Isn't it a shame that people like dumb books?

[@emilymaysings]

Your videos feel like a 3am chat with a good friend, so honest and heartfelt.

[@zainabmubarak8322]

I fully agree! I love listening to her. Love her more caz she is openminded and understanding too!

[@zainabmubarak8322]

loooooooool!! same, you'll need a deciphering codex to figure out what i'm blabbering >_

[@cogen651]

Emily You're kidding, right? She's bat sh@@ hyper crazy.

[@emilymaysings]

cogen651 ok

[@katiekress5787]

Emily +

[@welldonebooks]

When reviewing books that I didn't like, I always try to explain it in "I" statements so it's clear that I'm not passing judgment on the book itself or people who did like it. Also I always try to say "I didn't like it, but people who enjoy x or y might" so that I don't totally discredit it, and can still recommend it to people in a broad way. Great, thoughtful video!

[@FrancescaGeorgiou]

The most intelligent person I know, I've never wanted to hug someone's brain more

[@Persnikity-yv3nh]

I see it like all forms of cultural entertainment - like a fluffy YA novel is like a Netflix binge and a "classic" is like wandering through an art museum, with everything in between on the spectrum. I can enjoy all of it, ya know? It all has its time and place. Like a wouldn't normally reach for a Lucky Santangelo novel, but it's PERFECT on a plane.

[@shutupcharli483]

This is such an interesting topic and I have definitely been culprit of doing these things. Some YA books I've been like 'I'm too clever for this, the plot is to simple, what is wrong with this author? Don't they see the issues?' But then I read some classics and I'm just like 'I'll never be smart enough to read this. I'm so dumb. I'll never be a literature student.' Etc etc I think I'll try and change that now though after this vid :)

[@quirkyblackenby]

Honestly I like when people explain why they like something or why they think a certain way. I like when people have reasons for their thoughts and opinions. Sometimes people just live their life not questioning themselves enough. Questioning yourself is important.

[@naishuchet6679]

I totally agree with you even if sometimes I feel like I do it too much

[@PalkaDots]

Guilt to me seems action centered instead of shame which seems identiy centered. Like, seeing failure as an action instead of who you are. Makes sense.

[@unirpb2350]

eyyyy this was real good. always with non-fiction books i have the 'im not clever enough' shame and with fiction 'the author sucks'. i guess ive always subconsciously thought non fic is 'smarter'. huh

[@boredomsentmehere]

relatable tbh

[@emilyq7990]

your videos never fail to make me think about things I never have and probably never would have without being prompted, so thanks for prompting me all the time

[@MinestroneChad]

Thank you for this! The whole reason of feeling shame and expectation is why I got rid of my Goodreads - realising that I wasn't reading just because I like it, but reading possibly because I wanted to achieve a goal of 'read books'. And thank you for the new perspective of 'dumb books'. Definitely going to be mindful of this now and actively work on distancing myself from harsh judgement on a book just because 'I didn't like it'.

[@AmyJaneSmith90]

This was great - I really love Brené Brown's work and loved hearing what it brought up for you. I've just reviewed theatre production of 1984 on my blog - and I thought, as I often do, I shouldn't put myself in the review so much, not very proper etc. I reassure myself that it's my blog, I can write how I like, I'm not under a publication that pays. But, this made me realise that adding in my perspective actually valuable. With professional critics you know they have all this watching experience but with bloggers you don't know, so to get that reference is helpful to understand how much the thoughts on the show might also make sense for you. So that's helpful to hear. Think true re book snobbery too, we forget that not everything is made for us - easily go to it being an affront/waste of time when that's ridiculous and a bit selfish!

[@carinaprofir]

Unrelated but I am currently dealing with more "life related" shame (like why this and that thing hasn't happened in my life yet)… that process of self talk definitely can and should be applied to all aspects of life (which I assume your audio book is about).

[@georgiaoreilly6220]

Thank you for this video Leena. I have been thinking about this recently. I've started to think that a piece of art (books or otherwise) is more about 'what you are looking for' as opposed to how 'good' the piece of work is. I love your idea about including yourself in your reviews!

