Reading culture is back with a vengeance. Thanks (in part) to BookTok, titles such as Twilight and The Hunger Games are back on the conversational map. Avid fans are also sharing their POVs (points of view), their DNFs (did not finish), and their TBRs (to be read).
But TikTok isn’t the only platform that can educate you about what book to pick up next. After the warm welcome Aesop has received from Singapore, the vegan and cruelty-free beauty brand is taking The Aesop Women’s Library across the causeway to Malaysia.
For the inaugural Malaysian edition, Aesop searched high and low for the books that match their goals for this endeavour—which is to amplify women’s voices and stories, and to foster strength and solidarity among women.
For three straight days, select Aesop stores will be transformed into ephemeral libraries. Gone will be your decadent skincare and fragrance faves, but in its place, a selection of over 20 titles will be stocked. The shelves are instead going to be filled with books that are predominantly authored by Malaysians who either identify themselves as women or allies.
The spectrum of choice is going to be wide, as you can anticipate titles from different genres, and writers from all walks of life. The Aesop Women’s Library also taps seasoned publishing houses for their recommendations, so you know you’re going to get some of the best reads yet.
The best part? A visit to the library will entitle you to one free book of your choice, no purchase required. To support the local publishing and bookselling scene, the brand has bought over 6,000 copies from Lit Books, Gerak Budaya Kuala Lumpur, Buku Fixi, and more. Expect volumes from award-winning writers such as Viji Krishnamoorthy, Hanna Alkaf, Alina Rastam, and many more here.
Doubling down on their support for self-expression, the Aesop Women’s Library is also working with the podcast Two Book Nerds Talking. On this audio platform, three episodes will be released, comprising their thoughts on the featured books, as well as interviews with key authors that partake in the initiative.
If you’re in Kuala Lumpur, head on over to Aesop Pavilion and Aesop The Gardens Mall from 26 to 28 May 2023 to visit the library. In Penang, it opens at Aesop Gurney Plaza from 2 to 4 June 2023.