A catch up - life changes - channel changes - all the changes.

[@BlatantlyBookish]

Jen, I'm sorry for your loss and I hope you feel better soon. You've been dealing with so much this year and I just want to reach through the internet and give you a big hug. I love the pride that you take in your PhD and the way you structure your channel. It's ultimately a space for you to do and speak about what you want, and it's frustrating when an errant comment makes you second guess these types of things. It's all part of booktube I guess. Sending you lots of bookish love 🥰

[@BookwormAdventureGirl]

Love that you said people are the most important part of being a librarian. Making the change to give up things that identify us is tough. It’s also brave to imagine that there is something else. Losing your Dad and grieving is also huge in all the ways. Sending you and your family lots of love. So glad you are going to keep talking about your PhD. The proofreading thing sounds cool too. Please take good care of yourself. 😊💙

[@JentheLibrarianreads]

People are usually shocked when I say books don’t matter as much as people, but it’s true for most libraries that the services they offer are to help people, not help books 😂

[@GemofBooks]

I’m so far behind on BT, but just wanted to send some love 💕 Also, huge kudos on going from zero GCSE’s to PhD! That is so cool 😎

[@mojimoji5368]

I'm so sorry to hear about everything you've been going through. But I'm looking forward to hear you talk more about books AND your PhD!

[@oliviaturner3345]

I'm very sorry to hear about your loss, Jen. Hope you have some soft days ahead.

[@heathergregg9975]

Ah, Jen! So much going on - and dealing with Covid too - monstrous. I'm just seeing this a week later, so hope you are at least physically much much better. For the lighter stuff, I'd encourage you to keep your channel name. You may no longer be a paid Librarian, but you're still one at heart, that counts. If you still have that compulsion to put books in logically accessible groupings, rarely pass a bookshop without going in, love to give book recommends, flinch when someone talks of shelving their books by spine colour... you have a librarian's soul. And yay for more PhD content on your channel.

[@JentheLibrarianreads]

I’m a little bit better, thanks. Just taking it easy and being kind to myself ☺️ You’re absolutely right, I think I’ll always be a librarian at heart so I’m sticking with the name

[@zoezheng1908]

So sorry for you loss! With the grief and all those stressful events, it would take a lot of time and strength to process and get through. Hope the solidarity and support of all your loved ones can bring back a sense of normalcy, and finally may help to heal bit by bit. Love your PhD content! Basically I discovered you were one of the rare cases in my feed that I watch every video of yours. No matter it is book related or not, I just love watching you talk. I subscribed your newsletter, it is also nice to hear from you there, to get all the lovely musings and thought. Your plan to focus on Phd and book and booktube sounds nice! The focus can be a helpful tool to ground oneself. And it’s just nice to be doing something you feel passionate about!

[@JentheLibrarianreads]

You’re so very kind, thank you for your comment (and for watching all my videos). There are a few booktubers who I watch every video from, no matter what it is. I wish I had time to watch more but sometimes I have to prioritise. I’m hoping to get back to the newsletter, it had a bit of a bad start with everything that’s been happening, but I’ll get back to it soon.

[@grahamriley9311]

I'm sorry for your loss. Thank you for sharing with us. I hope things improve for you soon.

[@kitthereader]

Gosh, you've really been through it recently. I'm sorry for your loss. I hope leaving work and being able to focus on the things you enjoy and are passionate about gives you some positive moments moving forward. Leaving school with no qualifications and now doing a PHD is a phenomenal achievement that you should definitely be very proud of. (I've also DNFed those three women's prize books. And two more.)

[@katiejlumsden]

Sorry to hear about your dad and sorry things have been tough. Good luck with your phd focus. I always find it really interesting when you talk about your phd.

[@JentheLibrarianreads]

Thank you so much ☺️

[@josmith5992]

So sorry for everything you’ve been going through Jen especially losing your Dad. Stress often leaves to sickness doesn’t it. I think it’s wonderful you’re doing a Ph.d and how motivated you are, enough to put up with financial hard ship for a while. Happy to watch whatever you want to talk about 👍

[@JentheLibrarianreads]

I should have known I was going to get really sick, because you’re right that stress always leads to sickness. I think I was just too mentally exhausted to prepare myself and then it came as an even bigger shock.

