Last week I visited a bookshop after ages. It was nice
to browse through the aisles of books. I love holding a book in my hand,
reading blurbs and deciding whether I will like the story and the author’s
writing style. I enjoyed picking up random books and reading a page or two. I
flipped through a graphic novel, many fairytales and several novels.
Sadly, the bookshop (one of the biggest in Bangalore)
was quite empty. Except for me and a couple of other people, most of the other
shoppers were on the first floor, buying tiffin boxes and other stuff.
Earlier bookshops were filled with eager readers. I
just hope the reason the bookshop was empty was that people are buying books online.
And not because people have lost interest in books. It makes me sad to see lots
of bookshops (both big and small) closing down.
A long time back, bookshops would be packed with
children during summer holidays. Children eager to spend their pocket money and
birthday money. But, nowadays kids aren’t reading that much. Nor are the
adults. The youth prefer hanging out at malls or playing pool or watching
movies. But not reading.
I teach creative writing to degree students and I feel
very bad that some of my students don’t read at all. The last book they have read
must have been a fairytale. But what is heartening is that there are several
students who are voracious readers and these students beg me to give them a
reading list at the beginning of the semester.
Are you seeing a decline in people’s reading habits?
Do you think children and youngsters are interested in books?
On another note one of my favourite blog buddy (Ninja Captain), Amazon
bestselling author of the successful Cassa series - Alex J Cavanaugh, gave me
the You Rock Award. Getting this award from Alex means a lot to me. Not only is
he my inspiration, he is also someone I have connected with big time. He is
such a warm, generous and kindhearted guy, that you just want to give him a
tight hug and say thank you for being a part of my writing life. His humility
(he is a blogging rockstar, he writes amazing books, plays the guitar) just
takes my breath away. I am lucky to call him a dear friend. If any of you haven’t
yet met him, do so now. Else you will be missing out on a great friend.
Reading habit is on the wane:( am sure you can guide at least a few :)
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the award! I think kids stay interested in reading at least through middle grade when it is encouraged and required for their English classes. Sadly, here at least, kids are required to be so busy in high school to build their college resume that many don't have time for leisure reading. Then they lose the desire as adults.
ReplyDeleteAw, thank you, Rachna!
ReplyDeleteI'd like to think most people are getting their reading material online. I know I do since I only read eBooks now.
The biggest problem is the amount of distractions kids have today.
Congrats on your award, and yeh for Alex! :)
ReplyDeleteI just bought physical books for my nephew's birthday - he started reading one as soon as he unwrapped them! - and his Dad was loading up my nephew's Kindle with ebooks. Kids are still reading. At least one is. :)
Even in the places like ours, we need like you and Alex. The number of readers are increasingly not growing for apparent reasons.
ReplyDeleteI think most of reading is done via ebook, drugstore paperback, or ordered hardcover now. I would say that volume of reading has probably went down from the last few decades, but if you really think about it, the reading rate would likely have been very low prior to the last few decades. I think it'll rebound. We haven't even gotten to examine how reading habits will pattern with children yet.
ReplyDeleteI saw your award on Alex's blog and thought it was well deserved. Congrats!!
ReplyDeleteIt does seem like people are reading less which is such a shame.
Thank you for stopping by my blog and commenting!
ReplyDeleteI love book stores, too, and the feel of a "real" book. But I have to admit that I do most of my reading on my iPad now...and I don't read nearly as much as I used to when I was a kid. Funny how adulthood and working interferes with reading time. I agree that maybe people overall read less than maybe 20 or 30 years ago, but they still read. A lot of chain bookstores struggle and close up shop, but some independent stores and used book stores seem to thrive.
Almost everyone I know reads print books as well as e-books, and I'm very pleased to report my 7-year-old granddaughter reads constantly and the 3-year-old loves to be read to.
ReplyDeleteI love reading print books as I love the feel of an actual book in my hand.
ReplyDeleteWe're experiencing a resurgence in small bookstores in our area now that the nearby Borders shut down. And it's wonderful because our Village House of Books hosts so many wonderful events, so the store hums with readers and often writers.
ReplyDeleteHmm, most bookshop and libraries I frequent are packed with people, but it could be the time of day. Either way, I think people are reading more than ever:)
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the award, that is awesome. You are Awesome!!
ReplyDeleteI do think children are still interested in reading. As they get older the type of book changes (ereader) but I think there is something special about holding a book, flipping through the pages, and having a parent share imagiination with their children. I too hope the lack of bookstore patronage just means people are purchasing online.
I do miss browsing a bookstore, touching all the pages, reading snippets.
kids now-days are missing out.
Congratulations on your award. Yes, I think a lot of people are still reading books. A lot of it is on their e-readers. I think some analysts think it's leveled off now as to the numbers reading books and the numbers reading e-books.
ReplyDeleteI think people are still reading, they are just doing it differently. We have a BAM in our town and I haven't gone in it in years because we get all of our reading material online.
ReplyDeleteAs home schoolers, we're a whole household of voracious readers. Unfortunately we don't frequent the bookstore because the convenience of online purchasing is just too tempting. (Especially when you've got 4 kids underfoot and all the insanity of orchestrating 4 different learning curriculums.) You know, ironically, I put my kids in public school for one year while having a baby. It proved to be their weakest reading year to date. Who had time to read when they had HOURS of homework every night?
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your award, Rachna. It's well deserved. I think people are still reading a lot. Like Mark, when I go to a library or book store, there's usually quite a few people besides myself. I think more are reading on e-readers as well. I try to do the latter, but there is just something about a bookstore or library and a print book that can't be beat!
ReplyDelete