Sens bookstore and Kyiv Metro have launched the Read in the Metro initiative to promote reading.

Rubryka explains the reasons behind the initiative, how to participate, and which books are perfect for specific routes.

What is the problem?

The metro is the most popular way to get around Kyiv, with many people spending up to two hours a day on their commute. How can you make that time both interesting and productive?

What is the solution?

Together with the Kyiv Metro, the Sens bookstore launched an initiative to popularize reading – Read in the Metro.

"We noticed that there are far more metro passengers with gadgets than with books. That's why we came up with the idea to encourage Kyivans to use their travel time for reading. If you spend 2 hours a day reading in the metro during the workweek, you can easily finish a fascinating book in just 10 hours," Oleksii Erinchak, founder of Sense bookstores, says.

The Read in the Metro initiative serves as a reminder that reading can be done anytime, anywhere. Daily commutes on public transport provide a great opportunity to read a few pages and take a break from problems and everyday tasks.

How does it work?

In the video, Sens encourages viewers to "find the silence of pages amid the noise of screens."

"This is our way of saying: even in the busy rhythm of the city, there is space and time for a book," the bookstore says.

"Everyone chooses a format that suits them best, but in my opinion, a paper book is a great way to take a break from screens and immerse yourself in a story without notifications and other distractions. Plus, when someone reads a paper book, they set an example for others," Oleksii Erinchak thinks.

What genres are most suitable for "metro reading"?

^{Reading in the metro. Photo: Facebook community "Underground Kyiv Reading"}

"Definitely, the ones you like!" the founder of Sens comments.

If you're really into a book, there are few distractions that can pull you away from reading. For subway reading, shorter chapters are ideal, as it's unlikely anyone would enjoy missing their stop or having to stop in the middle of a scene that's been building up for the last 30 pages.

For instance, Anastasiia Yevdokimova, the curator of the book club at Sens, suggests in the video comments trying poetry, especially if you don't spend much time on public transport.

The Sens team continues the idea:

"We only have time to live one life, but we can experience many more through the characters in books. It's like a little "trip plus" adventure:

• the journey from Akademmistechko to Khreshchatyk becomes Radchenko's path through Kyiv.

• as the train speeds from Pozniaky to Golden Gate, you're aboard the Orient Express with Poirot.

• and while descending the endless escalator from Arsenalna to Lisova, you find yourself in 1930s New York, as described by Elizabeth Gilbert."

Moreover, Ukrainians now spend time in the subway not only during commutes but also during moments of air raids. A book can be a great companion to help live through those stressful times.

"At the very least, it's a good distraction, and therefore can reduce anxiety. You immerse yourself in the plot and switch your attention to the characters or the theme. The depth of the subway protects us from missiles and drones, and the book fills us with its content and displaces disturbing thoughts," Oleksii Erinchak says.

How can you join the initiative?

Readers are encouraged to read more in the subway. Additionally, they can:

• share the Sens video with friends or on social media.
• post on social networks about the books they choose to read in the subway.
• support the initiative by curating book lists for subway reading on blogs and in the media.

"When we opened the first Sens bookstore, people often said, "No one reads anymore," and even now, I frequently hear older folks claim, "Young people don't read books." One of the initiative's goals is to challenge and dispel these stereotypes," Oleksii Erinchak says.

The Sens bookstore hopes that opinion leaders and bloggers will join the initiative by sharing their experiences and recommending books

For reference:

Sens is a network of book spaces where people come together around their shared love for books. It includes a bookstore-café at the Arsenalna metro station in Kyiv, a book space on Khreshchatyk Street, and an online bookstore. Sens offers a curated selection of contemporary and classic literature and regularly hosts book clubs, literary presentations, discussions, and other cultural events.

The Read in the Metro project was implemented with the assistance of the Kyiv Metro in cooperation with the Ukrainian publishing houses "A-ba-ba-ha-la-ma-ha", "VSL", "Ranok", "Ukrainer", "Urbino", "Borodatiy tamarin", "Nebo BookLab Publishing", "Knygolav", "Komora", "MAL'OPUS", "Markobook", "Tvoya Pidpilna Humanitarka", "Stretovych", and the magazine Reporters.

Earlier, Rubryka wrote about the book club at Sens and why you might want to start keeping a reading diary again. Find out more in the article, "Searching for Meaning: How Kyiv Book Club Builds Community Amid War."