Reading Used to Be More Fun

[@barbaraellison1095]

3:05 AM in Durham NC and ready for you to lull me back to sleep so I can wake up again and listen to you again when fully awake. For me now as a really old person , may I offer one idea-think less, live more. Do what you must to make a living but focus on what is joyous. Your videos bring me great pleasure each time you introduce me to a new author. Even if I am only drawn to say a just a third of your suggestions, I am that much more enriched. On paper, this 71 year old lady would not be necessarily a “friend” in your life-but here now in my insomnia you are my ‘cloud’ making me feel that I have a friend in Scotland named Willow who’s very interesting and insightful. ❤

[@WillowTalksBooks]

That is all so beautiful. Valuable advice and a wonderful way of looking at the goodness of KZbin and social media. Thank you! 💜

[@annakoyfman]

I am so happy , I am not alone to love his channel and I am 70. And it is my second language..

[@l_mistynights]

I agree so much. And I kind of feel the same with book buying. I used to visit bookstores without having any idea of what I wanted to buy and after reading many synopses I would eventually buy a book and be so exited about it. While now, I visit bookstores with a specific book in mind that I want to buy, more often than not found through the internet and social media, and it's just not as fun. And of course I'm grateful for all the wonderful books I've discovered this way but I miss this old kind of book buying. Perhaps I should start doing that again.

[@AbsurdExistentialist]

Honestly, your videos bring back that feeling of my love for reading, they remind me of my student years just reading during downtime

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Thank you! My biggest goal with my videos is to be genuine and enthusiastic. I want people to feel like they’re talking with a friend :)

[@jennifermead4420]

I have avoided the TBR doom by only using the library. It means I have a book, and then if i don't read it, it gets returned! Guilt free!

[@AdyGrafovna]

I love how you described the two sides of social media. Personally, I started out supplemental. Eventually, I started finding community around my hobbies. Now, it feels like I mostly am being sold things and never connect anymore. It’s much less fun, so I spend more time in my physical community and less and less time online. That does make my hobbies feel more enjoyable again. I cook and share my cooking with my people. It’s fun and doesn’t require any photos. I read and think and just add those thoughts to my journal. Sometimes, I talk about books with friends. I don’t stage shots of books though and try to compose my thoughts “properly”. I knit or draw or create art… and I show it off to my people instead of posting it. This is a nice conversation. I don’t know if there is a great solution, but I love that other people think about community and social media too.

[@LaughingStockfarm1]

Have you heard about silent book clubs? A group of readers gets together at a tea shop or wherever, chat for a few minutes, then everyone reads for a bit (30-60 minutes), then visits about the book they’ve been reading. Everyone is reading something different, so the usual bookclub expectations/disappointments are gone. Each person just reads what they want, then they get to talk about it. I think a lot about having one, but it scares me to death. Not a social person really. But if someone else did it in my community, I’d be sure to show up. Because I, too, miss talking about books with a flesh body. 😁

[@smittenforfiction]

This sounds great! People are always telling me they want to read more...this could be a great way to inspire reading and create connections.

[@citlalialvarado666]

You made me remember being in middle school and exchanging books with my friends so we could all chat them, regardless of what we thought, some of us were in a much larger FB group and even discussed posts from that group. I think of this as something really funny: two of my friends were reading the same series but were at very different points and didn't like to discuss with each other for fear of spoiling, so they would talk to me. I had no interest in the series, but every other day one of them will come and vent everything they wanted, then go back to reading

I love the idea of chatting with people in bookstores but im too shy to do it most of the time. Love your vids, Willow!

[@asterismos5451]

Helped encourage someone in the bookstore I was browsing to pick up Small Gods and Monstrous Regiment today when they looked at the Terry Pratchett shelf and expressed interest

[@erythroghost]

I feel this so much. You have put into words a heavy feeling I have about social media. Your cat is adorable btw.

[@readinginthecountryside]

I agree. I miss small communities too. I’ve been meaning to join a book club or just a coffee meeting for 30 something people. There’s nothing in person. Everything is online nowadays and it’s a bit sad because, like you said, the interactions between people are not the same. I blame social media too haha. I used to read for endless hours and loved it and made me so happy. Now, everything I read has to have a purpose: a review for this book, a vlog, a picture,… you name it. And like you said, even this comment would get lost in the cloud and forgotten within days. Even if I nodded to everything you said and made me want to have a chat over coffee with you but we will never do. Seems a bit sad, isn’t it? Hope you have a good day:)

[@WillowTalksBooks]

One positive thing is that, by talking about this openly, strangers like us are actually able to bond in a really lovely way, and I’m genuinely grateful 💜

[@tirarosaurioreads]

Loved the reference to Mastodon! I love them, I have seen them live so many times and totally relate to the sheer happiness of being in your bubble of endless entertainment. Also... loved the footage of your TBR shelf with your cat and The Only Good Indian by Stephen Graham Jones (which is also in my TBR).

