[juzzza]

I'm in Florida for a few days and a couple of things made me optimistic for publishing during my travels.

First - in Gatwick on the way to my gate, I saw a book vending machine, offering the top ten paperbacks - I've never seen that before!

Secondly - On my flight, in-between movies, Continental played a program called 'Continental's Bookshelf' and previewed Genghis by Conn Iggulden and interviewed the author. It was only about ten minutes long but wow, what a great idea.

So, is reading coming back into fashion or what?

On a down note, I couldn't find a single copy of Lynch's Red Seas... in a single airport bookstore, how frickin frustrating!

[vicki_girl]

I would say that they aren't "in vogue" but maybe less unacceptable socially. Or maybe the publishing world is finally catching up to the rest of the media market in advertising.....?

As for the vending machine thing, I saw one at an airport a few months ago where you could buy Ipods and Ipod accessories. Out of a vending machine! :eek:

[Stephen Palmer]

Reading went out of fashion...?

[vicki_girl]

I don't know about you, but when I was in High School, being seen with a book was social suicide.

As an adult I find the reception I get from most people is that being an active reader is "weird" but acceptable.


Maybe your experience has been different...*shrug*


Personally, I won't consider books in vogue until our favorite celebrities/TV personalities/other public figures, talk about the latest book they read. Right now the only one is Oprah.:cool:

[Miriamele]

I think that yes, the general population is starting to view books a bit more positively. This is probably (at least in part) due to the massive success of Harry Potter, which has caused lots of young non-readers to jump onto the reading bandwagon, and the popularity of the Oprah bookclub, which has caused lots of adult non-reading tv-watchers to jump onto the reading bandwagon.

I remember during the time I worked at a bookstore that many people who knew nothing of books or authors would come in to get the Oprah titles. I would imagine that many of these people discovered that yes, books can be interesting!

In the same way, I helped a lot of kids who had only read Harry Potter to find other fun fantasy books. I can't tell you how many times I recommended His Dark Materials and the Earthsea books--this really satisfied me to help young people explore further into the wonderful world of books.

There is also the huge success of the LOTR movies, which caused literally millions of people to pick up one of the world's most beloved novels for the first time.

There were no "big box" bookstores like Chapters or Barnes and Noble until the late 90s. I think even the existence of this enormous bookstores is a sign that book reading is increasing.

[ezchaos]

I agree with Miriamele that books are being viewed a little more positively. I think this is especially the case with kids. I notice in my local chain bookstores there's now YA sections beyond the regular children's areas and many of them appear to be in the fantasy genre. I envy my seven year old daughter. If she gets into fantasy fic she'll have so many books to choose from.

[sic's mom]

My only answer to this would be "God I hope so!" For as long as I can remember I have had my nose stuck in a book. While other kids were running around on the playground there I was back in the corner reading. As an adult things haven't changed. At work everyone knows that if they want to know about books or release dates about certain books, they come to me. Some of them think I am weird, but so what. At least I know what makes me happy. Of my three kids, my oldest well she is just like me. My son couldn't care less about books, and the youngest will read something if it really grabs her. My best friend is just like me, and right now it is hard for both of us because she and her husband are stationed in Italy. In fact I was talking to her yesterday and she hates the fact she can't find anyone there that reads what and how she does. But there is always hope. She and I love nothing more than getting someone to love reading and enjoying a great story.

[Cymric]

I do not see reading as coming back into fashion. alot of people maybe read 2-3 books a year. The large book stores make money by offering more than just books (cd's coffee, magazines, and the like) and underselling the competition.

Also alot of readers are seen as weird. When I am at work I often pack my lunch and eat it in the office. Just last week my manager asked me how many books I read in a week. I answered one or two and got the "your weird" look. Reading is still much as it was something you do every once in awhile to mainstream society.

[Allie]

I do not see reading as coming back into fashion. alot of people maybe read 2-3 books a year. The large book stores make money by offering more than just books (cd's coffee, magazines, and the like) and underselling the competition.
I agree with you. But I think that some books are fashionable, but not reading in and of itself. While there are various bestsellers and best selling series (eg the Da Vinci Code, Harry Potter etc, that people have mentioned), it's more that it's fashionable to read these books, rather than just to read.

[Ickle Lulu]

I totally agree with Allie.
I think the rise of book advertising has simply been to encourage people to read certain books/series', rather than to promote reading as a whole.
I can empathise with the being thought weird for reading experience... This has happened less for me since being at uni... - most students in the UK are really into reading it seems. But I had the experience over the summer when working for a few weeks in a shop of having a conversation with a fellow worker about how modern society seems scarily to be becoming more and more like '1984' - meaning obviously George Orwell's book. Now I had known about the general contents of his book for many years before I actually got round to reading it... and I mistakenly assumed most people from age 18 upwards would at least have heard of the book, but another member of staff interrupted the conversation with "What do you mean becoming more and more like 1984, we're in 2007..!" - accompanied by a very patronising look...
I was so shocked I couldn't answer!
I guess it's partly my fault of expecting people to know about books and to read them...seeing as I've been encouraged to read from a very young age, and had a father and sister particularly who kept lending me books and giving me recommendations...
But I wonder whether schools are doing enough to encourage reading?

But in general, I think I would agree that reading is coming back into 'vogue', though cautiously. I wonder also whether there are too many big name authors with hugely popular series' which overshadow the lesser-known but equally talented authors...? Is it a case of the media blowing things out of proportion again?