During lockdown, binge-reading on the rise

Pandemic, classic and children’s e-book sales are soaring and virtual book clubs thriving, as people turn to literature as a means of escape during the worldwide health crisis.
BINGE-READING IS THE NEW BINGE-WATCHING?
“I’ve taken a break from web-series and in two weeks, I have managed to finish three books – Becoming Michelle Obama, And Then One Day: A Memoir by Naseeruddin Shah and Born A Crime by Trevor Noah,” says Kunal Deb, an IT professional, from Kolkata.Shabana Khan, a research analyst, from Mumbai, adds, “I’ve been spending seven hours a day reading the Harry Potter series, since now I not only have the time, but it also helps take my mind off what’s happening in the world right now.”

VIRTUAL BOOK CLUBS, STORYTELLERS EMERGE
“Our reading club is six months old, but we have never seen the kind of engagement we’ve been getting since the lockdown. The page has almost 20 thousand members. The group is engaging with each other 24x7,” says Sazia Shaikh, founder of Instagram book club, The Reading Chair. “Since the lockdown, we’ve started a WhatsApp book club comprising 195 people of all ages. Many people are now rediscovering Indian comics like Nagraj, Super Commando Dhruv and Doga,” says Meena Chaturvedi, founder of the book club Bookworms’ Chamber.
Even celebs are joining the bandwagon....


Actors Amy Adams and Jennifer Garner have launched 'Save With Stories', a charity account on Instagram where celebrities read stories to help raise money to help children's charities where celebs like Camila Cabello, Black Panther, Lupita Nyong'o, Noah Centineo, among others read stories.

Model Kaia Gerber has started a book club for fellow Gen Z-ers on Instagram, starting with Normal People by Sally Rooney.