With gift books currently ranking high on the list for many gift retailers, GiftsandHome.net asked Lewis Dawson, managing director of Bookspeed, to reveal some of the company’s best sellers since lockdown.
Lewis, has there been a shift in what people want to read?
“As lockdown has eased, and consumers have started to re-emerge onto our high streets, we’re seeing some clear trends emerge which are reflecting the lived experiences we’ve all shared over the past few months and also, what life is likely to look like in the months ahead.”
Can you give me some examples please?
“Books encouraging kindness and positivity, especially rainbows in the windows and self-care and personal wellbeing in general, both physical and mental. It was quite a popular trend already, but it has really taken off. The last few months have been hard for everyone, and we all benefit from being kinder to ourselves and to each other.”
What else is driving book sales?
“Titles helping us to appreciate and enjoy our own personal and local spaces are also high on the list – by this I mean our homes, our gardens and our local green spaces and countryside. We were all confined to our homes and gardens – for those of us fortunate enough to have them – for a long period, so many of us have spent more time exploring our local areas by foot or by bike. Books on how to make your house a nicer place to live in, to cook in, and guides on walking and cycling locally have therefore all proved popular. Even as we see restrictions lifted on travel, we expect a focus to remain on improving our experience of our homes and local communities.”
Are we looking backwards and forwards in history for answers to the current situation?
“Yes. Given the feeling many people have that the world is lacking global political leadership, it’s no surprise that we look to important figures from history, and the present day, who have made the world a better place, with publications celebrating inspirational lives selling well. In fact, we think that this is set to continue for some time.”
Top: Well read. People have been channelling their reading preferences since lockdown.
