Reading choices
I've known for some time that e-books have become popular and that audiobooks have been gaining rapidly in popularity. It wasn't until I happened to check the availability of Fredrik Backman titles at the Edmonton Public Library this week that the magnitude of the change in how people "read" really sank in.
As of today (July 24), all five print copies of his 2018 novel Us Against You are out on loan. However, they are due back starting in two days. Despite that, people still prefer to wait weeks or even months for the same book in other formats. There are 40 holds on five e-book copies, and 44 holds on seven audiobook copies.
Five hardcover copies of A Man Called Ove are available. But 255 people would rather wait, presumably for months, for access to the library's 12 audiobook copies.
How about Beartown, published in 2017? One print copy is available and 19 other print copies are out on loan but due back within days. Nonetheless, hundreds of people would rather wait for other formats. There are 124 holds on 10 audiobook copies and 140 holds on nine e-book copies.
It's the same story for Backman's 2020 novel, Anxious People. Seven hardcover copies are available right now. But there are 115 holds on nine e-book copies and 112 holds on 10 audiobook copies.
Reading, for many people, is no longer reading. I'm sure there are good reasons for many people to make that choice. It does leave me wondering how they are processing the non-print versions of books. Are details slipping by owing to momentary distractions? Are memories of the books the same as the memories would be after reading a print edition? Can writing be appreciated and enjoyed in the same way?
What prompted my look at the library stats for Backman was a video (less than five minutes long) that a friend sent me of his hilarious talk at the Simon & Schuster centennial celebration this spring. If you haven't seen it it's worth a look. Funny, and guaranteed to make you forget the cares of daily commentary on politics:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSuSy...
As of today (July 24), all five print copies of his 2018 novel Us Against You are out on loan. However, they are due back starting in two days. Despite that, people still prefer to wait weeks or even months for the same book in other formats. There are 40 holds on five e-book copies, and 44 holds on seven audiobook copies.
Five hardcover copies of A Man Called Ove are available. But 255 people would rather wait, presumably for months, for access to the library's 12 audiobook copies.
How about Beartown, published in 2017? One print copy is available and 19 other print copies are out on loan but due back within days. Nonetheless, hundreds of people would rather wait for other formats. There are 124 holds on 10 audiobook copies and 140 holds on nine e-book copies.
It's the same story for Backman's 2020 novel, Anxious People. Seven hardcover copies are available right now. But there are 115 holds on nine e-book copies and 112 holds on 10 audiobook copies.
Reading, for many people, is no longer reading. I'm sure there are good reasons for many people to make that choice. It does leave me wondering how they are processing the non-print versions of books. Are details slipping by owing to momentary distractions? Are memories of the books the same as the memories would be after reading a print edition? Can writing be appreciated and enjoyed in the same way?
What prompted my look at the library stats for Backman was a video (less than five minutes long) that a friend sent me of his hilarious talk at the Simon & Schuster centennial celebration this spring. If you haven't seen it it's worth a look. Funny, and guaranteed to make you forget the cares of daily commentary on politics:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSuSy...
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