I appreciate you delving further into this topic, Johan! Just to follow up on my comments, it’s totally cool - even important - to read for enjoyment, and it’s great to celebrate enjoying a story. That said, I think it’s possible that many people equate personal enjoyment with “good,” whereas I would argue that there can be more to “good” than enjoyment. Books that challenge a reader in various ways may be less enjoyable on a superficial level, but there can still be a lot of good to them, and reading enough such books can even lead to enjoying them. Before anyone throws the word “elitist” at me, I’d also say that anyone who wants to learn how to analyze stories can do so (I’ve seen it thousands of times in the classroom) - which is actually the opposite of elitism. Finally, I too am glad there are BookTubers and scholars, and we can gain a lot from both!
@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy I really appreciate everything you've done for this community, Philip! Anyone calling you elitist is definitely not understanding the point you are making! Keep up the good work!
I personally dont really understand what youre arguing because to me if a book is valuable in any way to me it is thus enjoyable. A book cannot be valuable to me without being enjoyable, it can be just enjoyable without being valuable thought. But I may just have a very different idea of enjoying something than other people do?
I agree! I recently picked up Kafka's The Metamorphosis. I didn't really 'enjoy' the novella, but after watching some lectures and doing some deep dives on interpretations and themes, I think it's one of the most interesting things I've ever read, and therefore 'good'. And just because I hated almost every minute of Anna Karenina, doesn't mean I'd rate it one star, because I recognise its merits. But that brings up the problem of star or number rating systems, because as you said, many people might equate personal enjoyment with good and rate accordingly. (cough cough Fourth Wing) Ultimately, you have to read the reviews or critiques and decide if it's something you'd want to pick up--either for the pure fun of it or to get something deeper out of it. Well, that was a ramble. That's what happens on 4 hours of poor sleep, lol
I tell people all the time "Don't take my word for it. Read it yourself and then decide." But I may speculate that some Tubers are afraid to be honest on certain authors because it'll lose some of their audience. But that's all conjecture on my behalf. I'll always be honest, author/series be damned.
Dude … @mikesbookreviews you and your dedicated book reviews are the main reason why I am a happy 🤓reader today. Damn man I even have two Stephen King novels in my library waiting for me to read them. You made that possible and not one of your recommendations has ever failed me 🤓
Don't confuse a critique with a review. A review only tells you if the reviewer enjoys a work; a critique relates the work to the grander scheme if things, history, society, how it fits in with other works in the genre, art, etc.
No one on BookTube knows this. That's why so many of us who take into account things like story structure and literary merit when critiquing are shamed for "negativity."
i feel like i'm using booktube completely different from other people. I only use the videos as a supplementary recommendation tool together with browsing bookstores, library and other word of mouth recommendations to find books i otherwise wouldn't have heard about. And then judge, based on my own instinct and taste, if it's something i would like.
Yes I judge it based on if the synopsis is about something I'm really excited to read about. Like a book where this fbi agent has a memory where he never forgets certain things. That's right up my Alley. From David Baldacci. Not what books are so called popular
I don’t think Booktube is problematic at all. I read only for enjoyment. Booktube offers some recs, but more importantly for me, it offers an outlet to hear people talk about books I read. There aren’t really any big readers I regularly interact with in my personal life, so Booktube allows me to feel like part of a book community. It’s almost like a large book club. I think that is the biggest value of Booktube, even more than looking for recs.
Thats the sole reason I joined reddit a few years ago. On there you really can talk about books. Not so much on youtube where its a one sided discussion. Still love it for book recs of course.
My same thoughts. I think it’s totally fine for ppl especially on booktube to express that they enjoyed the book. Have that be more of their scale rather than coming at it with a more critical discussion of the book
That's my outlook too! Same for me with using CZcams to look up horror movies/shows, reviews, critiques, and reaction videos occasionally. Not many people IRL around me are into horror (and some of them can't get into it for medical and mental health reasons) so YT tends to be where I go for having a semi-interaction in the horror community (but not to a close enough extent that I get much interaction with the toxic parts of a community). Same with podcasts too (have various podcasts based off books/writing and horror that I listen to as well)!
Listening to booktubers' review of a book is the ultimate old fashioned way of finding books. Word of mouth from a friend with a similar taste in books.
I can escape and critique at the same time, if a book is interesting enough. But high chance I’ll only think about being critical if I’m not enjoying the book.
I don't think a booktuber has ever dissuaded me from reading a book I wanted to read, but they have certainly talked me into buying a book I didn't even know existed or wasn't sure about ;)
For me it happened that booktube dissuaded me from reading a book I wanted to read. But that was because I heard the complaints certain people had and the praise other people gave those books and, based on that, I realized I wouldn't like them. On the other hand, one of the first booktube channels I ever followed has a completely different taste in books than me. It happened multiple times that I saw one of their reviews for a book they didn't like and based on that, I realised I would like it, I picked it up and actually really enjoyed it. Critiques are nice for the more literary-driven readers, for me they do nothing. It helps much more to hear people's personal opinions on the books, especially since after following the channels for a while, I get an idea of what they like compared to me.
These all sound like non-issues to me. We watch booktube for the bias. We want to find creators with tastes similar to ours. That adds value to the recommendations. There are other ways to critique a story outside of "enjoyment" but they are not weighted equally. A book may be technically good like Oscar-bait movies are, but people rarely recommend them to friends over something more fun or enjoyable. You don't have to read and enjoy the classics before you can start reading the books you're excited about. All in all, recommendations are a jumping off point, a gateway into new authors. We don't need booktube to hold our hand, just a nice conversation.
Yep I agree. Im watching the reviews to get an opinion on enjoyment not a critique of the book, I dont care for a critique of a book unless Ive already read the book.
@@ashleyashleym2969 I am kinda the opposite on that point. You're enjoyment of a book doesn't tell me anything about if I will enjoy it, even when I know that we have the same taste about a lot of books. A well-written review helps me make a much more informed decision and has more than once convinced me to give a book a shot that I initially was only lukewarm about. That's why I also gravitate to channels like @thelibrarianladder, @PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy or @thebookguy, because they go much more indepth about whatever author or series they are talking about. Also why I subscribed to @LocusMagazine, because they have really great reviews about new books that often get absolutely no coverage on booktube or booktok at all. (Also, great coverage of short stories).
Again this depends.. sometimes I want their bias..whether they enjoyed it or not because I know that my taste matches.. a critique can be too dry and clinical for me. Depends on what I'm looking for tho. @Eluarelon
@@ashleyashleym2969if anything I actively avoid critique of anything I haven’t read myself as a deep dive into something I only enjoyable when you actually know the context as opposed to having it spoiled for yourself
I treat it like a book club. I finish a book I absolutely love and really enjoyed, and then I go find a video that discusses the same book from someone who loved (or hated) the book as much as I did. It’s like a book club that you don’t have to worry about meeting weekly, or being on a timetable to finish the book. I rarely use booktube for recommendations, as books are like music. There are so many genres and sub-genres, not everyone is going to like the same thing. LoTR is my all time favorite series that I read once a year, but I don’t expect everyone to be the same as me. But it’s nice to go online and find others who also read it every year and geek out. For me reading is a fun hobby and it’s nice to share that hobby with others. I never want reading to seem like a chore or “rush through this book to get to the next on your TBR” deal”
Nothing has created more non readers than literature classes! I’ve read to my boys since they were tiny and I gave them plastic books to play with in their baths. They are both avid readers and both hated their required literature courses. Taking out enjoyment as an important factor in critiquing a book simply turns many young people away from reading, which I think is incredibly damaging to any society.
As a kid I was always reading books. Once I got into middle/high school and had to do summer reading assignments it took the fun and enjoyment out of reading. I just wanted to absorb and enjoy a story instead of analyzing everything to write an essay that had to be a specific word count.
What's such a shame is that there is merit and enjoyment in being able to analyze a work on a deeper level and reading with other people to see things you may have missed, but being forced to read books that are not necessarily appropriate to the age level in terms of thematic and literary depth and difficulty and having to think in ways their brains may not be ready for or having to read something that should be fun through a specific lens (and being punished for having a different interpretation than the teacher) and generally having to do things most normal people wouldn't even think of doing until a re-read puts off so many people from reading and analyzing in a way that can increase enjoyment. There's also nothing wrong with enjoying things just for the sake of fun and you don't have to pick one approach, you can do both and I recommend both
@quinnholleman1547 I appreciate you've included the nuance that it doesnt have to be one or the other. I had a really great English teacher in high schook that used to choose teen books for us to read, and presented the analysis learning like it was a puzzle for us to solve. Genuinely made it very fun, and most of her general English students applied for the advanced literature elective the next year.
I think the main factor is the upbringing. If kids see their parents reading, they’ll probably become readers too. I didn’t like all of my required readings but that didn’t make me hate literature. Kids need to learn that sometimes we have to do things we consider boring. If we didn’t read the classics at school, most people would probably never know about them, not even as adults.
Its pretty easy to read and analyze a book as you read it, just talk to you kids about, ask them what they think, and why they think that, it'll challenge their ability to articulate their thoughts for that deeper analyze. There is also layers to more classical literature, because there is the story itself, then the context of why the story was written, as books use to have a deeper connection to society, and media. It's both a piece of entertainment, but historical context, and a glimpse into the mindsets of people from a different time. Being able to understand, and relate to the thinking of other's option of what it means to be human is incredible. When you can get them to share their opinion and not with simple words like it sucks and it's boring. That how you get them to begin thinking deeper.
I’m gonna praise Mike from Mike’s Book Reviews for a moment. One of the things that I love about his channel is that he always gives the “Good” and “Bad” of a book/series. He’ll give his bullet point lists for each category (while being 100% upfront about it being his subjective opinion) and tell the viewer that if things in either of these lists DO work for you, then this book may be for you. I (and I’d like to think most people), personally, follow the Booktubers that my tastes line up with most. If I find a channel that is all about the things that I also love, I’m gonna engage with them and be more willing to hear their pitch for a book and check it out, even if it is something that I’d traditionally NEVER look at. (I’m even reading a YA book right now, because of that reason. And I NEVER read YA. Thank you, Ian Gubeli.) I’m grateful for finding Booktube. It feels like one massive book club where we can talk about the stories we love. That’s what it should be at the end of the day. Talk about the books and stories that you love and forget the stuff that you don’t.
Personally I only care about enjoying a fantasy book. If I can’t understand the book because it’s written for scholars I don’t finish it. I just want a good story to distract me from the world.
Fair enough but the point he's making is: enjoyment does not mean good. If I read a book and I liked it (even if I liked it a lot) doesn't mean it's a 5 star. You should look at the book (or any media) on a deeper level if you're actually going to leave a review. For example, a very guilty pleasure of mine was the show Riverdale. I had a lot of fun/enjoyment watching it but I will fully admit that the show is not good.
@@MarshalLeigh1911 I disagree. The most important thing a book should do is be enjoyable. If you can only like a book after heavily analysing it and finding themes and what-not, then it has failed as a piece of media
@@callnight1441 also disagree. Art does not have to be enjoyable. If you are only ever reading books that are "enjoyable" to you then you're not pushing yourself and you'll never grow.
@MarshalLeigh1911 disagree some more. A book can be both enjoyable and thought-provoking. The enjoyablity is just what takes precedents for me. I can still grow from books that are enjoyable
@@MarshalLeigh1911 Art doesn't have to be enjoyable but there's also plenty of intellectual failures. The artist's intent doesn't matter if no one gets it and no one cares about. it's not a great artwork if no one cares enough to delve into it on a deeper level and if it's so far from being enjoyable by any metric it can easily go that way. There's plenty of great art out there that is both enjoyable and thought provoking. It's like people who always argue whether it's better to be talented or hard working as a cope while ignoring the fact that many people successful are both.
I enjoy hearing other people's views on books. It is always understood that any review, even a scholarly one is highly subjective, but that is what makes it so fascinating to listen to. The personality of the reviewer is part of this experience. ❤
I can think of nothing that would discourage reading more than a platform on which only academic literary analysis was given weight. If you ask people why they hate reading they’ll invariably tell you it’s boring and the reason they think that was boring literary analysis they suffered through in school. (I’m not saying you want or are promoting this). Additionally, looking down on those who only evaluate books for their entertainment wake is elitist and suggests that there is a hierarchy of books and therefore a hierarchy of values associated with reading (again, I’m not saying this is your position)
This is an interesting conversation and as someone with one of those pesky bachelor's in English Literature, I feel that my voice is the most important to listen to 😂 to be perfectly honest though, I view Booktube, Bookstagram, Booktwitter as what they are - social media platforms. As a result, I tend to not include my literary criticism, essay writing, 'academic' side in my reviews, instead enjoying the colloquial aspect of communication and expression. Nevertheless, I do read using that side of my brain because that is such an integral part of my enjoyment. But yeah, I know plenty of booktubers who write fantastic video-essays on literature featuring amazing engagement with literary criticism that have absolutely no formal training in literary theory or criticism. So, I truly don't believe that someone should be listened to more because they have a degree, but that those voices should also be encouraged via support of longer examinations and discussion videos. Thanks for coming to my TEDTalk.
