i hate my books: when booktube consumerism bites

[@JentheLibrarianreads]

I agree with everything you’ve said here so so much!! I want to see more library book hauls on KZbin; less new releases and more “here’s this obscure books from 10 years ago that everyone’s already forgotten and I’m going to review it” 😂 I feel so much anxiety about unread books on my shelves, it feels so unnecessary. I want zero unread books on my shelves my the end of the year.

[@heroinescorner]

i’m so glad this video was relatable!! i often feel silly for feeling anxiety about my physical tbr, but that’s the reality. i think i want to get as close to zero as i can as well. i would love to see my library hauls, but i understand that it is a little tricky because we’re still in a panny. hopefully that changes soon though!

[@tiffworthy1610]

I get really stressed when I have too many unread books on my shelf too!

[@whatsdozdoing]

i think this is really interesting. I’ve only just started buying physical books so I only have books that I mostly love at the moment (there’s definitely a few that were disappointing reads). i still mostly read on e book and I think that’s saved me. HOWEVER I will say that over the past two days I have bought 5 books and so maybe the consumerism is starting to get to me…

[@heroinescorner]

e-books are a kind of a double edged sword for me because while i save my money (thank you scribd!) i start to neglect all the physical books i have. my ‘buy 2 books a month only’ rule will help me with being much more intentional with what books i pick to (hopefully) be a part of my lifelong library. the trick to buying books is reading them as fast as you’re buying them!

[@madisonmason9179]

@@heroinescorner Can you do a book couple tier list

[@pagesinthestars]

This I feel like there's definitely books on my shelves I got because it was a "booktube fave," and not because it was a book I felt like I genuinely wanted and would read. I feel like that's a huge part of why I fell into a slump last year was because the books I had, I didn't necessarily want to read. Big agree on what you said about booktube being a classist community. Hauls are such a big part of booktube and it gets encouraged because that's so much of the content that gets consumed, and I am over it. This is going to be the year that I read the books that I want and not give into the book buying and bending to the booktube faves.

[@heroinescorner]

book hype on booktube is dangerous. i think because i watched booktube a lot a couple of years ago, i got that “buying every popular book on booktube” phase out of my system before i joined. but i do still feel that pressure to talk about booktube faves even if i don’t give into it. at the end of the day i have to remember no one else is reading the books i buy except for me, so i need to buy smart!

[@roshnisharma4324]

Thank you for talking about this. As a viewer, booktube also puts a lot of pressure to read more, which besides taking all the fun away from reading (as indulging in fiction is usually a leisure activity?) but also compels me to buy more, to “know” more, major FOMO basically … i hope you can talk about that maybe in another video.

[@phrensies]

Omg I feel this every now and then. 😭 I’ve given away/donated so many books over the years and most of them I hadn’t even read. 😔 I’m trying to be better. I’ve also stopped watching book haul videos. 😭 I just need to be more financially responsible and intentional. 🤧 It’s not booktube’s fault. It’s really just my response to it. But I started excessively buying physical books when I started watching booktube. 😞 I remember when I was younger and only had a handful of books but reread them and really got the most out of them. 🥺

[@heroinescorner]

i think there’s definitely a correlation with increase book buying and entering the world of booktube for the first time. of course it’s down to the reader to stop buying books when you’re getting overwhelmed, but booktube consumerism doesn’t help😭

[@MckaylaKatharine]

Book content can feel so overwhelming! I am still trying to read books that released years ago, forget this year. But without new releases, I feel so behind and sometimes alone when consuming book content. My goal this year is also to read a bunch of my physical books, I have over 100 unread books and NEED to get that number down before I get too overwhelmed.

[@heroinescorner]

i think booktube has made me hyper aware of the constant new releases when before i would only have a passing interest in a handful of books. good luck with your goal! i think a lot of people can relate to wanting to completely get rid(read) of their physical tbr.

[@SlantedSpines]

I think it's also the struggle of being a mood reader and acquiring books that don't speak to us at the moment/not having enough time.. Like even when I check a stack of books from the library I want to read, I only end up getting to a few of them and then I have to return some of them and try again at a later time :,) Like who do I think I am, thinking I'm going to read ten literary fiction books in the two-week loan period 😂

[@heroinescorner]

oh yes being a mood reader definitely contributes to my accumulation of unread books. but at least now i have whatever book i’m feeling like for the next couple of months! and that’s why i’m slightly wary of my library- i just know i will borrow the max amount and only read 1😅 at least if i buy a book it will always be there for me to pick up whatever time i feel like.

