The Beauty of Missing—and Finding Again
For the first time, a reader presents a selection made up entirely of old books—not newly released, not brand-new, but more precious than many new publications: books that are now out of print in Taiwan.
As a longtime editor and frequent book buyer, I’ve felt this shift deeply in recent years. When I first entered publishing, a book released two years prior was still considered “new,” still waiting to meet readers and build a connection. Today, many books go out of print within just two years—gone before most readers even discover them. The chance of missing a good book is now higher than ever.
In my experience, discovering a truly good book rarely happens through bestseller lists or marketing campaigns. More often, it’s found unexpectedly on a bookstore shelf—perhaps published years ago and no longer seen elsewhere—or mentioned by another beloved author. For me, reading has always been connected to the personal journey of life: which book you come across, when you open it, and how it finds you is shaped by deeply individual context. The books we’ve read form a map of our lives.
Sadly, today’s world no longer allows space for such slow discoveries and quiet encounters. Many great books slip into obscurity and go out of print far too soon. That’s why I often urge readers: if you come across a good book—buy it. If you don’t, it might disappear forever.
The Out-of-Print Bookstore was born from this very sense of loss. I compiled a list of out-of-print titles I once shared through the Unicorn Project, and asked our team to borrow them from libraries so we could display and share them with visitors. This space is a reminder: we now live in a time where beautiful books can vanish quietly. We must cherish every encounter with a good book—and recognize the irreplaceable role of libraries in preserving these connections for the future.
These books have no shared theme. Each was discovered through a different encounter, shaped me in some way, and gifted me moments of insight or joy. Their only common trait: you can no longer find them in the market.
I hope, in the next two months, these books find readers who once missed them. I hope their words, their spirit, and their quiet brilliance will be rediscovered and reinterpreted. Even if only for a short while—these moments are beautiful and worth remembering.
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— Hui-Chen Li, Curator of a reader
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Time: "a reader Out-of-Print Bookstore": July 1 - end of August, 2024
Address: No. 2, Lane 16, Section 1, Wuchang Street, Taipei (Aplace WCH)
Social: follow us on Instagram: @areader_
a reader 絕版書店：2024/7/1~2024/8月底
[地址] 台北市武昌街一段16巷2號（Aplace WCH 內）
追蹤 a reader Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/areader___/
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【About / a reader】
「30 分鐘，透過閱讀帶走新靈感的閱讀空間。」
Alife 與獨角獸計畫共同企劃，不賣書的新型態書店。定期選定主題，由獨角獸計畫創辦人李惠貞選書展示。讓讀者在忙碌的生活步調中，用 30 分鐘，透過閱讀帶走新的生活靈感。