Big Bad Wolf is the world’s biggest book sale and has traveled worldwide, visiting 37 cities in 15 countries. One of its stops is the Philippines, where, through the years, they have offered millions of books at huge discounts.
Big Bad Wolf is back in Manila from May 24 to June 2, 2024, at Parqal, Aseana City in Parañaque.
We went to the VIP Day one day earlier, and here’s what we saw:
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Big Bad Wolf is in a new location this year, which might be unfamiliar to those who have yet to visit Parqal. The mall is four minutes from SM Mall of Asia and seven minutes from the World Trade Center. It’s a good location, with coffee shops and restaurants where you can eat and relax. Last year’s book sale was held at the Philippine International Convention Center, and while it was beautiful, food places were not easily accessible.
The layout may also confuse first-timers. Look for the Banig Building, which has an entryway that says, “The Big Bad Wolf Book Sale Secret Entrance.” Take the elevator to the third floor, and you’re there! Entrance is free, and you can shop for books from 10 AM to 12 midnight.
Plenty of books are on display (over two million titles, according to Big Bad Wolf), and the selection is good. Many are on our wishlists, unlike previous years where we went there expecting to discover new reads from authors we have yet to try.
Here’s our haul:
Three general sections encompass the book sale: children’s, non-fiction, and fiction. There are plenty of options in each, and you’ll spend hours at the sale if you look at every section (we did).
We spent most of our time in the fiction section, which had even more mini-sections. There are tables for crime and thriller, science fiction, young adult, and romance. The literature section mixes classics like George Orwell’s Animal Farm and more contemporary reads like Ocean Vuong’s On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous.
We liked how many boxed sets are available, which makes completing an author’s work so much easier. It’s perfect if you are a fan of a writer’s work and you want matching editions. There were boxed sets of Orwell, Rick Riordan, Paulo Coelho, and so much more.
Like last year, some authors that stood out to us were Neil Gaiman, Susan Sontag, Ray Bradbury, Stephen King, Chuck Palahniuk, David Sedaris, and more. The classics and comics are well-represented, with books by Philip K. Dick, Ernest Hemingway, Jane Austen, and graphic novels from Marvel.
Also returning this year is a selection of Filipino books. Local literature continues to thrive, and the Big Bad Wolf is the perfect place to dip your toes if you’re still getting familiar with contemporary Filipino books.
There are no prices on the tags, only letters. These correspond to specific prices, which you’ll have to look at the boards that can be seen around the book sale. Take a photo to be guided even when no boards are nearby.
The Big Bad Wolf Book Sale is the perfect place to shop for good books at great prices. Each year’s edition keeps getting better and better.
What do you think? Share your thoughts below!
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