I usually only watch people who do have that literature background. Most of those people can come off as snobby and elitist like people who got literature degrees usually are. However, when you find those people that aren't they have the most to learn from, especially when they have different specialties for what you studied. So you can get more from your reading of the literature they recommend or have a better background for getting into that sort of genre/time period of writing. I don't like a lot of the modern stuff as it's not very good, because they have to compromise a lot to be successful writers today. Basic story tropes, and repetitive rip-offs in sappy romance or fantasy trying to subvert expectations but still not actually doing it. New writers aren't able to write good books anymore because of the publishing companies needing books to be a certain way to sell, and expecting it to launch a whole series of books. A lot of these reviewers, review and enjoy the newer stuff. Tells me a lot about their taste and how trusting to be. As many of us also have trashy taste for enjoyment, so I can't judge too much. But it does give me reservations on people who just like reading and have limited background in literature study, especially when they talk about the classics and miss lots of the detail, or dislike it because you can tell it went over their heads. Sometimes being walked across the novel by a professor is necessary to maximize your understanding of a novel. So I take reviewers' attempt with a grain of salt, if they don't have a background in it, unless you can tell they did a lot or research into it too. Which is only a small few on the online space. Thug Notes is like the most valuable resource for primers for books if you want to branch out into different classics, even with the silly style they were made.
I’m a college professor but my discipline is not in literature! I don’t want boring academic analysis done on books that I read because I deal with this enough at work. I want to learn from others why they liked or disliked novels. I watch different book tubers to get a variety of opinions about authors/novels so that I can read more books. Keep up the great work!
I understand your argument, but I also don't think Goodreads ratings are a strong barometer for 'book quality' in general. The five-star rating system on Goodreads is monolithic: it emphasizes popularity/accessibility over everything because it serves the aggregate, average reader, not people on the higher-end or lower-end extremes. I don't pay attention to it at all when purchasing books -and, I don't think anyone should regardless of 'why' you read books. It's better to get recommendations from people you trust, friends or booktubers. I read a lot literary fiction (not only classics, but great modern stuff) outside of the fantasy genre. And, like Phillip said those books usually average 3.5 stars, but are some of the most thought-provoking/intellectually-stimulating books I've ever read. And, that's what I'm usually looking for. But, it's not what the average reader is looking for. Those books have a decent readership too, but it's a hard-core, different audience who are looking for different types of enjoyment. Also, BookTubers who recommend these type of books (literary fiction) usually do focus on heady themes, how the text relates to current/past societies, the quality and tone of an author's unique prose-style, the historical context of an author's lifespan, etc. So, I really rhink it's a matter of Goodreads/ popular BookTubers serving the most numerous audience -the average, aggregate reader, who will provide views. Also, a lot of the fantasy genre focuses on character arcs, trope subversion, plot payoffs, etc. These literary techniques are used to make stories feel punchy, dramatic, and conclusive. Most literary fiction puts themes at the fore-front, front and center. These books often feel like thorough explorations of societal/human condition-esque questions than narritives producing a snappy, complete, satisfying arc for the reader to absorb quickly. I'm not saying sci-fi/fantasy doesn't have great literary novels or works of art, Dan Simmons, Ursula Le Guin, William Gibson, etc, the list goes on for a long time. Also, a lot of literary/genre books often blur the line and borrow from each other. I guess it's like pop-music and prog (insert genre) concept albums both can serve a purpose and both are great, but you can't get listeners to listen to either if they're just looking for something different. I think Book Tube can and does serve both audiences. I subscribe to Willow Talks Books who you have a clip of in this video. She does a great job of recommending translated literature and going in-depth on its thematic elements. She also reviews less serious stuff like 80's themed horror novels. It's all a matter of finding a creator whose interest match yours and more often than not it exists on CZcams.
I read for enjoyment, and that's it. Some classics bore me to tears and some poorly written books still gave me great joy. That's all there is to it, for me. As for proper, scholarly reviews.. Please no. I don't even watch people reviewing my favorite books. Watching some random person talk for 15< minutes about any book, even if I love it, I just don't have the time for that. I like to read reviews (should be no surprise), sure, and I love recommendation videos (even TBR vids can be classified as such) in which a multitude of books get recommended in 2-3 minutes. Perfect! Booktube is to expand my TBR.
Do I have to choose my books based on some deep, elaborate and academic book critique? Can I not just find booktubers who seem to like the same type of books I like and read books based on their suggestions? That makes sense to me. Im not saying I will only read books based on what booktubers say. But definitely a big part of it yes. As long as it works and keeps bringing me books I like I see no problem with it.
from the perspective of a person new to reading as a hobby, i think its different. booktubers can be a good place to start from. Like for example hearing Brandon sanderson is pretty good is what got me into it.
I appreciate both sides of the coin. I know how to do literary criticism but when I read I don’t want to read to critique, I read for enjoyment. I know how to find those who critique books and they help me find books when I’m in the mood for something deeper.
I think that what sometimes get lost in those discussions is that there is a spectrum between "pure" entertainment and "pure "scholasticism". And where someone sides in this discussion depends on where they are on this spectrum. and what causes a lot of discussions or even shit storms is that we have all gotten so used to thinking in extremes instead of understanding that there's something between them. For example, while I don't consider myself a scholar, I was exposed to a lot of literature at a very early age. Robinson Crusoe, Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn, Gulliver's travels, the Leatherstocking tales, of course also things like Narnia and the Neverending Story,that was all passed around as children's books in my early years (only Narnia kinda is), and that was what we grew up reading. And while a lot of those books might have gone over my head at the time, it was a good preparation for school, because we started quite early reading literary giants like Goethe, Schiller and Shakespeare.Which I loved, by the way, and again, most of it probably went over my head. From there on I actually whent to study English literature for a while, while simultaneously of course also reading Sci-Fi and Fantasy, which was scoffed at by most Germans that considered themselves to be educated readers. Again, I don't consider myself a scholar, but what all that stuff did was that it gave me an appreciation for the beauty of language I would probably not have achieved if I had read only pulp fiction or comics (which I still do both, by the way). So from where I stand there is no either or. I love reading for enjoyment, but I can also freely admit that I enjoy books way more when they meet certain quality standards as far as the use of language and style goes. But I also know that I didn't start at where I am today, so to criticise Booktube and Booktok for being great entry points for people that still have to go on that voyage I started some 45 years ago seems quite unfair to me. Of course I would wish that both media were a bit more diverse in what they are talking about and that maybe not so much time would be spend on the Sandersons, Martins and SJMs of the book world (aka those authors that don't need our help at all), because I think a lot of readers would like those books as well if only they knew they exist. And you don't need to be a scientist to like them. At all.
@@thelibraryladder Thanks :) I have been burned by those discussions quite a few times in the meantime, because the world has become so tribal especially on social media (and to be honest, at least on those booktube channels I visit, that's kinda paradise compared to movie, music and computer game related channels). So the moment you say something critical about something, flame war immediately starts, because you inevitably get lumped together with the trolls that only go to youtube to mess with other people. it also helps keep you grounded, when you have three kids exploring books their own way, and while of course I'd love to see them read all the things I consider must-reads, I'm glad that all three love reading in the first place, even if it's genres I really dislike. At least there's hope with my youngest who just burned through Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings and Narnia :). And by the way, thanks again for introducing me to Guy Gavriel Kay, someone I completely missed out on until you brought him up and that I now have come to consider one of the best in the genre. So glad you made a video about Martha Wells (another one who should be way more popular than she already is), because that let me find your channel.
@@Eluarelon I can empathize with you. I truly enjoy healthy discussion and debate in which the participants act in good faith, expressing their positions respectfully while also remaining open to being persuaded by the arguments presented by others. Alas, much of the online (and offline) discourse these days tends to be consumed by bad faith arguments that are little more than attention-grabbing hot takes, calculated false controversies, or deep-rooted insecurity masquerading as aggressive confidence. BookTube is a comparative oasis, but unfortunately, it too has some of that pathology. I get occasional trolls commenting on my videos, but thankfully they're a small minority. Also, I'm so glad you're enjoying GGK. Bringing him (and Martha Wells) to the attention of readers like you was the whole reason I made those videos. :)
Booktube is an avenue for me to DIY my own bookclub. Find recommendations then read said book then I am able to usually find a great discussion on said book after i finish it and that is amazing.
I think the compromise on whether or not we should rate books based on enjoyment is understanding that in different books, we enjoy different things. Recently I gave 5 stars on my insta to a non-fic. There was nothing to enjoy in the story about the Soviet system essentially torturing a prominent Ukrainian dissident and poet to death, but I was impressed by the author's work with the archive documents and the way he structured the story. It wasn't the easiest read, but it was fulfilling and engaging. I might rate a fantasy book 5 stars if I love it. But these would be two different rates if that makes sense. I guess you don't need a degree to think about a text on a deeper level than "did I have fun or not". Fun is important, but seeing beyond it can be beneficial for the reader and their audience if any. That's why I like deeper reviews of books because I like hearing other people's opinions even if I have no interest in the genres they like. A good review might not sell a book to me, but it can still be interesting to listen to.
I think there is nothing wrong with rating a book based upon enjoyment. After watching a booktuber for awhile, I get to know their preferences and I can usually determine if I would like a book based on what they would like or dislike. For example, Merphy Napier currently loves Annihilation. I’m not going to read it because I know it doesn’t align with my taste. She is one of the first book tubers I’ve followed and I can tell when hers and mine taste are aligned or different.
Why is it that enjoyment is looked down upon? Don't literary fiction readers also enjoy the books they read? Personally I'm not a fan of dividing readers into: "shallow entertainment enjoyers" vs "literary fiction advanced readers". Read whatever is more enjoyable for you and rate accordingly - if one enjoys easy to read romantasy more than 1984, then sure, go and give the former a higher rating than the latter. I get that some reviewers are trying to be slightly more "objective", but at the end of the day it's all subjective - you either enjoy it or not, so trying to bump up the rating of a classic that you didn't enjoy but you know people love is a bit silly in my opinion. If Goodreads existed in 1950, the "classics" that we call nowadays would have been 5/5 stars! Nowadays average attention span is generally lower, so many younger readers don't care about classics, so many have 4/5 rating or even lower and that is totally fine IMO - it represents what modern readers prefer reading. My 2c EDIT: Just wanted to clarify - I am not trying to trash-talk old classics and literary fiction, mostly just commenting on subjective ratings and websites like Goodreads. My approach with finding books for my TBR is similar to how clinicians prescribe meds to patients: first, I go to a popular site (e.g. Goodreads, Storygraph, I prefer the latter but I usually check both) and I check the statistics - what books have many ratings and most positive (like clinician studies - what % of the population had positive effects from a medication); second, I open my TBR of books enjoyed by the masses and I start applying personal bias or in other words I try to analyze what would work better "on me" (like a medication) and pick it over the others that might be popular and highly praised but not my cup of tea when it comes to books. From population-based to subjective experience
Yeah Phillip was very elitist. We have to like and hate all the books he likes and hates and not accept we all have different tastes. Ironically enough he defends Phillip Chase and he’s the exact problem that Booktube can have.
A lot of literary fiction readers enjoy the process of reading something that they believe makes them superior. If they hold it above things like fantasy or mystery, then that is what they care about.
Really interesting video 🙌 I think there is a bit of a false dichotomy between analysis-based reviewing being deep and enjoyment-based reviewing being shallow. I don't think enjoyment-based reviews are shallow by definition, and can be enriched by going into detail about what you liked or didn't like. I think as a viewer you just need to parse that a bit differently - an aspect you dislike might be something I really like, but as long as you explain it then it's still a helpful review. For that reason, I often find 3 star reviews on Goodreads the most helpful in letting me know if I'm going to like something! I am not a book critic and would never claim to be, but I love reviewing books, and it's been such a lovely hobby since starting my channel a few years ago. I like to think it's helpful for those watching!
I watch book tube for discovery. Reviews are useless as we are all different. I think of it as if I’m watching a trailer for a movie. That being said, book tube is cool and has value. It’s up to the watcher what that value is. 🤘😎
I had an awesome undergrad professor who allowed me to write a paper on the wheel of time, metaphysics, and essence (metaphysical concept). Needless to say I came away looking at the wheel of time -- a series I already loved -- with even more praise. So much, in fact, I don't think any series will pass it in my eyes anytime soon.
No. It’s elitist. It’s basically saying if everyone else says it’s perfect you should say it’s perfect too. If you don’t like it, you don’t like it and that’s fair
@@Linklex7 my dude that’s not what I’m saying? I’m just saying things that are unique deserve more credit for being unique.. doesn’t mean u can’t enjoy or hate what u want? But from ur comment history u seem to dislike Philip chase lol so
A great topic, and I feel like you nailed it at the end. Our purposes are often different. As a BookTube consumer, finding content creators that like the same kinds of books as I do is an important aspect of this platform. And knowing their tastes will often help me understand if I would enjoy the book or not. Thanks for the video!
