By Emma Chong

Book Xcess’ two biggest assets are its stock and its staff. The former is abundant, cheap and in excellent condition, and the latter is friendly, knowledgeable and non-intrusive.

From the piles of classics that greet you as you walk in, to the banks of illustrated children’s hardbacks, there should be something for everyone here, in the least clichéd sense possible. If you’re not averse to publisher returns and overruns (and why would you be?) at the prices they offer here, you’ll find it hard to book shop elsewhere.

The racks and stacks of classics stock the usual suspects of Austen, Bronte and Shakespeare, but the fiction shelves are usually worth a closer look. Since stock is erratic and unpredictable, there’s little point going into Book Xcess with a fixed purpose - keep an open mind (and basket) and you’ll be surprised at what you’ll find. Delightful Edward Monkton illustrated hardbacks were going for a songlike RM14.90 at our last visit, and fiction from 2008 and 2009 were almost unanimously marked down to RM17.90 from original prices at least twice that.