ditching my phone so i can finish the books i started reading months ago

i am perpetually reading way to many books at the same time and for the past few months i've been in a reading slump! so, in my week off i am trying to limit my phone screen time and have fun getting ahead in all those books i'm currently reading
🌻 w a n n a s e e m o r e?
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🌸 m y e t s y s h o p
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🌼 s o c i a l m e d i a
• goodreads: / leonie-dams
• twitter: @thebookleo
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🌺 a b o u t m e
Hi! My name is Leonie and I am a 24 year old girl who loves talking about books! From YA to non-fiction to classics, I read it all (although fantasy will always be my fave). I live in the Netherlands and go to university, but make booktube videos in my spare time :)
🌹 m u s i c
• KZbin Audio Library

[@josie3779]

* me watching a 30min KZbin Video instead of reading * Oh well. I'll just gonna watch this video and then I'll definitely read.

[@TheBookLeo]

i still watched so much youtube this week hahah

[@fatmaaalz]

i’ve been neglecting my reading so thank you for doing this video, i know it will definitely motivate me!

[@TheBookLeo]

you can do it!

[@elfmagebrendan8505]

I feel the exact same!

[@onefocus5882]

You and your boyfriend at the theme park was so cute! 🥺 see you laughing and so happy makes me happy!

[@fallingautumntree]

"I have not finished a book since september but I´m currently reading seven books" samee This video really inspired me to try to finish what I started and finally move on to new stories without the guilt of having a lot of books unfinished, so thank you for that!! I´ve been sooo busy with university that I couldn´t just concentrate in one story

[@ruthalaina4837]

This is SO motivational, such a brave move! I feel like most people now days can’t survive without a phone ahhh☹️

[@GabrielaSutcliff]

Me included kkkkkk

[@alliegracexo3267]

I agree, but I also literally CANNOT survive without my phone. 🙃 I hate it but I have to be able to contact my mom at any moment.

[@angelnunnart]

I'm going to do the same thing, I have tons of books I need to finish. I love reading but if I'm honest, because of social media I only finish one book a month.

[@TheBookLeo]

it just sucks you in 😩

[@angelnunnart]

@@TheBookLeo 😩😩

[@Mascha_Eleonora]

Yeah…. Same….. I have to motivate myself to read much more then 1 book a month

[@mxphxsto8334]

honestly same

[@laurynjohnson5966]

I plan on doing this while I’m home from college for winter break for 1.5 months. Funny thing, I also started Frankenstein like 2 months ago and plan on finishing it during this break lol

[@JolienReads]

I actually loved Tender is the Flesh and the meaning behind it. I actually liked that they didn't answer the question that you asked because the premise itself is pretty unrealistic and if they focussed on that it would have taken me out of the story. I like sci-fi books that just drop you into a world and explore that world as if it just IS without questioning how it came to be. But, I can definitely understand why you (and others) do want that background explanation! I love the Efteling, I really need to go back, it's been almost 10 years!

[@megjshark]

i looove how cinematic your vlogs feel, they're always so so beautiful! would love to know what kind of camera and filters you use when editing

[@TheBookLeo]

ahh thanks you! i use a panasonic lumix camera and a bunch of LUTs i got from a friend or found online!

[@mattkean1128]

I like using short stories as a palette cleanser between books. I think you'd like Amy Hempel Lydia Davis. For another spooky, South American gothic type stuff, there's Mariana Enriquez. Now I'm reading Nightmare Alley because I wanna see the new Guillermo del Toro movie.

[@RenPowers]

Ooh, hard agree; Mariana Enriquez is great! The Dangers of Smoking in Bed is a FANTASTIC collection.

[@Hillary429]

Tender is the Flesh was a five star for me, I think it did a really good job at touching on so many aspects from slaughterhouses to medical testing, prisons, big game hunting, brothels, and so much more without getting too long. And I felt like the storyline of Jasmine really kicked off the plot and the idea of what extremes people will go to for children and how we value certain lives above others.

[@Natbookawitch2022]

100 % agree with you

[@user-qu8zs7vs1x]

How do you manage feeling overwhelmed when you are reading lots of books at the same time? I started 7-8 books in the last few months, but when I realized that I hadn't finished any of them I just felt discouraged and basically abandoned them.

[@LittleMew133]

Just stop reading them all simultaneously. Pick 1 or 2 (that you enjoy & want to finish) and read only them until the end.