Enjoyment is ultimately all that matters. Is your free time well spent in your opinion. While some more serious books may have a deeper purpose and are constructed more artfully, if reading them is a slog ultimately very few will read them and less will enjoy. Some readers may never be "ready" for certain literature whatever that may mean, but ultimately that is an elitist attitude. We all have our own interests and how we spend our time and what we read is ultimately up to us individually. Also, what we desire from reading is individual as well. I read what I like and this includes what some may consider serious literature and a lot of so called popular literature. That said I'd rather listen to the opinions of amateur book tubers and "readers" than professors of literature.
I think acknowledging 5 star ratings on the internet are ratings of enjoyment is a good thing, because we can acknowledge that true literary critique is absolutely never happening on goodreads. Its an advertising website for people to decide if they want to buy a book or not. There are other platforms for figuring out the talent and merit of literature.
I appreciate your making this video. I tend to really enjoy thorough critiques/reviews of books and had difficult finding them on BookTube. But you make a good point, if the rigorous critique and analysis doesn’t get the views, then the creators will begin to tailor their content by making less of those videos. It’s sort of a supply and demand.
I greatly appreciate booktubers like yourself. You've all made me fall in love with reading again. The "problem" is there're so many of you and it takes some time to find the right ones that align with my personal taste and that make content in a way that is enjoyable to me (like this video for example). Another "problem" is if I'm watching content then I'm not reading! 😵💫😁 Decisions decisions... Also YOU MAKE MY WALLET CRY! 😭
I unsubbed from many booktubes as the endless "I read 50 books this month and you should read these ones" stuff was getting tiresome. I read more now that I've ventured away from Fantasy books. I love the idea of a fantasy world, but lately, I just didn't enjoy reading them.
I’m old enough to remember the joy of browsing and finding a new authors work in my local bookshop. The book was bought on the strength of the front cover art and the blurb on the back. Raymond E Feist’s Magician in that particular case. These days there’s too much content in the genre and it’s been done to death. Tropes have become hackneyed cliches used it seems in every new novel in the genre. In the late 80s I remember a work colleague berating as rubbish the book I was reading Stephen King’s IT. A graduate this person was a little taken aback when I asked if Poe, Collins, Dickens and Shakespeare who had all written horror were rubbish. Deafening silence. I read for enjoyment if it doesn’t grab my attention I’m not interested. Academia be damned read because you love it. Read widely and read as much as your busy life allows.
That comment from Phillip Case still sounds elitist and condescending and is the main reason I stopped following him. He’s the main booktuber I unsubscribed to. I’m sorry but enjoyment is very much part of a rating. To say otherwise is basically saying “well everyone else gave it a 5 out of 5, you should too.” I hear enough of that from the Disney & Marvel camp. It’s up to you to decide what rating and review you want to listen to.
Spot on - literary analyses and entertaining reviews both have their place (sometimes within the same video or publication, sometimes not!). BookTube also conveys community vibes which is useful in its own right (though not unproblematic!)
I feel like most people watch booktube to get book recommendations. In order to appreciate an in-depth discussion on a book, usually you have to have read it first, which can affect the viewership pool.
Interesting discussion. What I appreciate most about book-tube is that I am introduced to new books on the world markets and I am alerted to the major prize selections, saving me the research. And it is lovely to follow discussions on books. But I think you underrate your audience - we are not stupid. And many of us have also studied literature. I have been reading for more than 70 years and I can certainly make my own judgements on whether I am likely to enjoy a particular book under discussion. I do, however, appreciate the book-tuber views on the books discussed, but I understand that it is just one view - also the reason why I follow a number of book-tubers, as the same books are often discussed on various channels.
Source of information's a thing, lol. If I'm at work and need to figure something out, I'd look at the vendor docs, not at a CZcams video. In the same way when I want serious breakdowns of books I liked, Booktube's not where I come to. I think most readers are on here at a minimum to find people who read similar things and have similar tastes to them, so that they themselves can discover more books. Not to mention it's easier to consume and relate - it's easier for most people to watch someone gush about their favorite book and get a dopamine hit than it is to read a lengthy article doing the same thing. Awesome video, something to make people stop and think!
Booktube certainly has opened my eyes to a lot of great reads this last year and a half-but it certainly is important to establish one’s own opinions on the art they enjoy. And I also think it’s important people need to understand not everyone is going to share equal opinions on every little thing. Respecting someone’s opinion, whether one agrees or not is important. Thats how great art is created, through everyone’s unique lenses
I trust certain booktubers and I have found some great books and series from Booktubers. I was subscribed to a bunch and I've unsubscribed from most of them. I still follow 5 or 6. One of my issues was the sheer number of books that some of them were claiming they read. How can I take any review seriously when someone claims to be reading 50 books a month. The other issue I have with many, is that they (in order to get/keep their books read numbers up) only listen to books...and while thats not a bad thing, it is when they are basically playing the books in the background while doing many other distracting things. They are just casually listening, probably missing much of the book, while they are concentrating on whatever else they are doing. The other thing is the constant good reviews and dishonesty because they are afraid to give a book a bad review. Its not a big deal, we all like or dislike different things. And, I must say that I learned in kindergarten...probably before that even, that we read with our eyes and listen with our ears. I will just leave it at that. I appreciate the booktubers that tell us when they've read the book or when they've listened to the audiobook. Thanks for you video! I do agree with all that you said. Keep up the great work!
This is a great subject to bring up. I know for me, I have an undergraduate degree in biblical studies and a master’s of divinity with a biblical studies emphasis, so when I am going over Christian fiction in my channel, it allows me to offer other perspectives on the material than some others might have. I think people’s context and education always comes into their conversations on book tube and that’s a good thing! It informs their reading of the text, even if it’s for “enjoyment,” which I personally think is a valuable criteria when critiquing popular fiction.
Look, before the pandemic I was at a 0 books read per year. Then the pandemic reared its ugly face and I had time on my hands. I spent 6 months getting to “know” these book tubers before I bought a single book from any one recommendation. As a result, not only did I rebuild my library I have read about a 100 books since then which is a lot better than when this part of the journey started. There hasn’t been one book that I purchased based on a review that I have regretted. I have Mike’s Book Reviews, Murphy Napier, Petrik Leo, Jimmy Nutts, and A.P. Canavan/Philip Chase, to name a few, to thank for those selections. I want to repeat that it took me 6 months to acclimate to these book tubers to feel comfortable as to whose review I would “trust” and whose I wouldn’t. Lastly, Johan, you need to understand that dedicated book reviews are NOT A WASTE OF TIME. Thanks to the amazing ones Mike’s Book Reviews has on his channel I am here today with my book collection 🤓
Heres the thing. Literary Critique is different from the book reviews for the general public. If you want a academic review than there are venues for that. CZcams, goodreads, etc etc etc. is just not the place for it.
I definitely have to disagree with his opinion. Most of us read for leisure and if the rating isnt based on enjoyment, then its a trash rating to me whos looking to read for enjoyment. I think the point of booktube is exactly to rate not on scholarly appeal, but how much potentional enjoyment there is to get from it. I do agree though for sure that the best and most reliable reviews are dedicated single book reviews that are at minimum 10 minutes long because the creator can really go into why they enjoyed it or why they didnt and why they would recommend or why they wouldn't Gotta say though I dont dislike Philip Chase, I do also enjoy literary critique sometimes, but that comes after, that comes after Ive read and enjoyed the book and I want a more in depth, deep analysis of it. I think academic review does have its place on booktube honestly personally, but I think its so much more of a niche thing that most will only want to watch for very specific and rare books.
It's always been said that the best way to get book recommendations is word of mouth, which to me is what bookTube should be. The main problem for me with bookTube is that there is a monetary interest for creators - whether it's the fandom fear or the algorithm bingo - and it's not really transparent when that applies. However, at the end of the day, enjoyment has always been a cornerstone of literature, and I don't think you can (or should) take that away from readers
Not sure if it's really a matter of to trust or not to trust because as a viewer you have agency or however you want to call it too. If you're buying a book just because one randomer on the internet recommended it and then you end up hating it it doesn't make the randomer untrustworthy .... it makes you someone who should consider several opinions and do a bit more research before buying your next book.
i'm new to the booktbue a verse in a few years in. I must chime in, I appreciate on you having your videos in the short form between 10-15 minutes. It makes it very easy for me to settle down in my mornings to listen to while I code in the background for learning. the thing I've been enjoying about digging through booktube recently is learning from different perspectives on books and their themes which makes this new fun world to me fun to explore. I do enjoy reading a good book now and then, my fave genres have been fantasy growing up, alongside historical fantasy, historical, and a bit of bioptic depending on whos or what in history its about. I also love exploring books within my genres of interest. I agree that we should form our own opinions while having a open mind while listening to booktubers and not have it become another form of university as well.
For me personally, I don't so much decide what to read based on BookTube and other book promoters on other platforms, but since I don't have as much time to read as I'd like, you and the other promoters help keep me aprised of what's out there so I can at least be aware of the landscape. I honestly won't read most of the books that sound interesting to me just because I have my family and my own writing and other priorities, and that's okay. But at least with your help, I feel like I'm not so out of touch with the book world. And for that, I thank you and all the others 😊
"Is it the book's fault if the reader isn't ready? This is a false premise. It's not a question of "ready", as if I am not up to the task and the book is faultless. Enjoyment is a huge part of entertainment and that's what fiction is for. Frankenstein was great, Moby Dick was horrible. Moby Dick did have great moments and was progressive for its time, but overall it was a slog.
We live in a clown world right now. Why, though? I blame academics. When's the last time you agreed with the critics on Rotten Tomatoes? I'd take a recommendation from some random CZcamsr than someone who majored in reading books.
At the end of the day we only know about books from word of mouth or advertising. At least word of mouth is authentic. Usually anyway. Personally I try to read anything I can and want to read all sorts of books even ones I don’t like. With that said, discovering the book world online has brought me many new reads I’ve greatly enjoyed. A lot of book tubers have relevant degrees as well.
I have a background in literature. I hate to say it, but I've come to realize that booktube is just not a place for people like me. I mostly just tune in for Fantasy news now, but I do like your thoughtful videos like this one, so I've remained subbed.
I find most booktube videos a bit shallow. Probably because I did literature and am used to dissecting books. Maybe you need to try with more literature-focused channels? Not mine tho, it’s in Spanish lol. But they are probably spoiler filled, more like a something to watch after you’ve read the book.
I’d recommend Ben McEvoy’s channel for a deeper dive. Ben studied English Language and Literature at Oxford. Dr. Octavia Cox is also a good channel to follow. She is a professor at Oxford.
Booktube is good for finding other readers who like similar books. I've picked up some great recommendations. Ratings are subjective, on Goodreads Moby Dick has an average of around 3.5, whereas the latest Freida McFadden will have around 4.1. Moby Dick is a novel often put forward as the great American novel, whereas the Housemaid's Secret is just a hugely enjoyable popcorn thriller with lots of twists. I don't think as Booktubers we should be gatekeepers of reading, we can put forward books we liked or didn't like but shouldn't denigrate the choices of others. I think it is great that booktok and booktube make reading seem fun and encourage non-readers to share in the magic even if for some it is merely an aesthetic.
I find my enjoyment of a book increases with the integrity of creativity of the art. My enjoyment seems directly tied to whether or not I’m feeling things or seeing things that are special and thematically rich. For this reason, I’m a fanatic of science fiction
Anyone who says "you have to have a degree to have an opinion" doesn't hold an opinion worth listening to. I say this as someone with multiple degrees, including English. It leads to videos like this that are superficially interesting, but ultimately have little value. It's insulting to readers to tell them who to trust, or what roles various reviews and critiques should play. It's all a personal choice based on myriad variables that don't apply to all. There seems to be a concerted effort - by people who ostensibly approve of mass literacy - to make reading more of a chore than anything else.
Enjoyment is a good basis for evaluating a book, though. While I agree that it's possible to not enjoy a book but still appreciate its value, I don't think you can truly dislike a book and give a favourable review with genuine enthusiasm (in any medium) Like, can you give a SINGLE book you loathed, but would give a stellar review for? I’ll wait
Book tube got me back into reading so I can see that as a big positive, but I agree with the point that people can be biased. Thats why I subscribe to smaller book tube channels aswell!
I feel like academics really need to be more careful about how they introduce “classics,” and other supposed literary marvels. As an average fantasy enjoyer, I felt snubbed throughout high school for being unable to appreciate books like “The Grapes of Wrath.” It doesn’t matter how profound and influential a book is if you give it to a child who can’t go more than a paragraph without spacing out. On the other hand, I recently read “Animal Farm” in college and felt seriously let down. That book is upheld as this profound commentary on communism, but it read like something anyone with a basic understanding of communism could have written. I felt like I was being talked down to. It’s not that it was just a fantastical children’s tale about talking animals, it was that it felt as though the author was treating it as such. The realm of literary critique seems to have such a disdain for great fantasy that it feels really difficult not to reciprocate that disdain for the things they tell me I ought to love if I’m a smart person. To quote Brandon Sanderson, a person who’s books I found to be far more valuable to my high school self then most anything the teachers gave me, “fantasy can do anything any other genre can do, but with dragons.”