[@monserrathmartinez5232]

I'm super late to this video BUT this made me realize how fortunate I am to have found the book club I'm attending here in my hometown. I hadn't thought so much of it as a community, or about the importance of having one at all, especially as readers. I definitely see your point and how important discussions like these are, I hope you keep finding communities like these

[@spreadbookjoy]

You articulate your thoughts beautifully and this will resonate with a lot of people! I tried to talk about something similar a couple of months ago in a video where I questioned whether I was reading too much because it wasn’t as enjoyable and I felt it was down to the social aspects of my reading since starting booktube. Reading with groups and talking about my reading has been marvellous and enriching in so many ways but books have started to become something to finish not to savour and I am actively trying to change some things, mainly my mindset, to get back to that joy you described here. Well said, Willow!

[@martinelanglois3158]

My TBR is also in my bedroom. Well, part of it. Maybe 25-30 books. But when I look at the books, I don't see challenges waiting to be taken individually or as a group. That's too much stress. Instead, I see them as friends waiting for me to need them. I love your videos. Take care.❤

[@pinxsol5579]

I haven't really had discussions about books like you're describing in the video, there were never people in my life who read, so I was always alone in my corner, and I wanted to share a bit of a different perspective on this because I don't think it's all doom and gloom :) even though I see that it could be. Book spaces (esp booktube) personally have opened my eyes to so many people who read, and since I never encountered that before, it really motivated me and made reading way more fun, just to know that other people liked similar things. And I'm something of a pushover when it comes to opinions, and I can't analyze a book for the life of me, so in uni book discussions I would always either go with the others' take or be laughed at for my own thoughts. I'm much happier now when I don't have to voice my opinions on anything, and have a choice on whether to leave that review on goodreads or not, and I don't need to see others' opinions if I don't have to. Essentially, I curate my own experience with a book in any capacity I want, and I am better off for it. Moreover, that review I leave isn't gonna be influenced by any other opinion, it's just my own silly thoughts that nobody can take away ☺. It sucks that discussion isn't a big part of book spaces, but I think it also makes us, as the reader, more focused on our personal experience with a book. And seeing other people's reviews that are much more insightful than mine makes me see a book in a different perspective without making me feel dumb about myself 😅

[@KatheD]

Your kitty is looks so sweet! I recently (less than 12 months ago) joined 3 book clubs - 2 at my local library and one at a small independent book store. They choose the books, we read and discuss. We don't always agree, but because we're in person, real people, we disagree respectfully. I HIGHLY recommend - I'm an introvert (but not the only one there), and find it difficult, but totally worth the effort!

[@kiczcock]

I hate to sound like a boomer (zillenial here) but my phone definitely ruins reading a bit. It's always there and tempts me to pick it up. Book media doesn't really negatively affect me on the other hand. If not for the internet, I'd never have found more diverse reads. I don't engage in argumemts and avoid toxicity so yeah.

[@adamnreader4599]

i love your videos so much. they actually provide me with so much clarity & calmness mostly because i think there's so much of thought put into the activity of reading as well. like i've rarely seen people talk about reading & books like that. i met up a few desi queers on tumblr through common bookish fandoms (i'm a desi queer myself) & we've created such an amazing small group of 5 who talk about books & even the media we consume & host watchparties & buddy reads. being queer can certainly narrow down your options for friendships but once you find a community, it is such a beautiful thing 🥰

[@JessicaGrey1080]

I understand what you mean. I pressure myself to read more to the point that it takes away from the pleasure. I'm so glad I found your channel, because you have helped revive my love of reading 😊 You are so insightful & I love your videos. I also crave a smaller, private community.

[@rubyjreads7503]

I miss they days of Borders Books where you could grab a cup of coffee and read a book. Social media will influence your reading choices if you let it. I limit my time on social media. Im a huge fan of Asian literature, thanks to you and your channel. Your website and book recommendations are always on point for me. I'm not a TBR fan. Those take the fun out of reading for me. I take chances when purchasing or reading book. I will either like or dislike a book because I've read it and formed my own opinions, and not going by the opinions of others. It's hard for me to find a community of book lovers who enjoy Asian literature. I just beat to my own drum when reading and keep it moving.😊

[@AndreaAlamilla-us3kn]

Willow: thank you so much for always sharing your thoughts. Definitely we all have some bad and self destructive habits. But I just want to say; your videos feel like a warm blanket whenever i feel bad or i feel discouraged by anything. And I thank you for being here creating this space for all of us.

