I'm not like other girls... I read?

[@PokhrajRoy.]

As a child, I was told I was superior because I read books and didn’t act like other kids. However, I see that as harmful now because why does everything have to be in a binary? Why can’t I read books and be a silly child? Also, the elitism when it comes to Reading Circles in Elite Schools is another Video Essay.

[@the_socialphobic_girl]

My thoughts exactly cuz I can relate

[@dva5610]

Exactly people get surprised when I say my fave book is east of Eden but I like listening to playboi carti

[@collyflower6623]

@@dva5610 ayyy we love an East of Eden stan lmao

[@mightymeatymech]

Oooooh yeah they liked gassing me up for reading well too lol. Assumed I was gonna be sooo smart and make money as a lawyer or doctor... I'm going back to school for art LOL And yes the advanced tracks are elite everywhere. I did k-12 in three states total

[@mightymeatymech]

@@dva5610 lol or when I say I love crime and punishment and Mr pickles in the same breath

[@maditales]

I find it weird how people have made reading an "aesthetic". I've been a reader for 10 years and never thought that there is an aesthetic behind it especially because everybody reads. Some people just read more. I also think it is funny when people expect all readers to be the same with the idea of the reader aesthetic.

[@ZechsMerquise73]

I've known of it as an aesthetic since I was a young kid. Was very surprised to find out that adults unceremoniously read books with no chair, blanket, background music, snacks, tea, sweater, etc.

[@andromeda_2410]

All thanks to the influencer culture, making the most normal thing into an aesthetic

[@wiriwiri1668]

You must've been way too young then, because I remember when Tumblr was the popular website, it was CRAWLING with annoying people pretending to be nerds/intellectuals or w.e

[@Reverse_Cowgirl-cat]

I think people who treat reading like this are the same people who use stylized stationary and things in the physical. It's definitely a mood, sometimes even ritualistic, like the way they prepare to get cozy before reading, organize book collections etc. I on the other hand, i am an unceremonious monster who listens to audiobook files at 1.25X speed, stop right in the middle of a chapter and still sleep well at night lol. However, I see those other types of readers and daydream I could be like them, be all organized and content with the mood I've deliberately surrounded myself with lol, I don't think I truly have it me tho.

[@otakumultifandom]

@@Reverse_Cowgirl-cat agreed. It doesn't have to be cause reading is our own solidary experience with our lecture and how we relate to it

[@emmamyhre9296]

OK, I squealed seeing this, because Emma Chamberlain said in her architectural digest video something like, “And I mean, who reads these days?” And I was like……. A lot of people?? 😅

[@simiki.]

yeah it gave me the same vibe as kendall jenner saying « we’re really weird »😜 bc she likes basketball in her housetour video

[@GlamGoddes101]

Same! no one pointed that out

[@dabestest1387]

Frrrr!!!! As if she didn’t start reading because she saw a bunch of other people reading on social media.

[@abigailh7715]

Emma is such a follower.

[@kaleidoscopeofmemories5023]

I know! that kind of rub me the wrong way cause people have been reading for centuries and a lot of people of all ages still do it lmao

[@brekaterina]

the pandemic really made everyone take things they like and turn it into a commodity or aesthetic 🙃 edit: I think people are misunderstanding what i mean. During the pandemic people couldn’t go out, so normal things were heavily romanticized and made into aesthetics by influencers with nothing better to latch on to. this put pressure on normal people who just enjoy things like reading for the pleasure of reading, to then put some sort of flair and image into what they are doing. There is so much pressure to “do it for the gram” rather than just do it because you enjoy it. This has been a problem but it got 1000 times worse in 2020.

[@stephlastname9101]

This is so true. Especially on Tik Tok.

[@zkkitty2436]

I don't disagree with you but to me it feels like this is just the end result of capitalism, where we consider everything even our private lives a source of capital. I think the pandemic maybe just accelerated an already existing trend.

[@amayasimpson9920]

exactly, and it’s making my brain explode; it’s like everything is inauthentic

[@riyyahinglis3148]

it's insanely annoying

[@biggusdickus7390]

in a way it makes sense. we were stuck inside, not doing any of the cool, fun stuff that people usually post about so people instead made “aesthetic” content about what they were doing at home. at the same time, it is so sad and telling that even when we are facing a worldwide, life-threatening public health crisis, we still feel the compulsion to make our lives appear interesting and put-together in order to gain the approval of random people online.

[@charityspov]

The good thing to come out of this trend (for me personally) is rediscovering my love for reading. I was that “gifted kid” that loved to read but I think public schools take the fun out of reading. When reading became mandatory, it felt like work. I stopped reading for fun because I had so many books to read for school. One of the downsides of reading becoming trendy is overconsumption. The reading challenges encourage people to buy more and more books & most people aren’t buying local/checking them out at the library. Capitalism doing its thing once again.

[@revolutionaryndn]

THIS ALL OF THIS!!

[@levislilthottie]

YES EXACTLY

[@Meg_intheclouds]

THIS! So lockdown happened and I had a stack of books on my shelf that had build up over 2 years of not really reading. The last day of school in 2020 I was round my friends and knowing we were going into lockdown I asked her for some recs that I can binge and she recommended the knife of never letting go by Patrick Ness, and omg I took it home, we went into lockdown and with nothing else to do and no other commitments (I did A LOT of extra circulars) I binged the entire series in a week! And I was in love. I read the rest of my tbr and then I turned to social media for new book recs because I got really into my kindle and I needed new books. Then I found booktok and from there read my way through the Grishaverse and the selection, then about august found my way onto queer booktok, and Omg it was everything! Then I fell into a reading slump in year 11 because of school, then this new reading community and what I dub the “Rory Gilmore effect” has made me realise how much I really do love it and I’m slowly building up the momentum again

[@Dani_1012]

Something that I also hate from assigned reading is that it is So Much that you don't have the time to read stories of your own interest AND that the books assigned are just.. so BORING and the class reading it out loud makes it worse. I can count with one hand the amount of assigned books I've liked, books I otherwise wouldn't have heard of or picked up, that's the only positive thing I've gotten so far

[@mavohq]

exactly what happened to me! i used to love reading until late middle school when my undiagnosed autism/adhd really became apparent and reading anything was associated with doing schoolwork in my brain. i’ve been getting back into it lately by reading stephen king since i really love horror!