[@ameliabarlowbooks]

so great to see you, Jen - I've been thinking about you and sending positive thoughts. your determination is such a great quality and we'll be here with you for the long haul no matter what! one day at a time. take care ❤️

[@JentheLibrarianreads]

Thank you so much, you are so lovely ☺️

[@SupposedlyFun]

So sorry that life has been a bit of a pile-on at the moment. Take all the time you need to get back on track. Loss can be traumatic even without complicating factors, and it will just take time to sort through it all. Yay for more PhD content! Your work has been fascinating to follow--and you should feel free to share what you want on your channel. You deserve to be proud of the accomplishment, too. And I think you should keep the channel name--being a librarian will always be part of who you are, and you're kind of keeping it alive with your channel anyway. I hope you feel better very soon. ❤

[@bookinwithdebra]

Hi Jen - I've been on a booktube break so I'm late watching and commenting. I'm so sorry to hear about your Dad and you being so unwell. From my experience, loosing a parent is life changing in so many ways. Keep looking after yourself. I hope you're new work directions are going well. Wishing you all the best and take care x

[@JentheLibrarianreads]

Thanks for you lovely comment. I'm still very far behind on KZbin (watching and commenting...and filming) because I keep getting overwhelmed by everything, but I'm just taking things slowly and easy, and getting around to things when I can. I do hope you're doing well xx

[@scallydandlingaboutthebook2711]

My father died suddenly and unexpectedly. I feel for you. Also I have found you see the best and worst of family behaviour after a death. And the badly behaved ones can be a surprise. Be kind to yourself. Your plans sound wise and positive and I don't just mean the crumpets.

[@JentheLibrarianreads]

Thank you, I am being very kind to myself, and with plenty of crumpets ☺️

[@marcellaandherbooks8733]

I'm sorry for your loss Jen, you've really been through it recently.. And yes for phd stuff! I love how enthousiastic and proud you are of it! To be honest I don't watch all of it, but I really don't get when people have to be an ass about it, no one forces you to watch anything... Anyway, loved hearing from you and I hope some good things are on the horizon ❤

[@JentheLibrarianreads]

You’re absolutely right, there isn’t time to watch everything even if we wanted to, so I don’t expect people to watch all my videos if it’s something they’re not interested in. But I would never dream of telling people they shouldn’t film a certain kind of video just because I didn’t like it

[@OziasJay]

One of my strongest life goals is to do a PhD (mental health/social media/trans young people) so I love hearing people's experiences completing one. So please, BRAG!!!

[@JentheLibrarianreads]

You should definitely do that phd someday, sounds amazing!!!

[@bookofdust]

Sorry for your loss, I’ve just been plunged in family health issues as well and being back into the family hoarder house after decades of not being there. Do DNF Memphis, I would if I could go back in time, it’s awful and is shocking that it’s on the list. Wandering Souls is my current leader of what I’ve read, it’s heartbreakingly beautiful. Hang tough and keep moving forward.

[@JentheLibrarianreads]

Thanks, I hope things are okay for you at the moment with your family issues as well. And thanks for the encouragement to stop reading Memphis, I ditched it very quickly after I posted this video.

[@RovingReader]

I care about YOU and anything you want to talk about. I'm so sorry about your dad!

[@JentheLibrarianreads]

Thank you, you’re very lovely 😊

[@BookishTexan]

I enjoy your Ph.D. Videos and your chatty videos. Hope you feel better soon. Grief is hard enough without illness.

[@jacquelinemcmenamin8204]

You are due some good luck. Dosed with Covid and still battling on. I’m so sorry about your father Jen. Sincere condolences 💐

[@mradcaqbdb]

Oh my goodness. You have not had it easy recently. Condolences for your father. I really hope that your COVID symptoms clear up soon! I love hearing about your PhD! It’s just a fascinating process to me. You should be proud of yourself! You definitely deserve it! Hope to see you again very soon, but in the meantime, be well and take it easy. ❤

[@N_Garamond]

Jen, I am so sorry for your loss and dealing with being sick during your loss. And yeah, I love hearing about your PhD! And shockingly, we see that you read BOOKS for your PhD, which I love hearing about too. The rest of the process is great to hear about as well and now knowing your story with school. And yes, at least in the US you get your high school diploma or if you don't finish high school you can take the General Educational Development (GED) tests which if you pass is considered equivalent.

[@BellesBooksbyCarly]

Lovely to see you again Jen, and sending you lots of love and solidarity - I hard relate to a lot of this video - always here if you ever want to chat about ANY of those things! Stay awesome xxx

[@sabinelipinska8614]

Thank you for sharing. I am sorrow for your loss! Once a librarian, always a librarian. 🙂 It´s your channel, so you are free to talk about what you like! To me the personal content is as interesting as the book stuff! Keep going, all the best!