[@marieescure1216]

I've been watching a lot of your videos recently and I really enjoy your content, it's very coherent and well thought-out.

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Thanks :)

[@pegy6384]

Some of the nostalgia you feel for the "whole group doing a thing together at the same time" is reminiscent of the "appointment TV" that I grew up with. You knew all your friends were watching a particular show and everyone would be talking about it the next day. The last one I personally felt like that about was Lost. I miss that camaraderie. I imagine that's part of why book clubs remain popular--it gives you that temporal link to others sharing an experience with you. In a way, your videos about Agatha Christie give me that--I'm a huge AC nerd, I love discussions of her work. I am enjoying the recommendations for new authors to discover, so I am probably well set-up for joining a book club myself. I hope you find more in-person opportunities to connect with people for shared experiences.

[@Amoscrts]

It’s a balance of in-person friends and a couple of social media groups that work for me. I’m part of an IRL book club that meets once a month, and I always choose a book that you’ve recommended when it’s my pick. We are doing The Kaiju Preservation Society this month. 😁

[@v78981]

I've only just started reading again in the past few months, and getting to talk to my friends about books we've been reading has slowly been bringing that joy back. I was burned out on reading after finishing undergrad and was so overwhelmed with the sense of "I'm never gonna come close to reading everything I want to read, so why bother". I did goodreads for a couple years in the late 00s, but I deleted my account because seeing all of the books I'd never get to read would fill me with despair. My turnaround point was my friend who's finishing her Ph.D giving me a recommended books list for the holidays - fully annotated with why I in particular would love them - just because she happened to read some great books in the last year that she thought I'd like while working on her dissertation. Since then I've been keeping one shelf of not-yet-read books and a modest TBR list of books a handful of people have recommended to me, and after nearly 10 years of hardly reading anything, I feel like I'm finally coming back to myself

[@Livinglikejulie]

I think we are all feeling the hangover effect of too much social media.

[@sleepiestgf]

I wrote my undergraduate thesis on TERFism and the media of feminism and came across Jodi Dean's idea of communicative capitalism. Essentially, networked communication is much like you said: a marketplace. But the issue is that in a capitalist communication network, the desired result of a given message isn't for it to land, to convince someone of something, to inform, or to be received in any way--its for a message to circulate, endlessly, generating what we would now call "engagement." She uses this to talk about the failures of 21st progressive politics, how this form of capitalism dismantles ideas of "truth," centers the self and dismantles group building, and sustains the capitalist status quo. But I think it's also affecting how we all read--networked communication has become the dominant form of reading and we're all out of practice when it comes to actually actively internalizing what we read, which is essential for reading. So often while reading I find myself thinking much more about how the book I'm reading makes me look to others as opposed to embracing and being enveloped by empathy for the characters and consideration of the themes, or even just being entertained or learning something. this is definitely an extremely important thing to think about and I hadn't taken a full look at how it affects our reading, so thanks for this video, for prompting me to do just that. ps, funnily enough, Jodi Dean wasn't even talking about social media. her original article was published in 2005. she was talking about email, SMS, and cable news. But everything she was talking about has just been totally amplified by the extreme networking that is social media. that was what fascinated me most while writing about her ideas.

[@karinaperalta5382]

Hi, Willow. Thank you for making this video. I love reading but I don't have that many friends who enjoy this activity, I work in a college as a journalism teacher so I have the oportunity of talking about books with students or other colleagues but I sure would love to have close friends with whom I could share the passion I have for books. I recently went to a conversation with an Spanish author named Luna Miguel, who also has a KZbin channel, and I told her that the work that she does on social media is really important for me because, in a way, she is one of the bookish friends that I need. I really hope that you can find an 'in real life' bookish comunity but I also wanted to thank you because I am always interested in what you have to say, you are always kind while answering my comments and you have shown me so many good titles. So you are also my bookish friend, even tho I don't really know you, thanks to people like you who do this work, I can also feel like a part of the book comunity. Sorry if I made a lot of mistakes, Spanish is my first language.

[@YarnMouse]

I totally feel the need for a bookish community too. At the most basic level, I often don't know what to do when I finish a book. I want to talk about it!! Where do I go? I made my partner read a book last night just so I had someone to talk to about it.

