Bag a literary bargain at the Sharjah Book Fair

Decisions, decisions. With 1.6 million titles on sale at the Sharjah International Book Fair, there is so much choice it feels a little overwhelming. But what better headache to have?

There are some excellent deals to be had, with many of the booksellers offering the kinds of discounts you don’t see in the shops. Here are five bookstands to visit.

Borders Book Stores (Hall 5 and 6, booth M21)

There is only one place to start and that is Borders Book Stores. The tables and shelves, stacked high with books, stretch far into the distance. You could easily spend a very happy hour at this booth.

There is a 40 per cent discount on every book, from paperback classics to the latest hardback fiction and non-fiction releases.

Bookpoint and Hachette (Hall 6, booth N20)

Bookpoint and Hachette have set up a booth devoted entirely to the classics. You know, the novels you always say you’re going to read and never do. This is your chance to put that right.

The Wordsworth Classics paperbacks are pretty flimsy and the text is often too small, but at Dh20 each it’s hard to grumble. Jane Austen, Henry James, Virginia Woolf – they’re all here and many more besides.

There is also an impressive selection of collected works including William Shakespeare and Oscar Wilde. And for the masochists, James Joyce.

PanWorld Education (Hall 6, booth O1)

Educational books – textbooks, manuals, anthologies – are always very expensive. But PanWorld is offering 25 per cent off all its books at Sharjah.

There is a wide selection ranging from business and IT to medicine and psychology. So if you’re off to university or hoping to learn a new skill, pick up your reading material here.

Magrudy Enterprises (Hall 7, booth ZB19)

You have to dig a bit harder to find the deals at Magrudy Enterprises, as the same discounts do not apply to all books. But it’s worth a trip if you’re after bargain basement deals.

There is a shelf where everything is Dh5 or Dh10 and it’s not just rubbish. Novels by authors such as John Banville (Booker Prize winner) and Susan Hill can be found there.

Smart Books for Publishing and Distribution (Hall 6, L28)

There are not many stalls with a better selection of children’s books than Smart Books. Bestsellers such as The Diary of a

Wimpy Kid series and Dork Diaries can all be found, alongside some less well-known titles. There is also an extensive range of colouring books and arts and crafts manuals. And it’s 25 per cent off everything. Sharjah International Book Fair runs until November 10. For more, visit sibf.com