Phil Chase forgets that those classics, are not contemporary. Tastes, literature and preferences have changed. Today's best sellers would likely bomb 50 years ago. It is ALL about enjoyment, because like music, movies and other creative arts, are A) subjective and B) based on individual perceptions and tastes.
No I don't think listening to booktuber is problematic. Booktubers get me excited to read novels and are the reason why I started reading books in the first place. I might not check out every book you or others recommend. Unlike, people who tend to teach literature they are not gonna get everyone excited to become a reader. I read 3 books for English literature of 18th century, and out of 3 books there is only one I enjoyed Moll Flanders by Daniel Defoe. The other two are Mrs Dalloway by Virginia Woolf & Lord Jim by Joseph Conrad. They may be well written but I wasn't a fan of those books. While not to bash harshly on teachers who teach English literature because, they are keepers of history. I'm over the place right now lol. To sum up booktubers are better bringing non-readers to become readers. Unlike teachers who tell you to read out of obligation doesn't exactly equal a motivating factor to become a reader.
I think booktube is more reliable than tiktok, although I do like some of the older guys. I wouldn't mind watching a more analytical channel though, if anyone has suggestions. Some booktubers will point out when a book has things like a bigger character focus, or a slow burn plot, so it's not totally without analysis.
The reasons I read are for enjoyment and to gain knowledge about a field I am interested in. There are several Booktubers I follow because they have similar tastes to me. If I want academic reviews of books of fiction I would search them out but I don’t. Many nonfiction books I love I first learnt about via a Booktube channel.
There's nothing that encourages reading than other people reading and discussing. The act of discussion also helps offset the issues with the numbers game featured on Goodreads.
I always appreciate reviewers who talk about what worked and what didn’t work for them. It helps people make their own decisions. I have a masters in literature, and I only talk about the scholarly part of things rarely on my own channel. Honestly, I much prefer to just gush about books that I love. I just want to help folks find books they’ll love! And your channel does that well! Don’t ever change! Also, love the Fourth Wing slander 😂
There’s a reason I usually only delve into booktube with personalities I like to watch, or if I have just finished a book that I feel indifferent about and want to see how others feel.
You and Daniel are my fave book tubers, I do read some of the stuff you guys recommend but I still follow my heart and read stuff you guys wouldn't really read, but I enjoy what you guys share
I don’t think majority of people come to the book social media community for critical analysis; a good question is whether reading without critical thinking is as beneficial.
I do believe that some books probably should be judged with enjoyment as the prime factor. Say, the so-called "light / fluffy / escapist" variety. But it should never be the sole point of critique. Not to mention everyone has different preferences anyway. Also, about the somewhat more "scholarly" (or critical) side of booktube, I can't help but notice that it's predominantly people ripping into books that are usually enjoyed primarily by a feminine audience. Its not ALWAYS the case, but it's a pattern and it's beginning to make me a tad uncomfortable. While I usually agree with the criticisms of these books, I can't help but wonder why those edgy fantasy books laden with misogyny seem to escape the clutches of those booktubers. I love fantasy, but there are some older titles that rubbed me the wrong way. Like, if the Coleen Hoover books get bashed to death then why shouldn't, say, Brent Weeks? On a more positive note, I think a cool way to address the popularity bias would be if more booktubers went into second hand shops, or found those book-swap shelves that appear at random, and tried out books they know nothing about from there. I recall Jack Edwards doing that once, and it would be fun if more people did. (Not to mention second-hand books are extra fun because of retro covers and the occasional memento from previous owners.)
This is purely my opinion. I hold no literature or academic degree yet. I’m working on that. I think it’s okay for booktube or booktok to be a place that isn’t meant for academics to critique literature since there are other spaces on the internet that already serve that community. They are welcome to join and to create their own niche space within the book community which is wonderful. It is also perfectly fine to want to bαsee one’s opinion on their enjoyment, feelings and preferences.
Is there a booktuber who does not film in front of a bookshelf? Fragtuber film in front of a shelf with perfume, handbag lovers film in front of a shelf filled with handbags. It's like a personal trainer who wears a tiny tank top to show his muscles to convey he/she really knows how to work out. When on an intellectual level, it's more important what the expert/reviewer is saying, rather than what he/she is showing. It's like needing to have the best looking book cover to sell a book when in actuality it should only matter what is written in a book. Our society is so dependent on visual marketing, it's so nonintellectual.
Commenting before watching: I mostly buy my books on extra sale on Kobo so the very few CZcamsrs I listen to or watch cover books I am not actually interested in reading, but I am curious about. Plus it's really fun to listen to some people progressively lose braincells as they go. (my favorite ones are the ones who comment on structure or make suggestions. As someone who writes fiction for fun, I really like this insight.) The youtubers I watch more often are Savy writes books, reads with Rachel and with cindy. There is only one book I bought because a youtuber liked it and it aligned with something I was interested in, but I ended up having similar criticism as the youtuber on some things and I decided to not read the other books in the series, because I was just not interested. I do have other books from that author on my wishlist tho.
I was in a huge reading slump for YEARS before i discovered Booktube. I thought there were no more good writers! In the last 6 months i have read and purchased so many good books and have enjoyed reading more than ever before. I've gotten some duds, but far more often I've found great reads that i will treasure till i die. (Dramatic, i know)
I know what I like. And I know what I don’t. When I see top 10 or top 20 videos maybe I pull one or two recommended books because the story or even the cover does attract me to it. that’s why I watch book tube because I get these recommendations that my own friends won’t have heard about. Love Booktube!
Booktube creators are giving old school Book Talks, which I was trained to do as a librarian IRL. The purpose of Book Talks is to “sell” the right book to the right reader. I watch a variety of Booktube creators to expand my reading and to see what’s popular for different demographics. I don’t want critical analysis of books I read for enjoyment. I want to know if they enjoyed and why/why not. And lest we forget, some classics are over written because (some) were paid a penny a word.
Few things. I read for pleasure, why would i take any other metric in when im talking about what i like and dont like? I just read Emma and it did not click with me. I would not suggest a book where only 1 character stuck out to me as being nice and real to me. I enjoyed the setting, the prose and the general plot but the characters were insufferable. Why wouldn't i make sure to tell someone my enjoyment level of those things? I dont care that its a classic, i would still give it at most a 6/10. Also dude, if you are not willing to speak your mind cause you might loose subscribers you need to figure some stuff out, i dont want to listen to someone who tempers their opinions and also wants to treat youtube as a college class. People read A cort of Thorms and roses and actually like it despite it glorifying a character who drugs a character and takes advantage of them. And they hold these views in then open here on youtube. CZcams is for finding the people that has similar tastes and then go from there. Murphy Napier has inteoduced me to tens of books i loce based on her saying "i loved it" thats all.
Both reviewing based on enjoyment and on how good a book actually is are valid. Just say what you're judging and why. Judge all factors, why not. There is place for multi-dimensional opinions. I just read for enjoyment. On booktok you might take a minute to explain why you recommend a book, but you'd also take a short moment to pick a book in a shop. I just look at the cover and read the synopsis. Then I might do more research or read a few pages and people who watch booktok can do the same. Actually, I just like watching book reviews without reading them, it's entertaining on its own.
Being a professional or expert within a field or industry should not be a prerequisite for critique and expression of opinion. I believe this can be applied for anything, not just reading. Experts are trained to view things differently, they take pieces, analyze them, see how each fit as a whole and further analyze. It's a different form of digestion for them compared to a common reader who will by the end judge based on whether what was consumed sat well with them. Both perspectives are important. It's like food, one will give you nutritional facts and the other will tell you how it tastes.
I tend to watch Booktuber videos where they list their favorite ten or fifteen fantasy books, and I buy books based on a general consensus on books that I think might be interesting. I can't say there's been any Booktuber - even you, my Viking - that's convinced me to read a book solely because it was a favorite of yours, especially if the book/series description doesn't pique my interest. I recently read Brandon Sanderson's "original" Mistborn trilogy after seeing it mentioned in several videos, and I thought it was a great series. It made me want to read more fantasy. But I feel like Brandon has the same issue as Alan Moore; he so meticulously plots out every moment that often the story isn't as powerful as it could have been if the reins of the author had been even a tiny bit less meticulous. I thoroughly enjoyed the series, but in retrospect, I feel like I admired the books more than I loved them. I respected all the work that went into them, I think Sanderson does a good job of making at least the main characters more complex, but at the same time all the research and careful construction seems to negatively affect the joy of reading the series. On the other hand, I always laugh when I see you put down "Fourth Wing". That book and series is such a fun reading experience for me. Yes, I typically skip any book or author that finds it necessary to include sex scenes that go on for centuries - I think sex scenes and horror scenes have a major thing in common: they are more effective the less details are given. But damn did I love that book and the second book, and I preordered the third book months ago. Fourth Wing reads like a story by an author who wanted to write exactly what they would like to read themselves. Is it literary? Is it complex? Is it worthy? Who the hell cares? It's really, really good for the readers that enjoy stories like that. I don't trust Booktube. I look to it for suggestions. But in the end, I decide what I think is going to work for me and what isn't. But I love you guys all the same and I'm so glad you're making videos and sharing your likes (and yes, dislikes) with the world.
Philip makes good points, but I read for enjoyment and Booktube is great for that. Near the end of last year I decided to pull myself out of a very long reading slump. Booktube really helped with that. I was quickly able to find a handful of Booktubers whose content I enjoyed, and was able to put together a TBR of books I thought I would really enjoy by hearing several differing perspectives about each book. I have genuinely loved everything I have read since then. So while Booktube may have its flaws and its bias it can also be very helpful. Thanks for introducing me to some of my new favorite books and authors Johan!
What a great video! For me booktube has been tremendously helpful to find widely different books from those I find at bookstores (here in Spain at least; perhaps this is different in the UK air US)! Great points tho that will keep in mind! P.s. loved the veiled Fourth Wing reference lmao
What an interesting deep dive! Very true I think. I see a companion piece coming addressing the gate keeping and bias of literature scholars in the media and official reviewers from newspapers Trad pub high brow books and classics only (not saying these books are bad btw). I feel that we appreciate people like AP and Philip Chase exactly because they are kind of rare unicorns in their field. At least in my experience.
I think you (and Mr Chase) need to credit BookTube viewers with more discernment than you give us credit for. All my favourite BookTube channels have one thing in common......I "connect" with the content creator on some level. The more vids i watch from that person the more I appreciate their choices, reviews and points of view. Some Book Tubers lose me within 5 minutes because I know what they are saying is not resonating with me. The few channels I save as "required viewing", I know there is a more than excellent chance I will appreciate what is being recommended. I also find that the very big channels are a big turnoff for me. I want someone to talk on a more personal level and small.
I think booktube is really useful to get recommendations about books one has never heard before, but I immediately distrust anyone saying that they like Sanderson. It tells me that they actually don't care if a book is well written or not, and I like well written books because otherwise I don't enjoy them. So yes to reading for enjoyment too.
I think Book Tube is great. I throughly enjoy the book recommendations and the viewer’s comments. I’m amazed at the different genres that are covered. More importantly I appreciate the time, effort and cost incurred in producing the videos. The Diverse backgrounds of the “book-tubers” is impressive. Of course I don’t read every recommendation given , nor do I like every book; what is common to all is the display of their love and enjoyment in reading and spreading the word. Anyone who encourages reading is a Hero in my book.
I appreciate you delving further into this topic, Johan! Just to follow up on my comments, it’s totally cool - even important - to read for enjoyment, and it’s great to celebrate enjoying a story. That said, I think it’s possible that many people equate personal enjoyment with “good,” whereas I would argue that there can be more to “good” than enjoyment. Books that challenge a reader in various ways may be less enjoyable on a superficial level, but there can still be a lot of good to them, and reading enough such books can even lead to enjoying them. Before anyone throws the word “elitist” at me, I’d also say that anyone who wants to learn how to analyze stories can do so (I’ve seen it thousands of times in the classroom) - which is actually the opposite of elitism. Finally, I too am glad there are BookTubers and scholars, and we can gain a lot from both!
@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy I really appreciate everything you've done for this community, Philip! Anyone calling you elitist is definitely not understanding the point you are making! Keep up the good work!
Great comment and fulfilling a very necessary part of the community @PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy
👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 Philip chase for telling us the truths we don’t wanna hear
I personally dont really understand what youre arguing because to me if a book is valuable in any way to me it is thus enjoyable. A book cannot be valuable to me without being enjoyable, it can be just enjoyable without being valuable thought. But I may just have a very different idea of enjoying something than other people do?