[@mllesarahyasmine]

i just love your videos so much - they feel like talking for hours late at night about the world and all that (my favourite kind of convos). love brene brown! she made me realise how important it was just to DO stuff, just go for it and feel stuff - even if it's not a nice feeling, it's better to be vulnerable than just sail by. also i just thought with your last sentence - what do you think about certain youtubers who feel the need to constantly bash the more mainstream ones? it frustrates me because it feel like the whole mean girls 'saying someone's ugly won't make you any prettier'.. but then at the same time free speech and critique of our peers is important.. so i dunno, it just feels v self indulgent when i see it? X

[@kellyandthreequarters4664]

I sort of made this realisation when my sister got into reading by reading books that are definitely not for me and I might, a few months a go, have considered 'trashy'. But they are great books because they resonated with her and stared her reading and were enteratinting and might encourage her to evolve her reading diet, although she doesn't have to. Thanks for the interesting video, I also loved seeing your Booktube Panel, well done, I think I'm going to start a booktube channel!!!!!

[@nicolekeeton8618]

The shame explanation at the beginning of this video literally was me this morning. I booked the wrong date for Summer in the City and although it could be being sorted I cried for an hour because I was stupid and should have double checked. Contemporary insta-love books make me feel shame when I enjoy them because I feel I should look down on them because thats what booktubers do. Loving the conversation angle of your videos!

[@MollieReads]

Love your thoughts here. Daring Greatly is one of my favorite books! Brene Brown is wonderful. Recognizing shame in my own life has been transformative... truly. Somehow naming it takes away some of its power, you know? Book shame is so real and I'm guilty (see what I did there?) of it all the time!

[@angiejiang927]

I'm loving this one to one vibe. Very personal and thought provoking :)

[@defense360]

ditto everything U said but also in context of film reviewing. YOUR BRAIN IS GOOD

[@CitizenDuMonde]

This has made me rethink the way I interact with books and movies and just works of creativity in general.

[@mariamnessi]

Glad you made this video! It kind of bothers me when people shame Carry On fans (by Rainbow Rowell) It raises great points of criticism of the Harry Potter world and is also a wonderful book in its own right

[@hannahdavies5400]

I partly agree but personally the reason I get so obsessed with the number of books I read is that often, in years where I read much less, I've realised it had more to do with me wasting time on things I don't value as much as reading but that seemed easier (viral videos, memes etc). Me reading a lot tends to coincide with me getting my priorities straight (which is entirely specific to my particular interests and priorities)

[@BookNomming]

I feel also booktube can end up being quite competitive in terms of how many books people own/read and then you feel shameful if you contribute to that or if you don't follow the crowd. I read a wider range of books and hate it when people view chick-lit or YA as 'dumb lit' and then you feel shameful for that. But then again the whole idea of chick lit also brings up a lot of great feminism points too!

[@hannathebookhunter9213]

Your videos give me life. Loved this. Need to read the book, too.

[@fraukamera]

a really interesting and important topic. i think a big part of shaming someone or something is denying it/them complexity. when i hear people shaming others for their voting behavior it's usually because they aren't interested in the why and how of that decision and only see the end result and can't understand that there are people with real lives and real problems behind those decisions. and the same goes for books. saying something isn't intellectually as stimulating as you expected and shaming a book/author for that means that you are denying books and authors the capability to do something else with their books than be intellectually outstanding. so many thoughts on this.. lovely video leena :)

[@emma-pd8ce]

This is such an interesting conversation, and I say conversation because that's what it feels like. You're always so thoughtful and inquisitive and encouraging to other people who want to be the same. I want to think about this more. I fall both into the camp of shaming those who like commercial YA and into the camp of shaming myself for not being a quick/strong/patient enough reader to read the books that I feel that I should. I think there's a lot of shame around books in general, with people judging other people who haven't read certain classics or certain popular books or certain genres, and although it's fine to have opinions on what you think people should read, I think we have to be more careful about the way we convey those opinions. The best books are the ones that challenge you but also welcome you home, so I think readers and the reading community as a whole should seek to be more like that as well. xx

[@RebeccaShoptaw]

Yes! This is so important - it's very easy to just write off a book by calling it "dumb" or "pretentious," but it's so much more interesting (and productive! and less shame-y!) to come up with some of the specific reasons why it didn't work for you and still, y'know, accept that there are plenty of people that could appreciate it as is. I feel like there's this weird thing that happens where the guilt you get from insulting someone's art (book, movie, etc.) and implicitly shaming the creator/people who enjoy it morphs eventually into shame directed at yourself, which is just...not fun for anyone.

[@occaisionalbookworm]

This is such an interesting concept. I definitely empathise with the shame reaction, in particular with literature titles just Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes. It sometimes feels like I'm not smart enough to understand the authors intended message.