[@MercysBookishMusings]

I completely agree. This is very much where I felt a few years ago when I had waaaaay too many books. It was just stressful! Now I think I'll have a 0 tbr by the end of the year and at least half of my reading is from the library. I highly recommend the library if you don't use it! Good luck with reading your books and I hope you find some you love!

[@heroinescorner]

wow, a 0 tbr sounds so freeing! i definitely want to get to that position myself. i want to use my library more instead of buying, but i’m scared i’ll just have loads of books on hold and never get to my physical tbr😅 i think making this video has made me excited to just read my physical tbr and hopefully find some gems that have been hiding for months. thank you!

[@MercysBookishMusings]

@@heroinescorner haha, that is the problem with the library! But what I love is that you can borrow a book you're in the mood for and then if after a week you're not in the mood anymore you just take it back. And there's no guilt or money spent 👍

[@heroinescorner]

that’s very true! borrowing e-versions of books as well means that i don’t have to do the ‘walk of shame’ when returning all the books i haven’t read yet😅

[@hannahmay11]

Defo have had phases of the absolute disguist vibe haha. I think it’s easier now because my shelves now aren’t in my bedroom so I don’t have to stare so often haha. I also tried to re look at it as a library of books to choose from instead of a stack of things I just spent money lol but maybe im deluding myself. This year im doing reading 5 from my shelf before I can buy one new one(which so far is showing me how much I read on NetGalley / physical arcs / library e books) so it’s definitely making me more intentional every month.

[@heroinescorner]

i’m so glad i’m not alone! i think i’ll definitely try to start viewing my book collection as a library, it’ll help me see my unread books a bit more positively😅 and that sounds like a good idea! my ‘e-reading’ has definitely been a double edged sword. i’ve gotten so comfortable with reading from my phone, it’s an effort to pick up a physical book sometimes.

[@_Mike.85]

who cares about new releases... I know i certainly don't. I'll only read what I absolutely want to read and know i'll enjoy. The majority of fiction I read is either from the 70's or 80's or 90's. I ain't got time to be keeping pace with what's new so I don't even bother. Sure I read newer books too, but having the obligation to feel like you need to keep up because a handful of social media people are doing that is ridiculous.

[@eiketske]

I have also fallen into the trap of only reading new releases, all those shiny bright new covers. This year I want to try to read more ‘older’ books (i hate the term backlist for me it sounds as if the books aren’t worth reading. Love your rant, because it echoes what I have been thinking 🙂

[@heroinescorner]

i’m glad you enjoyed my rant! and i hadn’t really thought of the connotations of the word backlist but i think you’re right that it makes us think those books as less worthy of the spotlight.

[@steffikreis2030]

I am trying to reduce the amount of books that sit on my shelf unread for extended periods of time. And i have noticed that what helps me is really being very honest with how interested i am in a book (i used to buy books just because they were popular). I make sure i read the blurb, check reviews, and if i am in a physical store i like to open the book to a random page and read it to see if the writing style is able to keep my attention. I try to avoid spontaneous purchases mostly and rather have a list of books that i know i am interested in (spontaneous purchases would often end up being cover buys or just ‘oh i’ve heard of this’…again not having considered if i am personally interested). For this year my goal is to only be allowed to buy 1 new book for every 2 physical books i read from my TBR….at the end of the year i will check which books i havent reached for at all or ended up DNFing and probably get rid of those. I still find it hard not to buy books just for the joy of buying but ultimately the regret is bigger than that few moments of joy. I also feel quite uncomfortable sometimes having so many books at home i havent read or didnt really like. I am more and more switching to a reading ebooks and then if a book is a favourite i will sometimes buy a physical copy….or some books like classics or favourite authors i just know i want a phyiscal copy of. I know that is technically still a consumerist angle but i am much more comfortable with the idea of having a library full of books i love than a library of mostly unread or just meh books.

