this hole-in-the-wall shop holds more than 3,000
\nsecondhand books for sale, or swap.<\/p>\n
Maharani's owner, Dewiyanti Elizabeth, also has a cane shop,
\nso baskets line the footpath in front of the bookstore.<\/p>\n
Sales assistant Esti Darmiati said the shop opened about three
\nmonths ago. Since then Stephen King and Danielle Steele have been
\nthe most popular authors, although the Ann Rice novels looked
\nlike they had passed through more than a few hands.<\/p>\n
Indeed most of the books are well-worn "airplane"-type novels
\n(Alistair Maclean, Tom Clancy, Barbara Cartland), with a few
\nhardbacks, John Updikes and Jane Austens thrown in.<\/p>\n
Voracious readers may rejoice, because once you've read the
\nbook you can take it back and get a 50 percent refund, or
\ndiscount on the next book or basket you buy.<\/p>\n
Most of the books are in English but there are a couple of
\nshelves of books in German, Japanese, Dutch and Italian.<\/p>\n
The books are generally half the recommended retail price and
\nif you are looking for a particular book, Maharani can order it
\nin.<\/p>\n
If you want a place to off-load a heap of books before you
\nleave the country, this is the place, but if you are after a
\nquality read, happy hunting.<\/p>\n
Maharani is open from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Mondays to Saturdays
\nand from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sundays.<\/p>\n
Other sources of secondhand books in Jakarta are the
\nbar\/restaurants along Jl. Jaksa, Central Jakarta, and the
\nbookstalls at monthly meetings of women's organizations such as
\nANZA (Australian and New Zealand Association).<\/p>\n
However, the few books found on Jalan Jaksa are for the
\nEnglish-deprived only as the choice is poor and the books
\ndefinitely have seen better days. (mlt)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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