[@janethansen9612]

I have had a couple of challenging and very isolating years with ME/CFS and anxiety incl agoraphobia. Any real life community I had quickly disappeared. The one thing I could manage was to read and watch/comment on booktube videos. It has given me some sense of community even if not the same as real life. As part of my recovery in getting out of the house I went to a local book club and it was awful. As my energy returns I'll try others but I struggle to do real life these days other than at a really shallow level. Thanks for putting out intelligent content, Willow. And my, hasn't young Mary grown.

[@krzysamm7095]

I grew up before computers were a thing and it sounds like a part of what you are missing is actual community…. Being physically with people talking about things and just being. While I enjoy social media I still prefer meeting up with my small group of friends and just sharing and talking in person, seeing their reactions and just being. We are social creatures even those of us who are very introverted are made to in a physical community.

[@esliet]

Keep doing what you are doing , it’s valuable

[@bookishandwitchy2554]

This makes me think about how many years ago (I'm quite old haha) I was a member of a book forum and how we were able to have fun conversations and really got to know each other through our reading tastes and how much I miss that kind of community and not knowing how I can get that feeling again. Thanks for a really thoughtful and thought provoking video!

[@WillowTalksBooks]

I know exactly what you mean! I used to have the same community in a video games forums way back when. But Discord really does seem to be it!

[@maewyn01]

At the beginning of this year I joined a small bookforum that's been up since 2006. It's great to see how they know each other and are still welcome newcomers. So they are still out there.

[@Gen-yh1jz]

The Kitty is adorable.

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Isn’t she? Her name’s Mary Wollstonecraft :)

[@rjd53]

What you say and feel is the reason why I joined a poem discussion group and began to host/lead a discussion group of nine to ten members about novels. Although to that second group I have to drive more than an hour. I also plan to start a philosophy discussion group here in town and hope to find interested persons living not too far away. I did that instead becoming a KZbinr, after I retired, just because I want to meet people in person and discuss books with them. Plus I do buddy reads with ex-colleagues. I spend two to three hours every evening watching KZbin videos and do not want to spend more time in front of a screen.

[@circlesofflame]

I had no idea what to expect from this video, given its title, but knew it'd be something worth watching because you always have interesting takes that make me think... Thank you for putting into words something that I hadn't thought about but perfectly describes the way I (and, I imagine, many others) have been feeling. And the answer isn't as simple as joining a bookclub because I'm part of too many already, but it's definitely something to ponder. Discord is great for a smaller community feel, and I'm glad you're getting joy from that. Last year, I met up people from a Discord group that sprung up around a former bookish creator, and (even though we're an anxious bunch), people still talk on there every day and there have been mini meetups in different locations since and they've all gone well enough that some of us are going on holiday later this year... so I don't know whether a meetup would help? I hope your previous feelings about reading come back, even if they end up looking a little different. Filming a video must feel like sending stuff into the void, but please know that your contribution to discourse is appreciated, however many people are discussing a thing. You're also one of the people I think about when asked that age-old question of "Who would you love to have a chat with down the pub?", so the people of Glasgow who aren't your friends yet are clearly missing out 😂

[@MissBookiverse]

I’ve never thought about it like this before but I have felt the same disappointment with online communities and I always thought I had just grown out of social media or that too much has changed in it over the past years (more focus on ads and algorithms) but this actually makes a lot more sense.

[@crimsonwhispersva2498]

Reading a book in the park near a lake on a nice hot day with a little packed lunch is heaven, to me nature, libraries and museums are my sanctuary where I feel I can regenerate my energy and be at peace. I would love to be a part of a small book Club where we read a book together and meet up once a week. Where I live everything the library used to do has stopped now which depresses me so much... book signings and meeting authors, live mic events where poets would read their work and so much more, game nights like DnD etc but now we get none of it. That's why I join the readathons as I do through KZbin so I can meet more bookish friends.

[@erieluck75]

I would much rather have an intimate one-on-one discussion about books, life, and experiences rather than getting lost in a large ongoing chat. Social media tends to stress me out, so I don't typically join a lot of groups or chats.

[@OmnivorousReader]

Interesting. I find that my TBR can be a source of guilt and anxiety, since for years I kept it to one shelf of up to 80 books and NOW it has spread to two shelves and over 200 books. I am trying to re-program my brain into looking at the TBR shelf as exciting and delightful. Not sure how I am going with that. But certainly our relationship to books, reading ect changes over time, and not always in good ways. And I totally hear you about struggling to make friends! I move often, every time it is harder to make friends, harder to find them. The more niche you are the harder it is. Last place I lived the was a goodreads meetup group, that was nice but covid killed it.