[@GunpowderFictionPlot]

You have excellent taste with the books you haven't enjoyed on the women's prize, Pod and Dog of the North, terrible. I'm so sorry to hear about your father. Anybody who says they're only there for the books, clearly doesn't know that UniTube is massive and very popular... But also, maybe they can pay you for book reviews.

[@lisaedwards8505]

It’s so lovely to see you, Jen! You have had so much change and stressful events the last year - I’m so sorry for all of it. But I must say how happy it made me to see your video today. And your “I’m proud of myself” statements about perseverance and your accomplishments deserves a “hell yes!” chorus. 💪🏼🙌🏼🎉 Please be well and keep doing exactly what you’re doing with your channel. Much love to you from across the pond. ❤️

[@LaurieInTexas]

I'm sorry for the loss of your father. I can't imagine dealing with that while you are feeling so sick. I also can't imagine telling you what content you should not put on videos. If I don't enjoy something someone is saying I either unsubscribe if it's frequent content or I stop watching that video or I skip ahead to the parts that interest me. I'm not required to watch so why gripe to the content creator about what I choose to watch. It's so weird to complain about what you say about yourself. And definitely you should be proud of yourself and mention your accomplishments.

[@jenniferlovesbooks]

So lovely to see you again. You should absolutely be proud of your achievements. The work stuff you have pending sounds really interesting. Sending lots of love 💞

[@CharlieBrookReads]

Sending you all the love xxxxxxx Just utterly devastating for you and your family xxxxxxx I remember your first channel name😉 Pod was terrible I agree 😂🐬🤢 I hope you physically and emotionally start to heal soon xxxx

[@Bessie-On-Wheels]

It's lovely to see you back. I love all your content no matter what it is. Being a Librarian isn't something you have, not something you necessarily do at any one time. So if you don’t want to change the name of your channel then name then don't.

[@GuiltyFeat]

So sorry for your loss. May your father's memory only be a blessing for you and all your family.

[@recentlyseenreading]

I wish you and your loved ones an easy passage through grief even though I know that passage is rarely easy.

[@PageTurnersWithKatja]

So sorry for your loss. Take care of yourself and I hope you can recharge. This really resonates. I haven't posted a video since the end of January for similar reasons and I'm hoping to post a video this or next weekend but in the back of my mind I'm wondering if I talk about personal stuff or just go straight into books.

[@FullyBookedMelissa]

My heart goes out to you Jen. My dad died suddenly 8 years ago. No matter your age, you never feel old enough to lose a parent. ❤ Wishing you peace

[@emrmch]

I'm so sorry for your loss. My dad passed away on the 19 March and it was still such a shock even though we knew he was dying. I had the same situation got the flu the day after the funeral and am still struggling to get over it now. No one ever talks about how exhausting and emotionally/physically draining losing a loved one like a parent is on the body.

[@JentheLibrarianreads]

Thanks for your kind thoughts, I’m very sorry to hear your dad also passed away. It’s incredibly draining physically and emotionally isn’t it. I’m trying to be kind to myself and allow myself lots of time to sit around and do nothing if I need to. I do hope you’re doing well.

[@andeeheartsbooks7447]

So sorry for your loss and the illness and everything hitting at once. If I was working on a PHD I would pat myself on the back now and then. (I had a baby at 17 and managed a Master's in my 30's and am damn proud of it!) Haters gonna hate. I also think channel name should stay the same. You may not work as a librarian, but clearly are a librarian at heart!

[@JentheLibrarianreads]

Thank you 😊 I’m definitely keeping the channel name, you’re right I’m still definitely a librarian at heart. I also did a masters in my 30s, it’s damn hard isn’t it! We’re amazing!! 😃

[@lindysmagpiereads]

🐬✔️❤️…. Pod… not so much.

[@ameliareads589]

I'm doing a s*** sandwich comment. I will watch everything you are going to share, wether it is about private stuff or about books. I am very sorry for your loss. I have lost all of my loved ones already, so I know far too well what grieving means. I'm quite sure you didn't hear about the awful behaviour of the author of Memphis towards a reader/reviewer, but it is definitely worth searching for it on KZbin or the internet. No interest whatsoever to support this author in reading her book. I am sending you lots of love and support. ❤

[@JentheLibrarianreads]

Thanks so much for the tip about the author of Memphis, I looked up some videos and wow 😮 I really don’t understand why the author is attacking people so much. I stopped reading very quickly!

[@actual-spinster]

💕💕💕 [i dont have spoons for coherency so have some emojis!!!] 🌞📚💖💫

[@JentheLibrarianreads]

🥰🥰🥰🥰😘

[@FullyBookedMelissa]

You should be proud of your PhD and people who comment on it need to get a life 😒