Readership diaries: What’s an average reader’s fix?

While some bookstores continue to attract potential buyers, others present a bleak look.

ISLAMABAD:

Given that practically every sector has its own bookstore, it would seem that scores of ardent readers in the capital frequent them. However, when asked about readership in their respective areas, owners of three popular bookstores gave mixed reviews. Those at Saeed Book Bank, Old Book Collection and Mr Books (F-6 Super Market) felt that readership has risen, remained the same and fallen, respectively, over a span of 15 years.

Varied answers to the same question begs a closer inspection of what informs these owners’ perception of readership. Interestingly, the managers of Saeed Book Bank, Ahmed Saeed and Old Book Collection, Malik Ejaz while speaking with The Express Tribune were very preoccupied with business responsibilities, filing receipts and managing the help. So it might make sense for these patrons to deem readership as rising or staying the same.

That being said, having attendants in close quarters, watching people like a hawk lest they shoplift puts a damper on the joy of shopping for books. The beautiful thing about literature is that no one who loves and appreciates it will ever steal a book.

The clientele at Saeed Book Bank seems largely to be students or individuals who come into the store knowing what they want. Furthermore, it is one of the few online bookstores in Pakistan, where people can order their choice reads.

In stark contrast, at Old Book Collection most customers come in looking for a good read, usually not having a definitive choice in mind. Farwah Shariff, a customer at the store, said, “I bought books worth Rs5,000 a few weeks ago, among which was  ‘Journal of Sylvia Plath’. I’m an avid Plath reader and never knew this book existed, which is why it’s my favourite bookstore in Islamabad.”

Ejaz said that in his 25 years of business, readership has more or less been the same. “Despite the availability of reading material online and the advent of eBooks, nothing beats the physicality of a book for avid readers,” he said.

Thomas, a French Embassy employee while sifting for books, said, “Because of my job I have to travel a lot and I don’t plan on taking all my books around with me, so it is suitable to get cheap secondhand books that I won’t be too upset to dispose of later.”

On the other hand, Manager of Mr Books Muhammad Yousaf deemed readership as falling. As Yousaf said, “I’m a literature buff and it’s a personal loss when most of my customers want either political biographies or the latest mindless reads, I hardly ever sell any classics.” It is perhaps Yousaf’s inherent love for books compared to the other two bookstore owners/manager (who admitted to not being avid readers), that makes him more sensitive to readership. Currently running the 35-year-old bookstore, he views it not only as a business but a personal investment.

However, there is still hope for Yousaf and Mr Books. As the interview came to a close, a customer named Abdul Sattar walked in asking if a copy of Karl Marx’s “Das Capital” was available.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 4^th, 2012.