[@b8376]

i’ll never forget this one new york post article that accused the hadid sisters of using books as accessories because the sisters weren’t at the same intelligence level as emma watson

[@diorswrlld]

I remember that too. Society really flopped with that take cause what??

[@araceliiris]

wtf

[@ChrisBrooks34]

I think something about books is that you can kind of judge a person based on what they read or based on what people want others to think that they read. So a glance at someone's bookshelf give you slightly curated but genuine idea about them. Nevermind that some people have so many books they don't read. Remember support your local library and bookstore. In the age of Amazon every bit can help.

[@Heavin_]

Even buying used books from other seller on Amazon helps too!

[@ZechsMerquise73]

My book shelf is 20th century fantasy and poetry (mostly Beat), essays and autobiographies by musicians, and Chinese-American children's books. Care to analyze me?

[@wiriwiri1668]

Dumbest shit I've ever read. That only applies to closed minded people. If you saw my book collection it would be all over the place. You can't judge a persons character based on what they read, tf💀💀

[@wiriwiri1668]

@@ZechsMerquise73 she can't. Thats not how it works, psychologically. For example, I read books of various religions, yet I don't practice a single one

[@afrosamourai400]

@@wiriwiri1668 yeah but it says you are interested in religion as a concept, even if you don't practice any religion.

[@khalilahd.]

Omg that fanfict in the beginning was a STAPLE in my childhood 😂😂 wattpad had me in A CHOKEHOLD as a kid

[@aaasthaa.3440]

Girlie you are literally everywhere💀

[@aaasthaa.3440]

@@nahla8328 i am watching another video right now and she is there too.

[@Riaaonline]

It still has me in a chokehold 🙈

[@poorva.s]

Same!!!

[@MB-ic3ou]

As someone who has been an avid reader since I was a child, seeing reading become 'cool' does't bother me and actually makes me happy. What does frustrate me though is that because reading has become trendy, there is an insurgence of authors who are sweeping the shelves who I wouldn't say are good writers. In reading's development from 'nerdy' to 'cool' there is an obvious gap between those who are well versed in good writing and those who just follow trends. What I hope for the future is that reading continues to stay popular and the more well read people become, the more people start to recognise bad writing from good writing and give actual talented authors a chance.

[@aisling8308]

Colleen Hoover 🤮

[@Mikyshor2323]

For the better part of my teenage years I read trashy books, and now I read mostly classics. I too think people should hang onto whatever keeps their love for reading alive, no matter for how long. They'll eventually get to the good lit.

[@EmyN]

Yeah everybody starts somewhere, right? But actually, if you only read "low brow" books I don't think it's a bad thing either, if that's how you enjoy books and/or is what makes you read then great!

[@MissTambourine62]

I've always been bookish, to the point that right now I'm doing a Ph.D in English Literature. I've never liked One Direction that much, but one of my best friends in high school actually made me go with her to a One Direction concert. SHOULD I HAVE BROUGHT A BOOK WITH ME, DID I MISS MY CHANCE TO BECOME THE MAIN CHARACTER?

[@diorswrlld]

You in fact miss your chance but you probably saved yourself in the long run 😭😭😭😭

[@zamjed8057]

@@diorswrlld what do u mean saved yourself 😂😂

[@JLynnEchelon]

The funniest thing about those stories is how silly it is go to a concert and read. I understand skipping one to read, but doing in while the performance is going on?

[@annagarciamolina4851]

I think it’s really interesting how we put books morally above other kinds of media. We tend to doubt thing we read online but not the things we read on “paper” and I think it’s important to ask ourselves why? One of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned is to loosen the respect for books: anotate them, draw on them, write over them, fold them, lend them and loose them. They should feel more like a conversation instead of a sacred object in my opinion.

[@anju8376]

yup, including the bible. ppl who use the bible like it was penned by god or whoever miss out on treating it like a book of philosophy, meant to be questioned and read alongside other books of philosophy.

[@illegalhunter7]

@@anju8376 the businesses surrounding this book RELIES on the lack of critical thinking in its readers though.

[@noel2223]

At least with something like news - paper is generally thought to be more reliable because instead of having to fill 24 hours worth of content, they have one deadline. It allows for them to do more research and get their facts more straightened than online articles and headlines. Also less infotainment than online

[@tastyratatouille142]

Ive read 100+ books and i own only 30 or 40 and others i just read ebooks lol

[@nad3506]

THIS!!!!!! i swear these are exactly my thoughts!!!!!

[@amaZINGsabrina29]

i've been working for a library system for about a year now and i've found that patrons who read almost exclusively booktok or bookstagram books refuse to browse. they usually place their item on hold (which can have a wait of upwards of 100+ people on it,) pick it up, and repeat the process. while i am happy people are reading and finding joy in it, i am sad that they are just reading what they are sold and aren't venturing to truly find their own tastes.

[@baconaxolotl]

i was like that in the mid 2010’s only reading what’s popular with tumblr but now i buy a lot of my books either from asking the bookstores cashier their favourite book or if the store has it, the blind books “wrapped up in brown paper with the tropes/themes written in the cover”

[@jennymesas4699]

This is what's weird to me, I literally just commented the same, but I think it's a sign of our times, everything is fast paced and for the picture, I never thought that books could fall victims to consumerism and they did, but even so I still think it's good that reading has become popular, because I truly believe people will eventually start picking books because they spoke to them and not because it's the popular book of the week, and they'll find their own taste

[@megantracy8750]

I usually put stuff on hold bc i browse online for what i think id like! my library has most of the books im interested in already checked out

[@EmyN]

They likely will eventually

[@heyitsa9511]

Ive always had trouble explaining this “phenomenon” but you capture my thoughts perfectly! It’s interesting how reading has always been tied to social status. I’ve loved reading since I was old enough to pick up a book and it’s been interesting to see how through my generation readers have gone from being seen as nerdy/boring/anti-social to now interesting/cool/enigmatic. I feel like there’s never been a time when reading could just be reading.

[@JessicaaBurgos]

When I was 16 I published my first poetry book, which is a paperback. One of the first things my dad told me was “well a lot of people don’t read paperbacks, it’s all about audiobooks now” which I didn’t believe was true. He also told me to “write something people want to read.” I’m now 21 and published my second poetry book and years later, I always think back to that moment to realize how he couldn’t have been more wrong. Im happy to touch people with what i’ve written so far about relationships, healing, and growth. I hope to reach more people. Books can truly help people feel, reflect, encourage growth, and are just nice to read in general.

