BOOK COMMUNITY: PLEASE STOP DOING THESE THINGZ IN 2023 [CC]

[@the_broken_spine]

The thing that gets me is when folks specifically YT folks say they can’t relate to a book written by a BIPOC author and proceed to trash it and/or rate it low. That mess needs to STOP IMMEDIATELY!

[@girlwiththemagicpen]

Thank you!!! I don't get that either.

[@renee4319]

But then they’ll read about faries and dragons 😒

[@adr4693]

EXACTLY 💯 how you gonna tell me that elves, dwarfs, talking animals are fine, but the second there are BIPOC characters or cultural references that's too far like HUH??? 🤨🤨

[@r-pupz7032]

I've never understood that! People are people, our shared humanity despite our differenced is one of the most beautiful things authors can communicate to us, and I don't sit down with a book to read about someone exactly like me... Books are a way to peek into other people's worlds, walk in their shoes, learn and grow with them. I just don't understand why you can identify with white fairies but not brown/black humans... (I mean, I do, it's white privilege & internalised racism but you know what I mean...)

[@Cadapech]

@@adr4693 I think it'd make more sense to say you can't relate but leave it at that. It shouldn't be a part of the rating. Like being BIPOC isn't unbelievable so it shouldn't affect the rating of a book like how being a Mary Sue would. BIPOC is just not being white so... yeh.

[@artschoolglasses]

“Scroll past it.” YES PLEASE AND THANK YOU. Some people need to grasp onto the idea that they do not in fact need to respond to every single tweet that comes across their timeline. LEARN TO IGNORE THINGS. Keep scrolling and stop giving ridiculous takes your time and attention.

[@aniyamarie8370]

Covid taught me how to simply ignore everything on social media, specifically Twitter. That time could be spent doing exactly what I love: reading.

[@maryinsanfrancisco]

💯%.

[@tonibauer8051]

" bake some bread, go raise some chickens or something". I'm dead Jess... I can't even... I laughed out loud in my doctor's office 😅

[@JessOwens]

😂😂😂

[@viscorner4]

Not gonna lie, I was relieved when you said 'judge all you want'. One thing about me, I'm gonna judge regardless. It might be in my head, it might show on my face due to very poor facial expressions regulation skills, but Imma judge 👀

[@JessOwens]

😂😂😂😂 oh 10000% same

[@LimitlessMegan]

"poor facial expression regulation skillls" OMG I didn't know there was a name for my problem!!! (My friends tell me I am NOT successful at not letting my opinion show on my face, even when I'm really trying...)

[@iheartcats4life_]

"There's no such thing as a dumb question❤️" Jess: WROOOOOOOONG 💀💀💀💀💀 I'm dead

[@catsandbats77]

Anyone who has worked in customer service will know that's wrong. 🤣

[@JessOwens]

It had to be said

[@bhsprinkle]

That one got me too 🤣🤣🤣

[@corvidae_s]

I hate that people still do stuff like this 😩 the moment I realized I could guiltlessly block people and they'd never know, I knew true peace.

[@angryotter9129]

Except when they figure out you blocked them and decide to create new accounts specifically to harass you. The internet is a terrible place.

[@Robi-Chaud]

That's one thing I appreciate about tumblr culture. It is accepted and even encouraged to block anyone for whatever reason you want

[@bookcaseofdoom]

"Raise some chickens, the cost of eggs is really high out there" is gonna be my new answer to any dumb thing anyone says to me ❤️

[@savannahm3817]

I love how you took a short break...and came back telling everyone off. Break well spent. Love this energy

[@JessOwens]

😎😎😎

[@psychobunnyjones5247]

I live for her videos like this, I'm patiently waiting for her to break out the white board again😂

[@KatieColson]

Not giving attention to comments like audiobooks and how much someone’s reading is something I really needed to hear. You’re so right. That person isn’t going to change their mind no matter what I say.

[@martakavaliauskaite4566]

Spot on you are so right

[@lyannastarkweather]

"Scroll past it!" Yes. This is my philosophy on the internet. The block and mute features are your friends!

[@hipstamom]

A aspiring author ranted on FB that she hates the library because a library copy "steals" an author's work. Smh!

