Healing power of books
Social media apps like Instagram and TikTok have popularized hashtags like #booktalk, #bookstagram , and #bookish over the last couple of years. Not sure how it became popular, but in my opinion, many people finally realized it’s okay to enjoy reading and share their passion for books with one another. I know there have been stigmas in the past about readers, readers being “uncool” or having a negative connotation. I’m confident when I say that many people don’t see readers in that type of light anymore.
Now more than ever, we have access to books; many go to a public library, visit a community Little Free Library, or purchase them. I find myself doing all of these for many reasons. I find new books I probably would not normally read by walking the aisles of my local public library. I purchase books to support authors and indie bookstores. I share books I no longer have room for with my community by dropping some off at a Little Free Library.
I’m also a participant in book clubs, many through Discord groups. One of my favorite Discords groups is called Thron Grove, which is Adalyn Grace’s book community. My point is that books unite us; we share books that resonate with us, annotate, analyze, and connect with the characters. Books have the power to heal. They help you escape reality, bring you peace, provide encouragement, and, at times, a whole wave of emotions. Certain book stays with you for a long time.
As Jessica Klinker states, “Books can also serve as lenses, opening readers up to different insights, cultures, and experiences they may not otherwise experience, deepening their empathy for others. They provide a critical foundation for conversations that extend into political and social contexts and that focus on unity and healing rather than division and destruction”.
I completely agree with this statement. I’m slowly branching out of my comfort zone with book genres. One of my book clubs is focused on diversity and inclusivity. We try to select a book of the month by a BIPOC or Queer author. Although some of these stories might not connect with everyone, they remain just as impactful. I’ve challenged myself to read three books in my native language this year, which may be easy for many, but I’m not as fluent as I thought.
In the end, the important takeaway, as Professor Stephens states, Hyperlinks are people too. By reading books, we can connect, converse, and share experiences with others, allowing us to engage with our community.
Klinker, Jessica. “The Healing Power of Books: Using Reading to Address Social and Emotional Needs.” Gale Blog: Library & Educator News | K12, Academic & Public, 24 July 2020, blog.gale.com/the-healing-power-of-books/.
@kavel I am really thrilled that the Clinker article has resonated with so many students this term. I love what is happening in the social media book space — BookTok, Bookstagram (?). I think there’s a lot of creativity in these spaces. And a lot of potential to promote all of the diverse voices in our collections.
@michael, I agree that there’s a lot of creativity with this space. I also enjoy how involved authors are with their fans and how they help promote fellow authors’ books. That’s the side of social media that has been really enjoyable these last few years!
@kavelb I agree. It seems like these fan communities and their engagement with authors, etc. has been such a positive experience for so many.
@kavel I worked at Barnes and Noble and the Library space Pre-Covid/Post-Covid and the while #booktok existed prior to these times, it had little influence. During and after lockdown, socials went nuts for specific authors (many not understanding exactly how they became so widely popularized all of a sudden) and #booktok became a main selling tool for the retail space. We at Barnes and Noble had to create Booktok displays with the trending titles making sure stock levels were always high and available in an effort to capture sales due to the number of patrons coming in looking specifically for those titles. While working in my local libraries, endcaps and tables were definitely not as prevalent, but titles were still widely asked for and we made sure our staff stayed up on the trends. Additionally, we created a list of Booktok backlist titles to feature at our circulation desks and on our ebook catalog for patrons to check out and they quickly began recirculating on both platforms.
@justonet I honestly don’t know what caused the craze, but part of me is glad it happened and continues to be popular. I love supporting up-and-coming authors, and I feel like social media is a great way to spread the word. What a great way to engage with the community by creating lists of BookTok titles; I myself tend to reference them and add books to my TBR.
Hi Karla,
I really enjoyed reading your post on the power of books. I completely agree that books can be transformative and comforting, especially for younger readers who don’t quite have the skill set to articulate their frustrations and feelings in conversation. I love how you’re an active community book reader! I mean, I thought I read a lot, but I think it’s amazing that you’re challenging yourself with different book genres that are out of your comfort zone. Growing and learning can be uncomfortable, but rewarding in the end. I also appreciate your acknowledgment of how book recommendations on social media have shot up in popularity lately. I used to be slightly embarrassed when I was a kid when asked what I like to do in my spare time. Book nerds, unite!
Thanks for the great post 🙂
@yoli, thank you, I’ve learned that reading is powerful and that I should not be ashamed of being a book nerd! 😀 The challenge of reading in my native language is time-consuming but so worth it, and I’m happy exploring different authors.