Creative events such as book clubs and literary festivals are reimagining the role of reading as a social exercise in the aftermath of the pandemic to build healthier communities.
Up to 95pc of bookshops contribute to the “activation” of their city and town centres, a recent study from The Booksellers Association found.
In Norwich, Leanne Fridd, co-owner and manager of Bookbugs and Dragon Tales, feels local bookshops will always be essential to any community.
“They contribute so much more than just the selling of books,” she said. “They provide a safe space where people can explore different ideas.”
Leanne Fridd, co-owner and manager of Bookbugs and Dragon Tales (Image: Newsquest)
Bookbugs and Dragon Tales also offers daily classes for preschool, after-school creative writing clubs, drama classes, crafts, school outreach and workshops, as well as an adult book club.
“We do as much as we can to try to engage the community in books, reading and learning,” said Leanne. “We’re part of this great melting pot of exciting ideas and creativity. And it’s so wonderful to be able to be in a city that welcomes that and embraces that.”
In 2017, The Book Hive in London Street launched its weekly Page Against the Machine event. Every Wednesday, the independent bookshop stays open for an extra hour between 5.30pm and 6.30pm to invite people to read.
The event was created in response to research from The Reading Agency, which found that 67pc of UK adults would like to read more.
Bookseller Joe Hedinger from The Book Hive, which launched Page Against the Machine in 2017 (Image: Newsquest)
“For many people, reading is seen as a solitary, reclusive thing – something you might do on your own that is possibly even a bit antisocial,” said bookseller Joe Hedinger.
“We really want to get rid of that idea. It’s a way of engaging with the world and other people, which is really positive. Reading is for everyone.”
READ MORE: Norwich literature festival goes global with synchronised reading event
Last summer, The Book Hive partnered with the National Centre for Writing for a special collective reading event at Plantation Gardens during the Norfolk and Norwich Festival.
It saw other Unesco (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) cities hosting simultaneous reading events in outdoor spaces and libraries, including in Leeuwarden (Netherlands), Slemani (Iraq), Nottingham (UK), Exeter (UK), Melbourne (Australia), Manchester (UK) and Kuhmo (Finland).
Bookbugs and Dragon Tales in Timberhill (Image: Archant)
“It’s not just a small group of people here in Norwich, but people all over the world who can take advantage of this rebellious act of stopping for an hour and picking up a book,” said Joe.
Adults who read for just 30 minutes per week are 20pc more likely to report greater life satisfaction, The Reading Agency found. They are also 18pc more likely to have higher self-esteem, 52pc more likely to feel socially included and 37pc more likely to get greater pleasure out of their social life.
Rebecca Stonehill, an author and creative writing teacher who attends Page Against the Machine, said: “Reading is the ultimate act of empathy: to inhabit the lives of others and help us view the world afresh. It brings meaning and connection to our lives and also forces us to slow down in our turbo-charged existences which often places productivity over presence.”
Seung Ju Kim, a psychology student, said: “Page Against the Machine is sort of a sacred place, free from distractions – just a time and place dedicated to reading. The structure helps me become more mindful of what I take in.”
The Book Hive owner Henry Layte, who launched the Mannington Book Bash in October 2023 (Image: DENISE BRADLEY)
In October, The Book Hive launched Mannington Book Bash, a literary festival for north Norfolk. Set in the medieval gardens of Mannington Hall, the festival hosted sold-out events from authors such as David Olusoga, Natalie Haynes and Simon Armitage.
READ MORE: 7 of the best independent bookshops to visit in Norfolk
Owner Henry Layte said these kinds of events and the collective experience that they facilitate are important for “social cohesion”.
Holly Ainley, head of programmes and creative engagement at National Centre for Writing (Image: National Centre for Writing)
Norwich is part of a global network with a shared mission to inspire community and partnership through writing and reading.
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Holly Ainley, head of programmes and creative engagement at the National Centre for Writing at Dragon Hall, said: “As a Unesco City of Literature, understanding and celebrating the power of reading, writing and literary translation is really core to our identity as a city.
“We know that reading and writing don’t only have an artistic and creative benefit, but they have social benefits as well. They can help to increase our sense of empathy with each other, the world, the environment.
“The power of words can have a really positive impact on our own sense of well-being, our place in our families and in our communities.”
