What do books mean to you?

It was never just a physical copy of a story for keepsake, but something that transcends personal experiences.

It never struck as a question until recent years, where my friends would question my decision to drag them to the bookstore just to pick out a certain book, or any that catches my eye. I often get asked the reason for spending extra on physical copies of books, especially when it is so convenient to have access to them online today. I find myself reminiscing the days of growing up where I did not socialise much. Most of the time, I was home alone with a book being my only companion. In a blink of an eye, at age 22 today, the books on my shelves act almost as footprints, reminding me of a certain point in my life. I brush their questions away and insist on it simply for keepsake. I have always struggled to explain how books to me, mean more than their stories because beyond that, it opens another portal within me. With books in its physical form, it seems as though that world would never just be an imagination, but one that is real and functioning if that book is held, opened, and read in contrast to simply closing a tab online.

Despite technology being the most convenient and used sources of our generation today, ironically, according to Statista, the United Kingdom sold over 202 million physical copies of books in 2020. This is the first time the country has exceeded the 200 million sales marks in eight years. In a survey, the unexpected increase in book sales was due to lockdowns. (Watson, 2020) With hopes of discovering the thoughts of others, I managed to schedule an interview on Skype with 21-year-olds Zoe, Miles, and Olivia- three members of a book club I found on Instagram. Zoe, the founder of this club, has spent her childhood taking a huge interest in books. She also enjoys writing and have participated in multiple writing competitions. During her secondary education, she met Miles and Olivia, who shared the same interests as her. This was when she decided to form a book club so they could share and enjoy stories and today, the club has over 30 members.

When the call connected, it was to my pleasant surprise that they were all physically present in what I understood to be Zoe’s study room. The background were shelves filled with books and they excitedly introduced themselves. Zoe almost immediately blurts out her excitement. “I did not expect myself to look forward to this short interview- it isn’t every day that I get to share the reason and how much passion I have for books.” I knew in that moment that I have found others who would possibly understand my own fascination and love for books.

I begin and ask what books meant to them. It was a simple question, but the only one revolving around my entire interview. My goal was for a single question to enable them in sharing absolutely anything and everything they wanted. “Simply put, books are a tangible object that reflects my existence. I consume stories in my head and try to give back in the form of my own reality. The purchasing of a book for me, isn’t just an act, but a promise to myself that I will learn something out of it and gain experiences I could never have, especially through fiction.” Olivia’s explanation is clear and straightforward – as if she thought about this question her whole life.

A slight pause, and Miles continues. “Well for me, I never thought about books that way until I met Olivia. Growing up, my parents would read my sister and I bedtime stories, but here’s the thing. My sister always got to choose the storybook she wanted, and I got so sick of stories about princesses and fairy tales that I eventually started to ask for books so that I could read the ones I wanted, myself. It’s funny because I ended up kind of a nerd and got hooked to reading. I did get bullied by my mates in primary school for carrying a book with me wherever I go, but ironically, I felt safe with it too. I knew I finally had control of the type of stories I wanted to read, which reminded me of how I have full control of myself and those around me. The bullying was just another story to me and books, it became an item of comfort.”

I was dramatically getting emotional by this point. I didn’t expect such heartfelt answers. Moreover, I haven’t had the opportunity to speak to anyone else about the importance of books and how much it meant, individually. It was Zoe’s turn, her face beaming, as if a proud parent listening to the achievements of their children. “I just love books.” She laughed and pointed to the books behind them. “That is my personal collection and probably what I deem to be my pride and joy. Books are just something I naturally grew up with, but I have learnt to love and more importantly, appreciate them. I never gave it much thought until the day my grandmother and I chanced upon a book bindery to be honest. I was lucky enough to have witnessed the making of a book, and you could say it was literally love at first sight. I suppose I could credit my nan for sharing her own experiences with books and how it brought her family together. It would be a lie to say I’ve never read a book online or chose the ‘cheaper’ option. Sometimes I think about how close I am to running out of space and it literally stresses me out.” She says jokingly, turning to Olivia and Miles knowing they empathise. “But I don’t regret a single book I bought and this to me, is a very special journey.” I had no expectations for my interview with them. I was ready to accept anything they were willing to share and gain new perspectives for myself. Surprisingly, that exceeded anything I could have imagined. Their insight towards books and what it meant to them has taught and allowed me to reflect on our reality. For some, reading could be a mere getaway. It wouldn’t matter if it was a hard copy or an electronic book. An escape of reality could be all they are looking for. However, for others, the book itself means so much to them. Through reading a story, they find themselves creating one concurrently. Regardless of the choice of an individual, whether it is to read a book online or as a hard copy, books and their stories creates an impact, and that is what makes it so special for me. Even though I prefer hard copies, my experience is not a better one than any other. To each our own, we define what books are and what they do for us. Most importantly, we learn to enjoy and indulge in the fact that reading something could trigger different types of emotions and imagination. As I am sat here typing this, I realise how lucky I am to live in a world where tales are constantly being created and told, as are mine.