A Quick Chat on Book Consumerism and an UnHaul

[@brooke5258]

Big advocate for library use, especially for audiobooks. They're expensive! But I was able to read over 60 books last year thanks to Libby and Hooplah.

[@racheldemain1940]

I love my local Library and Volunteer there. I find with these fancy new Kindles and Ereaders that they now have email on them so unlike someone starting a conversation with someone with a book, i don't try and look at what they are reading on the Bus or Something.

[@KatieColson]

We love an unhaul paired with a meaningful and informative conversation. Great work

[@thejenmath]

I was such a blind book buyer when I first discovered Booktube about seven or eight years ago. I made so many BookOutlet orders. But as I got older I learned my book taste and how to curate my shelves. Unless I find something at a little free library or isn’t he clearance section of a bookstore, I read a book from my library before I buy it so I know if I actually like it. Some still get me, but it’s helped my wallet a lot.

[@ECA-14]

Same. 🤦🏻‍♀️ I purchased so many YA books because they were incredibly hyped on booktube. ‘Lo and behold, I am NOT a YA fan.

[@cassie_hart]

I always have bookshelf envy when I watch youtube or tiktok videos, but I love my Kindle and I love audiobooks! I can listen to so many more books while I cook, clean, drive, grocery shop etc. I'm super grateful that my library has an excellent selection and I never run out of things to listen to. Sadly, my print TBR pile has been mostly ignored for the last few years - even though the ones I buy are ones I know I will love!

[@empisani8512]

Thank you for saying this! I'm all for book recommendations, but it IS very aggravating when individuals make you feel like you're not a true reader unless you have a giant at home library. I try to get my books/audiobooks from the library or on my Kindle first, and then, if I love it and think i will reread it, I buy the physical copy (usually second hand from Thrift Books).

[@mchjsosde]

It feels like a waste of space/money for me to buy a book that I'm not certain I'll be rereading or have someone I could gift it to

[@MossCrossings]

Great video, I love when people talk openly about this topic and I liked hearing your thought process for consuming books in a realistic/practical way! Also, I think an important point when talking about how we all value different things is that not everyone even has enough money to make choices about what they want to spend it on in the first place. Like, if your whole income every month is consumed by rent, bills, groceries, and debt payments, and you have little to no discretionary spending money left over, you literally can’t afford to buy books even if you do value them and would ideally want to have a physical collection. 100% agree that you shouldn’t have to go into debt to “prove” your love of stories by owning tons of books!!

[@ghostiegail7768]

When I was a teen and obsessed with booktube, I definitely felt like I was supposed to read (and buy) 50+ books a year, which ultimately burnt me out from reading for a few years. This is my first year really getting back into it, and it's been great to say I don't care about strict reading challenges or reading the most popular books anymore. I think a lot of it is the mindset you choose to go in with/what you value.

[@Sophie-qh2ce]

I recently had a massive unhaul of books I read when I was a teenager and like going through them, I don't even remember half of the plots. All donated or given away to friends with kids who would enjoy them but I kept like maybe 10 books I felt emotionally attached to and/or had special editions of out of like close to 100 books. Let me tell you, the SPACE that freed up oml! My new book buying system is to only buy books myself on kindle as it's cheaper but I will allow a trip to a bookstore with gift vouchers to buy nice editions of books I know I will want to read again and again (looking at you The Bone Season) and so far it's working great for saving money and space!

[@hellapainyo]

There are lots of lil libraries in my town so I comb through my books every quarter and see if there are any I need to “unhaul” and donate to those. That said, for anything with spice, I put a sticky note saying that.

[@AModelWhosRead]

that's a great idea!

[@griffinmoth]

additional support for ereaders (and audiobooks): theyre much more accessible! you can adjust the size, the font, the background color and contrast level. I have so many friends who have learning disabilities or adhd or are low vision who benefit massively from audiobooks or ebooks

[@sweetreads4824]

Yesss huge advocate for the library! My kobo e reader connects to my local library and it’s so good!! The popular books take a few weeks to become available but the wait is good for delayed gratification hahah👌

[@BecxReadz]

yeah nothing makes you realize you don't need so many books as having to pack them up and move them. After moving every few years all my life, I've realized that and now only keep books I rate 4 or 5 stars.

[@AModelWhosRead]

Moving was DEFINITELY an eye-opener 😂

[@Tiffs-bookshelf]

I jumped on this book box buying in 2019. I took an inventory late 2021 and now that I got rid of over 200 books, sold most of my duplicates, gifted some, and made some money on SE books. I am being more cautious and for the first time in 3 years, started skipping boxes I don’t want or need. It’s been freeing :).

[@AModelWhosRead]

👏👏👏

[@OfMiceAndDestiny]

I easily fall into consumerism because of my adhd. Whenever I pick up a new hobby or get back into an old one... I end up going overboard. I live in a tiny space. 10x10 room. It's hitting me now how overwhelmed I am with stuff. I have over 200+ physical books and 400+ ebooks that I haven't read yet. I'm on a no buy at this point. I made a chart where every 10 books I read I put $20 into a little fund. When I get to $100 in that fund and have unhauled some of the physical books I've read to make space or ones I know I won't read, I'll take myself on a little book shopping trip. This way I read and unhaul more books than I'm bringing back in and can start getting my collection to a manageable spot. I also have been using my library for new books I want to read and give myself a little monthly $15 budget to buy any ebooks on Amazon if they go onsale. Hopefully these little things that have worked for me can also help anyone else who might be struggling in a similar way. 🧡

[@joanne1486]

I found the Once and Future Witches interesting as it was a good mix of feminism, history and magic and it’s sapphic, overall a good read you should give it a go 😊

[@colleen6644]

I get attached to art on the version of a book I read, so if I destroy a copy from constant reading (cough cough Dune), I will spend money on an exact replacement. Books make me so emotional, but I don't want multiple copies. I want to remember how I felt when I first read it.

