From Screens to Shelves: How Bookcore is Rewriting Our Digital Lives and Domestic Spaces
Jo Coghlan
‘E-books resemble motel rooms – bland and efficient. Books are home – real, physical things you can love and cherish and make your own, till death do you part. Or until you run out of shelf space’ – Michael Dirda, Book Critic Washington Post (Baron, 2015, 3).
In an era increasingly characterised by screen saturation, notification fatigue, and constant digital connectedness, an intriguing cultural and sociological shift is emerging: a reinvigorated affection for books, prominently expressed through the Bookcore aesthetic. However, Bookcore transcends mere nostalgia or decorative interior trends; it reflects a complex sociocultural response that interrogates our relationship with technology, community, and identity in the digital age. Sociologically, the Bookcore phenomenon illustrates a collective reaction to the intensifying demands of hyperconnectivity and the pressures of perpetual online presence. As digital platforms dominate social interactions, work, and leisure activities, they engender cognitive overload, anxiety, and an erosion of attention spans. In this context, physical books become symbolic and literal sanctuaries, offering refuge from the psychological strain associated with constant digital engagement.
This renewed emphasis on books and analogue practices gained notable momentum during the COVID-19 pandemic. Lockdowns and prolonged isolation forced a dramatic reconfiguration of domestic and private spaces, turning homes into multifaceted sites for work, education, and entertainment. Within this altered landscape, bookshelves and reading nooks emerged prominently, representing more than just aesthetic statements; they became critical mechanisms for managing emotional well-being and facilitating introspection amidst pervasive global uncertainty. Sociologically, this shift reflects a collective reassessment of domestic life, highlighting the significance of home as a place of emotional refuge, intellectual enrichment, and cultural identity. The pandemic underscored the necessity of balancing digital consumption with tangible, meaningful engagements, prompting individuals to seek solace and stability through familiar and comforting practices, such as reading physical books.
Nostalgia plays a central role in the resurgence of physical books. Nostalgia is not merely a longing for the past but a complex emotional response intricately connected to rapid social and technological transformations. As modern life accelerates and digital landscapes continually evolve, nostalgia emerges as a coping mechanism that mitigates anxiety by anchoring individuals in perceived simpler and more stable past experiences. Sociologists identify nostalgia as a critical form of collective memory that reinforces group cohesion, cultural identity, and continuity amid societal flux. Books, as tangible artefacts or ‘stuff’, are embedded with personal and cultural histories, and evoke memories of childhood, formative learning experiences, and pivotal life moments. Through nostalgia, individuals access a shared emotional heritage, contributing to a sense of belonging and emotional continuity that digital forms struggle to replicate.
The act of revisiting favourite narratives or familiar literary worlds through physical books enables individuals to reaffirm their identity and values in the face of pervasive technological disruption and cultural fragmentation. This revisitation provides psychological reassurance by connecting readers to their past selves and affirming a stable, coherent identity narrative. Revisiting favourite texts fosters resilience by grounding individuals in familiar cultural and moral frameworks. Through repeated engagement with these narratives, readers reinforce their own value systems and ideological orientations, countering feelings of disorientation and fragmentation induced by rapid societal changes. The repeated act of returning to familiar literary worlds also cultivates a sense of community and shared experience, as collective nostalgia for certain texts or genres creates social bonds and cultural solidarity among readers.
The tactile experience of reading physical books can be thought about via the lens of embodiment and material culture. The sensory act of turning pages, feeling the texture of paper, and immersing oneself in literature embodies a deliberate, mindful engagement that digital media fails to replicate. This sensory engagement fosters a deep, emotional connection between the reader and the text, reinforcing the reader's sense of presence and emotional investment in the narrative. Books take on a ritualistic and therapeutic significance, offering structured, sensory-rich practices that encourage mindfulness, psychological grounding, and emotional comfort. In a world increasingly mediated by abstract digital interfaces, physical books provide tangible interactions that evoke feelings of authenticity, intimacy, and stability, reinforcing readers’ emotional resilience and sense of well-being.
The resurgence of independent bookstores and communal reading spaces further underscores Bookcore’s sociocultural implications. These spaces function not only as commercial entities but as essential nodes of social interaction and community building. Independent bookstores foster environments that facilitate dialogue, exchange of ideas, and communal engagement, creating culturally rich and intellectually stimulating communities. They encourage face-to-face interactions, hosting events such as author readings, book clubs, and literary discussions, which strengthen local cultural identities and community ties. In this context, communal reading spaces become crucial arenas for cultivating social solidarity, particularly in an era marked by digital alienation and social fragmentation. This revival thus reflects broader societal trends towards authenticity, localism, and collective cultural experiences, significantly valued following prolonged periods of isolation and digital fatigue.
The aesthetic dimension of Bookcore reflects deeper identity-forming processes. Curating collections around specific authors or genres—such as literary classics, fantasy worlds, or crime fiction—constitutes acts of symbolic self-expression and cultural affiliation. Books become visible markers of cultural literacy, intellectual curiosity, and social belonging, as individuals consciously align themselves with particular communities or ideologies through their literary preferences. The meticulous organisation, arrangement, and display of books within personal and public spaces convey nuanced social signals about an individual’s aspirations, tastes, and cultural sophistication. Bookshelves and reading spaces function as expressive environments that reflect one’s journey of self-discovery and personal growth. By carefully selecting and curating literature, readers actively construct and communicate their evolving identities, aligning themselves with broader social narratives, intellectual movements, and cultural traditions.
The Bookcore trend encapsulates a nuanced sociological narrative about modern society’s desire for balance between digital ubiquity and analogue authenticity. It illustrates a collective yearning for meaningful, embodied experiences that reinforce personal identity, community bonds, and psychological resilience. By reclaiming the cultural, emotional, and tactile pleasures of books, we reaffirm our humanity amidst the pressures and disconnections inherent in our increasingly digital world.
Reading
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Becker, Tobias, and Dylan Trigg, eds. 2024. The Routledge Handbook of Nostalgia. London: Routledge.
Davis, Fred. 1979. Yearning for Yesterday: A Sociology of Nostalgia. New York: Free Press.
Hart, James D. 2022. The Popular Book: A History of America's Literary Taste. Berkeley: University of California Press.
Miller, Daniel. 2010. Stuff. Cambridge: Polity Press.
Thumala Olave, María Angélica. 2020. “Book Love: A Cultural Sociological Interpretation of the Attachment to Books.” Poetics 81. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.poetic.2020.101440.
Wesseling, Elisabeth, ed. 2018. Reinventing Childhood Nostalgia: Books, Toys, and Contemporary Media Culture - Studies in Childhood, 1700 to the Present. London: Routledge.
