THE RISE OF KINDLE – THE FALL OF SECOND HAND BOOKSHOPS.
How long have kindles been around?
The first Kindle was released in 2007. They were immediately popular, but a huge percentage of the population still favoured reading normal print books.
COVID changed everything. Bookshops were often closed, delivery services were interrupted or stopped, and we were frequently confined to our homes during lockdowns. The sale of kindles boomed because people could buy e-books on line.
I bought a kindle.
I love the feel and smell of a real book in my hands, but I love reading more. My kindle allowed me to see a book I wanted, order it, down load it and be reading it minutes later. I usually read lying on my bed and the kindle was easier to manage than a real book. Plus it was back lit for easier reading. I became a convert, but I still loved to read a paperback from time to time.
The flow on effect.
My desire for a book to read NOW, prevented me from considering the flow on effect that was hitting booksellers. Yes, I was aware that bookseller were being hit hard and some like Booktopia had gone into voluntary administration. I hadn’t attributed blame to kindle and the upsurge of cheaper e-books.
And then I went to my favourite second hand bookshop.
It had been months since I’d been to Ganesha Bookshop, Ubud, Bali to choose a new used book. I’d been ordering all my kindle e-books from Amazon, ignoring my favourite bookshop. The first thing that struck me was the limited number of new release pre-loved books. What was going on? Fortunately, Anita, one of the owners, was there and we were able to have a chat.
People bring their kindles on holiday.
Prior to Kindle, holiday makers brought new release books with them on holiday. While here, they read these books and many of them sold these books to Ganesha Bookshop, building their new release stocks. Other readers left their books behind in their hotels and enterprising staff gathered these and sold them to Ganesha Bookshop, once again adding to their current releases. Kindle and other e-readers had destroyed the supply line. I had not realised this flow on effect for my local second hand bookshop. I suppose this is the same story for all remote second hand bookshops and those located in non-English speaking countries.
Anita assured me their business was still viable and there were certainly enough books to entice me. This is a photo of the books I selected to buy and take home. This stack now sits on my desk as my to-read stack. I’ve also got a heap of books downloaded on my Kindle that I’m eager to read. There just aren’t enough hours in each day to sate my reading pleasure.
Every problem has a solution.
When you go on holiday to a destination with a second hand bookshop, why don’t you take one or two latest release, real books to read. After you read them, you can sell or swap them at the local second hand bookshop. This will help them top up their book stocks.
My next trip is to Australia to go on a literary festival cruise out of Sydney. With a line-up of acclaimed authors including Alexander McCall-Smith, Fiona McIntosh, Anita Heiss, Graeme Simsion, Anne Buist, Paul Cleave, Sue Williams, and Elizabeth Stanley, there’ll be heaps of books for me to buy and have autographed.
I’ll be returning with a trove of books to read and then pass along to Ganesha Bookshop. I’m not ready for bookshops to die.
What an interesting and useful post. Thanks, Steve.
Hi Mandy. I hope you are well and you and Fred are enjoying life. Glad you enjoyed the blog. I hope to catch up soon. Steve
How true, Steve. I will buy one at the airport and donate it to Ganesha. By the way, did you receive my email asking to book the last available days in October?
Cheers, Gail
Thanks for the wake-up call. I hadn’t thought about that.
I hadn’t thought it through either. I’ll now buy some print books and get then to second hand bookshops somewhere. I suspect I’m swimming against the tide of change. Steve
I have had a kindle for many years and it is wonderful when travelling to multiple destinations eg my recent Southern India with a dozen plus different destinations over the month. But like you, my preference is to read a “real” book and when I come for my annual six weeks at Villa Baliku I bring a pile of books (although not necessarily the latest best sellers but usually selected from the rather large accumulated ‘waiting to read’ pile) and leave them behind for the next guest to read. Sorry Ganesha – perhaps next time.
We are lucky in Perth we have several popular secondhand bookshops and a choice of three good libraries.
Hi Steve
I agree I like a book to hold…I also have a street Library at my place…will send you a photo Cheers Ken
Being avid readers and a library close by we love to read and feel the book and its energy in our hands and sometimes on our lap if we fall asleep reading . We always give books away for birthday and Christmas gifts . Second hand book shops are great especially to exchange books or to sit there and read with a coffee and cake in hand. Cheers Marilyn and Mike xx