[@heroinescorner]

cutting down spontaneous purchases is the trick! literally the amount of bought on a whim is embarrassing😭 that’s why only buying 2 books a month is forcing me to be intentional with what i’m choosing. i love your point on being truthful with what you actually want to read. it’s so easy to get swept up by hype and convince yourself you really need a certain book when you don’t. i need to get an e-reader pronto methinks😤

[@literarydiversions]

That's more or less where I'm at with my collection at the moment! I've come to the conclusion that the only things I want in my library are books I love and plan to reread, beautiful editions of books I enjoy, and books I'm SUPER excited about reading super soon. I don't think there's any books in my library that I've owned unread for more than a year now and it's a breath of fresh air! I always want to have books on my shelf that I've got as options (new books to suit every mood, so to speak) so that I can shop my own library when I feel like it but I also don't want to be overwhelmed with my unread collection. I think you should give yourself permission to relate to your books however you like; some people want books > infinity, some people only want a tiny TBR shelf, but all these wants are totally valid. You should absolutely unhaul if it's giving you stress!

[@heroinescorner]

oooh i think that would be a good benchmark for me- whether i would reread the book again. i definitely would prefer to have a tiny collection. while i absolutely love seeing other people’s massive collections, i realised that would just be too overwhelming for me. and that’s fine! i can always use my local library if i’m feeling something i don’t have on my shelves anyway😁

[@misosoupcup]

Oh I feel this!! I love booktube and have been watching booktube since I was a teen, but more recently i look at a lot of their bookshelves and i just get overwhelmed looking at the wall of books behind them. I still do love a good bookshelf covered in books, but the over consumption that is kind of expected of booktubers and readers kind of needs to be examined. I usually get my books second hand from a used bookstore or from my local library/school library's catalog that they are getting rid of so I tend to buy more books than when I used to. However, I also use my local library to check out books if I want a physical copy of them or I check them out as e-books. I don't think my book buying habits have become a problem yet, but i am also trying to not over consume and buy books i won't read. I think for me the best solution i have found is to read a library or e-book copy of the books you want to read, and if you Really Love the book than I think its worth my money and I will probably reread it and treasure it.

[@glamwithjinx]

The only books that I keep are signed books. Apart from that I donate my books once I have read them and a lot of the books I buy are second hand 💗

[@samantharose1001]

I go through cycles of wanting to purge through the things that I have (books included) haha I refer to it as the urge to purge. But I still enjoy buying books from time to time. And I agree that I want to have books that I really really love on my shelves.

[@heroinescorner]

purge- that’s the word! i guess the urge to purge is stronger at the beginning of the year because of the theme of new beginnings and such. i think i need to make book buying more of an event- like actually going to a bookstore and not ordering books online, to make me excited about buying books again.

[@StoriesByKayla]

I get stressed when I have too many unread books on my shelf as well, but having too many books in general also stresses me out lol. I know people love to see the full shelves behind Booktubers, but I've been donating or selling books after I've finished them if they're not my favorites.

[@yoongibean]

HEAVYYY on the paperback release comment 😓 I picked up reading as a hobby again over a year ago and I try to utilize my library as much as I can, but there's so many books that I want to read that aren't available or have a super long wait thanks to booktok (just last week I finally got to borrow an audiobook that I placed a hold on 14 months ago...), so I have no choice but to go out and purchase it. Since I'm a little late to the game, lots of books I want already have paperback editions out but I'm def not used to $30+ hardcovers for new releases.

[@sh4rklotte]

i feel you on this 1000%. at the start of 2021, i went through every single book i owned and sold/donated/gave away every book i either a) had read and didn't enjoy or b) had decided i was probably never going to read and was ruthless about it haha. it gave me so much more energy and enthusiasm about my reading because now i only had books in front of me that i definitely wanted to read. i also bought a little book shelf specifically for unread books and it can only hold maybe 40 books. now i have a good way to make sure i don't have more books than i can reasonably expect to read.

[@tehelea]

you're speaking straight through to my soul

[@heroinescorner]

you’re welcome😅💕

[@KatrinaEames]

Oh yeah the consumerism in booktube is really stressful for me! I started doing booktube when I wasn't completely food secure, and at times it felt like I wasn't really a part of the community because I couldn't buy books. Right now, I'm in a better place financially, but I still only buy books that I want to re-read after I've checked them out of the library. I think this is a really good way for me to do this intentionally

[@heroinescorner]

i hate how booktube sometimes feels like it has these unofficial rules regarding buying books. obviously no one forcing anyone to buy books, but the community’s consumerist culture does have an influence. that sounds like a good process of curative g a collection of books you actually enjoy!