[@sta._rina]

What’s the name of ur book?

[@shadowblair9342]

Book name?

[@JessicaaBurgos]

@@shadowblair9342 hey!! my poetry book "finding closure" is available on Amazon! it follows the beginning to the end of a relationship from both the woman's and man's perspective, written by me :)

[@JessicaaBurgos]

@@sta._rina hey!! my poetry book "finding closure" is available on Amazon! it follows the beginning to the end of a relationship from both the woman's and man's perspective, written by me :)

[@hena3984]

I don't think the aesthetisisation or romanticising of books is a bad thing, I think it's the opposite. Sure, there are probably people just collecting people for the image, but certain types of people will always be chasing an 'image' of some type anyway. Rather an 'image' of reading, encouraging a larger number of people to read again than something else! As a big reader, I think it's so exciting that it seems to becoming more cool.

[@MrSoy007]

I agree, why are we complaining about people reading more and finding joy in it.

[@MrSoy007]

I’ve been a bookworm since childhood but I’m so happy people are reading more because I’ve been trying to get people in my life into reading😅

[@takijahrichardson8752]

Omg the Wattpad descriptions gave me violent flashbacks

[@tangyorange6509]

Violent??? Did you spasm??

[@Ameliazee]

Literally just commented about WattPad. She can write a whole book and I’d read it 😂

[@alyssia7239]

Actually, books have been used as a sign of status for a very very long time. Think of those magnificent royal libraries, those full giant noblemen bookshelves, etc. Those were all marks of status. They were here to impress, because 1. books were expensive and 2. books meant you were cultivated. Moreover, they first meant you were educated, as most people weren't capable of reading in the first place. Books lost parts of that status when education became more widespread and also with the rise of paperbacks ("ugh, cheap books ?"/s). But it is still very much present to this day, even if we had a moment where reading wasn't considered "cool" anymore, I do believe it will always come back. But I am also a school librarian so I hope reading stays cool !

[@alyssia7239]

I also wanted to say, I loved the chill vibes in this video. Very soothing, thank you :)

[@DoodleWrite]

I see books being romanticized as an extension of dark academia and cottage core, yearning for simpler times

[@estefaniaboujon6830]

Exactly! Always been, always will be, it only depends for whom

[@ziircon2347]

Fun fact: the other reason that Alexander the Great's troops would have been shocked by his ability to read silently was that in ancient Greek (and other scripts like Classical Latin) the most common way of writing didn't include spaces between words (scriptio continua) and so it was incredibly difficult to differentiate word endings and beginnings while reading silently.

[@KehindeOdeyemi]

Although I agree with pretty much everything you said in this video, I am actually very happy that reading has become ‘cool’ again. As a young child around 11 or 12, I was obsessed with reading. I read all the time so much that my teacher actually gifted me with a collection of Roald Dahl books. It’s safe to say that I went home that day screaming and crying of happiness. However, as I grew older, I lost my touch with books and stopped reading. It wasn’t until I was 15 and in school I started to study poetry and plays like ‘Macbeth’ and ‘An Inspector Calls”, that my love for reading came back. I fell in love with English literature, and it was all I wanted to do. Hell, I almost even changed my future career path because of this. *oh how I miss gcse English lessons* I recently turned 17 and I started reading again last year, and I don’t regret a thing. Books have always been something that I’ve enjoyed, and a sense of comfort. Although I wish some people wouldn’t read just because of the “trend” or because they think that it’s “cool” and an “aesthetic”, I’m glad people are reading more nowadays. Also, we cannot refuse to ignore what the “trend” of reading has brought. BookTok, and the popularity of books in general has helped save book stores and has changed the book industry. Social media may have its fault, but it has changed and helped the book industry to grow and us as readers are grateful. I’m so sorry for the long comment, but I am very happy that I have rediscovered my love for reading, and I hope new readers find solitude and happiness as they turn the pages of whatever material they read, book after book.

[@jesusisapisces]

An Inspector Calls is soo good. A hauntingly great lesson on morality.

[@KehindeOdeyemi]

@@jesusisapisces yes it is! I absolutely loved every second of it

[@jennymesas4699]

While I think it's wonderful that reading has become this popular, I can't help but feel icky about how commercialised, fast paced and showy even reading has become. As you said, reading was rather a personal thing, you read for you and you usually read what you liked, but now with tik tok, most people only read what's popular, and what their influenced to buy, not venturing into new books to form their own taste, they read what's hot on the app and then move onto the next popular thing, and making sure everyone sees that they're reading. The book stylist is the saddest thing I've ever heard, to use books to appear as a certain person instead of forming your own taste and actually read the books is almost dystopian, it's like nothing can escape this for-the-picture fast paced lifestyle. But still, even with all that said, I think the popularization of reading is a good thing, because I'm sure people will eventually browse books that are not recommended by influencers and find their own taste.

[@hannahs1162]

I’m a lifelong reader but I’ve definitely gone through phases where I read more than others. It’s been my one consistent hobby- not to be quirky but just because I genuinely enjoy it. I appreciate so many people getting into reading post pandemic because I’m more open to trying different genres now that I know how well loved they are. Power of suggestion I guess. It’s made me get out of my comfort zone.

[@NicholeGreenNicholeGreen]

Don’t Worry Darling is basically one big “Imagine” by Olivia Wilde

[@Kittikee10]

how?

[@asukalangleysoryu8449]

i always loved reading and i think the aesthetic posts are cute and introduced me to a lot of good books. i’m kinda glad it’s “cool” again.

[@shelley6373]

There are two types of people who saw this thumbnail- people who wondered when reading stopped being cool, and people who wondered when it ever was.

[@brunafontes6346]

I was always a big reader, and growing up in a small town people would judge me as "snob" just for reading in my free periods at school, when I was just minding my business lol

[@jimin8006]

I actually do like reading becoming aesthetic, I just wish it arrived earlier so I wouldn’t made be made fun of. couple of years of ago when I was in school from middle school to end of high school I was made fun of for reading and ppl said why would you read and made faces at me and would say that they don’t even like reading for school subjects It was the reason I left it and tried to take ‘cooler’ hobbies like dance or swimming, I wish my inner child in those times heard all this so I wouldn’t feel like an outsider or someone weird, it hurts a lot when someone makes fun of what you like when you are a kid.

