JAKARTA REFERENCE

Indonesia Books Center opened in May 2008.

Indonesia Books Center is where book publishers gathers on one place with more than 700 book publishers is the largest book center in Indonesia. This place is open recently by the Vice President, Jusuf Kalla and created by the initiative of Ikatan Penerbit Indonesia (IKAPI).

The purpose of this is to increase and improve the reading interest of Indonesian that is one of the lowest in the world. This is going to be havens for readers whereby they can find their book of interests.

Indonesia Books Center operates on 40,000m2 in Kelapa Gading Hypermall (KTC) 2nd and 3rd Floor, Jalan Raya Boulevard Barat, Jakarta.


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Books are still being held as the traditional source of knowledge, In internet-survy generation we live in. With knowledge comes power and hence, it is not surprising to find bookstores packed with people over the weekend.

Booklovers, you can either going library or nowadays in Jakarta there are comfortable libraries with cafe and soft music or going bookstores.

There are a couple of bookstores in Jakarta you can pop by over the weekend for a good read.

For the latest magazine and self-help books, Times bookstore has it all.

A franchise of the Times Bookstore in Singapore , the concept is practical with not many fuss or frills. Most of the books sold here are best sellers or considerably popular ones. Located in large and accessible shopping malls such as Plaza Indonesia or Pondok Indah mall, there is no reason for a dull weekend.

Those preferring to have a good read over a cup of coffee may consider QB World Books which has a café situated inside the store for customers to lounge in while reading. It also has a music store with the collection ranging from Jazz to Classic, and an art gallery featuring global artists. For the busy executives who need to stay connected, there is the Wi-Fi service available to work and at the same time, relax with some light food from the café. For such indulgence, head down to the QB Bookstores in Kemang, Plaza Semanggi and Plaza Senayan.

On the other side of the fence is the Aksara Bookstore catering to a more dynamic and artistic crowd. This bookstore is a haven for those seeking a number of whimsical literatures and eccentric manuals ranging from contemporary novels, designer books to music-related books.

Aksara is also a hangout for aspiring young musicians, with a decent music shop selling contemporary and vintage records, including vinyl ones. At the back of the bookstore lies the small café, often used as a meeting place and also a good place to work with your notebook despite the sparse lighting. Venture down to Kemang and Cilandak Town Square for the Aksara experience.

For the latest Japanese literatures and magazine, look no further than the Kinokuniya Bookstore from Japan , found in Sogo Department stores at Plaza Indonesia and Plaza Senayan. Stocks of manga (Japanese Comic), heavy political novels, collection of children books and biographies are aplenty here.

Amongst the bookstores, one can feel the most at ease at Aksara Bookstore and QB World Books. You can read to your heart's content and no one would hassle you or coerce you to buy the book you are reading. In fact, they actually conducive areas for reading, a relief from the other bookstores in Jakarta where you feel the scrutiny from the staff while you're flipping through the pages.

Looking for an old books for your collection? First edition of your favorite books or novels?

Coming up next, review of Galery Buku "X" Galery where books will not be a garbage but something valuable..

Library is dusty rusty place you hate most? Although you love to read but you feel uncomfortable reading at a library?

Some libraries has changed their concept to a fun and cozy place to read and designed as a cafe. The first one to discuss is Library @ Senayan

Library @ Senayan , a combination of books cafe or a library cafe. Located in Education Ministry complex at Senayan, next to Ratu Plaza and FX Mall in Jalan Jend Sudirman.

So if you feel tired going to "just" cafe, come and visit this place! Other than reading books, you can entertain yourself while listening to a soft music with milk shake on your table. OR, you can watch a movie or surf on an internet.

This place was contributed by the British Council since 2004. The collections are :

• More than 20,000 books, which is 90% of them is in English.
• More than 4000 movie/audio visual collections in VHS, VCD and DVD

This is really a cool place for you who love reading. A very nice lay out and good lighting, plus the furnitures and complete facilities, make you feel comfort to stay longer in this library coz everything is Free, unless you ordered some meals or drinks.

And, if you would like to bring books or video back home, its allowable only if you are registered as a member and only cost you IDR 150,000 per year.

Opening hours :

9am - 4pm (Weekdays)

9am - 2pm (Saturday)

Opening hours planned to be extended to 8pm in the near future (September 08)

Lets come and visit, enjoy!

Here are the book of reference from a friend..Interesting brief explanation from Kit

Trying to find this book in Jakarta, but cant find it yet! :(



An Amazing Read! (Shared from Kit's blog, http://kit.posterous.com/an-amazing-read)

I recently finished Shantaram and it is one of the best books I have read in a long, long time. My friend Anisha recommended it to me and we both agree that when you finish the book, you feel like you have lost a friend.


It is a long book but well worth your time. I think it might have rotated my perspective on life just a little bit. Ya, it's THAT good.From The Washington Post's Book World/washingtonpost.com:

Shantaram, a blatantly autobiographical first novel by Gregory David Roberts, an Australian author who himself fled to India after escaping from prison, sets out to tell the story of Lin's transformation from desperate, bitter man on the run to, if not a man of peace, then a man of understanding, a man at peace with his life and the mistakes he has made.


The book, told in 933 readable pages, follows him from a remote Indian village in monsoon season to the Afghan mountains in winter, but mostly it takes place in Bombay: in a slum where he founds a medical clinic, in a prison where he is beaten and tortured, in meetings of a branch of the India mafia led by Abdel Khader Khan, an Afghan who becomes a father figure and employer for the fugitive.