[@JessOwens]

🤦🏾‍♀️🤦🏾‍♀️🤦🏾‍♀️

[@circleofleaves2676]

Wow, that is wild, hey? Lots of folks first read new authors through their library, and from that, end up buying their books, or putting them on christmas/birthday wish-lists (if in a family that asks for such things), or buying tickets to authors events. Or, raving about the book/author to friends who end up buying the books. Or, if they're a content creator, talking about that book on their channel which results in readers buying the books. Libraries are awesome. One of the first things I do when moving to a new place is find out where the local library is.

[@martakavaliauskaite4566]

@@circleofleaves2676 spot on librarys are amazing places they often have authors presenting their books meetings with authors help people with internet especially older generation people recommend books help school children with their reading lists from school have reading clubs where people can talk abaut books in safe educated place where everybody respects you no matter what kind of book you read by that romance / mystery / fantasy / any other genre / safe place for children to meet where they can talk withaut beeing bullied and insulted by other children becouce they like to read / or have any other isues children are often cruel if you are different for any kind of reason librarys create safe space children can meet eatch other even if they go in different schools and most important in the librarys can read books that you cant afford to bay they are expensive and they take a lot of space in your home for me librarys are sacred place

[@circleofleaves2676]

@@martakavaliauskaite4566 Absolutely. In school, the library was my refuge.

[@martakavaliauskaite4566]

@@circleofleaves2676 thank you so much for kind words best wishes to you and your family

[@bheartsbooks]

I was nervous clicking on this video because I thought it was going to be a “we’re not going to read this author, and support this kind of thing” video. Only because those videos have become so common. I’m so happy this wasn’t that at all! The opposite actually, so thank you for that. I’ll only comment one one thing on your list because I have a very small perspective on the issue. Libraries. Did you know that you have to have a physical address to get a library card? I sure didn’t, until I moved to a place that didn’t have an address. As for me, I’m fine. I work in a bookstore. I have lots of access to books, but I can think of a lot of situations where people wouldn’t have an address, and wouldn’t have access to a library. Also, for towns that don’t have their own library, they have to agree, as a town, to pay the extra taxes to have access to the nearest library. If the town doesn’t get enough votes, then the citizens don’t have access to a public library. That thought never even entered my mind. I had no idea, until I moved to the mountains. A town very close to me is one of those towns that can’t go to the library. Now, I’m in Washington state. Every states laws are different, but we can’t be the only one. When I hear people say”just use the library” I cringe. It’s the exact same thing when people say “just take the bus.” Because people who would say that have never lived in a place with no bus stops, and it wouldn’t occur to them that there weren’t magically bus stops everywhere. These people with these opinions have just made their minds up without talking to a single person, and decided that persons motives are evil.

[@martakavaliauskaite4566]

Spot on i really cant understand this but every country every state has their own laws in my contry every bigger city and most of villages have librarys / community centers right now i understand how lucky i am best wishes to you

[@night_jade]

The theme for this year should honestly be "ignore it". I mean some things need to be stood up for and brought to light but I feel like we have forgotten where that line actually is.

[@hollib3900]

It's also not just based on age. I don't look at something when they're 20 and think they're grown. I'm 52 and my 20 year old self had a lot of growing up to do. If a tweet from ten years comes out, all I care about is -- HAVE THEY CHANGED? If the current person is that one from ten years ago, then it's problematic. But racist people can make changes in their life - even later in life. So, it depends on the people. But I DO agree with everything you said! I'm glad you made this video.

[@circleofleaves2676]

Exactly. People make mistakes. What's important is that they don't double-down on that mistake.

[@Topdoggie7]

This is why I stay on bad author's. Especially ones who have continued to not change. I don't care that it's been x many years because some crimes -ped0philia- have no expiration date in my eyes. I can forgive if growth is there or they did stupid shit as teenagers, but full grown adults know better.

[@rz5293]

I really liked the point about "just get it from the library". I hadn't thought about that much. I'm originally from Eastern Europe, now living in the US, and my family is still back home, so sometimes I wince when my sister orders a lot of books online or buys them from the store there, but now I'm reminded of what it was like for me as a reader growing up - the libraries are often poor and have mostly older books, they're far and my sister is really busy so she can't bus there all the time, plus that the library systems are often antiquated. I'm glad she has more access to ordering books online than I did growing up!

[@eyesonindie]

This is amazing. I will say, as a (VERY) small booktuber, one time an author found my positive review video of her very under-read book, and she commented and shared it with her family and friends...and it was the BEST FEELING IN THE WORLD. But I can see how that could go the other way, too. Thank you for this stellar video!!