[@katielarisa]

I'm definitely guilty of doing some of those things, the numbers/counting books thing is more of a personal thing, I'm always in competition with myself to be 'better', and I'm surrounded with all these lecturers who have read so many books and feel like I'm never going to catch up, so I go for books I know I can read in a week, especially over summer because lord knows personal reading doesn't get done in the academic year...and I definitely judge books in a way that involves shame, but I don't often say it out loud unless I'm having to defend 'elitist' literature/movements. It's not often I openly critique books in a way the shames another person directly, until someone shames me for reading 'literature with a capital L'. One of my lecturers recently got her novel 'The Dress' published in paperback (I recommend it 100%) and it was packaged as 'womens fiction', all my ranty feminist issues with that as a subsection of books aside, I tend to avoid books with that label because, (ctd.)

[@katielarisa]

(Ctd) shamefully, I associate with fluffy heteronormative bechdel-failing romance and sex and the city type narratives that I just don't find appealing. Alas, she is one of the loveliest people on this earth, and I wanted to love the book, so I read it to support her and I really did love the book. I shan't explain everything, it just had so many underlying themes and messages that made it so pleasantly surprising and made me rethink the way I think about how we package not only the label of a genre, but the content of what is in it. However, I still think there's something to be said about (Derek Attridge) literature as a singularity that brings the 'other' into someone's mental existence, but that's because I think everyone, the whole world, including myself needs to be looking outwards. Ahh so many thoughts, I'll leave it there, this video is ace.

[@MsAprilsky]

yes I can relate to this. I feel inadequate sometimes when I don't read as quickly as other people or I enjoy books that are YA when I feel I should be reading more adult books that are deemed superior. Fuck it, read what you like and let people have their opinions🤗

[@laurenmartin9681]

Oh man this was a great video and I have a lot of thoughts. I take SO much pleasure in reading and I try really hard to protect it as a relaxing, enjoyable, passionate part of my life, rather than an obligation or a source of stress. I have never forced myself to finish a book, almost out of principle, if I don't like it. I'll give a book either 5 pages (because sometimes you know immediately) or 100 pages (if I'm not sure), and if I don't care about it by then, I will ditch it for another one. I've inevitably read half of those "100 books everyone should read" lists, and started and abandoned the other half. I was talking to my therapist about this and mentioned it casually and she stopped me and said that it's so good that I do that because it's me caring for myself. She's like, "you push yourself so much, I'm so glad to hear that you don't push yourself with this." I also try to not judge myself for liking "stupid" books, because sometimes I just need to lose myself in a book and not think. But I do try to balance it out by reading good-for-you books like classics or non-fiction -- but only if I like them. :)

[@LakminiW]

Totally related to this, i just made a video response (they need to bring those back!) on my issues with reading speed and subvocalisation etc., it's taken me a while but i'm now feeling less shame re. numbers of books i've read. Interesting to hear about it from a book tuber perspective i guess there's a different type of pressure within the community to read and review in a certain way.

[@ReadsAndFeeds]

Leena your videos are always so RAW! I love it. I don't think we should feel obligated to like certain books... Sometimes there is no one to blame (author or self). I guess reviewing/publishing/writing is a very subjective field to work in, and maybe there are no right or wrongs. I have no idea, as I am a medical student who just likes reading and talking enthusiastically about such reading. But I feel like guilt should have no place in a hobby/job that you enjoy! I think what I really want to say is don't worry about how you should feel, and just feel! Love your videos, and thanks for sharing your thoughts as always!

[@AnAntUnderTheRoof]

I don't read a lot because I'm nervous and have huge problems with paying attention to something for too long...but still I wish I had friends like you... I feel like people around me are so narrow minded that it makes me feel insane...if you know what I mean....maybe I am in fact a bit mental but still people who talk only about down to earth things make me feel even worse...ehh sorry my comment is not related to the subject however i do feel shame everyday lol take care and keep doing what you are doing because it's comforting

[@byvitaobrien]

Have you read The Three Loves of Persimmon by Cassandra Golds? Not sure if it'd be up your alley but the main character has this amazing reaction to finding out her favourite book recieved the worst review this famous critic had ever given. The book itself is more to do with Persimmon's emotional journey growing up and coming to terms with herself but the relationship she has with this book is hugely important to that growth. Talking about shame is so interesting and in regards to books I instantly thought of that. Anyway, loved the video! 🌸🌸🌸

[@laur8217]

wonderful, self-aware observations here! thanks for verbalizing something I didn't know how to put words to

[@lemonmiranda4233]

Kind of the opposite of what you're talking about but a similar experience I have: I've recently tried getting more into adult/literary fiction and some books I've read I just haven't understood or appreciated as much as I'd like. It's very easy when that happens to feel stupid, instead of realising that maybe I'm not ready for that book and should reread it later with more experience when I'm more likely to enjoy it. There's nothing wrong with not fully understanding a book the first time round, but I often feel immature or stupid when I don't. It's hard not to put pressure on yourself to appreciate literary books; sometimes you just don't, and that's fine.

