Why Order From Indie During Lockdown?

Recent events have seen many changes to our everyday lives, with lockdown many are turning to reading to pass the time. With recent survey numbers revealing that reading has doubled

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Image from Wix Media

With more time to spare, many are turning to reading. The figures from a new survey reveal that reading in the UK has doubled, and whilst many would assume the most read genre to be dystopian, it’s actually crime and thrillers.

The research was conducted by Nielsen Book’s, spurned by the recent lockdown measures. 1,000 adults were surveyed between 29th April and the beginning of May, with 41% of these adults saying they were reading more books, with 10% saying that they were actually reading less.

Before the lockdown, reading was attributed to an average of 3.5 hours a week, now it has increased to 6 hours a week.

For the majority surveyed (52%) they said they were reading more due to having the extra time to spare, and the minority (35%) saying reading was their escape from the recent events.

Crime and thrillers were always a popular genre for adults in the UK, and it seems that the immersive genres have the ability to distract those who are struggling with the lockdown measures.

Despite the lack of increase in the genre specifically, there are certain dystopian books that have seen sales soar.

Scottish television screenwriter and novelist, Peter May wrote the novel “A city in quarantine” in 2005 to average success. In 2020, the sales have increased dramatically. Centred around modern London, the novel saw a bird-flu virus take over the city. The novel was thought at the time of release to be far-fetched, and over dramatic. Recent events have shown that the concept perhaps was not so unreachable.

One person on Twitter wrote, “Reading this brilliant book, the theme couldn’t be more apt right now”.

May also has an upcoming novel titled “LOCKDOWN”, The novel was unpublished for over 15 years, with May deciding that now was the perfect time to dig it out and send it to be published.

On his website May explains why he didn’t publish it sooner, “When I originally wrote Lockdown in 2005, no matter how well researched or accurate the dystopian picture it painted, no one could identify with it. Now everyone can. It is our common experience. And isn’t that what writers are supposed to do - describe and explore the human condition, the world we experience as a human race?”

Whilst book reading has increased, book buying has not. 18% surveyed said that it was due to bookshops being closed, and that they had in fact bought less books than usual. However, 25% said that they had bought more books than usual. The question now is, where should people be buying from?

For many, during quarantine it is natural to buy eBooks, rather than ordering a paperback, then having to wait for it to be delivered. But is this the right choice?

Whilst the answer is not a straight yes or no, it is important to remember the independent bookshops during the lockdown. All independent shops are facing tough times but ordering from the indies could help keep them afloat.

Independent bookshops like Read in Holmfirth offer home delivery’s, alongside many others. Ordering from your local bookshop helps to support the shop, even when circumstances aren’t ideal.

The recent COVID-19 outbreak is one of the toughest obstacles that independent bookshops have faced since the growth of ecommerce. With customers self-isolating and the government order of shop closures these cosy spaces are at risk.

However, this is when independent are on a level footing with online stores. Independent bookshops can offer the same as online, with home delivery’s, with many being able to offer delivery charges that match online.

Independents can also focus more on delivery’s than they could before. With the shop closed temporarily, deliveries can be sent out quicker, and more efficiently.

Support your local bookshop, buy and book and keep safe inside.

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