[@EveningReader]

Raise some chickens...😂 I agree with ALL of this, but on the library thing especially, just spot on. They're getting defunded, there are book bans, libraries are being closed.

[@angryotter9129]

What you said about “nobody talks about this” is so important. People can only dedicate energy to so many things and what is most significant to me is not the same for others. We can have our passionate causes and recognize the causes of others and it can all be valid. Just because someone isn’t talking about what you care about doesn’t mean they don’t care or are a bad person.

[@july3817]

And sometimes people ARE talking about it and they just didn’t take a look before tweeting/commenting

[@martakavaliauskaite4566]

​@@july3817 spot on

[@thelibrarianofalexandria6200]

I agree with all your points. I do espesially NEED people to stop book shaming. Let people read romance. Fantasy. YA. MG. Whatever they want. Like sometimes people talk and say they don’t like to read but two sentences after they rave about X crime/fantasy book. Like they count as reads. .. Also so I work in a bookstore and I overheard a customer say how they got shamed for liking fantasy

[@JessOwens]

Yes! It’s reading and that’s all that matters

[@bheartsbooks]

I work in a bookstore too! Best Job Ever! I overheard my coworker talking to a customer one day. It was the beginning of summer and she said “I feel like some summer reads. Some thinking person’s romance, if you will.” She literally said that, as if people who read romance are empty headed dummies. People think they’re Gods and get to decide what genres “count” as reading.

[@martakavaliauskaite4566]

​@@bheartsbooks spot on i cant stand that people shame eatch other for liking any kind of genre i love romance books i love fantasy books i love detective books any kind of genre have amazing writters and people are free to choose what books they like and have normal discussion in reading book club some people discuss romance some books abaut wars some fantasy some detective some biographys but we all have good time and share our love for reading thank you for working with books best wishes

[@ladybug381]

So many on the list hit me and I wanted to clap and then also stand to shut it down. Yes, I read over 200 books a year. Yes, I can usually remember what the book was about by looking at it. I don't care if you only read one book. I'm excited that you read. No, I don't care if you don't believe me.

[@martakavaliauskaite4566]

Spot on i am the same i cant imagine my life withaut books i read and listen a lot of audiobooks i am so tired of divide between audiobooks and real books anyone can choose what works for them best wishes

[@CandaceDesignedStore]

So True!! There are so many times a day I want to ask someone, "did you Google it?" They will interupt me and ask such a simple question about something that can literally be explained with a few clicks of the keyboard. Eye roll.....

[@JessOwens]

We didn’t make google a verb for nothing !!

[@chastity6062]

Don't know if some folks grew up in the age of information or if the age of information grew up around them because that lack of simple search is STTTTTTTRONG.

[@JessOwens]

Whew ! You said it 😩

[@ke_nickie]

every time i read "why is no one talking about this?" i swear im gonna roll my eyes into the back of my skull permanently 🙄

[@tt7670]

You're so right! I think the internet has pushed people to very black and white thinking and it's led to a culture of shame. People grow and change! Also - big 100 on the library instead of giving them money. Like, I'd never recommend buying Ender's Game, but I could totally understand wanting to know why it's marked a classic and getting it from the library.

[@BiteSizedBeet]

Love this list! I fully agree about old tweets being nuanced. I am not the same person I was in my 20s and I'm sure I spouted a ton of BS that I would hate to be judged on now in my 40s. Also especially on board with "scroll past this" and "no one is talking about this."

[@kitty4407]

The piracy stuff drives me crazy bc it is so much more nuanced and complicated than people allow in discussion. But also, like people need to move forward in the conversation, the answer will never be fighting piracy and the individuals that pirate. Place the blame and burden squarely on Amazon. It’s like discussing individual efforts to stop pollution. It’s the system, it’s capitalism. The companies love that people are eating each other over this issue. It’s drives me crazy. And the feigned sympathy. 🙄 “I understand not being able to afford books but I didn’t do this or that” Don’t. No need, we know it’s not sincere. Spend the efforts elsewhere if you really do.

[@aniyamarie8370]

Of all these GOOD takes you’ve shared, 1:57 is one I can relate to the most. If reading is supposed to be this fun hobby that aids us in escaping reality, why do we police others for reading authors who are problematic OUTSIDE of their work? You can’t judge an Internet stranger’s character because of the books they read. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. If you don’t like a book because of a bad author, then unfollow the person reading it. There’s no need to force your beliefs on to them by threatening an unfollow or block on social media.