[@lunarrainbows]

Amen.

[@savvy3tv632]

Same here. Even teachers would tell me to put done my books and hang out with the other kids. I’m like, no! Why would I do that when I could escape into my fantasy world?

[@alyssa.rodriguez99]

idk why reading was ever not “cool” 😂 books have played a huge role in my development over the years

[@unamejames]

My now wife was originally interested in me because she saw me carrying around Battlefield Earth and wanted to know if I was serious or reading it ironically. If it worked for me, it can work for you.

[@m.josena4485]

Ironically , this was my thought when I was prolly 11 y/o to try and see if anyone would ask about my books , though now seeing this , i shall go back to carrying books around lmao

[@beebs234]

reading is my favourite hobby but i don’t think partaking in it makes me unique or different. millions of girls read. being on social media has made me realise i’m not as unique as i thought.

[@Алена-д5ж7ю]

I see nothing wrong with either aesthetics or reading being trendy again. I used to be a reading kid and somehow literature exams put me off reading for a while and now I’m back liking books, coziness , ambience in the background etc. I guess, it’s cool we turn to books and I see it as a way to slow down ourselves and reflect for a while in a fast paced world since books are slow consumption , while other types of content e g music films are fast. Booktok is influencing the market but so what? That could be a good start for new readers to explore their taste , the quality of books? Well, there’s a reader for any book I reckon.

[@Osomote]

My favorite kind of books are those written by African authors, I think it’s cause I can easily relate and I’m just so proud of how far we’ve come. I joined bookstagram and I found myself trying to read what everyone is reading, all the romance and fantasy books and it felt bleh, I started to lose my love reading it felt like I was forcing myself. Now I’m saying no more, I’m going to read what I like and not what is trendy on tik tok

[@monsev.arellano9125]

What kind of books do you like to read?

[@Osomote]

@@monsev.arellano9125 more of African literature with drama and a hint of romance but not too overwhelming. Hbu?

[@lilydelacour]

To me this is so bizarre. I grew up in a family of bookworms and a lot of people in my elementary school loved reading. I was in a school club only dedicated to Swedish author Astrid Lindreng which was one of the most popular children book authors in the 90s/ 2000s in Germany.😅 I never thought about reading as something „special“ and no one around me did. Only when I was a teenager and befriended a couple of people who didn’t enjoy reading, I realized that it‘s not for everyone. Even then I never considered it to be some „exotic“ hobby. 😅 But it‘s interesting to see/ hear/ read how different everyone‘s experiences are. 👍🏼 The only person who calls me a nerd for being a bookwork is one of my closest friends who I met at Uni studying English literature....

[@jannah5513]

i think emma is actually a person who does truly enjoy things like reading, art observing, thrifting etc. her dad is literally an artist and in some of her older videos she would to mention how much he tried to encourage her to read, so it would make sense that she is following suit. i think that she says some of the things that she does partly cause she is a pretty witty sarcastic person, but also because she knows her audience. and making an entire video of what she’s been reading will get backlash from other readers that she is as you said “just following the trend”, and will also get backlash from non readers thats she’s becoming boring and she’s changing. it really is a win loose situation when you have so many people judging your every move.

[@paigernest]

Fr people need to let her live because she is a kind and interesting person who inspires younger women to be the same and hating on her is so lazy

[@Alushforlux]

Right it was absolute sarcasm and I’m not even big on Emma & I got that

[@LivFP]

My instinct when she said "who reads" was definitely sarcastic. i dont think she was pulling a quirky move lol . she clearly enjoys reading, she's been talking about it for a year

[@Alushforlux]

@@LivFP she has☺️

[@jannah5513]

@@LivFP EXACTLY

[@ava.catherine]

The intro had me cracking up not the green orbs 💀😂

[@hagenre8909]

reading isnct cool- acting like you read to show that you are intelligent and educated is cool

[@khalilahd.]

Lmfao me as a child 😂

[@hellokittied]

isnct

[@punpunim]

these subliminal "nct" messages are getting out of hand

[@choco1199]

👌

[@yessica5231]

I literally used to consume books like an addict. I personally love that more people are reading, but it sucks that the new books are so _bad_ and the most generic, problematic trash gets pushed more at bookstores. And yes I have noticed how some of the girlies do wear their typical bookish outfits with the tote bag lol!! Hopefully we can make reading accessible to everyone tho.

[@theboredprogrammer1114]

I thought it's just me who noticed the forgettable and generic trends of books nowadays. I stopped reading books and shifted my interest in reading manga (part of Japanese language immersion) as manga offer broader plots and usually they are so out there and little to no sanitation with words or images. I just love plots thag can get as gritty as possible. Bonus is I get to see nice art too. Personal preference but I wasnt into Wattpad fanfics and I don't like the culture of shipping (which bled into manga and anime communities). Idk, maybe I've just gotten old (30 something) that my tastes have drastically changed. Priorities have changed and I hesitate to buy paperbacks in favor of ebooks to save more money and space.

[@gradstudent1011]

17:50 the flute(?) that starts playing in the background at this timestamp is just amazing to me for some reason. Suddenly, it feels like you're talking about a magical world.

[@samantharose1001]

yay appreciated the inclusion of BookTube in this discussion!! I had no clue about the celebrity book stylist thing 🫢

[@Alushforlux]

Me either lol

[@morganjanaeee]

it’s really annoying to me how reading became an entire trend tbh. i’ve lovedd reading since elementary school and everyone would always think i was odd because i enjoyed reading. now since the pandemic everyone uses it as an aesthetic. like do you actually enjoy reading? also booktok is so annoying they recommend the most awful books like colleen hoover. horrible writing. and now all these girls at my school suddenly read. ha. but i will say that i like some of the book community because when i was younger i didn’t really have people to talk to about my reading so it’s exciting to also have people to be just excited as me

[@yagirlzee]

I thought I was the only one who noticed the increasing popularity in reading! I've read all my life for fun, but once I was out of elementary school, telling other people that one of my hobbies was reading would earn me a blank stare. Everyone read in elementary school because of required reading, but continuing it after made people think you were "weird"? But I honestly didn't let that hold me back: I was that one kid that carried a novel in their backpack at all times and I was in a book club with my friends for like 4 years. Because I had a good amount of friends that liked reading too, I never really thought it made me "not like the other girls" I guess. Also, once you really get immersed in a good fantasy, contemporary, or historical fiction, it is basically like watching a movie in your mind. It's entertainment; it's not like you're reading a textbook for fun. Tbh, I can't imagine gatekeeping reading now that it is becoming popular. Like more people are reading? Yay! Although things like BookTok have their issues (like recommending the same books over and over and mislabelling every single book as enemies-to-lovers), I appreciate how they are normalizing/popularizing the reading experience.