I agree! I recently picked up Kafka's The Metamorphosis. I didn't really 'enjoy' the novella, but after watching some lectures and doing some deep dives on interpretations and themes, I think it's one of the most interesting things I've ever read, and therefore 'good'. And just because I hated almost every minute of Anna Karenina, doesn't mean I'd rate it one star, because I recognise its merits. But that brings up the problem of star or number rating systems, because as you said, many people might equate personal enjoyment with good and rate accordingly. (cough cough Fourth Wing) Ultimately, you have to read the reviews or critiques and decide if it's something you'd want to pick up--either for the pure fun of it or to get something deeper out of it.
Well, that was a ramble. That's what happens on 4 hours of poor sleep, lol
I tell people all the time "Don't take my word for it. Read it yourself and then decide." But I may speculate that some Tubers are afraid to be honest on certain authors because it'll lose some of their audience. But that's all conjecture on my behalf. I'll always be honest, author/series be damned.
I think your honest approach is one of the key reasons why your channel has grown so much! Keep up the good work!
In Mike We Trust
@@paytonhartness damn right ✅️
Damn straight
Dude … @mikesbookreviews you and your dedicated book reviews are the main reason why I am a happy 🤓reader today. Damn man I even have two Stephen King novels in my library waiting for me to read them. You made that possible and not one of your recommendations has ever failed me 🤓
Don't confuse a critique with a review. A review only tells you if the reviewer enjoys a work; a critique relates the work to the grander scheme if things, history, society, how it fits in with other works in the genre, art, etc.
No one on BookTube knows this. That's why so many of us who take into account things like story structure and literary merit when critiquing are shamed for "negativity."
Smart
i feel like i'm using booktube completely different from other people. I only use the videos as a supplementary recommendation tool together with browsing bookstores, library and other word of mouth recommendations to find books i otherwise wouldn't have heard about. And then judge, based on my own instinct and taste, if it's something i would like.
That is the same thing I do. I use booktube to find out about books I may never have heard of
Same.
Yes I judge it based on if the synopsis is about something I'm really excited to read about. Like a book where this fbi agent has a memory where he never forgets certain things. That's right up my Alley. From David Baldacci. Not what books are so called popular
Exactly. I was under the impression everyone does the same, too.
I don’t think Booktube is problematic at all. I read only for enjoyment. Booktube offers some recs, but more importantly for me, it offers an outlet to hear people talk about books I read. There aren’t really any big readers I regularly interact with in my personal life, so Booktube allows me to feel like part of a book community. It’s almost like a large book club. I think that is the biggest value of Booktube, even more than looking for recs.
Exactly I more interested in other people perspective about the the books that we read
Thats the sole reason I joined reddit a few years ago. On there you really can talk about books. Not so much on youtube where its a one sided discussion. Still love it for book recs of course.
My same thoughts. I think it’s totally fine for ppl especially on booktube to express that they enjoyed the book. Have that be more of their scale rather than coming at it with a more critical discussion of the book
That's my outlook too! Same for me with using CZcams to look up horror movies/shows, reviews, critiques, and reaction videos occasionally. Not many people IRL around me are into horror (and some of them can't get into it for medical and mental health reasons) so YT tends to be where I go for having a semi-interaction in the horror community (but not to a close enough extent that I get much interaction with the toxic parts of a community).
Same with podcasts too (have various podcasts based off books/writing and horror that I listen to as well)!
Agreed!
Listening to booktubers' review of a book is the ultimate old fashioned way of finding books. Word of mouth from a friend with a similar taste in books.
I don’t read to be a critic, I read to escape
I do not even rate books and take no notice of reviews.
Personally I also read to escape, but a good book worth escaping into is also worth critiquing when I'm done with it.
@@sandraraedeer4849sure you do
I can escape and critique at the same time, if a book is interesting enough. But high chance I’ll only think about being critical if I’m not enjoying the book.
Same for me. I'm not much interested in rating books, movies either. I just enjoy.
I don't think a booktuber has ever dissuaded me from reading a book I wanted to read, but they have certainly talked me into buying a book I didn't even know existed or wasn't sure about ;)
For me it happened that booktube dissuaded me from reading a book I wanted to read. But that was because I heard the complaints certain people had and the praise other people gave those books and, based on that, I realized I wouldn't like them. On the other hand, one of the first booktube channels I ever followed has a completely different taste in books than me. It happened multiple times that I saw one of their reviews for a book they didn't like and based on that, I realised I would like it, I picked it up and actually really enjoyed it. Critiques are nice for the more literary-driven readers, for me they do nothing. It helps much more to hear people's personal opinions on the books, especially since after following the channels for a while, I get an idea of what they like compared to me.
These all sound like non-issues to me. We watch booktube for the bias. We want to find creators with tastes similar to ours. That adds value to the recommendations. There are other ways to critique a story outside of "enjoyment" but they are not weighted equally. A book may be technically good like Oscar-bait movies are, but people rarely recommend them to friends over something more fun or enjoyable. You don't have to read and enjoy the classics before you can start reading the books you're excited about.
All in all, recommendations are a jumping off point, a gateway into new authors. We don't need booktube to hold our hand, just a nice conversation.
Yep I agree. Im watching the reviews to get an opinion on enjoyment not a critique of the book, I dont care for a critique of a book unless Ive already read the book.
@@ashleyashleym2969 I am kinda the opposite on that point. You're enjoyment of a book doesn't tell me anything about if I will enjoy it, even when I know that we have the same taste about a lot of books. A well-written review helps me make a much more informed decision and has more than once convinced me to give a book a shot that I initially was only lukewarm about. That's why I also gravitate to channels like @thelibrarianladder, @PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy or @thebookguy, because they go much more indepth about whatever author or series they are talking about. Also why I subscribed to @LocusMagazine, because they have really great reviews about new books that often get absolutely no coverage on booktube or booktok at all. (Also, great coverage of short stories).
Again this depends.. sometimes I want their bias..whether they enjoyed it or not because I know that my taste matches.. a critique can be too dry and clinical for me. Depends on what I'm looking for tho. @Eluarelon
@@ashleyashleym2969if anything I actively avoid critique of anything I haven’t read myself as a deep dive into something I only enjoyable when you actually know the context as opposed to having it spoiled for yourself
It took longer than I thought to find someone who also saw this as a non-issue.
I treat it like a book club. I finish a book I absolutely love and really enjoyed, and then I go find a video that discusses the same book from someone who loved (or hated) the book as much as I did. It’s like a book club that you don’t have to worry about meeting weekly, or being on a timetable to finish the book. I rarely use booktube for recommendations, as books are like music. There are so many genres and sub-genres, not everyone is going to like the same thing. LoTR is my all time favorite series that I read once a year, but I don’t expect everyone to be the same as me. But it’s nice to go online and find others who also read it every year and geek out. For me reading is a fun hobby and it’s nice to share that hobby with others. I never want reading to seem like a chore or “rush through this book to get to the next on your TBR” deal”
I totally agree!!
Nothing has created more non readers than literature classes! I’ve read to my boys since they were tiny and I gave them plastic books to play with in their baths. They are both avid readers and both hated their required literature courses. Taking out enjoyment as an important factor in critiquing a book simply turns many young people away from reading, which I think is incredibly damaging to any society.
As a kid I was always reading books. Once I got into middle/high school and had to do summer reading assignments it took the fun and enjoyment out of reading. I just wanted to absorb and enjoy a story instead of analyzing everything to write an essay that had to be a specific word count.
What's such a shame is that there is merit and enjoyment in being able to analyze a work on a deeper level and reading with other people to see things you may have missed, but being forced to read books that are not necessarily appropriate to the age level in terms of thematic and literary depth and difficulty and having to think in ways their brains may not be ready for or having to read something that should be fun through a specific lens (and being punished for having a different interpretation than the teacher) and generally having to do things most normal people wouldn't even think of doing until a re-read puts off so many people from reading and analyzing in a way that can increase enjoyment. There's also nothing wrong with enjoying things just for the sake of fun and you don't have to pick one approach, you can do both and I recommend both
@quinnholleman1547 I appreciate you've included the nuance that it doesnt have to be one or the other. I had a really great English teacher in high schook that used to choose teen books for us to read, and presented the analysis learning like it was a puzzle for us to solve. Genuinely made it very fun, and most of her general English students applied for the advanced literature elective the next year.
I think the main factor is the upbringing. If kids see their parents reading, they’ll probably become readers too. I didn’t like all of my required readings but that didn’t make me hate literature. Kids need to learn that sometimes we have to do things we consider boring. If we didn’t read the classics at school, most people would probably never know about them, not even as adults.
Its pretty easy to read and analyze a book as you read it, just talk to you kids about, ask them what they think, and why they think that, it'll challenge their ability to articulate their thoughts for that deeper analyze. There is also layers to more classical literature, because there is the story itself, then the context of why the story was written, as books use to have a deeper connection to society, and media. It's both a piece of entertainment, but historical context, and a glimpse into the mindsets of people from a different time. Being able to understand, and relate to the thinking of other's option of what it means to be human is incredible. When you can get them to share their opinion and not with simple words like it sucks and it's boring. That how you get them to begin thinking deeper.
I’m gonna praise Mike from Mike’s Book Reviews for a moment. One of the things that I love about his channel is that he always gives the “Good” and “Bad” of a book/series. He’ll give his bullet point lists for each category (while being 100% upfront about it being his subjective opinion) and tell the viewer that if things in either of these lists DO work for you, then this book may be for you.
I (and I’d like to think most people), personally, follow the Booktubers that my tastes line up with most. If I find a channel that is all about the things that I also love, I’m gonna engage with them and be more willing to hear their pitch for a book and check it out, even if it is something that I’d traditionally NEVER look at. (I’m even reading a YA book right now, because of that reason. And I NEVER read YA. Thank you, Ian Gubeli.)
I’m grateful for finding Booktube. It feels like one massive book club where we can talk about the stories we love. That’s what it should be at the end of the day. Talk about the books and stories that you love and forget the stuff that you don’t.
Wow, thank you! It's nice to know someone appreciates dedicated book reviews ha ha!
Dude … most of my library 📚 since the pandemic is because of your dedicated book reviews. They are my favorites 🤓
In Mike we trust
Personally I only care about enjoying a fantasy book. If I can’t understand the book because it’s written for scholars I don’t finish it. I just want a good story to distract me from the world.
Fair enough but the point he's making is: enjoyment does not mean good. If I read a book and I liked it (even if I liked it a lot) doesn't mean it's a 5 star. You should look at the book (or any media) on a deeper level if you're actually going to leave a review. For example, a very guilty pleasure of mine was the show Riverdale. I had a lot of fun/enjoyment watching it but I will fully admit that the show is not good.
@@MarshalLeigh1911 I disagree. The most important thing a book should do is be enjoyable. If you can only like a book after heavily analysing it and finding themes and what-not, then it has failed as a piece of media
@@callnight1441 also disagree. Art does not have to be enjoyable. If you are only ever reading books that are "enjoyable" to you then you're not pushing yourself and you'll never grow.
@MarshalLeigh1911 disagree some more. A book can be both enjoyable and thought-provoking. The enjoyablity is just what takes precedents for me. I can still grow from books that are enjoyable
@@MarshalLeigh1911 Art doesn't have to be enjoyable but there's also plenty of intellectual failures. The artist's intent doesn't matter if no one gets it and no one cares about. it's not a great artwork if no one cares enough to delve into it on a deeper level and if it's so far from being enjoyable by any metric it can easily go that way. There's plenty of great art out there that is both enjoyable and thought provoking. It's like people who always argue whether it's better to be talented or hard working as a cope while ignoring the fact that many people successful are both.
I enjoy hearing other people's views on books. It is always understood that any review, even a scholarly one is highly subjective, but that is what makes it so fascinating to listen to. The personality of the reviewer is part of this experience. ❤
I can think of nothing that would discourage reading more than a platform on which only academic literary analysis was given weight. If you ask people why they hate reading they’ll invariably tell you it’s boring and the reason they think that was boring literary analysis they suffered through in school. (I’m not saying you want or are promoting this). Additionally, looking down on those who only evaluate books for their entertainment wake is elitist and suggests that there is a hierarchy of books and therefore a hierarchy of values associated with reading (again, I’m not saying this is your position)
This is an interesting conversation and as someone with one of those pesky bachelor's in English Literature, I feel that my voice is the most important to listen to 😂 to be perfectly honest though, I view Booktube, Bookstagram, Booktwitter as what they are - social media platforms. As a result, I tend to not include my literary criticism, essay writing, 'academic' side in my reviews, instead enjoying the colloquial aspect of communication and expression. Nevertheless, I do read using that side of my brain because that is such an integral part of my enjoyment. But yeah, I know plenty of booktubers who write fantastic video-essays on literature featuring amazing engagement with literary criticism that have absolutely no formal training in literary theory or criticism. So, I truly don't believe that someone should be listened to more because they have a degree, but that those voices should also be encouraged via support of longer examinations and discussion videos. Thanks for coming to my TEDTalk.