[@july3817]

I also think it’s a valid idea to read book with different believes than your own. This obviously depends on some factors and everyone should do their own thing, but especially with older books its something to keep in mind. Like no, I do not automatically agree with the controversial views this author has but apart from the fact that they died 200 years ago, it’s interesting to know where these believes come from and how they rationalise them. It’s a way to understand the other side which is the only way you can actually have a conversation about it.

[@martakavaliauskaite4566]

​@@july3817 agree sametimes it goes too far agatha christie mystery books are rewritten becouce she was insentive but at that point of history everybody was she was verry educated lady by her times

[@dimerymichaels3539]

I truly felt the way you yelled shut up in this video. 😂😂😂 deep in my soul that’s how I talk to people in my head all the time.

[@JessOwens]

🤣🤣🤣

[@xxmorningxstarxx]

I think with the tweet thing it should be more used to establish a pattern of behaviour. Like hey, this person said this racist/sexist thing in 2011 but here's more in 2015, 2018, 2 months ago, last week, yesterday...etc. It feels disengenuous to me when someone says something slightly problematic today and then someone digs up a couple old tweets from 10+ years ago that also sound kind of problematic and conclude that person is "a bad person." It just comes across that the people pulling out these tweets are deliberately looking for dirt on the person. And when it's been so long we are likely missing context.

[@stampincass]

One of the most powerful statements I've ever read was by Ray Hinton in The Sun Does Shine. " we are all more than the worst thing we've done " ( I might have mangled it some as I didn't pull out my quote book ) The older I get, the more I recognize: we have all done good things. we have all done bad things.

[@hannahschriever7976]

I really love the conversation you brought about libraries. My community library has been my safe place since I was kid who struggled with my home life. But I also understand that not everyone is blessed enough to have access to a library whether it be location restrictions or transportation restrictions, etc.

[@martakavaliauskaite4566]

Spot on library was my safe becouce of bullying children can bee so cruel and ruthless sametimes for any kind of reason and people too library is my sacred place

[@dinuraiga]

One thing I would add to your list is people going overboard with the whole "Don't Yuck My Yum" idea. Of course you shouldn't go out of your way to respond to someone's interest by bashing it, but people should still be able to talk about the things they dislike without being silenced just because it's someone's "yum".

[@JessOwens]

I agree!

[@ezool18]

i always felt iffy with the trend of digging up old tweets bc of that very thing of "well how long ago and how old were they when they said those things?" bc i remember that one social media guy Brother Nature was getting cancelled from some things he said online when he was 12. like?? that was a literal child i can't fault him for that if now he seems like a well-adjusted young adult trying to make positive change about our care for nature and stuff. for tweets made by adults when they were adults im usually hesitant tho, bc yea they should have known better at the time when saying those things. but i also believe that it's never too late to change your worldview, so if they had already apologized for those things, i'm willing to believe they recognized what they did was wrong. like, unless its a continuous pattern in their words/actions/money, then i don't think it's really fair to be digging up those things in their past.

[@martakavaliauskaite4566]

Spot on

[@monster-enthusiast]

I think it's fine to dig up old tweets when their behavior is still consistent. Like when people assume it's some new shit, but then u find tweets showing the same shitty behavior dating back years. Or when you're specifically trying to find proof of something. But if you're just like "see, this person sucks cuz they made a comment 7 years ago" maybe relax and don't do that shit. Especially if it's some petty nonsense.

[@NahlaAnwer]

I LOVE how passionate you are about telling people to just not be jerks!

[@lauralikesbooks]

I completely agree with every single point you made!! I would also add that it’s much easier for people to insert themselves into drama that has nothing to do with them or “cancel” other people because then they don’t have to look at themselves or their own life! As long as you LOOK like a good person online, you don’t actually have to BE a good person in your personal life! If I have an issue with someone, I simply stop following them. No need to comment or inform anyone of what I’m doing… I just leave. We all have the power to not see/hear things we don’t like online or curate our space, as you said. But it doesn’t need to be an attack. Obviously I’m not talking about ACTUAL problematic people/issues. But that’s the problem, by focusing on these minor things, it takes the gravity away from the big important issues that actually need to be addressed! Everything is just so black and white, hardly any nuance, and people live in complete echo chambers and refuse to hear any viewpoint outside of their own. True growth happens from debate and opening our minds, and we can’t have that if we’re immediately shutting the conversation down. Just my two cents. Again, completely agree with you, and love your channel! ❤

[@JessOwens]

As long as you look like a good person online…ayyyye you said it 👏🏾

[@scoobydoo_forever]

I also firmly believe that we need to respect one another's opinions because that gives freedom. When we don't agree with someone that is okay, we're not mental. All agree on the same thing. It's when we're disrespectful because we don't agree with someone is when we're in the wrong.