[@srf3444]

Thank you!!! This is what i was feeling for few last months. I started reading two years ago because of booktube and booktok, and i tried to be like these popular blogers, but now unread books on my bookshelves make me feel really bad. Now I am trying to give them away or sell them, but it is really hard in my town.

[@WellTraveledBooks]

I have gone through multiple book unhauls and I never regret it. I've now settled into a good system for myself where I still buy books because I enjoy it and I want to support charity shops or authors etc. but I feel zero guilt passing books along once I have read them or if I no longer want to read them anymore. Also hardbacks are the worst haha I've delayed buying books for months just waiting for the paperback to come out haha. Books should bring you joy and there shouldn't be any pressure to buy or keep them, in my opinion =)

[@heroinescorner]

i can’t wait to do an unhaul this summer🥺 i think im too busy to work out the logistics at the moment with what im going to do storage and donation wise. i definitely want to start getting second hand books for classics at least. i think it is slightly harder to get BIPOC classics at charity shops though because they aren’t circulated as much as let’s say dickens.

[@ZebraFish629]

I’ve been trying to borrow books from the library if it’s a newer release and decide to purchase it as an ebook if I like it or a physical copy if I love it.

[@Catsandcamera]

Haha, I have such a different perspective with my unread books, I really like having a big tbr because it means I can read whatever I'm in the mood for. Yeah I agree with the new releases thing though, I mostly dont even know what's coming out, and if I do know I'm waiting for the paperback on sale!

[@heroinescorner]

wow that’s definitely a different perspective😅 i understand where you are coming from with the freedom of choice, but for me that choice becomes slightly overwhelming. i need to start waiting for the paperbacks of new releases, but i don’t always have the patience.

[@yaeli_i_guess]

i also only buy books i've already read and love. i used to buy books i've never read and i really hated owning books that turned out to be mediocre, the fact i spent money on them and now have them in my home etc. so now i go to the library and only buy books rarely and they have to be books i love.

[@DeadGoodBookReviews]

I decided to start only keeping books that I wanted to reread and it made me much better about not buying books that I wasn't sure about (and instead finding them in the library (privileged to have a good library system here) or online) I think it's helped me to turn my collection into something I know I love rather than a set of unknowns! I also find buying second hand where I can makes me feel less weird about unhauling things later down the line? IDK it's complicated and maybe I'll feel differently in a few weeks when I need some quick serotonin, we shall see! Thanks for this really interesting!

[@heroinescorner]

yes! i understand why people love having vast libraries where they have only read half of the books, but i would rather have my own personal library full of read books. i have the privilege of having a decent library so i should really use that as my ‘unread book base’. i don’t really buy second hand books but i think it might be something i should look into!

[@Whoareyoupeople900]

I decided I'd only buy physical copies of classics, in my favorite editions, and the rest I buy in ebook form.

[@wa11ie]

i have two unread books on my shelf and i hate that. i fully decided that i‘m not buying more books until i read them and that i‘ll only buy one book at a time in the future because usually the book i buy, is the one i‘m excited about and when i’m buying more than one, i will have one i‘m more excited about and then the others will collect dust on the top shelf where i keep the books i can‘t organize into my shelf yet. i also really want to get back into the flow of going to the library, especially for long fantasy series. if i really love the series i can always buy an edition to put on my shelf later but i don‘t want to buy the first two parts of something like the wheel of time and then decide i don‘t like it so then i have two parts of the wheel of time on my shelf and i don‘t even like it. the booktok consumerism is definetly real. people have their beautiful filled shelves of books they never read and it makes me want to fill up my shelf but i know that i will hate myself if i have a bunch of books that i never read, especially if two are weighing me down already.