I usually only watch people who do have that literature background. Most of those people can come off as snobby and elitist like people who got literature degrees usually are. However, when you find those people that aren't they have the most to learn from, especially when they have different specialties for what you studied. So you can get more from your reading of the literature they recommend or have a better background for getting into that sort of genre/time period of writing.
I don't like a lot of the modern stuff as it's not very good, because they have to compromise a lot to be successful writers today. Basic story tropes, and repetitive rip-offs in sappy romance or fantasy trying to subvert expectations but still not actually doing it. New writers aren't able to write good books anymore because of the publishing companies needing books to be a certain way to sell, and expecting it to launch a whole series of books.
A lot of these reviewers, review and enjoy the newer stuff. Tells me a lot about their taste and how trusting to be. As many of us also have trashy taste for enjoyment, so I can't judge too much. But it does give me reservations on people who just like reading and have limited background in literature study, especially when they talk about the classics and miss lots of the detail, or dislike it because you can tell it went over their heads. Sometimes being walked across the novel by a professor is necessary to maximize your understanding of a novel. So I take reviewers' attempt with a grain of salt, if they don't have a background in it, unless you can tell they did a lot or research into it too. Which is only a small few on the online space. Thug Notes is like the most valuable resource for primers for books if you want to branch out into different classics, even with the silly style they were made.
I’m a college professor but my discipline is not in literature! I don’t want boring academic analysis done on books that I read because I deal with this enough at work. I want to learn from others why they liked or disliked novels. I watch different book tubers to get a variety of opinions about authors/novels so that I can read more books. Keep up the great work!
I understand your argument, but I also don't think Goodreads ratings are a strong barometer for 'book quality' in general.
The five-star rating system on Goodreads is monolithic: it emphasizes popularity/accessibility over everything because it serves the aggregate, average reader, not people on the higher-end or lower-end extremes. I don't pay attention to it at all when purchasing books -and, I don't think anyone should regardless of 'why' you read books. It's better to get recommendations from people you trust, friends or booktubers.
I read a lot literary fiction (not only classics, but great modern stuff) outside of the fantasy genre. And, like Phillip said those books usually average 3.5 stars, but are some of the most thought-provoking/intellectually-stimulating books I've ever read. And, that's what I'm usually looking for. But, it's not what the average reader is looking for. Those books have a decent readership too, but it's a hard-core, different audience who are looking for different types of enjoyment.
Also, BookTubers who recommend these type of books (literary fiction) usually do focus on heady themes, how the text relates to current/past societies, the quality and tone of an author's unique prose-style, the historical context of an author's lifespan, etc.
So, I really rhink it's a matter of Goodreads/ popular BookTubers serving the most numerous audience -the average, aggregate reader, who will provide views.
Also, a lot of the fantasy genre focuses on character arcs, trope subversion, plot payoffs, etc. These literary techniques are used to make stories feel punchy, dramatic, and conclusive.
Most literary fiction puts themes at the fore-front, front and center. These books often feel like thorough explorations of societal/human condition-esque questions than narritives producing a snappy, complete, satisfying arc for the reader to absorb quickly.
I'm not saying sci-fi/fantasy doesn't have great literary novels or works of art, Dan Simmons, Ursula Le Guin, William Gibson, etc, the list goes on for a long time.
Also, a lot of literary/genre books often blur the line and borrow from each other.
I guess it's like pop-music and prog (insert genre) concept albums both can serve a purpose and both are great, but you can't get listeners to listen to either if they're just looking for something different.
I think Book Tube can and does serve both audiences. I subscribe to Willow Talks Books who you have a clip of in this video. She does a great job of recommending translated literature and going in-depth on its thematic elements. She also reviews less serious stuff like 80's themed horror novels. It's all a matter of finding a creator whose interest match yours and more often than not it exists on CZcams.
I read for enjoyment, and that's it. Some classics bore me to tears and some poorly written books still gave me great joy. That's all there is to it, for me. As for proper, scholarly reviews.. Please no. I don't even watch people reviewing my favorite books. Watching some random person talk for 15< minutes about any book, even if I love it, I just don't have the time for that. I like to read reviews (should be no surprise), sure, and I love recommendation videos (even TBR vids can be classified as such) in which a multitude of books get recommended in 2-3 minutes. Perfect! Booktube is to expand my TBR.
Do I have to choose my books based on some deep, elaborate and academic book critique? Can I not just find booktubers who seem to like the same type of books I like and read books based on their suggestions? That makes sense to me. Im not saying I will only read books based on what booktubers say. But definitely a big part of it yes. As long as it works and keeps bringing me books I like I see no problem with it.
from the perspective of a person new to reading as a hobby, i think its different. booktubers can be a good place to start from. Like for example hearing Brandon sanderson is pretty good is what got me into it.
I appreciate both sides of the coin. I know how to do literary criticism but when I read I don’t want to read to critique, I read for enjoyment. I know how to find those who critique books and they help me find books when I’m in the mood for something deeper.
I think that what sometimes get lost in those discussions is that there is a spectrum between "pure" entertainment and "pure "scholasticism". And where someone sides in this discussion depends on where they are on this spectrum. and what causes a lot of discussions or even shit storms is that we have all gotten so used to thinking in extremes instead of understanding that there's something between them.
For example, while I don't consider myself a scholar, I was exposed to a lot of literature at a very early age. Robinson Crusoe, Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn, Gulliver's travels, the Leatherstocking tales, of course also things like Narnia and the Neverending Story,that was all passed around as children's books in my early years (only Narnia kinda is), and that was what we grew up reading. And while a lot of those books might have gone over my head at the time, it was a good preparation for school, because we started quite early reading literary giants like Goethe, Schiller and Shakespeare.Which I loved, by the way, and again, most of it probably went over my head. From there on I actually whent to study English literature for a while, while simultaneously of course also reading Sci-Fi and Fantasy, which was scoffed at by most Germans that considered themselves to be educated readers.
Again, I don't consider myself a scholar, but what all that stuff did was that it gave me an appreciation for the beauty of language I would probably not have achieved if I had read only pulp fiction or comics (which I still do both, by the way).
So from where I stand there is no either or. I love reading for enjoyment, but I can also freely admit that I enjoy books way more when they meet certain quality standards as far as the use of language and style goes. But I also know that I didn't start at where I am today, so to criticise Booktube and Booktok for being great entry points for people that still have to go on that voyage I started some 45 years ago seems quite unfair to me. Of course I would wish that both media were a bit more diverse in what they are talking about and that maybe not so much time would be spend on the Sandersons, Martins and SJMs of the book world (aka those authors that don't need our help at all), because I think a lot of readers would like those books as well if only they knew they exist. And you don't need to be a scientist to like them. At all.
I like your very well stated and nuanced position that dispels some of straw man arguments presented in the video.
@@thelibraryladder Thanks :) I have been burned by those discussions quite a few times in the meantime, because the world has become so tribal especially on social media (and to be honest, at least on those booktube channels I visit, that's kinda paradise compared to movie, music and computer game related channels). So the moment you say something critical about something, flame war immediately starts, because you inevitably get lumped together with the trolls that only go to youtube to mess with other people. it also helps keep you grounded, when you have three kids exploring books their own way, and while of course I'd love to see them read all the things I consider must-reads, I'm glad that all three love reading in the first place, even if it's genres I really dislike. At least there's hope with my youngest who just burned through Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings and Narnia :).
And by the way, thanks again for introducing me to Guy Gavriel Kay, someone I completely missed out on until you brought him up and that I now have come to consider one of the best in the genre. So glad you made a video about Martha Wells (another one who should be way more popular than she already is), because that let me find your channel.
@@Eluarelon I can empathize with you. I truly enjoy healthy discussion and debate in which the participants act in good faith, expressing their positions respectfully while also remaining open to being persuaded by the arguments presented by others. Alas, much of the online (and offline) discourse these days tends to be consumed by bad faith arguments that are little more than attention-grabbing hot takes, calculated false controversies, or deep-rooted insecurity masquerading as aggressive confidence. BookTube is a comparative oasis, but unfortunately, it too has some of that pathology. I get occasional trolls commenting on my videos, but thankfully they're a small minority.
Also, I'm so glad you're enjoying GGK. Bringing him (and Martha Wells) to the attention of readers like you was the whole reason I made those videos. :)
Booktube is an avenue for me to DIY my own bookclub. Find recommendations then read said book then I am able to usually find a great discussion on said book after i finish it and that is amazing.
I think the compromise on whether or not we should rate books based on enjoyment is understanding that in different books, we enjoy different things. Recently I gave 5 stars on my insta to a non-fic. There was nothing to enjoy in the story about the Soviet system essentially torturing a prominent Ukrainian dissident and poet to death, but I was impressed by the author's work with the archive documents and the way he structured the story. It wasn't the easiest read, but it was fulfilling and engaging. I might rate a fantasy book 5 stars if I love it. But these would be two different rates if that makes sense. I guess you don't need a degree to think about a text on a deeper level than "did I have fun or not". Fun is important, but seeing beyond it can be beneficial for the reader and their audience if any. That's why I like deeper reviews of books because I like hearing other people's opinions even if I have no interest in the genres they like. A good review might not sell a book to me, but it can still be interesting to listen to.
I think there is nothing wrong with rating a book based upon enjoyment. After watching a booktuber for awhile, I get to know their preferences and I can usually determine if I would like a book based on what they would like or dislike.
For example, Merphy Napier currently loves Annihilation. I’m not going to read it because I know it doesn’t align with my taste.
She is one of the first book tubers I’ve followed and I can tell when hers and mine taste are aligned or different.
Why is it that enjoyment is looked down upon? Don't literary fiction readers also enjoy the books they read?
Personally I'm not a fan of dividing readers into: "shallow entertainment enjoyers" vs "literary fiction advanced readers".
Read whatever is more enjoyable for you and rate accordingly - if one enjoys easy to read romantasy more than 1984, then sure, go and give the former a higher rating than the latter. I get that some reviewers are trying to be slightly more "objective", but at the end of the day it's all subjective - you either enjoy it or not, so trying to bump up the rating of a classic that you didn't enjoy but you know people love is a bit silly in my opinion. If Goodreads existed in 1950, the "classics" that we call nowadays would have been 5/5 stars! Nowadays average attention span is generally lower, so many younger readers don't care about classics, so many have 4/5 rating or even lower and that is totally fine IMO - it represents what modern readers prefer reading. My 2c
EDIT: Just wanted to clarify - I am not trying to trash-talk old classics and literary fiction, mostly just commenting on subjective ratings and websites like Goodreads.
My approach with finding books for my TBR is similar to how clinicians prescribe meds to patients: first, I go to a popular site (e.g. Goodreads, Storygraph, I prefer the latter but I usually check both) and I check the statistics - what books have many ratings and most positive (like clinician studies - what % of the population had positive effects from a medication); second, I open my TBR of books enjoyed by the masses and I start applying personal bias or in other words I try to analyze what would work better "on me" (like a medication) and pick it over the others that might be popular and highly praised but not my cup of tea when it comes to books. From population-based to subjective experience
Yeah Phillip was very elitist. We have to like and hate all the books he likes and hates and not accept we all have different tastes. Ironically enough he defends Phillip Chase and he’s the exact problem that Booktube can have.
This is… a solid take
A lot of literary fiction readers enjoy the process of reading something that they believe makes them superior. If they hold it above things like fantasy or mystery, then that is what they care about.
Really interesting video 🙌
I think there is a bit of a false dichotomy between analysis-based reviewing being deep and enjoyment-based reviewing being shallow. I don't think enjoyment-based reviews are shallow by definition, and can be enriched by going into detail about what you liked or didn't like.
I think as a viewer you just need to parse that a bit differently - an aspect you dislike might be something I really like, but as long as you explain it then it's still a helpful review. For that reason, I often find 3 star reviews on Goodreads the most helpful in letting me know if I'm going to like something!
I am not a book critic and would never claim to be, but I love reviewing books, and it's been such a lovely hobby since starting my channel a few years ago. I like to think it's helpful for those watching!
I watch book tube for discovery. Reviews are useless as we are all different. I think of it as if I’m watching a trailer for a movie. That being said, book tube is cool and has value. It’s up to the watcher what that value is. 🤘😎
I had an awesome undergrad professor who allowed me to write a paper on the wheel of time, metaphysics, and essence (metaphysical concept). Needless to say I came away looking at the wheel of time -- a series I already loved -- with even more praise. So much, in fact, I don't think any series will pass it in my eyes anytime soon.
I agree with Philip chase tho.. doing something unique and different deserves more credit which it doesn’t get nowadays
No. It’s elitist. It’s basically saying if everyone else says it’s perfect you should say it’s perfect too. If you don’t like it, you don’t like it and that’s fair
@@Linklex7 my dude that’s not what I’m saying? I’m just saying things that are unique deserve more credit for being unique.. doesn’t mean u can’t enjoy or hate what u want? But from ur comment history u seem to dislike Philip chase lol so
A great topic, and I feel like you nailed it at the end. Our purposes are often different. As a BookTube consumer, finding content creators that like the same kinds of books as I do is an important aspect of this platform. And knowing their tastes will often help me understand if I would enjoy the book or not. Thanks for the video!