[@stephaniebookish]

You gulping the drink and you yelling “shut up” made me scream HAHAHHAA

[@JessOwens]

😆😆😆

[@wrestlingwithdisney]

“Don’t pay attention and scroll” needs to be an anthem in 2023 for many!

[@Magicwaves-]

The author's in review spaces is SO TRUE. And of course they always rate them 5 stars.

[@lauraburnham7461]

The ONLY time I care about old tweets is if they establish a pattern of poor behavior that is STILL ongoing. But if a person has grown and is promoting good things and someone pulls out old tweets as a sort of gotcha, i do not care. The fucks I have to give are non-existent.

[@apostatepostbox2821]

These are my favorite videos, when the quiet chaos creeps in and Jess gets sassier as it goes on. Love it!

[@JessOwens]

😌😌

[@kelleylovesbooks5688]

May I add... 😁. I am in a FB book group (that i love) and I always get annoyed when someone posts a book (often well known) and says, " Has anyone read this?" Nope... Not a soul has read this. You've made a rare discovery. Wow! You found the only book no one at all has read. I get the sentiment, they want feedback. Okay, then... say, "Who has read this? What did you think?" or something like that. I know it is kind of a stupid peeve - but I twitch every single time and have to roll my eyes. 🙄😏😁😂 Thanks for letting me get that off my chest... Carry on...

[@workinprogress3329]

And it’s always a Sarah J Maas book or something over-popular 😂😂

[@JessOwens]

AHAHAHAHA. YOU HAVE MADE SUCH A RARE DISCOVERY 😂😂😂

[@heathermalmal9943]

“How do y’all have storage?” THANK YOU. These people must literally have rooms full of old computers to have this much storage for real. 😂😂😂😂

[@janeefritz3902]

I love the angry/ chaotic energy this video is giving 😂 And I agree with all your points. The only thing I would add is stop shaming people for what they choose to read. Like, eviscerating someone for liking a book that you didn’t like or you found problematic. “I cannot believe you liked this book it was sooo PrObLeMaTiC!” Or “OMG you have terrible taste in books if you liked that!” Like, go away. Nobody asked for your opinion.

[@JessOwens]

Yes yes yes

[@ghostlyreads666]

"me? i can't read. so i'm not reading books." god i love you

[@ghostlyreads666]

i found myself saying "no one is talking about this" all the time, and realized the people reading the same books as me are all 40 year old men with leisure horror collections. and now i love so many of their channels. i fully agree that people need to branch out to different booktubers! i've also been thinking of starting my own channel to find more people with my taste for that reason, but i have a n x i e t y haha

[@sarahlopod]

i don't have anything to add, i fully agree with everything you've said here. i am EXHAUSTED by the constantly repeating discourse.

[@sarahlopod]

actually -- i will add that while it depends on what the person has said, i think generally pulling years old receipts isn't helpful. people grow and learn so much over time.

[@melodiclaine]

i’m a big fan of muting phrases on twitter. i might mute “ read so much “ / “ read so many books “ and it could really help!

[@allgirlreview433]

I've been screaming, "Serenity now!" quite a lot these days. People suck.

[@RaveSoul02]

My library doesn't have shit sadly i try when I can to look there first. But KU and thrifting is my best bet

[@N_Garamond]

you brought up soooo many great points. this was a relief to watch IMO. definitely a nuanced approach necessary for a lot of these questions you brought up and I think you acknowledging that people screaming one blaring note is NOT the approach to most issues.

[@blandface9957]

Oh my gosh thank you so much for the "why is no one talking about" rant, took the words right out of my mouth 😭

[@bettyreads222]

These are allll so goood! Talk about it. People need to be better about keeping their peace.

[@skellingtonMCR]

I agree with everything you said, so my only addition is that people are allowed to hate books!! They're even allowed to say it publicly! Some level of tact should be employed obviously, so don't send negative reviews to authors or deliberately go into fan spaces just to start a fight, but like you are fully allowed to dislike things and that's ok. We do not need to be attacking people for disliking books or thinking critically about books.