[@rares-andreidinu2279]

No-one’s chasing you, mate. Just find time to read as a habit and do as many pages/paragraphs as you like doing that day. Reading is supposed to be both a pleasure and mental hygiene, so you gotta find your own pace

[@saeedanasir]

You are not reading for a competition. You are reading for YOU and your enjoyment. So don't sour the experience by trying to rush to finish the book or books. Remember, you read to not finish books, but to enjoy reading. So keep enjoying and don't stress out. Let your goal be reading and not finishing books. Finishing books will follow reading books.

[@user-qu8zs7vs1x]

@@saeedanasir this is a great answer, thank you!

[@sofyyyyyyy__7141]

Well, I personaly take a break and then i start reading again little by little. I chose what I am most liking and read it and then continue with the others Hope this helps

[@nitzeart]

Yeah I'm currently reading 5 books (one since like august) so I totally get you haha

[@TheBookLeo]

the struggle is real

[@JayGTheAwkwardBookworm]

I have so many books on my currently reading shelf so I feel you 🥲😬

[@TheBookLeo]

it's just so easy to keep starting new books haha

[@theherooffire007]

Lol, me and a bud of mine have been going through the same process - deleting "empty calorie" social media time and replacing it with either reading, working out or language learning. I'm quite proud of the progress we're making. 💪🏼

[@Natbookawitch2022]

I typically don't enjoy "Horror" books (with the exception of S.King's); however, Tender is the flesh is a book that I was very glad to read. It was shocking and hard to read, yes. But, it's one of those dystopian books that makes you think of a reality that no one wants to talk about. I am not only talking about the way we treat animals but the way we treat women, the way we ignore child labor, the way we are disconnected and desensitized with tragedies and injustices, and the effects of capitalism and classism. I understand your question about how did it start and why humans decided to do what they did or choose whom they chose to eat. I just think that we don't always need an answer and sometimes books need that chaos or "mediocrity" because that's life. I think (in my opinion) the book hinted at a quick decision made by the government with no real evidence that there was in fact a virus (not at least with the same magnitude that they made it to be). Hence the scene with the puppies ( the hardest thing I have ever read). I think there was a "deeper reason" why they gave us that scene as our main character did not get ill and the dogs did not appear to be sick either. Like, was it really real, or was the elite looking for an excuse for this kind of life/torture? For me, that ending was both shocking and extremely real and that was the biggest thing of all. Even those that seemed to have a moral compass, in the end, will always look out for themselves. Harsh reality and very Debby Downer, I know. For me, it's one of those books that will forever be on my list of favorites but I will never read again if that even makes sense.

[@ziadirayene9879]

SAME. what got me the most, was that no matter how horrific the descriptions and plot got, it wasn't that hard for me to imagine it happening? like we've see with miss Rona, desperate people do desperate things, and the change was gradual enough and while everyone was still in a panic state that even the most rational got swept up by it. The ending was it's own sweet torture, i spent a few weeks after that trying to think if there was anything i missed that hinted at it, it was that impactful

[@morganwinchester]

I didn't necessarily like Tender Is the Flesh, but I appreciated what it was doing. The juxtaposition of the everyday, boring tasks with the horrific things happening really reflect that our current world is more 'dystopian' than people want to acknowledge. And the frustrating reality we see everyday that some people would rather not be inconvenienced over changing things or 'doing the right thing'. And regarding the "how did it start?" I thought there was a part of the book that talked about how people were murdering homeless people to eat them in the beginning so the government decided to just make it legal if you went through their channels instead. And that criminals were no longer sent to jail, they were sent to 'farms' and slaughterhouses instead. Maybe I am misremembering the book. And the ending made me rethink the entire book. It casts a lot of Marcos's actions in a very different light that could be interpreted differently than how it was initially presented. I went back to read a few parts after finishing the book and it was quite cleverly done. However, I don't ever want to read it again.

[@Natbookawitch2022]

@@ziadirayene9879 Yes, that's a great point too. That was the scariest thing for me.

[@Natbookawitch2022]

@@morganwinchester I was mentioning the "start" point because Leo wanted more info and I just don't think it was necessary. I agree with you as I will never read it again. I am a social worker and trust me, I've seen horrors in my life but I can't unsee this book, and will forever leave me scared. 😮‍💨

[@sofiasterbini8154]

I love this type of videos and I really hate when, due to school i can't finish the books I'm reading. But when I heard you say bruschetta I fell off my chair ahaha sorry I'm Italian and the right pronunciation is brusketta. Hope you'll have a nice evening

[@elizabethbuerke7854]

Oh good to know! I'm American, and we say bruschetta like Leonie did.

