Dive into a world of Malaysian books in Kuala Lumpur this Merdeka

The Riwayat independent bookshop in Jalan Tun HS Lee in KL is hosting the KL Rare Book Fair on Aug 31. Photo: Riwayat

The Merdeka week in Kuala Lumpur looks to be a busy literary affair for avid readers and book collectors.

Newly-opened bookshop Riwayat in Jalan Tun HS Lee will host the KL Rare Book Fair on Aug 31, an independent event that will highlight an array Malaysian books from the pre-and post-Merdeka era. The free admission programme, which starts at 10am, will include a mini book exhibition, a dialogue session with book collectors and also a book auction.

Riwayat will be utilising the courtyard area beside its premises to run the events.

Poet, author and cultural activist Raja Ahmad Aminullah will be exhibiting some of his prized books alongside fellow collectors such as Nik Lee, Mohd Khair, Syazreen Abdullah and Amirull Jaafar.

Across town, the Pesta Buku Merdeka event at Ruang LG Jumpa at Sungei Wang Plaza offers book lovers a more contemporary look at indie publishers, academic books, cartoonists, comics, designers and used book sellers.

The ongoing Pesta Buku Merdeka features more than 40 vendors, with variety assured.

It is open from 10am to 10pm; Aug 31 will be the final day, so head over to grab a bargain or more from the local publishing scene.

The book collector community-based event Bookstreet returns to Amcorp Mall in Petaling Jaya after two years this weekend. Photo: The Star/Filepic

The upcoming Bookstreet at Amcorp Mall in Petaling Jaya on Sept 3 and 4 also makes a return after more than two years.

With over 30 used and vintage book vendors, this lovingly curated event celebrates the book collector community from across the country as well as embraces curious visitors who want to start their rare book journey.

This niche book event specialises in mainly vintage/rare, out-of-print and first edition titles.

Muzium Negara via its Department of Museums Malaysia's library will also exhibit some of its popular publications.

Don't miss the mini exhibition that will showcase rare book covers and photographs.

The Bookstreet event – free admission – runs from 10am to 8pm. A list of pop-up coffee kiosks will also be an added attraction.

For poetry lovers, don't miss the 'A Wasteland Of Malaysian Poetry In English' at Pentago House in Kuala Lumpur, which runs until Sept 4. Photo: Handout

If you are into poetry, then look no further than the exhibition A Wasteland Of Malaysian Poetry In English at Pentago House in Kuala Lumpur, which runs until Sept 4.

It traces the work of pioneering Malaysian poets in English from the 1940s to their legacies in emerging poetic voices today, through a presentation of original, never-before-heard recordings of poetry.

There are over 200 recordings from over 20 poets – from Chinese-Singaporean historian and writer Wang Gungwu’s Pulse, the first book of Malayan poetry in English published in 1950; to works from poets like the late K.S. Maniam, Shirley Lim and Wong Phui Nam.

The exhibition is open this weekend. Weekdays by appointment.