There is a remarkable depth and breadth in the visible literary culture of Uzbekistan, at least in the cities we have seen thus far–notably Samarkand and Bukhara. While I have come across a number of libraries, the surprising amount of book stores has been a refreshing discovery which points to a number of possibilities. First, among the many smaller bookshops are the religious shops–these may be analogous to the Christian book shops in the US. I have counted several, and while Bukhara would make sense due to its central and significant madrasa, Samarkand has many as well.
Another aspect of this observation may be that there is a Literary culture that overlapped from the Russo-Soviet ages and the push for optimal literacy. And yet another is that the culture(s) and and society of Uzbekistan is much more focused on community uniformity and participation that seems to not lend itself to the solitude and isolation of societies tied to or obsessed with technology, digital living, and online identities…as much as in the US or Europe.
It is clear that a place that has many book stores is a place that respects literacy and culture. The reasons may not be completely clear, but at least we can enjoy the splendor of the written word and participate in a vibrant culture that honors and seeks meaning in a still thriving culture of books.