Enjoyment is ultimately all that matters. Is your free time well spent in your opinion. While some more serious books may have a deeper purpose and are constructed more artfully, if reading them is a slog ultimately very few will read them and less will enjoy. Some readers may never be "ready" for certain literature whatever that may mean, but ultimately that is an elitist attitude. We all have our own interests and how we spend our time and what we read is ultimately up to us individually. Also, what we desire from reading is individual as well. I read what I like and this includes what some may consider serious literature and a lot of so called popular literature. That said I'd rather listen to the opinions of amateur book tubers and "readers" than professors of literature.
It seems kind of anti intellectual to say that enjoyment is all that matters. That may be the case for you, but certainly not for everyone
I think acknowledging 5 star ratings on the internet are ratings of enjoyment is a good thing, because we can acknowledge that true literary critique is absolutely never happening on goodreads. Its an advertising website for people to decide if they want to buy a book or not.
There are other platforms for figuring out the talent and merit of literature.
I appreciate your making this video. I tend to really enjoy thorough critiques/reviews of books and had difficult finding them on BookTube. But you make a good point, if the rigorous critique and analysis doesn’t get the views, then the creators will begin to tailor their content by making less of those videos. It’s sort of a supply and demand.
I greatly appreciate booktubers like yourself. You've all made me fall in love with reading again. The "problem" is there're so many of you and it takes some time to find the right ones that align with my personal taste and that make content in a way that is enjoyable to me (like this video for example). Another "problem" is if I'm watching content then I'm not reading! 😵💫😁 Decisions decisions... Also YOU MAKE MY WALLET CRY! 😭
I unsubbed from many booktubes as the endless "I read 50 books this month and you should read these ones" stuff was getting tiresome. I read more now that I've ventured away from Fantasy books. I love the idea of a fantasy world, but lately, I just didn't enjoy reading them.
I’m old enough to remember the joy of browsing and finding a new authors work in my local bookshop. The book was bought on the strength of the front cover art and the blurb on the back. Raymond E Feist’s Magician in that particular case. These days there’s too much content in the genre and it’s been done to death. Tropes have become hackneyed cliches used it seems in every new novel in the genre. In the late 80s I remember a work colleague berating as rubbish the book I was reading Stephen King’s IT. A graduate this person was a little taken aback when I asked if Poe, Collins, Dickens and Shakespeare who had all written horror were rubbish. Deafening silence. I read for enjoyment if it doesn’t grab my attention I’m not interested. Academia be damned read because you love it. Read widely and read as much as your busy life allows.
That comment from Phillip Case still sounds elitist and condescending and is the main reason I stopped following him. He’s the main booktuber I unsubscribed to. I’m sorry but enjoyment is very much part of a rating. To say otherwise is basically saying “well everyone else gave it a 5 out of 5, you should too.” I hear enough of that from the Disney & Marvel camp. It’s up to you to decide what rating and review you want to listen to.
Spot on - literary analyses and entertaining reviews both have their place (sometimes within the same video or publication, sometimes not!). BookTube also conveys community vibes which is useful in its own right (though not unproblematic!)
Exactly!
Thanks, Mark!
I certainly do agree with Mr. Chase on his opinion.
I feel like most people watch booktube to get book recommendations. In order to appreciate an in-depth discussion on a book, usually you have to have read it first, which can affect the viewership pool.
Interesting discussion.
What I appreciate most about book-tube is that I am introduced to new books on the world markets and I am alerted to the major prize selections, saving me the research. And it is lovely to follow discussions on books. But I think you underrate your audience - we are not stupid. And many of us have also studied literature. I have been reading for more than 70 years and I can certainly make my own judgements on whether I am likely to enjoy a particular book under discussion.
I do, however, appreciate the book-tuber views on the books discussed, but I understand that it is just one view - also the reason why I follow a number of book-tubers, as the same books are often discussed on various channels.
Source of information's a thing, lol. If I'm at work and need to figure something out, I'd look at the vendor docs, not at a CZcams video. In the same way when I want serious breakdowns of books I liked, Booktube's not where I come to. I think most readers are on here at a minimum to find people who read similar things and have similar tastes to them, so that they themselves can discover more books. Not to mention it's easier to consume and relate - it's easier for most people to watch someone gush about their favorite book and get a dopamine hit than it is to read a lengthy article doing the same thing. Awesome video, something to make people stop and think!
Booktube certainly has opened my eyes to a lot of great reads this last year and a half-but it certainly is important to establish one’s own opinions on the art they enjoy. And I also think it’s important people need to understand not everyone is going to share equal opinions on every little thing. Respecting someone’s opinion, whether one agrees or not is important. Thats how great art is created, through everyone’s unique lenses
I trust certain booktubers and I have found some great books and series from Booktubers. I was subscribed to a bunch and I've unsubscribed from most of them. I still follow 5 or 6. One of my issues was the sheer number of books that some of them were claiming they read. How can I take any review seriously when someone claims to be reading 50 books a month. The other issue I have with many, is that they (in order to get/keep their books read numbers up) only listen to books...and while thats not a bad thing, it is when they are basically playing the books in the background while doing many other distracting things. They are just casually listening, probably missing much of the book, while they are concentrating on whatever else they are doing. The other thing is the constant good reviews and dishonesty because they are afraid to give a book a bad review. Its not a big deal, we all like or dislike different things. And, I must say that I learned in kindergarten...probably before that even, that we read with our eyes and listen with our ears. I will just leave it at that. I appreciate the booktubers that tell us when they've read the book or when they've listened to the audiobook. Thanks for you video! I do agree with all that you said. Keep up the great work!
mainly follow Mike's book reviews, pretty balanced.
Not really watching anybody else
This is a great subject to bring up. I know for me, I have an undergraduate degree in biblical studies and a master’s of divinity with a biblical studies emphasis, so when I am going over Christian fiction in my channel, it allows me to offer other perspectives on the material than some others might have. I think people’s context and education always comes into their conversations on book tube and that’s a good thing! It informs their reading of the text, even if it’s for “enjoyment,” which I personally think is a valuable criteria when critiquing popular fiction.
Look, before the pandemic I was at a 0 books read per year. Then the pandemic reared its ugly face and I had time on my hands. I spent 6 months getting to “know” these book tubers before I bought a single book from any one recommendation. As a result, not only did I rebuild my library I have read about a 100 books since then which is a lot better than when this part of the journey started. There hasn’t been one book that I purchased based on a review that I have regretted. I have Mike’s Book Reviews, Murphy Napier, Petrik Leo, Jimmy Nutts, and A.P. Canavan/Philip Chase, to name a few, to thank for those selections. I want to repeat that it took me 6 months to acclimate to these book tubers to feel comfortable as to whose review I would “trust” and whose I wouldn’t. Lastly, Johan, you need to understand that dedicated book reviews are NOT A WASTE OF TIME. Thanks to the amazing ones Mike’s Book Reviews has on his channel I am here today with my book collection 🤓
Heres the thing. Literary Critique is different from the book reviews for the general public. If you want a academic review than there are venues for that. CZcams, goodreads, etc etc etc. is just not the place for it.
I definitely have to disagree with his opinion. Most of us read for leisure and if the rating isnt based on enjoyment, then its a trash rating to me whos looking to read for enjoyment.
I think the point of booktube is exactly to rate not on scholarly appeal, but how much potentional enjoyment there is to get from it.
I do agree though for sure that the best and most reliable reviews are dedicated single book reviews that are at minimum 10 minutes long because the creator can really go into why they enjoyed it or why they didnt and why they would recommend or why they wouldn't
Gotta say though I dont dislike Philip Chase, I do also enjoy literary critique sometimes, but that comes after, that comes after Ive read and enjoyed the book and I want a more in depth, deep analysis of it. I think academic review does have its place on booktube honestly personally, but I think its so much more of a niche thing that most will only want to watch for very specific and rare books.
It's always been said that the best way to get book recommendations is word of mouth, which to me is what bookTube should be. The main problem for me with bookTube is that there is a monetary interest for creators - whether it's the fandom fear or the algorithm bingo - and it's not really transparent when that applies.
However, at the end of the day, enjoyment has always been a cornerstone of literature, and I don't think you can (or should) take that away from readers
I would listen to you, but unfortunately my favorite book tuber says not to trust you.
Not sure if it's really a matter of to trust or not to trust because as a viewer you have agency or however you want to call it too. If you're buying a book just because one randomer on the internet recommended it and then you end up hating it it doesn't make the randomer untrustworthy .... it makes you someone who should consider several opinions and do a bit more research before buying your next book.
i'm new to the booktbue a verse in a few years in. I must chime in, I appreciate on you having your videos in the short form between 10-15 minutes. It makes it very easy for me to settle down in my mornings to listen to while I code in the background for learning. the thing I've been enjoying about digging through booktube recently is learning from different perspectives on books and their themes which makes this new fun world to me fun to explore. I do enjoy reading a good book now and then, my fave genres have been fantasy growing up, alongside historical fantasy, historical, and a bit of bioptic depending on whos or what in history its about. I also love exploring books within my genres of interest. I agree that we should form our own opinions while having a open mind while listening to booktubers and not have it become another form of university as well.
I watch a lot of booktube. I get a ton of great recs from you guys, because I have a good barometer of different creators tastes and biases vs my own
For me personally, I don't so much decide what to read based on BookTube and other book promoters on other platforms, but since I don't have as much time to read as I'd like, you and the other promoters help keep me aprised of what's out there so I can at least be aware of the landscape. I honestly won't read most of the books that sound interesting to me just because I have my family and my own writing and other priorities, and that's okay. But at least with your help, I feel like I'm not so out of touch with the book world. And for that, I thank you and all the others 😊
"Is it the book's fault if the reader isn't ready? This is a false premise. It's not a question of "ready", as if I am not up to the task and the book is faultless. Enjoyment is a huge part of entertainment and that's what fiction is for. Frankenstein was great, Moby Dick was horrible. Moby Dick did have great moments and was progressive for its time, but overall it was a slog.
We live in a clown world right now. Why, though? I blame academics. When's the last time you agreed with the critics on Rotten Tomatoes? I'd take a recommendation from some random CZcamsr than someone who majored in reading books.
At the end of the day we only know about books from word of mouth or advertising. At least word of mouth is authentic. Usually anyway. Personally I try to read anything I can and want to read all sorts of books even ones I don’t like. With that said, discovering the book world online has brought me many new reads I’ve greatly enjoyed. A lot of book tubers have relevant degrees as well.
I have a background in literature. I hate to say it, but I've come to realize that booktube is just not a place for people like me. I mostly just tune in for Fantasy news now, but I do like your thoughtful videos like this one, so I've remained subbed.
I find most booktube videos a bit shallow. Probably because I did literature and am used to dissecting books. Maybe you need to try with more literature-focused channels? Not mine tho, it’s in Spanish lol. But they are probably spoiler filled, more like a something to watch after you’ve read the book.
I’d recommend Ben McEvoy’s channel for a deeper dive. Ben studied English Language and Literature at Oxford. Dr. Octavia Cox is also a good channel to follow. She is a professor at Oxford.
Booktube is good for finding other readers who like similar books. I've picked up some great recommendations. Ratings are subjective, on Goodreads Moby Dick has an average of around 3.5, whereas the latest Freida McFadden will have around 4.1. Moby Dick is a novel often put forward as the great American novel, whereas the Housemaid's Secret is just a hugely enjoyable popcorn thriller with lots of twists. I don't think as Booktubers we should be gatekeepers of reading, we can put forward books we liked or didn't like but shouldn't denigrate the choices of others. I think it is great that booktok and booktube make reading seem fun and encourage non-readers to share in the magic even if for some it is merely an aesthetic.
I find my enjoyment of a book increases with the integrity of creativity of the art. My enjoyment seems directly tied to whether or not I’m feeling things or seeing things that are special and thematically rich. For this reason, I’m a fanatic of science fiction
Anyone who says "you have to have a degree to have an opinion" doesn't hold an opinion worth listening to. I say this as someone with multiple degrees, including English. It leads to videos like this that are superficially interesting, but ultimately have little value. It's insulting to readers to tell them who to trust, or what roles various reviews and critiques should play. It's all a personal choice based on myriad variables that don't apply to all. There seems to be a concerted effort - by people who ostensibly approve of mass literacy - to make reading more of a chore than anything else.
Enjoyment is a good basis for evaluating a book, though. While I agree that it's possible to not enjoy a book but still appreciate its value, I don't think you can truly dislike a book and give a favourable review with genuine enthusiasm (in any medium)
Like, can you give a SINGLE book you loathed, but would give a stellar review for?
I’ll wait
Of Mice and Men
As I may not like how the story went, but I can also appreciate what the author did. Same for Grapes of Wrath.
Book tube got me back into reading so I can see that as a big positive, but I agree with the point that people can be biased. Thats why I subscribe to smaller book tube channels aswell!