[@LillyClaireW]

“his green orbs light up” the way I SCREAMED lmaooo

[@bettyreads222]

'tastyfully well-read' is such a funny phrase to me. the rise of booktube for the past decade basically made reading a way to connect with other readers and the fame that came from it for some folks has definitely been critiqued so it's interesting to see the rise of booktok and just reading being regarded as good. i've always been a reader so it's been interesting to see the waves of reading interest and the influence social media has had on reading patterns too.

[@ZechsMerquise73]

the thought that someone can be well-read in a bad way made me wretch a bit

[@Siberius-]

I wonder how many people read for the sake of reading in and of itself, rather than because they actually enjoy reading as a hobby and actually care about the thing they are reading. I never got into book reading. I just take too long to process information and I pause to think about the shit too much, and I get distracted easily and then don't recall what I just read. Then because it took so long, I can kind of forget the exact context with what I'm reading. Also I know I won't retain like hardly any of it after reading (or even WHILE reading, so that's bad for remembering minor but important plot points), so it's a bad medium for me to collect information from, so really that reduces it to entertainment in the moment, and for that I'd rather a movie or something. Even with movies I pause and rewind that shit all the damn time, but at least it's still a lot faster to convey information compared to me reading a book.

[@kadp8096]

I had a huge feeling this type of critique would come up, especially the annotated book aesthetic

[@lifeofachristiannursingstu9498]

Totally

[@adris4009]

what's wrong with annotating?

[@morganjanaeee]

@@amandak.4246 YES. i hate it so much it’s so annoying. also people WRITING in their books i hate it so much

[@jordanbaca8294]

for me booktube pushed me back into reading because it helped me navigate what books to read i had just always felt so overwhelmed when going into bookstores and didn’t know where to even start so booktube really help me navigate through that

[@aubviously]

As someone who loved books before I knew how to read myself but hadn’t actually read a book outside of school for years because of burnout and terrible phone addiction, the romanticization of reading helped me find books that piqued my interests and get me back in to reading. In all four years of college I think I read one book that wasn’t assigned for class, and this year I’ve read 22 books so far because I was genuine excited about them. I think reading being performative is in the same way social media in general is- everything we’re posting is specifically curated to say something about us just like the music we listen to, the movies we watch, and clothes we wear all signifiers of what we like and who we are. I think one the reason we view performative reading as especially frustrating is because we tend to hold literature to a higher degree than we do other media.

[@aurelia160]

I think reading fulfills two purposes. One is learning, which is not just learning about facts and theories from non-fiction, but also about the lives of others from fiction. The second is the practice of reading itself. Taking your time and concentrating on something for an hour or longer, appreciating the usage of language, using your own imagination, thinking about what you have read. Some people claim that it doesn't matter what you are reading, as long as you are reading, but I don't agree with that. Different types of book have a different type of effect on us. There are books that are ingeniously written, books that tell incredible stories and books that really make us think. You won't find this type of value in just any book you pick up. I am not saying that some books are worth less than others, but to truly get the value out of reading, I think diversity is very important in the material we choose to read. Try to read a little bit of everything. Naturally some types of books will attract us more than others, but I think it is very much worth it to see what is out there

[@cheyboo6699]

I love how thoroughly researched this is! I have added 'The Shallows' to my reading list. Also, go off Ms. Reese Witherspoon!!!!

[@otakumultifandom]

Oh wow what a topic. Yeah I think I noticed that shift too. The one for appearance & then anything else that's just that like for (self improvement/good stories,less screen time like choosing apples over chips, etc)

[@casieziegler3646]

I kind of enjoy the romanticization of reading and books, it has allowed me to reconnect with my love of reading I lost when I got to my senior year of high school. I’ve been introduced to many different types of books and new ways to enjoy books (such as annotating). It’s helped me to branch out with reading and I think that’s awesome.

[@icarlyrocks1011]

“You have reluctantly agreed to attend because apparently she doesn’t have any other friends” this made me scream laugh 😭

[@Rainjojo]

Honestly I don’t care if it’s a “trend”, I know how long those tend to last- true enjoyers of books and reading in general will stick with it and maybe many are discovering there love for it once more through this “trend”

[@userjay912]

I was wondering about this today. I got into reading really early (kindergarten lol). When my little hobby became too apparent, it was weird to see adults make it into some phenomenal thing, 'KidS DonT ReAlLY rEaD ThEse DaYS'. I didn't think much of it because reading was as fun as playing video games. It was even weirder to see people my age associate reading with being uncool. It was like an unsaid rule. I personally stopped mentioning reading as a hobby. Then suddenly, there was this revolution and reading became 'cool' again. Because aesthetics.

[@NeonFrills]

Great analysis that put into words a lot of things I was noticing online regarding the surge of interest in reading. As a booktube channel, I (like many) got my start in 2020 when I wanted to do something other than watch youtube and play animal crossing for 8 hours a day. I think it's grown in popularity, in particular the trend of "reading vlogs" comes out of the quarantine era when no one could really do anything besides sit at home, so why not make a video about what you are reading when stuck at home? it seems for many lifestyle vloggers, just another flavor of content that they can add into be multi-faceted. Especially in combination with the "that girl" trend showing how we value people whom read as somehow better than others.

[@Oshrieki]

It’s wild that we’re out here trying to make reading a distinct personality when it’s like??? There are so many kinds of books??? In the world??? Reading any kind of book in general doesn’t say anything about you?? That’s not even touching the weird intellectualism w ppl obsessing over ~tHe CLaSSicS~ oof

[@violetfarren7822]

to be honest i find it really cute, like yes i wanna read your annotated pages! like people just wanna show the world what they enjoy doing. its cute. let them. and if it becomes an aesthetic who cares, everything will be an aesthetic one day and everyone will be mad about that too.

