why do people in france read books everywhere?

20 Jul, 2025

hanover, germany. 9:08 pm

before i came to france, i had all kinds of ideas about what it would be like.

some were based on movies, others on stories from people around me (talking about history o colonisation we know ach kayn, btw ma3ndich mea fronsi hh)

and you know the kind of talk that your uncle hit u with: “oropa mab9a fiha mayddar a weldi, don't come, there's nothing left there.”

but i’ve always believed you can’t fully know something until you experience it for yourself. so when i got the chance to do my internship in nantes, i said yes. i didn’t know what to expect. and that was the best part. spoiler alert 3la stage: great atmosphere, great supervisor, great collegues, 10/10.

one of the first things i noticed in france bdebt f nantes was how many people read. like, actually read physical books. everywhere. i came to nantes with an e-reader, and whenever i open it i feel like i insult them lol.

i saw students with novels on the tram. old men reading philosophy in parks. even teenagers at bus stops with small pocket books in their hands.

but the one moment that really stuck with me was this girl working in a café i used to go to.

she was a barista, serving coffee, cleaning tables, running back and forth… and somehow, reading a book at the same time.

literally one hand on the espresso machine, the other holding a small novel. i swear i didn’t know it was possible until i saw it.

and i know for a fact she wasn’t trying to show off or to look aesthetic.

it felt like a habit. like reading was as natural as breathing to her.

that’s when i googled, reddited and realized: in france, books aren’t just education or entertainment. they’re part of life. part of the rhythm of the day.

now lemme spit out what they don't tell you about this country..

coming here, i expected to feel like an outsider. i expected cold stares (happened in paris tho but not very often), maybe even some tension when people found out i’m moroccan.

but that wasn’t my experience at all. most people were warm. curious. some even got excited when they heard i was from morocco, they tell me about the cities they visited, food, even them practicing a few arabic words.

not everyone, of course. but way more than i expected.

i had some really good conversations with random people. just because they were curious and open.

if i get the chance again, i’d visit france again in a heartbeat.

i wouldn't live there tho (maybe retire in nantes idk lol).. but i'll definitely pay multiple infinite visits everytime i get a chance.

we grow up hearing so many stories about the world.

sometimes from family members who mean well, but speak from frustration or fear.

sometimes from social media, which only shows the extremes. either everything is a dream or everything is a disaster.

but life isn’t like that. countries aren’t like that. people definitely aren’t like that.

so if you’re reading this and you get a chance to travel. even if your uncle says “mab9a fiha walou”. i’d say go.

worst case scenario? you don’t like it. you come back home. no shame in that.

best case?

you learn something new about the world. about people. about yourself.

and maybe you start reading more books.

-- kaito