I feel like academics really need to be more careful about how they introduce “classics,” and other supposed literary marvels. As an average fantasy enjoyer, I felt snubbed throughout high school for being unable to appreciate books like “The Grapes of Wrath.”
It doesn’t matter how profound and influential a book is if you give it to a child who can’t go more than a paragraph without spacing out.
On the other hand, I recently read “Animal Farm” in college and felt seriously let down. That book is upheld as this profound commentary on communism, but it read like something anyone with a basic understanding of communism could have written. I felt like I was being talked down to. It’s not that it was just a fantastical children’s tale about talking animals, it was that it felt as though the author was treating it as such.
The realm of literary critique seems to have such a disdain for great fantasy that it feels really difficult not to reciprocate that disdain for the things they tell me I ought to love if I’m a smart person. To quote Brandon Sanderson, a person who’s books I found to be far more valuable to my high school self then most anything the teachers gave me, “fantasy can do anything any other genre can do, but with dragons.”
Phil Chase forgets that those classics, are not contemporary. Tastes, literature and preferences have changed. Today's best sellers would likely bomb 50 years ago.
It is ALL about enjoyment, because like music, movies and other creative arts, are A) subjective and B) based on individual perceptions and tastes.
No I don't think listening to booktuber is problematic. Booktubers get me excited to read novels and are the reason why I started reading books in the first place. I might not check out every book you or others recommend. Unlike, people who tend to teach literature they are not gonna get everyone excited to become a reader. I read 3 books for English literature of 18th century, and out of 3 books there is only one I enjoyed Moll Flanders by Daniel Defoe. The other two are Mrs Dalloway by Virginia Woolf & Lord Jim by Joseph Conrad. They may be well written but I wasn't a fan of those books. While not to bash harshly on teachers who teach English literature because, they are keepers of history. I'm over the place right now lol. To sum up booktubers are better bringing non-readers to become readers. Unlike teachers who tell you to read out of obligation doesn't exactly equal a motivating factor to become a reader.
I think booktube is more reliable than tiktok, although I do like some of the older guys. I wouldn't mind watching a more analytical channel though, if anyone has suggestions. Some booktubers will point out when a book has things like a bigger character focus, or a slow burn plot, so it's not totally without analysis.
The reasons I read are for enjoyment and to gain knowledge about a field I am interested in. There are several Booktubers I follow because they have similar tastes to me. If I want academic reviews of books of fiction I would search them out but I don’t. Many nonfiction books I love I first learnt about via a Booktube channel.
It's the smaller channels to trust. Not the Daniel greens
There's nothing that encourages reading than other people reading and discussing.
The act of discussion also helps offset the issues with the numbers game featured on Goodreads.
I think enjoyment is the primary thing to critique if you read for fun, if you are a literature critique, that is a problem.
I always appreciate reviewers who talk about what worked and what didn’t work for them. It helps people make their own decisions.
I have a masters in literature, and I only talk about the scholarly part of things rarely on my own channel. Honestly, I much prefer to just gush about books that I love.
I just want to help folks find books they’ll love! And your channel does that well! Don’t ever change!
Also, love the Fourth Wing slander 😂
There’s a reason I usually only delve into booktube with personalities I like to watch, or if I have just finished a book that I feel indifferent about and want to see how others feel.
You and Daniel are my fave book tubers, I do read some of the stuff you guys recommend but I still follow my heart and read stuff you guys wouldn't really read, but I enjoy what you guys share
Thank you for the kind words!
I don’t think majority of people come to the book social media community for critical analysis; a good question is whether reading without critical thinking is as beneficial.
I do believe that some books probably should be judged with enjoyment as the prime factor. Say, the so-called "light / fluffy / escapist" variety. But it should never be the sole point of critique. Not to mention everyone has different preferences anyway.
Also, about the somewhat more "scholarly" (or critical) side of booktube, I can't help but notice that it's predominantly people ripping into books that are usually enjoyed primarily by a feminine audience. Its not ALWAYS the case, but it's a pattern and it's beginning to make me a tad uncomfortable. While I usually agree with the criticisms of these books, I can't help but wonder why those edgy fantasy books laden with misogyny seem to escape the clutches of those booktubers. I love fantasy, but there are some older titles that rubbed me the wrong way. Like, if the Coleen Hoover books get bashed to death then why shouldn't, say, Brent Weeks?
On a more positive note, I think a cool way to address the popularity bias would be if more booktubers went into second hand shops, or found those book-swap shelves that appear at random, and tried out books they know nothing about from there. I recall Jack Edwards doing that once, and it would be fun if more people did. (Not to mention second-hand books are extra fun because of retro covers and the occasional memento from previous owners.)
This is purely my opinion. I hold no literature or academic degree yet. I’m working on that. I think it’s okay for booktube or booktok to be a place that isn’t meant for academics to critique literature since there are other spaces on the internet that already serve that community. They are welcome to join and to create their own niche space within the book community which is wonderful. It is also perfectly fine to want to bαsee one’s opinion on their enjoyment, feelings and preferences.
Is there a booktuber who does not film in front of a bookshelf? Fragtuber film in front of a shelf with perfume, handbag lovers film in front of a shelf filled with handbags. It's like a personal trainer who wears a tiny tank top to show his muscles to convey he/she really knows how to work out. When on an intellectual level, it's more important what the expert/reviewer is saying, rather than what he/she is showing. It's like needing to have the best looking book cover to sell a book when in actuality it should only matter what is written in a book. Our society is so dependent on visual marketing, it's so nonintellectual.
Commenting before watching: I mostly buy my books on extra sale on Kobo so the very few CZcamsrs I listen to or watch cover books I am not actually interested in reading, but I am curious about.
Plus it's really fun to listen to some people progressively lose braincells as they go.
(my favorite ones are the ones who comment on structure or make suggestions. As someone who writes fiction for fun, I really like this insight.)
The youtubers I watch more often are Savy writes books, reads with Rachel and with cindy.
There is only one book I bought because a youtuber liked it and it aligned with something I was interested in, but I ended up having similar criticism as the youtuber on some things and I decided to not read the other books in the series, because I was just not interested. I do have other books from that author on my wishlist tho.
The main reason is that most booktubers including you read mainly books for kids and teens
I was in a huge reading slump for YEARS before i discovered Booktube. I thought there were no more good writers! In the last 6 months i have read and purchased so many good books and have enjoyed reading more than ever before. I've gotten some duds, but far more often I've found great reads that i will treasure till i die. (Dramatic, i know)
I know what I like. And I know what I don’t. When I see top 10 or top 20 videos maybe I pull one or two recommended books because the story or even the cover does attract me to it. that’s why I watch book tube because I get these recommendations that my own friends won’t have heard about. Love Booktube!
Let. People. Enjoy. Things.
Let. People. Think. About. Art.
The key is to find someone(s) who has the same tastes as you.
I don't believe the booktubers read al the books they claim to.
Booktube creators are giving old school Book Talks, which I was trained to do as a librarian IRL. The purpose of Book Talks is to “sell” the right book to the right reader. I watch a variety of Booktube creators to expand my reading and to see what’s popular for different demographics. I don’t want critical analysis of books I read for enjoyment. I want to know if they enjoyed and why/why not. And lest we forget, some classics are over written because (some) were paid a penny a word.
Few things. I read for pleasure, why would i take any other metric in when im talking about what i like and dont like? I just read Emma and it did not click with me. I would not suggest a book where only 1 character stuck out to me as being nice and real to me. I enjoyed the setting, the prose and the general plot but the characters were insufferable. Why wouldn't i make sure to tell someone my enjoyment level of those things? I dont care that its a classic, i would still give it at most a 6/10. Also dude, if you are not willing to speak your mind cause you might loose subscribers you need to figure some stuff out, i dont want to listen to someone who tempers their opinions and also wants to treat youtube as a college class. People read A cort of Thorms and roses and actually like it despite it glorifying a character who drugs a character and takes advantage of them. And they hold these views in then open here on youtube. CZcams is for finding the people that has similar tastes and then go from there. Murphy Napier has inteoduced me to tens of books i loce based on her saying "i loved it" thats all.
Both reviewing based on enjoyment and on how good a book actually is are valid. Just say what you're judging and why. Judge all factors, why not. There is place for multi-dimensional opinions. I just read for enjoyment. On booktok you might take a minute to explain why you recommend a book, but you'd also take a short moment to pick a book in a shop. I just look at the cover and read the synopsis. Then I might do more research or read a few pages and people who watch booktok can do the same. Actually, I just like watching book reviews without reading them, it's entertaining on its own.
I don’t think most scholars/critics could write their own book, never mind one that pleases the general public.
Being a professional or expert within a field or industry should not be a prerequisite for critique and expression of opinion. I believe this can be applied for anything, not just reading. Experts are trained to view things differently, they take pieces, analyze them, see how each fit as a whole and further analyze. It's a different form of digestion for them compared to a common reader who will by the end judge based on whether what was consumed sat well with them. Both perspectives are important. It's like food, one will give you nutritional facts and the other will tell you how it tastes.
I tend to watch Booktuber videos where they list their favorite ten or fifteen fantasy books, and I buy books based on a general consensus on books that I think might be interesting. I can't say there's been any Booktuber - even you, my Viking - that's convinced me to read a book solely because it was a favorite of yours, especially if the book/series description doesn't pique my interest.
I recently read Brandon Sanderson's "original" Mistborn trilogy after seeing it mentioned in several videos, and I thought it was a great series. It made me want to read more fantasy. But I feel like Brandon has the same issue as Alan Moore; he so meticulously plots out every moment that often the story isn't as powerful as it could have been if the reins of the author had been even a tiny bit less meticulous. I thoroughly enjoyed the series, but in retrospect, I feel like I admired the books more than I loved them. I respected all the work that went into them, I think Sanderson does a good job of making at least the main characters more complex, but at the same time all the research and careful construction seems to negatively affect the joy of reading the series.
On the other hand, I always laugh when I see you put down "Fourth Wing". That book and series is such a fun reading experience for me. Yes, I typically skip any book or author that finds it necessary to include sex scenes that go on for centuries - I think sex scenes and horror scenes have a major thing in common: they are more effective the less details are given. But damn did I love that book and the second book, and I preordered the third book months ago. Fourth Wing reads like a story by an author who wanted to write exactly what they would like to read themselves. Is it literary? Is it complex? Is it worthy? Who the hell cares? It's really, really good for the readers that enjoy stories like that.
I don't trust Booktube. I look to it for suggestions. But in the end, I decide what I think is going to work for me and what isn't.
But I love you guys all the same and I'm so glad you're making videos and sharing your likes (and yes, dislikes) with the world.
Philip makes good points, but I read for enjoyment and Booktube is great for that. Near the end of last year I decided to pull myself out of a very long reading slump. Booktube really helped with that. I was quickly able to find a handful of Booktubers whose content I enjoyed, and was able to put together a TBR of books I thought I would really enjoy by hearing several differing perspectives about each book. I have genuinely loved everything I have read since then. So while Booktube may have its flaws and its bias it can also be very helpful. Thanks for introducing me to some of my new favorite books and authors Johan!
I dont evwn really recommend books i just talk about books i like and hope others who also liked them will want to nerd out about them with me
What a great video! For me booktube has been tremendously helpful to find widely different books from those I find at bookstores (here in Spain at least; perhaps this is different in the UK air US)! Great points tho that will keep in mind!
P.s. loved the veiled Fourth Wing reference lmao
Thank you!
Yes I agree. I had a feeling something about Fourth wing will pop up. Someone from my work was liking it. So reading is definitely objective
What an interesting deep dive! Very true I think.
I see a companion piece coming addressing the gate keeping and bias of literature scholars in the media and official reviewers from newspapers Trad pub high brow books and classics only (not saying these books are bad btw). I feel that we appreciate people like AP and Philip Chase exactly because they are kind of rare unicorns in their field. At least in my experience.
I think you (and Mr Chase) need to credit BookTube viewers with more discernment than you give us credit for. All my favourite BookTube channels have one thing in common......I "connect" with the content creator on some level. The more vids i watch from that person the more I appreciate their choices, reviews and points of view. Some Book Tubers lose me within 5 minutes because I know what they are saying is not resonating with me. The few channels I save as "required viewing", I know there is a more than excellent chance I will appreciate what is being recommended. I also find that the very big channels are a big turnoff for me. I want someone to talk on a more personal level and small.
I think booktube is really useful to get recommendations about books one has never heard before, but I immediately distrust anyone saying that they like Sanderson. It tells me that they actually don't care if a book is well written or not, and I like well written books because otherwise I don't enjoy them. So yes to reading for enjoyment too.
I think Book Tube is great.
I throughly enjoy the book recommendations and the viewer’s comments. I’m amazed at the different genres that are covered. More importantly I appreciate the time, effort and cost incurred in producing the videos.
The Diverse backgrounds of the “book-tubers” is impressive.
Of course I don’t read every recommendation given , nor do I like every book; what is common to all is the display of their love and enjoyment in reading and spreading the word.
Anyone who encourages reading is a Hero in my book.