Jun 24-Jul 25 marks the 5th Thai Independent Booksellers Week (see here), with over 30 independent bookstores around Thailand throwing a range of special events and deals to celebrate. Below are the seven participating outlets in Bangkok:

Bookburi

With a name that means "city of books," this store comes towering with literature, academic journals, short stories and children's books. On Saturday (Jul 1), Bookburi hosts its ninth book club meeting at Bank of Thailand (Bang Khunphrom Palace, 273 Samsen Rd.) from 9am-12:30pm. The purpose of the event, dubbed "Bookburi Reads Everywhere," is to encourage public and leisure reading outside of the bedroom.  

102/3 Krung Kasaem Rd., 02-282-4916. Open Mon-Sat 7am-8pm

Candide Books 

This idyllic readers’ hideout next to the river sells both Thai and international titles. On Jun 27 (6:30-10pm), they're hosting a talk on memories, photography and traveling featuring three photographers and a bookshop owner. Until Jul 2, the store is giving out free notebooks and brooches for purchases over B800. 

The Jam Factory, 41/4 Charoen Nakorn Rd., 02-816-0967. Open daily 11am-8pm 

Fathom Bookspace

Stay on top of trends with the stores' ever-changing bi-monthly themes, and cuddle up in the hidden-nook library with your favourite book.As part of the festival, Fathom Books presents Reading Theatre (Jul 1, 2-4pm), a play adapted from The Country for The Blind by H.G.Wells to question whether sight offers the most truthful insight or not. On top of that, there's a discussion called "Good Books for Children's Development" (Jul 2, 2-4pm). 

572/3 Sathorn Soi 3. Open daily 10am-9pm. Contact by email: fathombookspace@gmail.com

HOC

This bookstore, whose name is short for House of Commons, is a quaint, cozy place for readers to delve into their book. It also regularly hosts discussions and activities. This week, it'll focus on the topics of "Print Books are Still Alive" and "Compatibility: Books vs. Online" (Jul 1). 

Charoen Nakorn Soi 20-22 (opposite Shell gas station), 082-983-8099. Open 8am-7:30pm. BTS Krung Thonburi 

Steel Roses Restaurant & Bookshop

The multi-purpose bookstore is also a restaurant serving European and Thai cuisine, and a co-working space. Feed your mind, and then your belly. 

48 Srinakarin Rd., 089-968-4517 or 02-398-8488. Open daily 10am-10:30pm

Suan Nguen Mee Ma Book & Green Shop

This simple bookstore offers you an enormous variety of academic publications for those who prefer more serious topics. 

77,79 Fueang Nakorn Rd., Wat Ratchabophit district, Phra Nakorn, 02-622-0955. Open Mon-Fri 9am-6pm; Sat 9am-5pm

Zombie Books

Is it a book shop? Is it a bar? RCA’s Zombie Books is both, with a gallery and co-working space thrown in too. After forging a career as a writer and publisher, the founder launched this project initially as an online book shop before expanding to a proper shop right here on the notorious party strip. The single-room bookstore features mostly Thai literature, translations of international books and the occasional English title depending on the owner’s preference. Real brain food. 

Building D, RCA, 21/118 Rama 9 Rd., 084-654-3954. Open 10:30am-11:30pm