What you see - An attractive yellow signboard beckons to a mixed treasure trove of books lined up in symmetrical rows on the one side, and a tidy wall-display board of cover-jackets of bestsellers on the other. You ‘sniff’ around and assail your senses with that overwhelming musty ‘flavor’ – the trademark of any ardent book lover. As if as an afterthought, is a stack of basic stationery, educational and game CDs and a few greeting cards. 

                                                          

What you get - It’s easy to see why Ashok Book Centre has a loyal customer base since 1991. The bookshop run by the Vijayawada-based Alakananda Publishers, stores exclusive Telugu, Hindi and English books (in general, fiction and academic cadre). Almost all the best-sellers are visible at a glance (be it Chetan Bhagat, Paulo Ceolho or Amitav Ghosh). Regular customers also avail fixed 10 to 15 per cent discount on most books. One section is completely taken up by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) prescribed textbooks.

 

V Narayana, branch manager, mentions that they regularly hold book exhibitions at the Naval Base and the Kendriya Vidyalaya Schools in the city, and cater to institutional clients like GITAM’s. They are also the main distributors of Penguin books. 

 

Our verdict – Books are neatly stacked, which makes it easier to pick and choose your favorite, without being constantly waited upon (can be an irritant sometimes). Also, the open space allows you to browse with leisure, without being jostled. Ashok Book Centre brings back that long-lost charm of old-world bookshops. A must for kids.

Anytime between – 9.30 AM – 9.30 PM (Closed on Sundays)