[@sofiasterbini8154]

@@elizabethbuerke7854 oh yes I know and I said it also because of this ahaha

[@pasemospagina8]

Hi, Leo! I'm from Argentina and I really loved "Cadáver exquisito" alias Tender is the flesh. I think it has one of the most surprising endings I ever read, and for weeks after reading it I couldn't eat meat. I even know people who went vegetarian/vegan because of that book. I don't know if the translation makes it justice, but I really think it's great. Anyways, I respect your opinion! Hope you rest well :)

[@marissas2251]

I bought the book months ago and I’m going to give it a try too! Wish me luck 😊

[@asliozy7]

I have been also having a reading slump for a few weeks now, this video helped me a lot. Thanks for the inspiration 💕

[@thinkinginprint4639]

This video is so calm and motivational, what a vibe

[@amnamuhammad2294]

i get obsessed with your content part month and this is the first video i’m watching as it is uploaded ^_^

[@TheBookLeo]

ahhh i hope you like it!!

[@kerenmathew4485]

I live for the moments when you upload new videos! Thank you for inspiring me to get back to my poor neglected books.

[@literaturewhispersasmr9511]

The Dispossessed is one of my all time faves, glad you liked it! I'm actually reading an Ursula Le Guin novella at the moment called The Word for World is Forest, which is like a critique of colonialism and the destruction of indigenous cultures, I recommend it!

[@TheBookLeo]

i saw that one in the bookstore when i was looking for the dispossessed! was wondering whether it was good, so now i know :D

[@josephcossey1811]

Welcome back! Always a pleasure to see you again and - as the poet said - good things are worth waiting for!

[@kimmieandersen5478]

Leonie….this vlog was everything. Books, travel, humor and coziness 💗 loved it! Feel like we saw more of your personality in this one! Hope you had a good break!

[@roman-cu1cw]

I like how honest you are with your reading speed and progress! I wish more booktubers do that rather than feeling pressured to appear as if they are always finishing 8+ books a month. At the end of the day, we readers watch booktube to celebrate our passion and feel connected to the other readers, but booktubers who beat up themselves to meet the unrealistic expectation sort of ruin the whole thing that is supposed to be fun and carefree. Not that I blame individual booktubers who do that, as having online presence and earning money via contents creation make people fall into that trap.. But still, I really love how you always seem to hit the balance between creating videos that are aesthetic and pleasant to watch & staying relatable and down to earth.

[@Priya_JR]

Well, the title called me out! I've stopped reading sooo many books midway since like May... damn. I love the rainy vibes in the video, and now I'm sad I spent the rainy season here in a reading slump 😭

[@ReemaDsouza]

This was exactly what I did a few weeks ago. I was in the middle of 5 books and I just wanted to finish reading them so that I could start new books. I made a video of this too! It is fun watching your videos! All the best for your internship!

[@Mascha_Eleonora]

Aaah, so funny seeing De Efteling this way! Plus, this video motivated me to start reading again, even just the title, so thank you

[@cappybara]

I finally read the Night Circus and omg you were so right its one of my favourite books now!!!!

[@TheBookLeo]

ahhh that makes me so happy to hear!!

[@nazahafreen]

I love the rainy atmosphere. Made me feel so calm. ❤️ Love your videos.

[@TheBookLeo]

winter in the Netherlands be like

[@user-qu8zs7vs1x]

Love the cozy vibes!

[@alanamenezes7069]

Very good video, but I came to say that: I would love to see a tour of your room because I'm in love with these fanarts on the wall and the plants hahah

[@Booktrailerslike]

Your videos feels cozy and motivating at the same time))

[@chchch4836]

Absolutely love that brown vest!🤎 I wanted to buy some vests yesterday, but the sizes were not the best😂

[@nataliatrevino7289]

The fact that you didn't finish some of your Halloween reads until now makes me feel better about the fact that I just finished my Halloween read yesterday 🤡

[@LunaWho47]

I wish I could cut down on my phone screen time, but most of my reading is done through e-library apps on my phone. So, yeah...pretty sure I'm on my phone about 18 hours a day and 16 hours of that is reading. Also, that theme park is gorgeous!

[@ell4736]

if you'd like they have e-readers online for only about $20 and then you could get your library books on it!!

[@findingmyself7334]

@@ell4736 Yeah! I do that too

[@Maura237]

When do you sleep, work, study, talk real life humans, move your body, pee, eat and/or clean???

[@LunaWho47]

@@Maura237 I'm between jobs at the moment and finished school long ago. I only sleep about 4 hours a night due to insomnia and don't have any hobbies really. And I'm in my mid-30s, so I don't feel a driving need to socialize, lol. So, plenty of time for reading!