[@ayajade6683]

I check my library first; if they don't have it and it's a recently published book I put a book request in the hopes they buy it. I can't afford to buy every book I want to read which is why I try to get second hand books when possible which really curbs the impulse buys. There's 25+ books about to leave my house for little free libraries around me it's a shame no one wants textbooks I'd get so much shelf space back

[@lornatw]

I have actually watched quite a few of your videos going back to 5 yrs at the mist and I didn't even realise when I saw your channel today that I'd visited before! This is exciting, I've officially subscribed now I've found you again :) and will also be catching up on the years you started plus everything I've missed in-between!

[@BethanFuckingRose]

I’m obsessed with The Raven Tower, can’t understand why no one else talks about it!

[@ckat13]

My problem is getting one edition of a book (like paperback) then later after I know I love it I find the better edition (special or hardcover). BUT I've been through so much with the paperback so I'm emotionally attached to it but I still want the fancier one

[@ckat13]

This is me saying I own at least 2 copies of some of my favorite books

[@AModelWhosRead]

Ain't that just the way

[@takayafang7855]

Last year, I did a total of 3 unhauls and I'm happy to say that I have slowed down on buying books. Most of the books I got rid of were books from value village or bookoutlet and the majority of them I never even read. But my shelves look better and I may do another unhaul this year, who knows

[@joanne1486]

I also unhauled over 150 books about 2 years ago and now unless I really like a book it goes to make room for more books

[@Impossible326]

One of the things I do to set a budget is getting a gift card. Put a certain amount of money for the month to use and if I don't use the whole budget, I can save it for next month. As for unhauling, I can't 😂😂 The wheels are set in motion and there is no stopping the hype train. I only get books where I am confident that I'll be reading again. So far all of your recommendations have been wizard. My wallet hates you lol but I really love your videos. I'm happy. No regrets. But hey, one thing in mind because for comics, which I collect. There are different cover variants for one comic. People and myself included have spent over big amount of dough just buying the same comic, just for a different variant.

[@AModelWhosRead]

I am a wonderful enabler 😅 but the giftcard idea is genius!

[@kathleenschwab4645]

I think of supporting authors. It is disposable income though. And they spark joy, so Marie Kwondo is appeased.

[@anavargas2837]

Ok I have not read The Sister’s of The Winter Wood so what I am about to say should be ignored but OMG ITS BEAUTIFUL DONT GET RID OF IT!!!! Please keep it and read it and let us know if it’s worth it because I want it simply because it’s gorgeous😭❤️

[@racheldemain1940]

I love a physical book and have one or two books where i have bought another copy as the hardback is too nice to read so i buy a "reading" copy from a Charity Shop. I get ideas from these Book Tube videos to read something from my own shelves like trying a new Genre or a book that has been on the shelf for ages. Some of us are not in the position to be gifted ARCs or Books by a publisher but we can get them in other ways. I just wonder where you find the time to read them all!!

[@AModelWhosRead]

Bold of you to assume I have the time to read them all 😅 Really I only ask for ones I know I'm 100% interested in!

[@alivenreads]

I buy books that are published years ago. There are second hands books that are much chipper.

[@samsshelves5022]

I am also book dragon 🐉

[@staplegun07]

I think this is an interesting discussion, because I have also seen examples of people buying pretty books because they are pretty first, and without either caring what the book is about or even having no intention to read the book. I don;t know how *common* this is, but it does happen and its just weird to me. I do, personally, find it a bit sad when books are bought and paraded purely as an aesthetic, since in many cases the same images could be picked up as a poster or small print (which would also be a lot cheaper). I think I find this odd (and frustrating) in a couple ways. It first doesn't make any sense to pay full price for like... a hardcover book, without intending to actually read the book but just because pretty cover. It also feels like it kind of cheapens the actual fiction itself, treating it purely as an aesthetic or visual prop, rather than the narrative that one or multiple people put a TON of work into. I also love the recommendation for people to be more ok with picking up books either through ebooks or their library. I believe that library sales actually give authors a decent split when compared to the usual individual book order, but it also helps to get their book in front of other readers who can pick it up at no added cost to them. I think the push for digital books it also pretty good, though there have been problems with people not realizing how "return" policies with Audible can actually lead to the author not getting paid for sales (if a book is bought and returned before Amazon would pay the publisher/author, then it does not count it as a sale... since it was 'returned' before they had to actually pay someone for the sale). Like... ebook sales have become a big part of book sales, and that's great for both cheaper versions being made available while also reaching readers who might otherwise not pick up a hard copy. But... some of the practices of platforms are dubious. Love when you have these kinds of videos!

[@AModelWhosRead]

Damn, you should do a video on this 🙌

[@anniejolynn862]

There’s magic in OaFW There’s magic in OaFW

[@stephendempsey]

It's crazy. Thousands of dollars in a year! Unless privileged then it's a toxic situation where we have people facing financial ruin and hardship so they can feel a part of the 'community.'

[@KayanKollyn]

hi, AModelWho'sRead. I want to share one book with you. "Kayan Kollyn- the Spiral of the Ellmott and Messenger of the Secret." a great fiction book of adventure, mystery, ART, ancient CRAFFARTT, and science. once you read it you really love it. the story speaks about all dimensions of life. awaiting the video on this book! and this video will definitely increase your subscribers, God bless you. and, our good wishes for your channel. we like your content! thanks for the recommendation.

[@_Mike.85]

DID PEOPLE FORGET ABOUT LIBRARIES?