by Hummam Sheikh Ali
DAMASCUS, April 23 (Xinhua) -- In the ancient al-Halbouni area of Syria's capital Damascus, entering through a narrow gate, bookworms will have access to a unique "library," a haven where they can immerse themselves in reading inside rows of bookshelves.
The bookstore, named Modern Library and owned by Bashir Jarkas, boasts a collection of over 100,000 books and has been a landmark of the area for nearly six decades. The 80-year-old Jarkas has dedicated his life to sharing his love for reading with the community.
Speaking to Xinhua, Jarkas said people's reading habits are constantly evolving and their preferences have changed over time. In the past, religious texts, politics, and poetry were among the most popular choices, but now there is a growing demand for novels and books on personal growth.
"I cannot live without books. Reading is as important as food and drinks for me," he said.
"I advise everyone to continue reading because it benefits people, their children, and the community as a whole. It is unfortunate for a person to abandon books," Jarkas added.
His grandson, also named Bashir, has followed in his grandfather's footsteps, working at the bookstore and planning to continue the family legacy. In his opinion, the business of selling books is noble.
Despite a growing trend of online reading, Jarkas believes that traditional books still have a special charm that cannot be replicated.
"Books retain their charm when you open them, read them, and interact with their pages," he said.
At another bookstore in Damascus, Khalil Hadad, manager of Osama House Library, expressed concern over the decline in reading and book buying in Syria, as high living costs have made new books increasingly unaffordable.
He said people are finding creative ways to share books. "Some readers cooperate to buy one book, some prefer to buy one each and share with fellow group members, while some resort to borrowing from public libraries," said Hadad.
On the occasion of World Book Day observed on April 23, Hadad highlighted the importance of reading as the light of life, saying reading a book provides a unique way to bring people joy by establishing a spiritual connection between readers and books. ■