[@martakavaliauskaite4566]

Spot on

[@hannahschriever7976]

Also I really appreciate the point about how people are like “how do you read that much”. I’m in a lot of book groups and they will regularly ask like how many books did you read last year, then when people actually comment a lot of books they’re like well, that’s a lot and you shouldn’t really be bragging. Like actually ma’am I just work from home and have no other hobbies 😂😂

[@TheCasieturner]

This was the first video i’ve seen on your channel and what an introduction! Hard agree with sooo much of this. “Bake some bread and raise some chickens” is going to be my new response for people with a little too much time on their hands😂

[@monaerichelle808]

I hate the “ No one is talking about this” or the “ Am I the only one?..” ppl like yes, you are 🙃

[@sassycatz4470]

One thing that's been bugging me for a while is people complaining that the book they're reading is not a romance. It's one thing if the author says it's a romance, the publisher says it's a romance, and it's shelved as a romance, but if you happen to pick up a work of fiction (usually so-called "women's fiction) expecting a romance with no "guarantees" then just enjoy it for what it is -- or don't -- but don't blame the book or the author or some third party that categorized it wrong.

[@Lorie336]

I agree and I feel like nowadays you have to tell people more than ten times before they get it through their skull, if it can penetrate it. I will admit when I was younger I didn't think audiobooks was reading because you were listening, however, that changed when I read on someone's blog about how audiobooks helps those that are disabled and realized what a mistake I had made in my thinking. Now, whenever someone says that I want to inform them about that fact. Also, for some people it has nothing to do with disability, but it's the easiest way they can read and comprehend the text they're listening to. Everyone has different styles and ways of reading. The only time I would ever ask how did you read that much is to get better tips on how I can read more, other than that I am proud of people who just read even if it's one book. To me this is an accomplishment because you just learned something and most likely it was empathy or any number of things. The one that pissed me off that people especially parents is to stop telling people and kids what to read. Parent your own kid, but don't parent mine because you didn't carry that child for 9 months, you didn't birth that child, and you certainly didn't pay for that child, unless you want rights on what my babies can read that you need to start paying me $500 a month for that right since their deadbeat dad ain't paying! Jess thank you for the discussion and more importantly making me laugh. You are always a breath of fresh air. 😊💕💕💕

[@martakavaliauskaite4566]

Spot on amazing comment

[@blackraven7774]

I get so tired of getting crap, sometimes hurtful crap, for enjoying miss Sarah Janet Maas. I recognise the problematic issues but it's my escapism and makes my heart happy. Listen if I had to meet an alpha male in real life...he will have a come to Jesus experience via my frying pan 🤣💃📚💕

[@JessOwens]

HAHAHAHA

[@kittycodding4183]

I love the point about not telling people what to read. I get recommended fiction all the time. I rarely read fiction. I don't have a problem with it. I'm just always in a learning mindset. I hear from several people about how good this one book is, over and over, and how I need to go buy it so they can talk to me about it. Just tell me what it's about and your thoughts on it so I can keep learning about this new slime fungus discovered, please.

[@Stinkincutecrochet]

“Go learn to bake some bread or something” I’m loving this whole video!!!

[@michaelmyerslovesbooks]

👏👏👏 As someone who reads 99% via Audiobook, thank you!! Listening definitely helps me get to more books a month, especially while driving, shopping, and or just being home cleaning. I often read 20-22. If it's really good month, sometimes more. I think people who can't concentrate with listening to audio, are the ones who get mad at the amount read, because they can't. 😂 Boo hoo

[@jessieliseem8182]

I only get mad when my husband and I do a buddy read and he gets ahead of me because he has a job where he can listen to books while he works 😂

[@kristikafader3268]

I'm giving a subscribe to the channel and a like to this video solely because of your point about romance. Could not agree more.

[@mikkareads]

I have to admit, the audiobook thing used to trigger me so hard. I have MS, with frequent bouts of optic neuritis (inflammation of the optic nerves), so audiobooks are invaluable to me. It hurts me when someone says they're not real books, because I feel like they're saying I'm not a true reader. But nowadays, I try to just ignore it.