[@ml37856]

the book obsession is great in that small authors are being recognized but books are becoming extremely expensive and those who struggle financially might not be able to afford them. we also now have people buying 60+ books to stick them in a TBR pile to never be touched again. the capitalism of it all is ridiculous. as someone who read all the time as a kid, i can’t help but miss the times when reading was not a competition and more of a past time.

[@zkkitty2436]

I wonder how audiobooks factor into this? I have gotten into audiobooks more recently because they are more accessible to me than traditional reading, and has made it possible to reconnect with my childhood avid love of reading. It used to be the main thing I did with my time and due to various factors I can't read books the way I used to. I do think about how chronic illness makes it much harder to divest from technology especially given the physical isolation we are still forced to maintain because people are pretending the pandemic is over. I feel shame about my tech use but things like reading (which people tend to point to as an easy alternative to using your phone, a la "get off your phone and read a book") aren't necessarily accessible, and the things that make them accessible REQUIRE tech use.

[@jewellie4707]

I love booktok and booktube because I'm finally getting the book loving community I wanted so badly when I was younger and didn't know many people who liked to read. I used to have to wait until movie versions of books came out to finally be able to fangirl about them with other people. However I noticed a lot of booktok just zeroes in on one particular author or series, forms an opinion, and that's pretty much the end of the discussion. I wish there was a lil more variety. Also I'm totally on board with reading becoming a ✨️cool✨️ thing. I'm just suffering with the aesthetic bit because I read all my books digitally so instead of looking well read it just looks like I'm vapidly scrolling on my phone forever.

[@ugne3949]

Tbh I don’t see a problem about it, and I’m kind of happy that reading is becoming a trend. It’s helping out so many of our local bookstores, and charity shops, as well as the authors. However trends come and go, but this opened up the idea of reading for so many people, especially kids. There’s kids in our school wanting a book club, and I hear so many people saying they’re going to the library now. It’s keeping libraries open, and I’m happy about it. Also, I’d rather have influencers encourage reading, even if they’re doing it for aesthetic. It’s better than most of the ideas they encourage on social media.

[@gqueirogabr]

It seems like you only SEE stars showing "literary prowess" vs any type of conversation of what they read and what they get out of books with example. Just comes off as a photo op.

[@Hyzentley]

This feeling that reading is a chore, not something done for fun, man... I loved reading sci-fi and fantasy as a child and teen, but then as an adult I became mentally ill and my concentration does not work well with reading anymore, and I feel guilty. Feeling like I have to read only made it worse. Its slowly getting better again now, but still it sucks, and I heard I was not the only one

[@kayleeluisa1239]

I love that’s it’s become more of a social topic as well. When I see my friends or sisters after a while we all like to discuss what books we’ve been reading.

[@MegaJohnnycage]

I am gen Y I used to read all the time when I was younger, fell into the same screen time issue, it really makes you feel sluggish like you're only eating junk food. Completely agree reading feels like you're eating a salad after eating nothing but fast food, it's really refreshing especially reading in the morning.

[@umvemnyama]

I love the conclusion. Some of us don't use social media. The only form of social media I use consistently is KZbin. Its basically television for me. Yet, I am someone who fits the asethetics* of social media influencers. I literally have one follower on my Insta and its a private account. So, the point I'm getting to is that sometimes we are interested by things in our own ways (and not because of the influence of what's trending). It wouldn't be right if I stopped by hobbies which help me with sobriety and other goals I'm upholding rn because of what is trending or what makes me seem like a poser or a pick me kind of guy. I think this assuredness in myself is reinforced by my lack of interest in social media. Do whatever you like and is cool to you if its healthy. You can paint without trying to be famous for it, its good to express yourself. You can play guitar or any other instrument without feeling the need to share it with the world. But its okay if you do want to share it with the world.

[@nannybells]

i'm a book historian and curated shelves of beautiful books that the owner never reads are a thing since around the 15th century (though even before when books were copied by hand and cost a fortune they still meant that the owner not only had money but was smart). books have really always represented Something, be it magic (for example cursed books!) or intelligence (such as happened after printing and once literacy became more widespread). it's very interesting and definitely not a new thing, so i wonder if it will ever go away. probably not, especially if you pair it with what amanda mentions in the video, online social awareness. i do think reading is very important even if the reader's intentions are showing off on social media. maybe something will stick! also the idea of reading at a concert is hilarious, but having a book around for when you're bored is sooo helpful, i try to do that instead of staring at my phone. it does make me sad that people with books at random places may look like they want attention though.

[@a.__mie7544]

This essay was so well done!! I‘m new to your channel and this is one of the best essays I‘ve seen this year. I really loved the little intro and the cohesiveness. Agree with you on everything you said. As someone who also got back into reading (heavily) in 2020, seeing this trend now is definitely an… interesting experience

[@tony5896]

I feel like the rise of reading as an aesthetic could also be related to wealth and class. Like reality tv compared to film or pop music compared to a symphony, those with status and privilege determine “high” art vs “low” art. Social media has always been aspirational and books signify not just the means of affording a popular new release, but even more the luxury of time.

[@emmacowling419]

I've always loved reading (I was hyperlexic as a kid due to autism) but I fell off it too once I got on social media. I used to not only eat my way through massively long series but I would read them over and over again too. I read so much that my parents would often take my books off me at night so I would go to sleep (anyone else?). I was still somehow labeled a huge reader even when I hadn't read a book in years. I'm pretty happy about reading becoming "cool" again as it got me back on the bandwagon (even if I was heading in that direction anyway since I was about 15/16), though I didn't realize it was "cool" until earlier this year. I'm liking how easy it is to find good recommendations lately as I was stuck in a rut before of exclusively YA contemporary romance - Adam Silvera, Becky Albertalli etc - before Tiktok happened. It's still true that reading is not super common but loads of people now are reading when they didn't before - and I think that's great. My only issue is that when a book gets popular on Tiktok, it's suddenly kind of ruined - you can't find it in a store anywhere, it gets a bunch of negative reviews because it's been hyped so much, and you can't talk about it without being labeled cringe or basic. I'm getting sick of the viral popularity that is Tiktok, but I've always loved books and I'm happy now that I have more people to share them with than ever before.

[@coramarcu3741]

I love that this is a critical analysis of the trend without gatekeeping reading. your videos are great!

