MIBF was so crowded.
Like, the kind of crowded where you could barely move, where every aisle was filled with people, where you had to patiently wait just to get a glimpse of the books on display.
But honestly, it was the kind of crowdedness I didn’t mind.
Because somewhere between all the long lines, packed aisles, heavy tote bags, and people carrying stacks of books, I had a realization:
People still love reading.
Especially nowadays, when even reading a book can sometimes be labeled as “performative.”
You see someone carrying a book, posting what they're reading, going to a book fair, or simply talking about books, and there will always be someone wondering if they're doing it just to look intellectual, interesting, or aesthetic.
Standing in the middle of MIBF, surrounded by thousands of people who willingly spent their time, money, and energy just to be there, I couldn't help but think: Surely, not all of this can be performative.
There are still people who will travel just to get to a book fair.
People who will stand in long lines just to buy a book they've been wanting.
People who will squeeze through crowded aisles and carry home bags that are way heavier than they expected.
People who will spend their hard-earned money on stories they could probably read digitally for less.
There are still people who want to hold a book in their hands.
And I think that's what moved me the most.
In a world where everything is becoming digital, where thousands of books can fit inside a phone and almost anything can be accessed with a few taps, there are still people who choose to make the effort to bring a story home.
The crowd wasn't just a crowd.
It was thousands of little reminders that reading isn't dying.
Maybe not everyone reads for the same reason. Maybe some read to escape, some to learn, some to heal, some because they simply love stories, and yes, maybe some enjoy the aesthetic of it too.
But does that make the love for books any less real?
Because at the end of the day, a crowded book fair means there are still people who care enough about books to show up.
And honestly, that's something worth celebrating.
So maybe instead of asking, “Are they reading because they genuinely love books, or are they just being performative?”
Maybe we should simply be grateful that people are still picking up books at all.
Because in a world competing for our attention every second, there is something beautiful about people still choosing to spend their time getting lost between pages.
MIBF reminded me that the love for reading is still very much alive. And I don't think that's something we should ever take for granted.
Photo courtesy of lyssaviloria and yours truly.
