I am a big fan of stationery so picking up a book about stationery is a no-brainer.

However, this one is quite special. The book is about stationery stores the author, a stationery enthusiast from Korea, visited in Thailand. The book was originally written in Korean and translated into Thai, my native language. I love how ridiculously meta this setup like is.

The stores featured in the book are eclectic collections. Some of them I have heard of before. For example, the legendary now-closed Jee Choi (จีฉ่อย) where you can buy ANYTHING (like literally anything). Some are random stationery stores in a small town in Thailand.

What I love about the book is the stories of the stationery stores and their owners. The author has a penchant for old stationery no matter the price. You can really see the love and passion shine through the pages. They made a mundane object like cheap plastic mechanical pencils sound so interesting. Sometimes, there are also stories about the owners, their interactions with customers, and their lives.

I have to admit that normally I would just walk by most of these classical Thai stationery stores without a glance. I am so used to seeing them as I grew up. I favor those modern ones that are better stocked with quality art supplies. This book convinces me that there is charm and small treasures in classical Thai stationery stores too. Maybe not for me, but for somebody else.

Definitely a fun read for stationery lovers!