With more time on hand through the lockdown and no access to bookstores for a large part of the year, the pandemic has changed the way we read. Those who swore away from digital versions of books have now adapted to technology. Sales of e-books and audio books have skyrocketed over the last few months, creating job opportunities for voice over artistes. All of this has paved the way for new writers, more writing and plenty of reading...
For members of Bengaluru's FICCI FLO Book Club, it was customary to read one new book every month and then meet for an evening of discussion, debate and literary fun. The pandemic changed that routine, and now members like Dipika V Maiya find themselves reading as many as 10 books a month, which they discuss at length over Zoom conferences, with authors or other enthusiasts. "Everyone has been trying to make the most of their free time and as a result, we no longer have any free time," jests Dipika, an avid reader who is part of many clubs, all of which have been remained active online, since the pandemic struck.
Flipping the digital switch
Not only have book clubs learnt to own the online space, but they are in fact thriving there, says Sonali Chandak, the head of Suryodaya, a club that was started just months ago, in July. "We have members in two cities - Kolkata and Bengaluru - and have done 10 online mentor sessions with authors, till date," Sonali shares, pointing out that the digital space allows clubs like hers to easily connect with authors from across the country and abroad.
But it's not just meetings that have gone digital over the past few months. With the lockdown severing access to all avenues of 'non-essential' shopping, literary enthusiasts turned towards online platforms and apps for new reading material, thereby accelerating the migration to e-books. "Some of our members are over 60 years old and even they have switched to Kindle," says Sonali, listing out benefits like the potential to effortlessly highlight, take notes and switch chapters mid-discussion, on an e-book.
Of pdfs and audio files...
Given that many readers considered e-books only because they were cornered by the lockdown, there's still some debate on whether digital formats of literature are truly here to stay. Advocating the shift, Pune-based author Swayam Singh says, "Mediums keep changing and the switch to e-books is good. They are better for the environment, are economical and can add new dimensions to what the author brings to the table. And with options like Print On Demand, aficionados can still get hard copies that are tailor made for them."
That said, Swayam feels that audio books have not received their due as yet, owing to poor treatment by makers. "An audio book must have multiple voices for dialogue, different accents, sound effects. So the written book has to be changed to suit the format. This is something I would definitely invest in," says the author, who adds himself to the list of those who "managed to get some writing done" during this period.
Pandemic lifts writer's block?!
While on one hand the readers found time to turn over more pages, on the other, the writers found time to churn out more titles. "The pandemic has been the most successful phase of my work life," exclaims Delhi-based literary agent and publishing commentator Kanishka Gupta. "Many new and pending books were completed, because many writers managed to write and the commissioning editors had more time than usual to read them. As a result, publishers are now acquiring for 2021 and 2022. I must have sold 50 to 60 books in the past five months and that's great given the pandemic," he explains.
In Bengaluru, Dipika, who also happens to be a publisher, says that nearly 42 new writers approached her over the past few months. "And 60 per cent of them have published with me," she shares, adding that this period also allowed quite a few enthusiasts to take up journaling. So forgive us for sounding callous, but it does seem like the literary community across the country has managed to find more than one silver lining, in the dark cloud that is 2020.
ONLINE FATIGUE, AN EVENTUALITY?
Be it book readings, launches, author interactions or club meetups - the online space is definitely buzzing. But it's precisely this noise that will soon result in online fatigue, cautions Lakshmi Sankar, co-founder of Atta Galatta, a Bengaluru-based bookstore and cafe. "Yes, there is a lot happening in the digital space right now. But online conversations can be difficult to coordinate, with many people talking at the same time. Then there are connectivity issues too. The number of attendees for online sessions is already going down," she says, reminding us about the experiences that a physical space provides - getting ready, traveling, meeting new people, among others.
SCHOOLS TRY OUT ONLINE LIT FESTS
When she's not writing books for children, Harshikaa Udasi is on her toes planning interactive, reading sessions for the tots in her Mumbai-based book club and library for kids, Book Trotters Club. Now, she is also making time for online literature festivals at schools. "August to November is the time for lit fests at schools and this year, they are being organised online. A session can include a group of 40 to 50 kids, and they have all kinds of questions for you. Luckily there is also a coordinator on the call," smiles Harshikaa, describing the experience.
In contrast, the meetings of her book club are restricted to just six kids who are between four and 13 years old. While her club will continue in the digital space for the foreseeable future, on the subject of e-books, Harshikaa, who keeps 4,000 titles on the shelves at Book Trotters Club, says her vote will always go to paper and print. "The idea is to keep kids away from the screens, right?" she reasons.
SPIKE IN DEMAND FOR AUDIO BOOKS IN REGIONAL LANGUAGES TOO
Sale of Kannada e-books and audio books have gone up from 10-12% of total sale of books to an average of 20% this year. It has also been noticed that youngsters are adapting more when it comes to reading on digital devices, as opposed to those above 50 years of age, who still prefer the feel of a hard copy.
(Source — Total Kannada)
‘MORE NEW SIGN-UPS BY INDIAN AUTHORS ON DIGITAL PLATFORMS’
New sign-ups to Kindle Unlimited, Amazon’s eBook subscription programme have increased significantly. On KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing), we continue to see significant growth in new sign-ups from Indian authors and it has also helped small publishers during these difficult times
— Amol Gurwara, Country Manager, Kindle Content India — Amazon
GENRES OF DIGITAL FORMAT BOOKS THAT HAVE SEEN A SPIKE IN DEMAND
● Books for children and young adults
● Books on topics like health, family and
personal development
● Books about religion and spirituality
● Literature and fiction
(Based on e-books and audio book sales data from April 2020 to August 2020)
With inputs by Joyeeta.Chakravorty@timesgroup.com
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