In a time when television shows and films are increasingly accessible and many have taken to binging shows during the pandemic, it can be difficult to envision what place books have in our lives. Nonetheless, they are still a source of knowledge and a break from reality which aid readers in delving into new worlds and ideas.
Reading is a crucial part of many people’s lives, but what impact does it have during times of crisis, especially the COVID-19 pandemic? Many have sought escapism – the ability to leave reality and enter a fictional realm to cope with the difficulties of reality – through literature in the past year.
“Bookstores are an integral part of the fabric of our society and preserving them is imperative,” says James Odum, Communications Director for The Strand, a bookstore in New York City. Odum discussed the value of maintaining a bookstore, even when people cannot physically visit these shops.
Literature plays an important role as a catalyst for change, in addition to its purpose as a form of escape and education for readers. “Bookstores are so much more than stores, they are community centers. Places to learn, grow, and meet. You can find a book in any genre at any price point and really enrich yourself – we are very proud of the work we do,” Odum says.
Despite this, bookstores have struggled through lockdown and COVID restrictions. Odum continues, “Our sales dropped 70% over a year – with so little foot traffic allowed and tourism and local travel halted we lost a huge amount of business.”
While it appeared as though there was little hope for book businesses when the city went under lockdown, the pandemic has sparked a craving for literature and to expand horizons.
“I think that books are often how I understand the world. If I want to know more about something… if I want to experience new things, I think books are the way to go,” says Vivian DeRosa ‘24, student and writer, regarding her passion for literature.
“I definitely think that literature, especially in times like these, is a great way to keep the brain occupied,” she adds, noting that reading this last year has been therapeutic. Knowing that fictional conflicts will be resolved at the end of the page is helpful for her during this unpredictable period where solutions are still scattered.
Some note that escapism is not the sole purpose of reading during the pandemic, and that reading is self-care and valuable as a habit, as opposed to a deflection of reality. Naomi Carpenter ‘24 says, “[Escapism is] not something that I consciously think about a lot. It’s not my primary goal in reading. I don’t see myself going into another world to escape my own… the book augments my life.”
She agrees with DeRosa that literature is important for learning and growth and mentions that literature helps her discover a sense of optimism. “Science-fiction gives me a lot of hope when I consider the state of the world right now. Seeing people live such radically different lifestyles, such radically better or worse ones, makes me see our present moment for what it is.” Although these stories take place in new, made-up realms, they still reflect how this pandemic will pass, just as the conflicts that build stories ultimately subside.
Other hobbies, including gaming and baking, also became more popular during the pandemic as people looked for ways to fill their time, especially students who no longer attended class in-person. This inspired book purchases, and as Odum says, “There were a few categories that saw significant growth in the last year. We saw a spike in cookbooks, which we attribute to the baking craze that occurred during the pandemic.”
Odum also reports that texts on social justice have increased in popularity. “In the summer of 2020 after the murder of George Floyd we saw a huge increase in anti-racist texts like Ibram X Kendi’s How To Be an Antiracist and The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander,” he says. Although everyday life seemed to have paused over the last year, the afflictions against the Black community have continued with several instances of police brutality and white supremacy-based attacks. The violent acts influenced people to learn more about systemic racism and what they can do to support the Black community.
Even as television and film rise as popular forms of entertainment, they still incline people to read more books. “With so many films and TV shows being adapted from books, it actually ends up helping our business,” Odum says. “Shows like Normal People based on Sally Rooney’s book and Little Fires Everywhere based on Celeste Ng’s book result in big sales spikes for us.”
DeRosa says, “When you have people who are willing to imagine and to be vulnerable with each other, it creates good relationships.”
In order to successfully build such connections, bookstores needed to adapt to this era of social media in order to maintain communications between consumers and booksellers. Odum says, “Our email and social channels have grown at a much faster rate as people cannot travel to come see us in person. We’ve focused a lot of effort on figuring out what kind of products and content people are interested in to help improve the experience.”
He believes it to have been a successful effort with flexibility and care for the customers being at the forefront of The Strand’s priorities: “We are still here and we are looking forward to the future where our store is a little fuller and we can keep connecting with customers in new ways.”
Books bring value to people’s lives during times of crisis. They allow people to find time for enjoyment and can inspire social awareness and growth. Doors are always being opened to change and books are the keys unlocking opportunities for evolution and understanding.
DeRosa concludes, “Reading keeps me thinking of new ideas, keeps my brain working… and it is a good outlet.”
Carpenter agrees, adding: “It gives me a new way to think, teaches me about a new culture, gives me a character to emulate.”
The last page of the pandemic is yet to be written, but escapism and literature bring a sense of faith that hope is not lost.