[@RoundSeal]

Something that helped me with the TBR woes was to think of how beautiful a thing a shelf full of unread books is - to think, a little pocket dimension within our homes full of knowledge, and stories, and new words, there for whenever we're ready, just waiting to be explored. I hope your TBR starts to bring you more joy 🌻

[@OmnivorousReader]

@@RoundSeal It does, more and more so. It feels a bit like a guilty pleasure, but I do have a sense of glee when I approach it looking for a new read.

[@Barryislarge]

I avoid social media like the plague (youtube and discord excluded). I only got discord to be a part of the patreon community 😅 I'm in my 30s, and it's impossible to make new friends! We also tend to lose the imaginative spark as we get older. Indulging and asking questions, even the silliest ones is a good way to break free from adult monotony. We as adults tend to presume we know everything, and anything we don't know no longer matters. There are exceptions, depending on the pliability of ones mind, to take more info in, however as a rule of thumb we are rather shut-off creatures. "Why cant i climb that statue? Oh cops will arrest me" "what happens if I mix this candy in with soda? A sticky frustrating mess." We presume too much, and act too little upon things, due to societal construction. It's a benefit in some regards, though can be soul-crushing in others. Go to a library! Start a convo! We're mostly artsy introverts so one on one conversation is okay. Another suggestion is joining a dungeons and dragons campaign!

[@WillowTalksBooks]

This all resonates so hard!

[@Barryislarge]

@WillowTalksBooks we're old! It sucks! But the universe is so full of great stuff! Why does gravity exist? Why do humans not have moisture receptors? Can I write a silly poem similar to that of a 5 year old? When was the last time you climbed a tree, or rolled down a hill? Treat it like a spa day! D&d is a fantastic outlet to be nerdy and childlike. Could set up a discord to play!

[@angelgirl976]

I've had to manage the anxiety of having a tbr by thinking about it as a list of suggestions. if I finish a book and the next book is no longer of interest to me I move on. I try not to buy too many books and I'm trying to use my local library more since they seem to have a really good stock plus in NSW, Australia where I live, all residents can join the Sydney city network of libraries regardless of where they live so I have double access to more books. For the books I buy, I keep them on my coffee table until I read them and then they go on the book shelf once read. The main question I am trying to ask myself is "what do I want to read" vs "I have to read this.

[@olgaaatr]

i agree completely. I also think this is why new readers that discover their love for reading through instagram or tiktok or any other social media, have such set rules for reading that they feel they can't "break": dnfing books, writing in books, reading 50-100+ books a year. don't get me wrong - it's great that they discover their love for reading, and i think every single one of us has fallen into the trap of thinking there's a "right" way to be a reader. but i do think people that have become readers now that books play a more prominent role in social media are more prone to believe these made up rules, when in reality it all comes down to who you ARE as a reader, and i think now people just don't have the same amount of space to figure that out for themselves. i think this also affects the community aspect of reading, because i feel that now there is also a tendency to see fellow readers as competition - who reads more??? who reads better books, author, genres??? who has better posts? it is pretty upsetting. as someone who's been an avid reader since i was a child, i do see and feel the big difference with how reading was perceived years ago, and how it is now. it is not a negative perspective entirely, but now we think of so many things we didn't think of before.

[@charliehoward9765]

I'm part of a (reasonably large) book discord and I do really think it's the way to go for having those interesting conversations about books and also getting to know some like-minded people This also makes me want to try and strike up a conversation with someone in a bookshop if i see them picking up a good book but we'll see

[@cmnghostly]

I was actually thinking about this very thing recently. I was even googling local book groups or book clubs that meet in person as opposed to online. There was only one in Melbourne, which is nowhere near me. I really do feel the same as you 😢

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Only one in Melbourne?? That’s wild!

[@nataliegill8426]

You can always start your own. I have done that a couple of times.

[@rowdyyates4630]

I'm sure there's more, you just have to look in the right places. I found my book club through a book focused Telegram (texting app) group in my city. I'm sure you will be able to find people through a local social media group as well. Oftentimes book shops also run book clubs or libraries do.

[@janethansen9612]

There are in person CAE book clubs, book clubs associated with Melbourne public library plus a bunch of others. Melbourne is a big book city. Keep looking to find one that will resonate.