[@Frizzbiscuit]

YES! I keep thinking a lot about elitism, partly from interactions I keep having with people in geek culture. This guy was criticising my love for Harry Potter by telling me how when he was 5 he read Lord of the Rings and never bothered with Harry Potter because "I could obviously tell which was the superior series" and my lit teacher in year 12 was ranting once about how Harry Potter is only popular because of Terry Pratchett's success. Like yes, okay, chill. One of these doesn't have to be better than the other, you should be able to like one or all or none of them without being shamed for it.

[@PacificNWGrl]

I've read this book twice. I'm still a packrat. Glad I'm not alone. Really like this topic. Right now I broke down and got 5 books simply for entertainment value alone. It's so nice not to try to force myself to learn constantly. :) Your thoughtfulness, creativity and intelligence are very appreciated. Totally understand the relationship from author to the book they wrote. I'm guilty of that. Feeling let down by the who behind the book. Or feel guilty for not being able to separate the author from the writing itself.

[@desertrose0601]

This makes a lot of sense. I always try to take reviews with a grain of salt. When people explain more WHY they didn't like a book (main character is whiny, etc), that helps a lot more than just a generic "This book is dumb," because that type of statement is so personal. What one person might find dumb, someone else might really enjoy. What I like and what other people like aren't always going to be the same and that's okay.

[@BookNomming]

Thank you for this video! I am currently reading attachments by rainbow Rowell and feeling shame because I'm not loving it like everyone else I know has and therefore I'm worrying what's wrong with me , why don't I like it. P.s you should write an inspirational book, your advice and talks are so intellectual and thoughtful!

[@misanthropyandpuppers2691]

Don't feel shame, I read that book as well and found it to be very sickly and convenient and just generally, blah. Different strokes for different folks and all that.

[@indubitablyzara]

Yep yep yep. As I was watching this video I went and changed my Goodreads goal from 70 (which I was way behind on) to 50 (which I'm on track for and will probably surpass given my tendency to read a ton in December after the end of the semester, but if not, totally okay). Also just really needed to hear this in general, as I've sat in my apartment today and done almost nothing but take shameful naps and shame myself.

[@jeanahollings]

Interesting detail: you didn't look at the camera as much as usual. Not surprising or bad, just interesting. Thank you for sharing yourself!

[@Kat_Attack]

I had a teacher in secondary school (who loved to bully me) tell me that the Harry Potter books were "dumb". "What, so they just fly around on brooms?!" P.S he was an English teacher. pfffft. I was pretty firm in my belief that the books were good, but it also made me feel like he wanted me to feel---like I sat outside understanding what good literature was. (even though I was a crazy book worm---I read a lot of everything, I didn't really care if it was "over" or "under" my age or not, I read it [I read a lot of Murder, She Wrote tv-to-book books, lol #JBFletcher ]). But, when I look back on his attitude, it just makes me think: he didn't have any imagination because he couldn't see the magic of HP. Of course, there are some books I'm not going to enjoy because they are not to my taste, but there are always other books I am going to love. The only thing that I will add is that I do beat myself up for not reading more books by women, poc, and lgbtqia. But that is a project, not shame.

[@remedywithin]

Loved it... The very end was the best! (Fuckem' Man!)

[@misanthropyandpuppers2691]

So turns out I'm a very shameful person and didn't even realise it. Like just these last few days I've been invited to a Lush Xmas temp interview and I've went from 'well I know a fair amount about Lush and why I'd want to work for it, I think I'll do okay' to 'yeah but lots of people shop at Lush and get this information so I probably know less than what I thought, and the staff are usually really pretty there and I'm just so meh so they won't hire me' and the entire time I've had those thoughts never once have I thought I was shaming myself and more just pointing out issues within myself that make me unworthy of the job.

[@ChloeOxborrow]

whenever i heard 'shame reaction' in this video, I found myself mentally repeating it to the tune of chain reaction by steps

[@hannahjervis]

Does the book talk about reactions outside of guilt/shame? I just feel like when I don't like a book or disagree with a voting outcome, I don't blame myself or others, I'm just like, oh well, that book isn't for me, or oh dear I'm sad about the result but I don't blame each individual voter.

