why you should be reading more diversely

a lengthy video on why reading diversely is important and why you should be implementing it in your reading routine.
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#videoessay #discussion

[@corsivapurpleus]

also when anyone complains that they can't find any books that feel new or everything feels the same....diversifying your reading really helps with that!!

[@myocoree]

right! i agree

[@IaMSpeaks]

oh something that's going to upset me is people saying they "turn their brains off" when "consuming meida". Literature is supposed to be a form of art. You're not supposed to consume art. You're supposed to experience it. It's a conversation between author/artist and audience; it's a conversation between artist and other aritsts. It should stop being treated like mindless entertainment and treated like art that you are entertained by. So much skill and talent goes into writing a book and we should treat it like that. Maybe if we did we'd get less [actually I'll pour that tea out and be nice,]. Maybe if we did we'd get more books like *The Fifth Season*, *Middlegame*, *Children of Time*, *Babel*, *Ring Shout*. (even if someone disliked any of these book, we can't deny the actual skill, talent, and research that went into them.)

[@ahobbyist9520]

the broken earth is some special fire

[@sao-me1lt]

Truth.

[@Levitatingmarsipan]

Don’t get me wrong, I agree, but I do feel like the “turn your brain off” thing is okay sometimes. For example some very fluffy romance books that are just two characters being in love and having a healthy relationship with the occasional outside conflict where you can just sit back and not have to think about this super in depth plot with all these ties and conflicts and mind games where you have to keep track of everything 24/7, but instead just relax and enjoy the characters being really cute with each other and being happy. Like a comfort read I guess. I’m not saying effort doesn’t go into these books, I know it does, but just that it’s okay to relax with a book (I might be misreading the tone of your comment, but it made me feel that I should add this) I do agree with you on your main point(s), just wanted to contribute to the conversation :)

[@Riggs97]

This is how I feel about a lot of the romance that gets recommended. I don’t want to read about falling in love with a Cody or Billy 😭

[@myocoree]

HELPPPP

[@PossiblyCloudHead]

Real 😭

[@leviscozyworld]

i think it's important to branch out in every media, tv or books or youtube, whatever, because industries actively push us towards conventional standards (white, able-bodied, thin, etc). Reading/publishing suffers soo much for this. I still remember what publishing paid me showing the awful disparities in advances. i love that you're highlighting the need to read diversely it's so important

[@myocoree]

agree!

[@asroriadraws]

There's a book I really like, "I'll Be The One" by Lyla Lee, it's about a plus size Korean American teenager that participates in a singing and dancing competition. There's some romance but really it highlights her struggle with her Korean parents and trying to enter the entertainment industry. I really liked it because it tackles those subjects :) diversifying one's reading is important, usually I read middle grade/YA fantasy but I know I should still read other stories too! In my opinion, those people are missing out if they only confine yourself to one genre, there are sooooo many book, movies, etc !!!

[@HaleyJeanASMR]

jaw is on the floor. fell to the ground in the middle of walmart. you look so gorgeous i simply cant go on.

[@myocoree]

thank you 🥺🫶🏾

[@NateReadsDiversely]

2:14 This. One of the many lessons I've learned as a creator is that you can't make people care. You can only reach the people who do. Great video!

[@myocoree]

thank you!

[@Infinimata]

A big obstacle to diverse reading is this attitude people have that's difficult to shrug off: "Why would I *want* to read that?" Some people see reading outside their default comfort zone as a natural part of the act of reading, in the same way some people see trying different cuisines as a natural part of the act of eating. And some people see reading (or eating) as something they do because they have a comfort zone and want to stay in it. Adventure isn't the goal -- or at least, what they see as adventure; re-establishing what's familiar is. It's tough to get people to see past that, but I suspect the best way to do it is in steps. You start with something familiar, and then you say "Okay, if you liked that, try this," and go maybe a partial step out of the comfort zone. And then if they like that one, you take another step, and so on. (E.g., I keep thinking the folks who love Colleen Hoover should check out Patricia Highsmith.)

[@amphoteric]

i will say i am so, so, so happy to see more authors of colors and a whole lot more diversity in books these days bc when i was younger there rlly wasn't much at all unless it was some kinda trauma pr0n

[@jordansiarya762]

!!!!!