[@56658]

I also love Viktor so much! instant fave. can't wait for season 2.

[@Caatje-op3jy]

AAAH DE EFTELING zo fijn! Krijg gelijk zin om weer te gaan haha

[@Taydelphia]

I will come back to watch when the captions are up. With the title, I need to do the same. I've been slacking on reading since I recently started a new job. But I read the most books this year compared to the past years. That's an accomplishment for sure hahaha

[@shaneritchey7891]

love love love your vlogs!

[@ajourneyforthepages2507]

Another amazing book that has an interesting main character and explores ideas is Flowers For Algernon, highly recommend!

[@scoobydont]

Such a cosy vlog 🥰

[@ashellebee]

What a coincidence! I just finished that exact copy of Frankenstein. It was so good, but I admit it took me an entire month to get through

[@silkep851]

My Roommate also bought these ramen and they were too spicy but she now uses less of the sauce and puts a tablespoon of peanutbutter in it and Then they are perfect :)

[@christina3612]

this is so relatable!

[@HomeMadeFanVideos]

This video is awesome! It's exam season so i have more time (i'm a teacher) so this would be a great 'experiment' to try!

[@BessmaITube]

Keep making these fighting with my screen time themed videos because damn they are motivational lol BTW I have to say that your I really like your makeupless face! You're really pretty

[@arobinreads]

I love your videos. They are so relaxing and cosy. 7 isn't that bad. Last year I was on 20 myself haha. I have really tried to not do that anymore and it has really helped. Now my average is around 4 to 6.

[@mxphxsto8334]

i honestly love to use the breaks we get off school to just turn the wifi off on my phone.. it honestly feels so good and it makes me realize how much time i actually have in a day when i'm not mindlessly scrolling.

[@midnightfield]

Funny, I just added The Dispossessed on my to-read list a few days ago! I'll definitely be reading that at some point, sounds intriguing.

[@kinseylv408]

I always love the city scenes & hearing you speak Dutch!

[@KristinaKii]

YESSS ARCANE!!! Loved this show so much!! ❤️❤️❤️

[@suraloveshoon]

I'm currently reading 3 books and I'm fighting the urge to start another 5-6 books on my tbr. Now this is called pain :")

[@AmanGupta-zr6rd]

I see Leonies taste in sci-fi is getting better everyday.

[@inpursuitofclarity]

Loved the video as always ❤️❤️

[@BeautyandGloom]

"Dispossessed" is one of my all-time favourites. It always makes me happy to see more people enjoying it as well. Have you liked the ending btw?

[@blueskiesandclouds5596]

That illustrated Frankenstein book looks gorgeous.

[@Fuadstar55]

Really enjoyed your video, really relaxing in a way 😅 And and does motivate me to finish the book that I’m reading now And best of luck with your internship! 💪🏽

[@TheBookLeo]

thank you!!

[@Jeramie26]

Might try that as well. Need 5 more books to read to reach my goal of 60 books a year in Goodreads.

[@july3817]

Honestly, you got me. I still have two books that I would like to finish this month. However, they are both classics so I'm not too harsh on myself if I don't. It's currently 7pm and my dad doesn't get home until 9pm so wish me luck.

[@SteampunkPirates]

**Looking at my thirteen current books while I watch this video on my phone** Hmmmmm…

[@gps252122]

This is not a new idea but a massive game changer for me was to read the book while listening to its audiobook. I don't do this for all of the books I read, only for the ones that I'm having trouble focusing on which is usually the classics. Free classic audiobooks are easier to find too!

[@rxea545]

i've been trying to finish winter since march and this video gives me hope that i can conquer that 850 page behemoth

[@hannahcatlin7763]

I too am a browser Twitter queen and I just had to delete freaking Safari. You go girl!!! You can do it!!!!!!

[@beccabooked]

Thanks for the reminder about being mindful about time spent on phones. I’d way rather be reading than mindlessly scrolling.

[@agarmitzi8770]

I just did this same thing a week ago! I was in the middle of 3 or 4 books and it always motivates me to think about the satisfaction of finishing a book, and the inertia it will give to my reading slump. What I never seem to be able to do is to reduce my screen time! That's my curse, bcs it is high as heck 😅

[@tejaswinisureshkrishnan4228]

I'm having a slow reading time so this came at a perfect time. Hopefully this motivates me to finish my CR😂

[@aineherron4166]

Thank u for the inspiration!

[@random23287]

I'm reading two books at the same time, one's a short story collection and one's just a normal book. I guess those anthologies really have trouble hooking some of us.