[@lifeworthreading]

I definitely feel this way as well!! I’ve also stopped the big book hauls (tho mine were never that grand), and I just want to keep the books that I love! It feels really good to get rid of books you have no attachment to :)

[@heroinescorner]

glad to see im not alone! i think im going to wait a month or two before i do an unhaul, give myself sometime to get through my physical tbr before i start on my book purge😈

[@nonfictionfeminist]

I get it. I just did a huge clean out of books I haven't read and have determined will likely never read. I'm trying to mostly buy books that I've read and loved and want to read again, because most books I've bought in the last several years I've never opened or ended up not liking.

[@heroinescorner]

i definitely feel like i’m due for a book unhaul, but i’m waiting out for a couple of months just in case i end up reading some of the books on the chopping block. there’s definitely some e-books that i need to buy because i loved them so much! it’s always a battle between an old favourite and a possible new favourite 😅

[@jordan-bx1cn]

I find most tbr/haul booktube videos terribly boring so I'm not sure why they're so popular! a lot of people just speed through them and don't seem to be emotionally connected or have anything interesting to say, which is obviously more common before you read the books!! so I feel like obviously booktube videos which are about books you haven't read are going to be more consumerist because there's nothing to dicuss about the actual experience of reading them. I can't say I experience this myself because I do NOT have enough room for the books I have at the moment so it's really hard to get more without drowing in them hahaha but I am mostly a library book borrower and those are easy to get rid of if I buy a bunch and don't end up reading them. I have an old studygram which I'm thinking of trying to semi regularly post book and study content on but I find it's really hard to take nice photos of library books, especially if I want to make a thematic list and a lot of them I read ages ago. that's on top of the fact that obviously it feels crusty to have a bunch of library books unlike the bookstagrammers whose books are all in pristine condition so I see where the pressure comes from

[@heroinescorner]

i did want to do more book hauls last year but i kind of realised i didn’t have much to say other then “hey this looks interesting so i bought it!”😅 the aestheticism in the online booktube community is a whole different conversation and it of course feeds into some of classist standards that exist. i understand your struggle (i used to kinda run a bookstagram) and i think a lot people can relate to it. i know people who leave the platform because they can’t take “good enough” pictures.

[@jordan-bx1cn]

@@heroinescorner yes and I'm glad you don't really do them! I haven't watched many of your videos yet (I don't watch that much yt) but a lot of the reason I subbed is because all your videos actually sound interesting :)

[@BlissSkittles]

I definitely hear you on this I’m ensuring that I don’t get sucked in to buying too many new releases especially the over hyped ones. I have a tonne of backlist titles saved on scribd and on my shelves that I want to prioritise it’s always best to focus on books you love/think you’ll love. I found last year that utilising the library helped me save a lot of coin, many of the new releases I ended up not liking 😅. I love your content so keep doing your thing x

[@heroinescorner]

i definitely want to use my local library more this year. it’s just a bit tricky because i’m at university city a lot so i’m not always around to do so. my ‘one new release’ a month is my way of trying not to buy (and inevitably get disappointed with) a lot of new releases. i’m wary hyped books, but sometimes i can’t help but being wrapped up in the hype😅 and thank you so much!

[@lila3372]

I recently got an ebook reader for library use and I have actually sold the books that I can get from my library now as I've had this exact feeling about my 90 book tbr 🙈 that accumulated over about a year or so of ordering the books (which I always do second hand anyway) which then ended up not being what I wanted to read in the moment they arrived. I've read 20 books so far this year so fingers crossed I'll tackle that pile

[@heroinescorner]

fingers are crossed, you can definitely do it!! and i need to get an ebook reader ASAP. just making the physical tbr less physical will help with feeling less overwhelmed by all the choice available.

[@ForTheLoveOfMusicals]

I definately think having a gigant tbr is overrepresented on youtube. I do honestly believe that is what works for some people, but it feels unheard of to have a booktuber with a physical tbr of

[@heroinescorner]

hahaha yep you would be right! i’ve never heard of a unread tbr being less than fifty and i think it’s more common for it to be around 100 books😬 it kind of makes all the book hauls counter productive lol

[@ForTheLoveOfMusicals]

@@heroinescorner I think Emma from dinking by my shelf has a tbr of 40ish books, but yeah she’s the only bigger booktuber I can think of with a tbr that’s easy to count. Some booktubers seem really happy with a big tbr (like the way Ariel Bissett talks about it definately shows that that’s just what works for her) but I already start feeling like it’s getting big when I have 10 books

[@icedcoffeeandbookss]

a few years ago i put a stack of books on my desk in my room and i had to read them all before i buy more or even bring more home. it was exciting and i think i’m gonna do that again. also might get rid if my goodreads but idk.