[@evananderson9300]

Haha! The Hunter is such a good album

[@davidnovakreadspoetry]

The aspect of social media that I most dislike is that it makes me so much more aware of - even to the extent of being, say, Facebook “friends” - people who get sick and die. All media works in this way, perhaps, but when it’s an unknown celebrity, it doesn’t impact me in that way. Not for everyone, to be sure. A friend of mine lived near the funeral home where the body was displayed after Judy Garland died, and she said that the grieving queue was enormous. And I have witnessed similar to celebrity deaths, but haven’t felt it, because I hardly follow celebrities. Social media “friends” - or even people on Twitter whom I followed before I quit that platform - were quite a different matter entirely.

[@RoundSeal]

I really value these thoughtful videos of yours, and this one really resonates. The meaning of community has thinned over the years, and social media has destroyed the ability to disagree with others and encourage meaningful discussions. People stress (within the book community at least) about reading the 'right' books, about going _with_ the flow rather than seeking as an individual. Social media is everything, or nothing. One of my favourite things in the world are really well thought-out, thoughtful, negative reviews of my favourite books. It's so exciting to see a totally different side to a book that I love; it's like seeing that piece of media all over again with fresh eyes. But that seems rare lately - both the consumption of media as an individual with healthy criticism, and the ability to disagree and discuss in a way that enriches and enervates everyone involved. 2D, anonymous, vague non-community, and the 'you're either 100% with me, or my enemy' nature of social media. Here's to park benches, healthy disagreements, and fleeting bookshop recommendations 🌱

[@TheCraftyWitchUK]

For me, there is a lot of guilt around reading. Like it is something selfish, just for me, and that it takes me away from my family, my responsibilities, and my work. I and now lucky enough to have been asked to review some books and this then means that “reading” is my “work” and this takes away some of the guilt I feel about “me-time” because it is not “for me” it is “WORK” but that’s still not the same as just reading, for me, for pleasure, and for fun of it.

[@ellenmadebookclub]

Yes. 100% relate. And I hate having to legitimize my me-time, because I see people around me taking it without a second thought. In case it helps, you do not have to feel guilty for being a human on this earth enjoying yourself a little. If not, what is the f*ing point. You're a crafty witch, no? Witches need to READ.

[@badfaith4u]

What you said sounds important and relevant. Also, your cat is adorable. 🐈‍⬛📚☀️

[@jasminragoubi855]

I always read horror mystery and crime but when i watched your videos i remembered that i never read classic horrors like frankenstein and dracula i love them adore them but never read them Last night i finished frankenstein and omfg I wolke up a different person The amount of feelings in this novel it made me sad , angry and desperate in the same time i relate too much to the monester as i am already different i almost understood all of his feelings I relate to victor too because some times my ambitions took me soo far I really adore this masterpiece Thank you willow to open our eyes for such things I can say your really have a taste ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤ love you

[@juliae.8237]

“Do I contradict myself? Very well I contradict myself. (I am large. I contain multitudes.) - Walt Whitman ‘Song of Myself’. I love this quote and around well educated or at least well read people contradicting yourself should be allowed 🙂. I am neurodivergent and contradicting myself to the outward world, yet maintaining an inner consistency has become an art form especially when I am being true to myself. So no worries. I used to love reading before I discovered Booktube and now I feel overwhelmed when I pick up a book because I am bringing so many voices in my head with me or I bring an urgency to finish the book so I can join the thousands of people who have read the book and not feel left behind or left out. But since I am not a fast reader all I feel is that feeling I would get in gym class as we ran round and round the gym. I’m not sure what you’d call that feeling, but it’s not much fun.

[@Rotwood]

I often think about the commodification of my passion. I love comics, grew up with them, and--as an escape from dayjob pressures--I developed the skill to letter comics. After a decade of lettering books as a side gig, for friends, for small publishers, for the fun of it, I got hired into major projects with major publishers. My passion became my fulltime job. Here's the thing: I'm good at what I do and I love what I do. But I don't feel the same passion, excitement and comfort as I used to feel when this was my hobby, when my community was small and my impact on it minimal. I would never regret my career path, but I have to acknowlege that no major choice is without sacrifice. I don't want to burn out or eventually resent the career I love most. So, I'm making a concerted effort to save something just for me. Something that I don't market, something I do whenever I wish, something that is only shared when I feel like sharing. It can't read comics to relax because I can't turn off the part of my brain that critiques the lettering, so I read novels and listen to audiobooks. I put a lot of time into crochet and playing games on the switch. I try journaling and I try new crafts. I go out with friends and plactice the language I'm learning. I find something that pulls me far away from work and is simply mine. So that when I go back to the work that I love, I feel refreshed. The projects lined up in front of me is continuous, but feels much less daunting after I take a break - either recharging on my own or in touch with my friends and community.