[@z1tkvn]

It's honestly always been like that. In my country in the past, people used to buy books just to put them on their shelves because not having books in your home meant you were poor and/or uneducated. Now, you are considered "cool" for having books on your pictures. I don't think it's that bad, the worst thing that can happen is that some people pretend to read, but I think that's a much better alternative than reading being seen as nerdy or for it to be looked down upon, so even if someone, especially a child, wants to read they feel bad for doing it..

[@ZechsMerquise73]

its like the staircase made of books in Gatsby

[@gojivicky261]

I felt so understood when you mentioned the fear of short term memory/attention span... I started to read a year ago (bc I never really cared and never was able to read) because of my English lessons, my teacher bought us Fahrenheit 451 and we read it together. Thru this book I understood the importance of books.. and bc books started to become popular again I got a lot of videos recommended about books.. I was really scared how fast the world was spinning and how my attention span made everything a little problematic so my goal was to read a lot of books, finde fun in it, learn more and being entertained with slower past things.. thanks for the video

[@Theempirestrikesmax]

the beginning got me bout to go watch the After series rn... u forced my hand

[@kelechiememanka]

The thing is that the books that are trending these days are mostly filled with p*rnograpic scenes rather than an actual good story.

[@lilybartgremlin]

and that same people think they're somewhat better because instead of watching porn they are reading it lol

[@kelechiememanka]

@@lilybartgremlin thank you! It's honestly the same thing

[@claudiahe3658]

i really enjoyed this video essay, so well done and so well-researched! thank you for sharing your thoughts

[@theannareich]

So glad you included Emma Chamberlain's comment in the Architectural Digest video because I saw that and was like, what? but I couldn't find a comment under the video addressing it :D

[@sleepingpotato942]

ive found i have a similar issue to what you mentioned, i used to read books so often when i was younger, i could sit and spend my whole day reading and do it 3 days in a row. ive noticed in the past few years i have barely read any books, and most of the time when i try, i struggle to just sit and read it all (or most of it) in one go like i used to. most of the books i have read recently have been read over the span of months, something that a few years ago i would have never done. i was just wondering how you managed to stop spending so much time on the internet and get back into reading? i have been trying to for the past month but i keep choosing tv, youtube, tik tok, etc over a book, even if they are books that im sure i will enjoy. if anyone has any suggestions or advice i would love to hear it as i really want to get back into reading! also yet another great video!

[@f4wneyes]

hi! i've had similar problems, and something that really helped were these "read with me" videos on youtube. it's basically just a live video of people reading, and you're supposed to read along with them. it sounds a bit sad and perhaps it's just a way to soothe my need of constant stimulation, but it does the job! alternatively, videos of a fireplace or piano music (with headphones!) really helps me get into a sort of "reading bubble"... lastly, my mom always told me it takes ~15 minutes of reading until you get into the "flow" and actually immerse yourself in the book, so i'd keep that in mind :') i hope that you're able to pick up on reading again

[@freshtomatoes2455]

that was a fascinating video! I’m glad I found your channel. One of my thoughts is that I’m happy more people on the whole have discovered books and bookstores are more filled now… but I do think losing the authenticity of reading and book choices is a tragedy. Reading is far more profound than a so-called “hobby for the elite”; book choices can show a deep part of a person otherwise unknown. they show what the person is willing to spend time in- whether that be a kind of book they’ve always read, or it shows they are open to new things when they explore different genres. a bookshelf should be a reflection of a person’s life, their contemplation, what they enjoy, all the people who’ve impacted them… and etc. Making that contrived by “professional library curations” and the such is so sad (btw: I’ve been a reader for my whole life)

[@choco1199]

This is beautiful🥲

[@ane6091]

I believe anyone should be able to do whatever they wanted; sharing bookish posts on insta or tiktok doesn’t mean you wanna be perceived as “smart”, they may want to share their love for books and get people to read and enjoy the books they fell in love with. I don’t find it wrong that reading has become and aesthetic; it’s the same as surfing having and “aesthetic”, so what? if people want to romanticize their reading, then let them do it. They’re happier that way and the experience is better. For me, I’m SO glad reading is “cool” now, or popular, because it means more people in the community and more people to share ur love for literature with.

[@jesusisapisces]

I agree. There are a generation of well moneyed older people who are dropping thousands of British pounds on books from a famous London based bookshop called The Folio Society because of how pretty the covers are and how gorgeous their bookshelves will look. Books have always been considered 'aesthetic'. It's honestly nothing to complain about.

[@salaad_aisha019]

I've loved reading all my life but imo I'm pretty happy that It started rapidly growing as a hobby. I feel people should let others do with what they want whether they want to use it for decor or actually read it, I dont like how other people are 'forced' to literally read if they have it in their home.

[@Ray03595]

Can't just accuse every girl of being "not like other girls" because they like to do something you don't do/or also enjoy. Becoming such an overused phrase. They ARE reading the books... If it was just for posing there would be a point to this, but I see ppl reading all the time. Reading never became unpopular, social media just became a new form of entertainment and changed the way we did read content/books.

[@sophsbookss]

sally rooney has some really interesting interviews about marxism and books and how buying books is like buying yourself a place in a social class of people who read books.

[@allinepavan]

If it helps people to actually READ books and not just take pictures of them... That's great. If not... Oh God... JUST LEAVE THE BOOKS ALONE ;-; // Loved your video, by the way. Congrats for the great content 🥺♥️

[@birbamour6]

I kind of like aesthetics because not only are they beautiful to look at and allow people to discover what style suits them, but during the pandemic, I remember missing the academic environment of my university and the Academia aesthetic really made me feel like I was in my university, even when I was not. It also made me love reading again for fun, not just for school. I think the "reading aesthetic" is fine as long as it inspires people to discover books they truly love and don't take it too seriously (not make an aesthetic your whole identity), but I understand how some people can take an aesthetic too far and make it only performative. I don't know if any celebrities pretend to read for the aesthetic, but I don't think we should assume that they are (as an acquaintance told me they didn't think celebrities actually read books and only do it to be relatable).

