Books offer solace to many pandemic-weary citizens

AMMAN — Marking World Book and Copyright Day, which is celebrated annually on April 23, Jordanians talked about the power of books in their lives.

“During the last year when people have had to limit their time spent outside, books have proven to be powerful tools to combat isolation, reinforce ties between people and expand one’s horizons, while stimulating minds and creativity,” according to the UNESCO website.

In remarks to The Jordan Times, Ala’ Ata, a Jordanian bookseller, said that since the onset of the pandemic, people in Jordan have developed new positive habits such as walking, jogging, cycling and certainly, reading books.

“Amid the previous lockdowns, books were the only companion for many people,” Ata added.

“The ongoing crisis has created a new momentum for reading in Jordan. People who never read a book before started reading, and those who were already in the habit of reading started more than ever before,” she noted.

Furthermore, Ata said it is important that people keep the good habits they developed amid the pandemic.

Sarah Hussein, a mother of a five-year-old boy, told The Jordan Times over the phone that she regularly reads for her son, in order to build his vocabulary, help him make sense of what he sees and hears, as well as improve his cognitive and language development.

“I started reading books for my boy from an early age and now our story time is one of his favourite parts of the day, especially that many places where kids used to play are currently closed due to the measures taken amid the pandemic,” according to Hussein.

The UN website encourages people to celebrate World Book and Copyright Day by reading. It states that through reading “we can open ourselves to others despite distance”.

 “Reading is enjoyable. When I read novels in particular, it allows me to escape reality and be in the shoes of the characters,” Hala Ali, an avid Jordanian reader in her 50s said on Saturday. 

Reading helps people go to sleep, helps reduce stress levels and creates a sense of community that is much needed amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, according to Ali.

To read more, people need to choose the right book, otherwise reading would seem like a chore, Ali said.

“I have an emotional bond with books and that is what makes me a devoted reader,” she said.