Old-fashioned as it might sound, one thing to do while confined to your home is to read a book. And it seems a lot of people in Canberra are doing just that.
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At the time of writing, there were still many ACT bookshops open and people have been buying books, puzzles and games to entertain themselves and their families. And, of course, there's the happy side effect of supporting local businesses at a very difficult time.
Richard Kay, owner of Dymocks in the Canberra Centre, says all Dymocks stores in the ACT remain open. He says people have been coming in to stock up on books, with Hilary Mantel's latest novel, The Mirror and the Light, school activity books, study aids for students, and Bluey books proving popular.
As an added service, he says employees have been making local deliveries to people who can't or won't come out to the store.
General manager of Clouston & Hall (in Civic and Fyshwick) Jack Clouston says the store also offers free delivery for orders over $50. He says customers have been buying a variety of stock including primary school readers and Blanche d'Alpuget's two-volume biography of Bob Hawke.
"There was one book that was going into the April catalogue but we had to cancel it."
There was an in-shop rush on Michael C. Osterholm's Deadliest Enemy: Our War Against Killer Germs after the author was interviewed by podcaster Joe Rogan.
QBD stores remain open with new releases, crime, adult colouring books and educational puzzles proving to be especially popular.
Paperchain Bookstore in Manuka has been selling a lot of historical fiction including the Mantel book as well as jigsaws and board games. Manager Steve Belton says mail orders are up and the shop is considering personal deliveries to the local area (including Deakin, Kingston and Red Hill).
And second-hand bookstore Beyond Q in Weston Creek is having a 40 per cent off sale to boost its revenue. Employee Kat Cotsell says the store is considering home deliveries of books to customers and - if allowed - care packages of food since its cafe is closed.
She says, "A gentleman in his 50s came in who said he'd never read before."
He wanted recommendations so she suggested a few including Margaret Atwood's Penelopiad, and Lionel Shriver's We Need to Talk About Kevin.
"People want to support independent businesses, they want us to stay afloat.
"We've been feeling a lot of love."
Maintain that love for these and other local bookstores, online, by phone or in person.
And keep reading.