[@gamewrit0058]

2:50 kitty! ❤

[@purekrazy4ever]

Hello, from a fellow queer living across the pond 🇺🇸🏳️‍🌈. Stumbled upon your KZbin channel last week. Your channel has brought be so much joy 🥰

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Yay, I’m so glad, thank you! 💜

[@mynameisrama]

The Hunter is SUCH a good album!!!

[@impastomusic]

I totally grok these sentiments! I’m also a new Patreon but am a geriatric millennial who hasn’t quite figured out Discord yet. I will say, though, that it is possible to find and make incredible communities in (relatively) large online spaces. My favourite example is Emily D Baker, who’s a neurospicy lawyer who livestreams and podcasts about lawsuits, trial coverage, and pop culture. Our community are the Law Nerds, and I’ve been part of it for three years, even though I lurk, not chatting and rarely commenting. Emily often says, “Chat is bae! Chat is wise! Chat is hydrated and has healthy boundaries! Chat is fucking hilarious!” She has deliberately cultivated an audience (and channel guidelines) who don’t name-call or SHOUT and are genuinely kind lovely curious people in chat and comments. Sometimes (especially during high-profile trial coverage like Depp v. Heard) people find her channel and try to wild out, but they are gently redirected or banned if necessary. The Law Nerd community is 750K strong and self-sustaining at this point, and we have a tendency to break the internet on a regular basis, whether it be because we asked Emily what hoodie she was wearing and then promptly crashed the retail website, or because her use of a text notification service for her videos simply couldn’t handle our volume, so Emily’s team decided to build their own app to circumvent KZbin’s pathetic notification system. Emily’s channel is one my internet safe and inclusive spaces, and she talks a lot about creating intentional communities online ❤️ I also follow a bunch of other lawyers on KZbin who also have cultivated very kind communities, and there’s a lot of overlap with Emily’s Law Nerds. I imagine there’s a selection bias of people interested in hearing lawyers explain law and trials in a respectful, non-sensationalized manner. There are also other KZbin lawyers whose chats are absolutely a no-holds-barred thunderdome, but that’s not my vibe so I leave them alone. Mickey Atkins, a queer therapist in Arizona, has also cultivated a delightful community on their channel. I am so glad that your Discord is a happy place (I will check it out one day!) and I have faith that you can build the community you want. Please say hi to Glasgow for me! I did my MLitt in Shakespeare about 20 years ago in St Andrews, so I spent more time in Dundee and Edinburgh, but Glasgow’s an amazing city and I miss it.

[@smittenforfiction]

I miss being in a book club. That was fun. I'm a member of your patreon but I never log into patreon. I need to get better at that. I also need to visit discord and be more active on there. Look at you, inspiring me to make new goals.

[@edmundkarcher8754]

I thinkp it's time I gave you some credit and said thank you. You introduced me to Japanese literature and I have been immersed in it ever since. I have the novels shipped from England and I am acquiring quite a library. Would be fun to talk with you about the subject. Your videos are a pleasant part of my day. Love your cat let's see more of her.

[@karakask5488]

I'm so glad I got to have a youth without social media

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Samesies

[@eva-odessa]

okay my next mission: chat with a stranger in a bookstore. I've never done it before, it's a good idea!

[@ReadingIDEAS.-uz9xk]

We can't agree with everyone, all the time and on everything. Best wishes with what you choose to read. I hope you get some great stories.

[@tyghe_bright]

The only way I find social media useful is creating smaller groups.

[@Fun-with-English413]

Don't be too committed to change the thoughts of anyone else Willow. Even if you reply, consider them strangers in mind (dont connect emotionally).The TBR thing happens with me too. I have realized now that these are just unrealistic expectations (indulging in a kind of race to read almost everything).

[@oana-mariauliu5828]

I talk to people on the train. People who read. Or in coffee shops. My reading buddies are on Bookstagram, but I enjoy talking to people in real life, too. Kisses to little Mary.

[@Janelle-p2i]

😅I am totally infatuated with you, your love of books etc. but I'm to busy gaming and working on visual art to do any reading actually. I love books stores and browsing and soaking up the hobbies of others, like a kind of parasite. I hope you don🎉t mind.

[@GentleReader01]

I have sooo much sympathy for everything you say here.