[@becomingabookworm]

Not finishing books since September.. I am impressed! I have not had it in me to not finish a book ever.. I need to practise DNFing...😅 Great project!

[@olaturek3678]

Hi Leonie! Missed your videos ❤️ I read Frankenstein a month ago and I have to say that I have very mixed feelings about this book. I enjoyed the writing style and found myself flying through the pages when I actually got round to reading it. But that was the problem… I couldn’t bring myself to pick it up (it’s so short and it took me like 3 weeks to finish it). It’s so weird I’ve never had this experience before.

[@laurab8804]

I always start way too many books at once (currently 8 I believe) because I just get distracted and don't want to admit to a DNF, ever. It's a struggle. Also, I'd love to know where those golden sun and moon earrings are from. Love your videos, they're always very relaxing and relatable :)

[@emmacharles4611]

the theme park you went to reminds so much of one here in the UK called Alton Towers, even the ride with the big drop is almost identical to one there 😂

[@circeismyspirit]

I have to finish a little life before New year's since it's a buddy read😬 whilst I'm in the middle of two other books and I want to read at least two more before next year

[@lysandrasbookoflife5746]

“ahhh there’s no room” “my fruit bowl is in the wAaAAAY” I haven’t laughed that hard in so long. 😂

[@fleaaaaaa]

Love your videos, please do a Christmas one if you have time :)

[@janasamaranchcosta6654]

LOL I had the same problem with horror short stories🥲

[@elizabethbuerke7854]

I love that you pronounced vacuum vakyoo-um instead of vakyoom. It made me chuckle.

[@orsettomorbido]

"Woooo, it's flipping around" Ok, we love him HAHAHAHA

[@monica.laurette]

I feel like if I tried to do this I'd have to like hide my phone somewhere in my apartment or have my sister do it because I'd want to check things CONSTANTLY

[@matilda3060]

At 19:10 my misophonia said ✨no✨. I also should try to ditch my phone and finally finish the 10 books I'm currently reading 😂 Love your videos

[@Lillyjoy]

I’m also reading Frankenstein and have been for weeks along with 4 other books 😂

[@amberd6696]

I only use about half of the seasoning packet for those noodles and its better that way :-)

[@irinairinaa211]

Hopefully your video will motivate me to start reading now... ❤

[@sashab.571]

have the same problem with frankenstein still reading it since october 😅

[@sonderexpeditions]

What a coincidence! I planned on doing the same thing earlier next year. Wow.

[@lindieriksen1968]

The title is a personal attack on me 😂

[@allisonb6228]

For those Ramen noodles you should put a slice of American cheese and let it melt into the soup. Calms down the spice and makes it creamy😋

[@TheBookLeo]

that sounds both disgusting and amazing, i should try it

[@pendragon2012]

A twenty-second digression on if books can be "too floppy". Me: I feel so SEEN right now. Thanks, Leonie!

[@wellenhelen]

*cries in currently reading 12 books*

[@ottoismy1dog]

Hello - I'm a chronic reader of multiple books 😂. Books that I am currently reading (audio, physical, and ebook) Force of Nature by Jane Harper, Use of Weapons (bk #3 in series) by Iain Banks, Consumed by David Cronenberg, The Dumb House by John Burnside, and Sons of Evagard (bk #7 in series) by Sean Danker. Loved the video. Best of luck on your internship 💖

[@elskabee]

I'm in the middle of 9 books right now according to notion 🙃the struggles of being a slow reader and a mood reader at the same time lol but it's not like nine novels or anything and a couple of them are on "pause" anyway

[@normmansor1313]

Been waiting for your new video

[@dramaqueenanna7248]

I was supposed to read Dracula for Halloween but I’ve only just started it 😅

[@bookishmina]

Not me who stopped in the middle of 5 books 👁👄👁 guess this video is a sign hahah

[@cme_epicness]

Eee I’m here so early this is amazing I’d love to do this but I have to use my phone 😔✨

[@TheBookLeo]

yeah is till use my phone for all the necessary/good fun stuff!

[@cme_epicness]

I’m currently reading The Song of Achilles and I’m 162 pages in and nothing has happened yet- will it get more interesting?

[@ginnieliebherr4245]

10:35 on the theme of sci-fi with interesting characters, have you ever read The Martian by Andy Weir? I’m not always a big sci-fi reader but I couldn’t put that book down.

[@renatereist]

Polle's Keuken = my favourite 💝

[@camilaortegacaro4996]

Jajajajaj "You can stop filming now" Jajajja i can't stop laughing on that part😂😂😂