[@tetsubo57]

Whenever I expect a book to play a role in my life, it rarely if ever does. The books that have had the biggest impact are those that blindsided me. Isn't it a shame that people like dumb books? I feel the same way whenever Adam Sandler earns a penny.

[@mandy]

Well I am listening to this book!

[@GameofTomes]

Every time someone is an asshole about a book, I want to show them this video ❤ -Jessica

[@valentinadesantis1870]

Hi! I wanted to ask you how did you get into publishing and what do you do. It seems a really interesting job

[@Meyra97512]

"If I had more shame in my life I would've apologized for that" Hahah XD

[@ChrisanneDaniel]

I haven't finished tidying either :/

[@jusdechocolat1]

Hey, I absolutely love your videos, I found them through a French channel (solangeteparle) and I can't believe I've missed your videos this entire time and how much I needed them in my life 😁 I was just wondering what you did for a living, do you work in the book or movie industry? Sorry about that question but I'm really curious to know!

[@jusdechocolat1]

Oh and sorry if I made English mistakes, I'm French ;)

[@sophiebuchel]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this! I'm also trying to shame myself and others less. And, you know, read EVERYTHING. And NOT have a minimalist wardrobe because I JUST got into patterns and colours and flowers so fuck living simply ;) I really enjoy your videos by the way! I rarely comment because I feel like I'm in a teenage space sometimes but I'm trying to listen to my own advice and claim the space I feel I need/want/bleepblerghbluuh. Yeah.

[@julecaesara482]

that ended rather abruptly

[@andreacecchini5733]

I understand the whole shame process, but what about reviewing a book by its grammar and the like? I often read books with amazing stories, but thought it was poorly written. Would that imply a shame factor towards the author? The same for 'simple' books, the ones that don't go much in depth into a character's feelings, backgrounds, or process of thoughts. I think a book's review has to be made of different parts. Because as much as I agree that one should put themselves more in it, that can only go as far as the story goes - 'I liked it', 'I hated it'. When you said that people call 'dumb' those who read commercial book, I was thinking about the reason why. And I think that's simply because a commercial book is usually for the general public, which is not trained to read more complicated book. It is obviously wrong to call them 'dumb', but I also think there is a substantial difference between Twilight and Jane Eyre, that goes beyond personal opinion. All of this to say that I agree with you, but there is much more to talk about on the subject.

[@MartheBozart]

But like I try to only judge people by their decisions (actions and words, not ethnicity, nationality, sexuality, ....) and some people make decisions that makes me not like them, bc I totally disagree. I respect people and their opinions but I can feel my feels about them, no? Without trying to shame them? Also, I review books and I sometimes say that I didn't understand a book not to shame myself but bc I actually didn't understand (Virgin Suicides). I don't think I'm stupid, I just don't think that book worked for me, and I'm not trying to shame the author by saying that either? So idk if this theory always works? Idk? I'm confused

[@chloemckay3084]

Your videos cheer me up!

[@AlyssLysie]

I need to tidy again as well!! Haha

[@chitatmodno]

Great as always)) Love listening to your thoughts. Wish you would upload more often (not trying to shame on tha though, hah) :)

[@dutyfreecritic]

What you're describing sounds very 'troll' like to me. Seekng out something you don't agree with and/or don't like.. only to use it as a way to push forward your difference in opinion and/or elitism bc of your *higher* level thinking. Overall never thought about this before. Really enlightening..

[@TheOwleryBooks]

Love this discussion!

[@wtfmariaa]

lovely! such an interesting topic!

[@valv674]

I wish I could be able to grasp every word she utters but I just can't. Her accent is lovely but I lack listening skills :(

[@camillemordacq1708]

Wow, thank you.

[@moatzart]

i feel like the definitions you gave for guilt and shame would be the other way around? Like if i m guilty of something that was stupid I, therefore, am stupid if I killed and found guilty I am now a murderer, but shame is just feeling momentarily embarrassed over a mistake (which may even be imagined) although I suppose it doesn t necessarily have to be momentary, but still, you feel bad for messing up but it doesn't change any aspect of your being, it s more wishing something hadn t happened, whereas admitting guilt is "I am now this (thief stupid annoying unrespectful mean...)". I suppose you can be guilty of something without internalising or recognising the change and feel shame so deeply you attribute change (on yourself).

[@yaboy2501]

Could you make a video on how you became a publisher? It sounds like such a fun job!