[@wiebkeh.4394]

It might just be me, but I get the feeling that a lot of what is going on online is about bashing (apparently an algorithm thing). People are getting bullied for disliking a certain book, or liking a book but not that specific character that everybody else likes. And then there are those really "helpful" reviews that go "This book was stupid." (That's it; that's the whole review). Yeah, thanks to your contentful review, I can now tell whether I'd like to pick this book up or not. It's just frustrating. Luckily, I have a silent book club in my home town, where we just sit together and read and later, if you want to, talk (doesn't even have to be the same book).

[@zachreads]

Speaking of fun, I read the movie novelization of Godzilla x Kong and it was 500× the book Kaiju Preservation Society was! If you want to make Pet Sematary a little more rewarding I rec reading The October Country by Ray Bradbury after. That's ny drop of water to add something to the cloud. I did hear something about how "chat" might be the first 4th person pronoun, I don't remember how it works and it may have been 4th person plural but it was interesting.

[@heathereads]

Hi Willow, good thoughts. It's a weird double life -- social media and face to face. I hope you get your wish and find a face to face book group

[@bookssongsandothermagic]

Hmmm….i found this an odd one….a TBR shelf is a very positive thing. If you give yourself pressure to get to the books as soon as possible, that’s totally your own thing going on, and not the TBR shelf itself. It doesn’t change how you feel but it’s how you personally are feeling about reading. It could be because it’s your job and you always have to get another one on the go to review it and earn from that. I like having material for my channel but if I fall behind it doesn’t change anything or matter in any way. Social media is a limited place for debate, so arguing in the comments section will probably just frustrate you. Pet Semetary is huge you’re right, but it’s always fun to talk about famous books as much as the smaller books that need a lift. Especially if it’s great, and Pet Semetary is great. That one star review you talk about is just part of the social media soup. Everyone is an expert and everyone can say what they think about art and culture. To answer the big question in your video….i think social media and the internet as a whole has made the world an unhappier place. (In general) - even though I love Booktube.

[@WillowTalksBooks]

You make some great points, and you’re absolutely right about my attitude towards my TBR

[@bookssongsandothermagic]

@@WillowTalksBooks thanks Willow. With your feelings about reading, it could be related to the thing I hear people say a lot where they don’t want to make their pastime or hobby or passion their job. I hear musicians say it a lot. Is that similar to what you’re feeling?

[@ReadingWithEve]

I had this discussion with my dad the other week about social media and how it ironically seems to make people more detached. I think the amount of content that's constantly thrown at us for the purpose of getting us to buy stuff rather than keeping in touch with people/discover new likeminded people (which goes against what social media was meant to be) is giving everyone such burnout. So in turn they engage with the content on a very surface level which then takes away the opportunity to find people and form said connections. If I may say so, even some booktuber book clubs that have 100+ people reading the same book, sure you can post your opinion in the comment on a liveshow but how much of that is a discussion really? At least from my experience it's not as beneficial as an actual small book club where everyone gets to speak their opinion.

[@rachel1021]

Even if I only get to interact with you online, I still consider you a friend. Idgaf how weird that is. Also I appreciate that you tolerate me being annoying whenever I dm you. :)

[@katblack394]

EVERYTHING was more fun before social media got really, really big unfortunately. It is now really hard to have a conversation, a disagreement about a topic. People give their opinion and if you disagree, you are crazy or narrow minded or other more colorful epithets. It's a shame actually. I used to love listening to different opinions about books. Now, it actually scares me to engage. I want small community back again as well.

[@ally19288]

I would love to be friends with you. I don't generally like meeting new people, or any people really, at least not lately. But there is something about you that makes me want to sit on that park bench with you and talk, because you seem safe. Someone I feel I would really enjoy spending time with. Just wanted to say that.

[@ae8_little]

16:11 there was a speck of dirt on the camera annd i tried to wipe it off my phone as i was watching it >w< nice video (society is wierd)

[@danielaweberdani]

while interlocution is extremely important for idealistic people who connect with art deeply, you shouldn't let trolls have their way into something you do so masterfully. ⚘

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Thank you so much 💜

[@ChicaneryBear]

Oh heck yeah, Blood Mountain. Imo, the best Mastodon album, although I'm not a huge metal fan so take that with a grain of salt. I only discuss media in Discord and in person these days. One, it helps that you know the people around you and that you have some shared perspective; two, you don't have to deal with random people term searching to get into an argument with you.

[@amyschmelzer6445]

🐱 🐈 🐈‍⬛

[@jenhall5718]

Still fun for me, maybe because I have zero interest in TikTok?

[@miaththered]

I apologise for annoying you.

[@WillowTalksBooks]

You haven’t? I don’t think? Have you?