Book Unhaul Challenge #2 | Illumicrate Edition 👟📚

[@aBowStar]

A great way to let them go 👏 This year, I wasted so much time reading 350 pages of a book that I hated before I finally decided to dnf 🙃🙂

[@libraryunbounded]

It is indeed! But to be fair, it wasn't my idea. One of my subscribers - Christy, suggested it and she is a legend for that! 💖 I hate letting books go unread, so she gave me the tool to be able to do it guilt-free. ✨😊 Ah, been there! Which book was it, if you don't mind sharing? 😅

[@aBowStar]

@@libraryunbounded Christy is truly a legend ❤ I don't mind, I just hope not to offend anybody as people usually love this but it was Babel by R. F. Kuang🙈 It should have been fantasy and dark academia but more than that, the book liked to point fingers about a few issues (I don't want to spoil them, they are included in most of the reviews though) without claiming anything in return as if it all were so simple. I found no real development, just the repetitive proving of the somewhat one-sided view of the world. And, I also don't like victimizing of only the "right" characters....ok, I'm sorry - still too raw in my mind 😂 (and please note that I don't take anybody else's enjoyment of this, stories are of subjective matter ❤)

[@AlvrodBooks]

I hate the feeling of wasted time. I usually don't have a page/percentage for when to DNF, is mostly a feeling of "I'm done". I might DNF at 10% or might be at 85%, certainly this last one feels worse

[@libraryunbounded]

@@aBowStar oh, I also disliked Babel quite a bit! And mostly for the exact same reasons. In fact, it made my Worst Books of 2023 list. 😅 Indeed, people could get upset when their favorite books (or anything, really) are concerned. I sometimes do too. :)) But we are none of us entitled to never getting upset or to never hearing an opinion contrary to our own. And you said it very nicely, stories are a subjective matter. We would all do better to remember that 😉

[@libraryunbounded]

@@AlvrodBooks oh, very well put! 💖

[@kyubidzns]

There are no bad people, only bad actions

[@libraryunbounded]

Very profound. Though I am willing to argue that, for one, that depends on the point of view. And also, enough bad actions make you a bad person. Or, would you, looking back at history, dispute that?

[@ellyra412]

Your complaint about Some Desperate Glory is my exact complaint about R.F Kuang's books. What happened to subtlety and nuance when handling social issues (babel) ? And suffering doesn't make you a good character (The Poppy War).

[@libraryunbounded]

I couldn't agree more here. Babel made my Worst Books of 2023 for those exact reasons (among a few others)

[@amieg]

The way I love your vibe!

[@libraryunbounded]

Amie, you just made my day ❤️

[@Jonathan-B_]

Okay, the aesthetics of this vlog! Love the switch to a different scenic view for each book. Special edition views for special edition books? A shame such pretty books don't live up but free up that space!

[@libraryunbounded]

Yes! I'm so glad you liked them! ✨ I wanted to do something different this time and I felt it only appropriate to utilise the beautiful views around the city. Well, the thing is, you can make any book beautiful; the cover and design are a separate art form. And I already know that what I value in books, and what the illumicrate team values in books rarely match. Indeed, more space! 🌻

[@BooksToAshes]

Omg what beautiful scenery in this video ♥️ the quality is incredible

[@libraryunbounded]

Thank you so much, Ash! ❤️ It's really beautiful around here at this time of the year 💖🌻

[@justwonder1404]

3:53 - damn it, always so frustrating when a beautiful book doesn't meet expectations. Same with people.

[@libraryunbounded]

Both very true. And both a great reminder that external beauty and internal value are two entirely different art forms :))

[@aMatoslegustaleer]

Some Desperate Glory is a fantastic view of child soldiers, propaganda, and queerness inside the military. She's not a likable character. She's a victim fighting the system with the tools they teach her. I really recommend this book ❤

[@libraryunbounded]

See, that's the tough part when doing a challenge like this - you can only get so much from the story out of 30 pages. 🙂 I am really happy you liked the book and while I still think it's not for me, I am willing to consider the very real possibility that I was wrong 🌸

[@aMatoslegustaleer]

@libraryunbounded I know!!! That's why I never DNF before the 20%.

[@libraryunbounded]

@@aMatoslegustaleer I admire your persistence :) But being that I didn't enjoy a single page of what I read from Some Desperate Glory, I am rather convinced that it wasn't for me. Life is short, I'd rather spend it reading books that fit my preferences. :)

[@MargueriteLaporte]

So happy to see that you decided to keep the Witch King, I don’t think this book is for everyone but I personally thoroughly enjoyed it! I can’t wait to hear your thoughts on the full book once you get around to it:)

[@libraryunbounded]

Well, I suppose that's the case with most books. But I sure hope I like it as well. :))

[@nyxian_grid]

You ended up reading the Hugo award winner with Some Desperate Glory - I haven't read it, but some friends that have have also not particularly enjoyed it.

[@Talking_Story]

Just found your channel from the Viking vid today. New sub here the channel is awesome!

[@libraryunbounded]

Oh, this is so kind, thank you! I owe Johan big time now 😂✨

[@Talking_Story]

@@libraryunbounded we all do! Someday our channels will have to collab on something.

[@libraryunbounded]

@@Talking_Story oh, I would love that! I have been watching your videos these past 2 days and you are so entertaining! 👏

[@Talking_Story]

@@libraryunbounded thanks so much.

[@justynajusty]

Room for more books!! Yay! 🎉

[@libraryunbounded]

Hahaha indeed! I simply can't wait to buy the books I've been eyeing for so long! 💖 Though, to be fair, I am kind of hesitant too. Don't want to go overboard again 😅

[@justynajusty]

@libraryunbounded 🤣🤣 completely understandable. If that ever becomes a concern, you can limit yourself and do another challenge, maybe, if you want, such as if you read 10-20 more books that you own, you can reward yourself with another bookshopping, or something like that. 😄🤷‍♀️

[@libraryunbounded]

@@justynajusty indeed! 💖

[@starlasell5698]

❤📚🌊🌻☕️🍷 I absolutely loved all the book settings!! Thank you for the reviews! I hope you enjoy the rest of the Witch King.

[@libraryunbounded]

Thank you so much, Starla! I'm so happy you enjoyed them! 💖💖🌸

[@ABookForest]

I was eyeing Some Desperate Glory by Emily Tesh. Not so sure about it now. I might try a shorter work by her like Silver in the Wood to see if I like her writing.

[@libraryunbounded]

You know Kim, it might not be so bad - as I mentioned, the writing style and setting was good. And in all honesty, one can only get so much out of 30 pages. So maybe it gets better later on. It has mostly good reviews on goodreads. I just don't like heavy-handedness when it comes to themes of social nature, because it's super prevalent in modern literature. But I might also be overly sensitive on the matter. Either way, there's always the chance that I judged wrongly 😊🤷‍♀️

[@ABookForest]

@@libraryunbounded Yes, I might, it's just that what you said you didn't like is kinda what I don't usually like either. I will try her other shorter works first. It also looks interesting with more of a fairy tale vibe.

[@ellyra412]

I skipped all of these illumicrate books except Witch King which I dnfed 20% in, I have no regrets.

[@libraryunbounded]

Books are meant to be entertaining and/or educational (even if indirectly). If a book doesn't deliver that for you, DNFing is the right choice. We only have so much time, might as well spend it on things that we find valuable :)

[@toniweller6008]

📚💙

[@libraryunbounded]

✨📚

[@kyubidzns]

You have no taste

[@libraryunbounded]

Hahah alright, good to know.