[@heroinescorner]

oooh that’s a good idea! the only thing is i don’t have enough space to put more books anywhere else🥲 i might have to do a “dee version” of this

[@hylabrookbooks]

this video was made for me at the right time. I just started uploading videos on youtube and I am already beginning to feel self conscious that I don't own the pretty hardcovers that booktubers own. i own a lot of copies of the same book, mostly because I love that book and love the different covers or illustrations. I also tend to read a lot of nonfiction, poetry, and history books. Then there was a time where I started hoarding books - my apartment was overflowing with them like in the opening of the book Inkheart. I really enjoyed this video, as someone who steps away from booktube every now and then because of how it can make me feel. new sub luv

[@starwolvie]

What I need to do is attack my TBR pile. I've got so many unread. If I start bringing books in I need to read them shortly after purchasing, because the longer they sit unread the less chance there is of me reading them. I bought them for a reason so at one stage I did want to read them!

[@heroinescorner]

yeah, i think the trick is to basically read as many books as you buy! shame i couldn’t have done that a year ago, but i guess no time to start like the present😅

[@tess77262]

I go through cycles of hating the books I have and wanting to donate them all and I find it normally lines up with when I think about moving. My incredibly unhealthy relationship with my library's hold system means I also don't manage to get through any of the books I own either (that is probably 90% linked to booktube and the consumerism I see regularly setting me off). It's a whole mess.

[@heroinescorner]

i’m relieved to find i’m not the only one who goes through these cycles. i’m definitely contributing this shift in perspective to it being the new year and wanting a ‘fresh start’. while i definitely need to utilise the library more, i am scared i’ll become one of those people who takes out eight books all at once and only read one of them😅

[@ara_orion]

what about thrift book shops and libraries? also book swaps with friends can help eliminate expense? but i do agree some people see too much options as overwhelming, so do what feels best for you✨

[@heroinescorner]

libraries have been tricky because of the panny and i move across two cities randomly sometimes. but i do definitely want to start looking at the alternatives to outright book buying this year. my purse will be grateful at least!

[@rosea2350]

First, I do research on what book I want to read then I check it out from the library and read it. If I love it then I buy it.

[@Rebecca-le9hn]

As a book "collector" I will never read most of the books I have. I have a very large library that I use for reference. Most of the books in my collection are older publications that I've picked up from book sales, flea markets, thrift stores, and even found in the trash. Sad to say, I have not yet found anyone on booktube who has the same interest in books that I have. Maybe it's because I am a bit older. Just the same, I keep looking. If you just get books because someone suggested it, get them from the library.

[@nikki2442]

I don’t feel pressure to read every book in my library the same way I don’t feel pressured to drink every bottle of wine in my cellar.

[@thaisvida4364]

omg I feel the saaame , I'm just like becoming what I fear the most A CONSUMERIST

[@adoniscreed4031]

I was on the verge of having too many books but I was managing okay... then I decided to go into second hand bookshops and order second hand books online and all hell broke loose... I've literally just started to wittle down the pile and I still go around 15 to go 🤣

[@quasiliminal5540]

I can definitely relate to this feeling! & appreciate you sharing your personal goals. Do you feel like maybe this trend toward consumerism will change as more booktubers talk about it?

[@heroinescorner]

hopefully! i think the more we can acknowledge consumerism, the more we can stop falling into the trap of consumerism. i know whenever a video talking about this comes up in my subscription box it always reminds me to reflect on how i view books and if my relationship with them are healthy.

[@MargaretPinard]

Backlist is king! I'm very comfortable being counterculture in the 'lit space' and highlighting backlist books, hence my hashtag #queenofbooksyouveneverheardof 😆🙌🏼🤗

[@heroinescorner]

hahaha i love that hashtag! it’s kind of hard to always appreciate a backlist when all you see is new releases sometimes, but i’ll definitely be prioritising my backlist works this year!

