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Bookshops are a small heaven of stories, poems, and the world's finest literature. Comfy sofas and the fragrance of a new shipment of books fill the air. With the pages turned yellow and the covers fading away, a bookshop is a timeless tale. Going to a bookshop, finding that one book that resonates with you among thousands on the shelf, and the joy of getting those small free bookmarks that come with the book of your choice—it's an experience that is now being forgotten. But now that treasure is fading away.
Bookshops don't seem crowded anymore—after all, Amazon exists. But online shopping will never, in a million years, replace what bookshops mean to me. Bookshops aren't just a business; they hold depth; they are spaces for people to discover their passions for reading and their intimate connection with books. I have often seen people going to bookshops, finding a book and then searching for the same book online to see if they can get it cheaper. For a mere price decrease of a few rupees, people would rather get books online than buy from a bookshop.
These books are treasures. People would rather watch TV shows and movies on those very books, but movies would never capture the beauty of words, the way the author twists the story, the way the story unfolds, and the intimate moments. A film can't capture it all.
No matter how "childish" the stories may seem, each book holds something for us. As we grow older, we forget what we were once taught in school and at home: "Be patient." "Think before you speak." These values are what we forget as time goes by, and sometimes, all we need are short stories for children that hold a moral in each.
These very bookshops carry books and stories of each genre, with something for everyone. They hold treasures worth more than anything else because these books may not be as expensive as gold or as vital as water, but they hold something far more valuable: knowledge. Even fictional stories, mysteries, and fairytales can be helpful; we just have to look closer to find them.
Of course, reading doesn't resonate with everyone. You can't force anyone into it; it unfolds itself. So, to the readers out there, let's keep this magic alive because it's something special, and we can't lose it.
Gyanshree School
