Why books remain a sanctuary in a digitalized world
In an increasingly digitised world, books remain a sanctuary for imagination, a source of knowledge, and a means of escape for both children and adults.
The most sought-after books in 2024 remain those on personal development, psychology, and interactive books for children.
"One of the most popular books is The Snow Queen, which is structured into six chapters and teaches us how to love and accept the people in our lives and to see things through to the end. The second most interesting and sought-after book is Sherlock Holmes and the Missing Orchid. With the help of a red magnifying glass, it allows us to figure out where the criminal has been and where to search for them. Together, we can uncover these hidden details," said Borisenco Andreea.
Also in high demand are books by contemporary local authors, as well as older ones, which, despite the passage of time, remain at the top of readers' preferences.
"Stories of Wishes, volumes 1 and 2. These books are filled with short stories about the wishes of people or some creatures. The books I Read Every Day by Alexandra Gemeș connect with children because they are based on the adventures of young kids. Another example is the timeless works of Ion Creangă, which remain immortal over the years," said the editorial manager, Inesa Tăutu.
Teenagers have also shown a thirst for reading. The most popular among them are personal development books, autobiographical novels, and educational books, according to experts.
"The novel Malala, by the Pakistani author, was highly sought after. It promotes her own way of life and the fight she waged against the authoritarian regime within her country."
As for adults' reading preferences, they have enjoyed books on personal development and psychology, including works by international authors.
"Mind Power: The Subconscious Can Do Everything, which explores the power of the mind, the thoughts of each individual, and how to develop personal creativity. Next is The Art of Public Speaking. And another book besides these, After Three Years It’s Too Late. This book is about all types of children, from the youngest age up to three years old, offering various ideas on child-rearing," said Daria Vîsovschi.
When asked about the last book they held in their hands, many said they have been reading less recently, primarily due to a lack of free time.
"The last book I read in university was by Alexander Pushkin, including some of his works. One of them is Eugene Onegin and a poem called The Gypsies. We manage little because the novels we read are very heavy, with up to 500-600 pages, and it’s quite difficult. Wanting to read other books besides those for university is almost impossible."
"The last book I read was The Stranger. I used to read more frequently in the past, now I think about 10, 20 books. Unfortunately, I don’t have much time for reading; it requires quite a bit of time and is an intellectual effort."
"The last book I read is called I Still Love You. When I have free time, I manage to read about three books because I’m active and have very little time to read."
While some don’t read at all or only read in their free time, children are the ones who can read as many as 30 books in a year.
"The last book I read was The Story of Răzvan by Horia Corcheș. I liked how it highlighted the problems of adolescence and talked about some mistakes and how to prevent them. In 2024, I managed to read around 30-32 books."
Translation by Iurie Tataru