[@jennymesas4699]

Idk how to say this in English so it makes sense but you're so well articulated and you speak so well, the way you express ideas and get to the point of them has such a nice pace, and your contextualisation of 2012 made me so nostalgic, I was 15 back then and living my best life as a directioner/Tumblr user/avid reader/not like other girls girl

[@stacybell15]

Let’s just appreciate how much of the hard work has been put into making this video!!👏🏻

[@amber711-t7e]

“Y slash N, that’s a beautiful name” I CAN’T

[@s00005]

Hmm I’ve mixed feelings about this. I think there’s too much judgment we throw at women regardless of what they do. What if these models actually enjoy reading? It’s possible folks. I think it’s also telling about us in what we assume about people who post specific content, we can easily stereotype others or project a bit of our own insecurities into the way we perceive them. Booktube for me can be a good source for book reviews but Instagram is more tricky considering the appeal for the post comes from the aesthetics first. But on the other hand there’s a sense of community there and good reviews and recs. Frankly beside the stylist you mentioned, I don’t see the harm with reading being trendy. That can seriously get young people into reading, I see that as a win. I also don’t see the problem with loving the aesthetics of reading, that as long as you don’t make it the embodiment of your personality. It’s harmless and pleasurable to romanticize the mundane of our hobbies and pursuits. The aesthetics can lure people in, true, but we’re speaking about reading! At best one could become a bookworm, at worst one would have posts of books in social media until they slowly grow out of it.

[@alessandrasmith339]

When I went to a 1D concert I wore my favorite black dress and a bib necklace of crystal flowers because I wanted to look like the prettiest girl at the concert 😊 But of course I wore converse so I wouldn’t be just like other girls! My only complaint was that security did not let me bring my poster that said “I love you, 1D”

[@Botanicbooknest]

This was really good video and you have such a calming voice and vibe! It's so interesting to read about people's different experiences of being a kid who loved to read. I've loved reading every since I learn how to but I never felt like it was a unique thing per se. It didn't make me feel different from others and no one really made a big deal out of it - they just knew I loved reading and would gift me books for my bdays 😊 If anything people are more focused on it today and joke about how I spend all my weekends reading, though never in a mean spirited way. Having been an active bookstagrammer before the pandemic, my least favourite thing about the community was the gatekeeping and snobbery around especially classics and books some deemed "better" than others. From what I see online now, it seems like things are getting better the more mainstream reading is becoming again :)

[@leaaaaaahhhhh]

Yes to the gatekeeping and snobbery! I studied literature at uni, and the pedestal people would place certain books on would always aggravate me. It was James Joyce's 'Ulysses', until we actually studied it in a subject, at which time we were promptly told by the 'Joyce expert', well actually, 'Finnegan's Wake' is the more challenging and groundbreaking (read: superior) of Joyce's work. I realised the pinnacle of literature was always going to shift to the work that we mere 'plebeian' students hadn't yet read, because the professors and lecturers always had to have SOMEthing to prove their superiority above us. In my final year I did a popular fiction subject and it was so much fun! I realised, actually, all books are worthy and we can enjoy discussing them all, and essentially you should just read what you enjoy (also, I loved the professor who ran that subject because she never had that same air of superiority - it was clear she had read widely and was intelligent, she didn't need to 'prove it' with subtle brags about the books that she had read, that were too challenging for 'the masses')

[@MartaCMorgado]

the intro really got me

[@jodijodijodi]

i think people forget that tiktok is dominated by teens and therefore the book culture on there is going to be ya orientated and people will want to follow trends. it doesn’t worry me because i think it will pass. the thing that does irk me about the current book culture (especially in regards to youtube and tiktok) is that everyone is reading the same books. now, there’s nothing wrong with there being highly anticipated books that everyone can share together. but when it’s every last one it’s infuriating. i’ve noticed even myself as reader falling into the habit of just adding a book to my goodreads tbr just because it’s popular. i don’t even always read the synopsis. i hope i and others will begin to stop this. i remember when i was younger and not chronically online i would just go to a bookstore and if the synopsis stood out to me i would pick it out on my own terms. if more people did this we’d have more unique hidden gems being talked about. most my valued books on my shelves aren’t popular tiktoks but books i picked out from a specific store in a specific area of my city, which have different cover editions which aren’t widely available everywhere. we’ve lost the personality to our bookshelves. anyways it’s late here and i’m off to bed so sorry if this got rambly or didn’t make sense but i just wanted to share my thoughts

[@csk1452]

I would die for a part 2 to this video talking about the influencer books like all the Colleen Hoover type books

[@TheAbigailDee]

Okay I love reading always and I'm happy to see people getting excited about it and sharing recs. The performative nature is frustrating but I think you're right that there are worse things. But side note....are the book stylists hiring 😹 I wouldnt love the dubious nature of the job but it would be fun!

[@Whoareyoupeople900]

It's great if more people read. Just once I'd like to meet a stranger and rave about a book we've both read.

[@Alina-zj3zf]

i am sorry but you just have such a cute and positive vibe around you, I immediately followed^^ + elaborating and discussing these topics, I am such a sucker for "podcast"like youtubers like you; love that I found you :D

[@alexellea40]

pertaining to chapter one of this video, the semi-colon has a history that is really interesting, as it was one of the first pieces of grammar to assist silent reading, whereas grammar had usually only served to help the phonetic presentation of reading.

[@tiffanyc965]

This video was incredibly well researched and left me with a lot of reflections. Thanks for making it!

[@sam-km8qh]

a lot can also be said about performative activism when reading. Those who actually want to educate themselves will unabashedly tell others to “read a book” on the subject, and when the ignorant masses don’t want to be told what to do, they PRETEND to read a scholarly article or book that discusses the activism in which they feel they must be included in

[@AyDeeAichDee]

When I was younger (9-13 years), I would stay up until 3am so I could finish reading my book. I would finish 500 paged books in a week, books were my life. Until I went to high school. Reading books was labelled as nerdy and cringe. I quite literally, did not touch a book for two whole years once I fell into the popular crowd. Once I was about 15, the girls that used to say that reading was “nerdy”, began reading and spending time in the library because it was trendy to be different and “defy the nerd stereotypes.” It’s funny how our society develops over time. Years ago, it was considered really weird if you weren’t like everyone else. And now, it’s considered fascinating and special? So much so that everyone tries so hard to “be different”, that we all end up being the same, yet again. We are so obsessed with performing for other people, i don’t understand people who pretend to “be different”, because you’re doing just the opposite? It was also made a thing that you can’t be bookish and also have fun. It’s either one or the other. I love books, I read them whenever I can. But I also love parties, and watching shitty KZbin videos and wasting my life away by binging Netflix. Why is everyone so obsessed with being something? Why can’t we just…be?