[@martakavaliauskaite4566]

Spot on

[@taylorgayhart9497]

I am also going to stop trying to force authors to write specific things. I used to be very vocal about straight, romance authors writing gay stories, but have found I don’t like reading them because they’re not authentic, some exceptions obvi but own voices are always better. So then I started questioning myself, like why am I pushing them to write experiences they don’t understand if I don’t have any interest in reading them? So now I am more understanding of straight, romance authors only writing straight couples, as long as their cast of characters is diverse and the gay characters aren’t just treated like the stereotypical GBF. Especially now that we have so many amazing, own voices, queer authors!! 💖 This comment only applies to sexuality and not race, as a white person I understand that’s wholly up to POC to tell me how they feel, just wanted to put that out there!

[@july3817]

It’s also important to understand that sometimes sexuality doesn’t change too much about a person. What I mean by that is that obviously not every gay person is stereotypical but also them being gay doesn’t have to take up huge part of their identity either. Like in my case, I am bisexual but I (female) have a boyfriend so most people just assume I’m straight which is fine. I never experienced homophobia, my father is very accepting and I also didn’t struggle too much. I was unsure of my sexuality but it was never a huge identity conflict. Now obviously I am very privileged to have this experience, but it is still my experience. If you were to write a character like mine, some people might say it feels like forced representation that feels flat. Now obviously it kind of depends if my character is the love interest in a romance novel or a side character in a fantasy novel but I just wanted to leave that here.

[@TheHexedLibrary]

"Raise some chickens, the cost of eggs is real high out here." SENT ME. I have been yeeted to another dimension. Girl. You killed this video.

[@CynRamirez]

This is what I’ve been saying. Not everything has to be a discourse, we can and should just keep scrolling by.

[@workinprogress3329]

“No one’s talking about this” - Ma’am, yes they are. That’s why you made the tweet. 🤔

[@JessOwens]

Exactly !!!

[@locdfitgirl6629]

I’m new to the community and all that would come in my feed was non black KZbinrs and tiktokers. It’s like you had to know the right search to find us. I eventually found one and over several weeks i discovered black book readers But, it was definitely like trying to find a needle in a hey stack. They just don’t push our content like everyone else’s Found your channel tonight and subscribed ❤

[@len.caro9]

Whenever the audiobook discourse kicks up I just feel jealous as hell because I wish I could read audiobooks but my ADHD and auditory processing issues go NOPE. Could get through a lot more books that way but nah. Super happy for everyone they work for, though. The more options for people to pick from, the better.

[@samiraayub2000]

Once I saw a post asking how do people read so much. Another great soul commented "They cheat by counting audiobooks."

[@martakavaliauskaite4566]

Dont insult audiobooks for some people they are lifeline especially if you have health isues i love all reading by that regular book / audiobook everyone has right to choose what works for them best wishes

[@monicamoss347]

Speaking of all Librarians do. I recently read Overdue by Amanda Oliver and it was very enlightening on what Librarians deal with. Just Wow, would recommend.

[@bhsprinkle]

💯 I find that telling one another what types of books to read or what they're allowed to enjoy is ridiculous. Everyone is different. Our tastes are different. Books, foods, music, etc. And it's allowed to be. It's allowed to be. Something that I enjoy might not be for everyone. That's perfectly fine. What others enjoy, I might not. That's fine too. Depending on how terrible it is, tweets from 12 years ago...I mean people grow up and evolve. Idk. Off topic: Instagram needs a block multiple pages option.

[@lattespice_andcoffee]

Jesse 🥰💛 this is a great video! thank you so much, I am always confused when other people tell readers what to read or not ... reading is supposed to a person choice, I love recommendations to broaden my horizons but keep your opinions to yourself if it wasn't to your taste.

[@RodgersReads]

Lmao yaaaaas preach with that first one with people trying to tell you what to read or not to read. THANK you lmao. "There's no such thing as a stupid question...WRONG" ☠

[@TheMissDistortion]

I feel like with decade old tweets, I try to look for the intention behind it. I’m more inclined to forgive a mysogynistic joke in 2012, but a mean gratuitous insult not so much. People can change and what’s tolerated has too, but hateful people have a longer road ahead of them.

[@cheryllovestoread]

Ignore it. Scroll past it. Amen!

[@jaycebradley8404]

jess and cindy both coming in with the common sense today!!!

[@stitchwitchreading9460]

Great video! I think bringing up tweets from a year or two is fine, but looking for dirt from a decade or more just de incentivizes personal growth. Unless you have receipts from this year and going back a decade is just proof that the person has a set pattern of behavior and isn’t willing to change.

[@nathanielluscombe5277]

I’ve never watched your videos before…until today. This is my third 😂 I love you so much. You say what I wanna say.

