India, Oct. 27 -- E ver brought home a vintage paperback from a flea market or a second-hand bookstore, only to realise you may have also brought along booklice or silverfish? Bookworms on social media are now freezing their second-hand finds before placing them on bookshelves to keep pests at bay. The trend gained traction after creator @trev.reads went viral earlier this year with an Instagram Reel showing his post-thrifting freezing routine, garnering over eight million views. Now, creators like @siennareads_andthings and @itsryakim are joining in. But does it work? Freezing books is a tried-and-tested preservation technique, says Devki Nehra, an editor at a publishing house. "When you source second-hand books from markets where they may be stored in humid conditions, books tend to carry a damp smell and even insects. Stashing them in the freezer, in a plastic bag, can solve both problems at once. It strips away the odour and exterminates the bugs," she says....