Changes in reading habits during the pandemic
By Alyssa Sanchez ‘23
Book sales for Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s novels “One Hundred Years of Solitude” and “Love in the Time of Cholera” and Sylvia Plaths’s “The Bell Jar” soared in the beginning of the pandemic. All three books focus on how solitude affects us as people. As the pandemic and quarantine has continued past people’s expectations, the selection of books has also changed.
Anna Nancy Akano-Baker, Spanish Collection Development Librarian for the Hillsboro Public Library, has noticed a continued love for old favorites including books by Rachel Telgemeier, Dav Pilkey, and the “Elephant and Piggie” book series.
“Our bestsellers are the same as they always were: what’s good is good,” Baker said.
In a United Kingdom a study of over 860 people on social media, researchers found that people were reading more, but the quantity of words read had gone down due to a loss of concentration and focus. Although caretakers mentioned having more time for reading, they weren’t necessarily able to read for fun, as they were spending more time caring for loved ones and teaching young children.
Baker also noticed a definite increase in the amount of homeschooling books being borrowed.
The same study also found that after the initial turn toward books depicting circumstances similar to their own, people reverted to more normal patterns of reading including rereading old favorites for comfort or books that they previously thought too large or dull for their normal schedules.
Derek King, Librarian in the Catlin Gabel School (CGS) Upper School Library, described the initial reaction many people had at the beginning of the pandemic.
“When we all realized we would be stuck in our homes, there was a pretty big initial grab for books,” wrote King in an interview over email. “Then it took some time to work out if it was safe to have folks check out and return materials.”
National news also influenced preferences for books with some citing the protests against racism and police brutality as reasons for reading books written by people of color.
Sue Phillips, Librarian at the CGS Upper School Library, found there was much passion among students and faculty for reading books about social injustices.
“Books like ‘Me and White Supremacy,’ by Layla Saad, fiction by Haruki Murakami, and ‘Educated,’ by Tara Westover have been checking out,” wrote Phillips in an email interview.
Depending on your location, reading old books might have become logical considering many bookstores are closed and buying from book stores might be seen as unsafe.
Research conducted by Statistia.com in March 2020 found that people between the ages of 57 and 75 had about 28% likelihood of reading due to extra time. People between the ages of 41 and 56 have 34% likelihood of reading due to extra time, and between the ages of 25-40 there wa a 40% percent likelihood of reading due to extra time.
King and Phillips wrote about how as students move up through the grade levels they have less time for personal reading due to more commitments and an increased workload.
Baker spoke of a new way for readers to check out books at the Hillsboro Public Library called Surprise Bundles. These paper bag packages come with a diverse variety of ten books or films selected by the staff to be checked out.
In some ways, the new practice is increasing lending at the Hillsboro Public Library because many people have expressed their joy at seeing such a wide range of books and films that the person might not have checked out themselves.
Bulkbooks concluded Americans reading during the pandemic have seen a preference for dystopian, romance, social justice, self help, and children’s activity books. Dystopian books help to bring readers out of their current reality and transport them to a new world with action and adventure. Romance may help readers be happy and daydream about the future. Self help books might help improve yourself during quarantine and fix small things in your life while you have the time.
Social justice books seem to help people find ways in which they might help during and after the protests about racism and police brutality.
Phillips mentioned that this similar increase in interest in books about racism in the past few months and before.
“The events of the world, as well as curricular changes, drive what people check out to read. Since Michael Brown was shot in Ferguson in the summer of 2014, there’s been a significant spike in interest in books on racial justice and activism,” wrote Phillips.
At CGS, social activism is closely tied into climate justice.
“Books on climate change and environmental action and non-fiction graphic novels on feminism and historical topics have all become more popular recently,” wrote Phillips.
Finally, children’s activity books provide a practical way for parents to help their children learn during this time while still giving them the ability to complete other tasks.
“Just in general, I am so proud of kids right now who are just going through the worst of it,” said Baker. “I think you guys are going to be so much cooler than my generation, so keep it up!”