[@LykinReads]

This video definitely resonates with me. If I don’t love it, why keep it? When I know someone else may love it. And as a very poor queerdo, I’ve been using mostly the library and the free Libby app (for audiobooks using your library card) as my “haul” sources.

[@heroinescorner]

exactly! unhauling shouldn’t really be a negative thing- it’s giving a book a new home! scribd has helped me a lot of curtailing me book buying (even though im still technically paying but it’s much cheaper). i plan to use my library more this year!

[@ririschannelx]

you might just be going through a phase :) plus you might change your mind about certain books because that’s happened to me before and i regretted it :/ then having to waste money and buying them again :( out of sight, out of mind but do what you want if you feel strongly about it. i completely agree with the whole waiting a year for paperback, it’s classist af imo

[@heroinescorner]

that’s why i’m on the fence with completely purging my book collection! while i find my collection sometimes overwhelming, there is an occasional comfort of having whatever genre book on hand to read. yeah, i might just have to relocate my collection and only have the books that i love visible.

[@YveWin]

Sometimes we just fall out of feeling a book. Definitely donate them or do a raffle or giveaway perhaps. I’ve started focusing on going in depth with the books I read as opposed to going for ‘quantity’ or popularity. 🙂

[@icedcoffeeandbookss]

YESSSS. TY FUR MAKING THIS VIDEO.

[@heroinescorner]

YOU’RE WELCOME!🥰

[@juditkovacse]

Your content is fine. And no, you don't need to buy all of the new releases. I for one would be more interested in books that have been out for a few years, but not classic classics (aka 1800's). Almost no one does that type of content anymore. Regarding the whole "I hate my TBR", I think that is a phase most booktubers/consumer of booktube go through. Not everyone talks about it though, so it's not that out there as a topic. I also had it, as someone who just watches booktube. It's more of a problem at the beginning, when you are really enthusiastic, but it will normalize after a while. So don't worry, and be patient with yourself. You will need to find a good balance for yourself. For my part I set myself the goal to never have more unread books than I can read in a month, 2 months at the most. And then it's fine. But your number might be lower or higher.

[@heroinescorner]

thank you for your comment! right now, i’m definitely don’t feel the pressure (that i used to feel) when it comes to book buying, it’s just the burden of all the books i bought during that time😅 i’m glad i’m not the only one who is going through this phrase. i hate feeling this aversion to my books and the only way to remedy that is to read them! then i can try and find a healthy balance of buying and reading.

[@hotpeopleread3203]

It’s so nice to come across another black British booktuber📚💗 this is such an important discussion to have and it’s great you’re talking about this

[@claywilkins9627]

Your disliking some books is healthy and natural...it might help to go to a used book stores and let your intuition guide you..i 've read authors who were popular pre world war two...you might find some literature fascinating...its not the stories...ITS THE WRITER...!!! Try some international authors who been translated into English...you might find whole continents of wisdom disguised as fiction...dont read it if you don't like it..your instincts are spot on!!!😃😃😃😃😃

[@GuiltyFeat]

I don't buy the phrase "BookTube consumerism". Buy books if you want, don't buy books if you don't want. Either way, we are in charge of our own choices, not BookTube. I have an enormous TBR, but I also have a history of reading it all eventually, so I'm OK with it. If you don't trust yourself to read the books you buy, buy fewer books. I think that's more or less what you're saying, and you seem to have a firm grip on things, I just don't think our failure to read more of the books we have purchased can be blamed either on BookTube or consumerism.

[@heroinescorner]

i appreciate your perspective. obviously at the end of the day it comes down to having self control. foremost i’m blaming my insatiable buying tendencies on my prefrontal cortex not being completely done developing at 21😅 but i do think it’s fair to critique the consumerist culture on booktube. we don’t live in a bubble and being influenced by what we see and interact with is a part of being human. book hauls being the most popular type of booktube video will obviously make people feel like they need to be buying books to have people interact with their content. i think i’ve only made two or three haul videos so i’m not completely talking about myself, but i’m just pointing out the pressure is there, especially if almost everyone else is partaking in that activity. having self control is important, but i think it does a disservice to the reality we are living in if we don’t appreciate the influences of consumerism.

[@GuiltyFeat]

@@heroinescorner I hear you and it's just another reason I'm happy social media didn't exist in my 20s!