[@HeathersHeroesAndHeroines]

"Go learn to bake some bread or something!" Love it!

[@scoobydoo_forever]

I agree with everything you have said in this video. This was a great video!

[@scoobydoo_forever]

Personally I think it's shameful on people that try and dig up past statements or issues people have had. People grow and change. The most important thing is forgiveness forgiving one another for stupid things we've said out of evenings or being misled. It's when you don't own up to your past mistakes and say hey you know what yeah I was out of place. I'm sorry. Please forgive me if they're like. Oh I don't fucking care and back up what they said in the past then yeah okay maybe there's still a piece of shit. But if someone says you know what, no I don't believe that I was misled. I was wrong. If I own up to that there's no reason to hold it against them. Forgiveness is a powerful tool and people need to use it more.

[@marzipan9]

Stephen Graham Jones liked my less than complimentary review of Don’t Fear the Reaper and I was like…sir. SIR.

[@suhailreads]

Yeeees as a small booktuber I agree with all of it. Thank you!

[@eclecticdom]

It blows my mind when people bring up obscure things from 12+ years ago. I don't have the time, energy, or memory for that so it makes me wonder if the people doing it are stalkers? How did they know about this tweet or picture or whatever it is? On top of that, how did they track it down? Half the time I can't find the video I watched from a creator I like a month or two after the fact. I agree with letting the little things go but share the legal records and stuff that is big. Possibly the person matured and won't do that offensive thing again but if they haven't matured, you'll have opportunity to catch them then

[@eweindesign]

Exactly. Stop nit picking and pick chickens.🐓 9:32

[@marciajohansson769]

Thanks!

[@tammyd4208]

Yaaaas!🎉 Amen, Sista! 🙌🙌 Loved this video so much! 😂

[@BookishCay]

Stumbled on this video in April 2024 and I didn't realise it was from more than a year ago, because these things are still being said/done 😂 Also, all very valid points.

[@victoriabyers5161]

THANK YOU re: the question of "how do people read so many books"; I would like to add, "are you actually even absorbing anything you're reading?"

[@taylorgayhart9497]

I mean I guess it depends on the situation. In 2020 when I started WFH I read over 300 books bc I can do my job and listen to audiobooks (it’s mindless work), so I could finish a book a day. I can’t remember every detail of those books, but that’s normal for me. I don’t think I remember them any less than the books I read in 2019 or 2021 when I read only half as much because I was in the office.

[@victoriabyers5161]

@taylorgayhart9497 In my opinion people only say that as a way to try and put down people who read faster than them

[@girlwiththemagicpen]

"We could have authors not actin a goddamn fool on the internet" 🤣🤣🤣🤣 I admit I do cringe when I see authors engaging in negative back-and-forth with readers that ends up becoming a shit storm that skidmarks its way across the internet. There was a time when authors just published books, did book signings and spoke at events, and then just chilled. It's a whole different ballgame these days.

[@martakavaliauskaite4566]

Same authors dont do this they only publish their books speak in events related to their books and speak with their fans remaining calm and mature

[@taylorgayhart9497]

I’m 6’ and would never be with anyone who didn’t LOVE it!!

[@IHeartRomance]

People need to realize that reading IS a priviledge. As someone who grew up in a "third world country" where pirating books wasn't even a thing (am I dating myself?) , people who could get the latest fiction titles were priviledged AF. I'm in California right now and blessed to have a well-stocked library aknowledge that I am priviledged. I honestly don't want to engage in talk about pirating books - it's nuanced. TBH I think authors should put all their energies in fighting the Zon

[@whatebonyreads]

You keep me cracking up with these videos. As for the old tweets, I agree with that in a way. People can change and educate themselves, but as a society, we believe that grace only applies to us individually and no one else. I love this list and hope people will follow them all.

[@audiem.7353]

"Why is no one talking about [x] thing??" The conversation probably happened weeks, months or even years before. I saw it happen when there was a bit influx of new people entered the fandom I am in. The subject had been exhausted like 5 years ago. I agree with everything. Great video!

[@contrapasso5456]

This was so cathartic and I agree on every count 😭

[@JessOwens]

🙌🏾🙌🏾

[@Blue-zc9ro]

‘No one is talking about this’ (and relatedly ‘Why is no one talking about this’) is such a pet peeve of mine that I visibly tensed up when you said it 😂😂😂

[@Beautifully.Wounded_]

This video made my day...THANK YOU!! haha