[@jordansiarya762]

13:20 i've been saying this, this is so important that representation of black girls and women being loved on without trauma is so needed and that it shows young girls healthy versions that the media cannot grasp 15:33 yes omg i love reverse harem so much especially with black love 😢😢

[@availandco]

10:33 Sword of Kaigen quite literally gagged me on all fronts, to squeeze action, fantasy, family dynamics AND marriage all in one standalone… no notes….. as far as reading diversely, it’s so SO SO important. I follow booktubers who don’t read the same genres as me but I enjoy their personality or passion for books. I also try to read translated fiction through out the year as well. Booker Prize is a good starting point .

[@myocoree]

omg yess! i read translated fiction as well im not sure how i forgot to mention that

[@bookish_vickie]

I am currently reading the Sword of Kaigen 😅😅😅.

[@ChattyMia]

this is such a good video. It's something i need to work on with the books i read. It's gotten to the point where if i read "bronze skin" or something along those lines, i assume they are still talking about a slightly tan white person bc 99% of the time in mainstream books they are. I've been very lazy with looking for books to read, just going down popular lists which obviously ends up lacking diversity. So i'm glad you are calling this out!

[@myocoree]

i need to work on reading more diversely as well which is why i made the video because i want to encourage people that they can always do better!

[@heyimsasa]

this is a great discussion. i think a good first step for people who want to diversify their reading is to first diversify the people they follow. your algorithm will change according to the people you're supporting with your time and your views. i wanted more chinese fantasy romances, so i followed more chinese creatives. i craved more black horror novels, so i followed more black thriller/horror readers. you can start with diversifying the people you're adding on goodreads, storygraph, fable, etc too. you don't have to support monetarily if you can't afford to; your time counts too!

[@kaylyn.nicole]

in her script writing video essay era!!!!! also lets normalize recommending the poppy war when someone asks for something like acotar!!!!

[@myocoree]

no because i have sooo many ideas it might actually be my only content for a while

[@crystalfairy912]

For the past decade I’ve been actively seeking books by authors of color. Trying to get a variety of history, dramas, and fluff that is about their experiences.

[@ev4et000]

You can diversify the next decade by reading books from different countries of the USA. At this stage I think even books from Australia and New Zealand would be an achievement.

[@Diana-yw8wm]

such a good video!!! I get so tired of seeing the same tiktok books recommended online, many of them being sarah j mass or colleen hoover. I think there are so many great diverse authors out there that just don’t get enough recognition! some of my fave diverse reads are monstrillio by gerardo cordova, take my hand by dolen perkins-valdez, as long as the lemon trees grow by zoulfa katouh, the hacienda by isabel cañas, lonely castle in the mirror by mizuki tsujimura, cemetery boys by aiden thomas (I adore this one) and sooooo many more, we need more representation of all kinds!!

[@myocoree]

omg i loved cemetery boys! i originally recommended it at the end but took it out bc i forgot to download the cover of a few books so i had to delete some recs because it was 2am and i was tired 😭

[@Diana-yw8wm]

@@myocoree LOL understandable but yes aiden thomas is writing a sequel!! I'm super excited, I need to re-read cemetery boys this fall!

[@yasminechoerryscherry3701]

I recently read as long as the lemon trees grow and wow such a heartbreaking and wonderful book. I sobbed so much and enjoyed every second of it. I think everyone should read that one. It's important to understand the conflict in Syria and support the reffugees and those fighting for freedom And thanks for all the other recs!!

[@Diana-yw8wm]

@@yasminechoerryscherry3701 yes!!!! its beautifully heartbreaking, one of my favorite reads ever, so happy you enjoyed it 🩷

[@kamorah6154]

That’s a big reason why I watch you 😭you speak about a lot of books I’ve never heard about, coming from someone who’s been on booktube since I was a little girl!

[@kamorah6154]

And omg I use to read for the Pizza Hut rewards as well. Such a core memory 😭💗

[@myocoree]

this is so sweet 🥺🥺

[@datemrzeadatisedive6291]

I believe in reading which transcends ideas like "fun" and "education", the best book provides it all simultaneously while not being boring, shallow etc. so you really are right

[@aaccardo7524]

Great video! This is why I don’t take book recommendations from tik tok because they’re all mainstream and the same authors over and over again. As I’ve watched your videos for years now, I’ve found so many great diverse authors through you and through the book community on KZbin!

[@andrewannotates]

Such an important topic and I completely agree the poppy war is one of my favorite series ever, and also the brown sisters trilogy made me so much more interested in romance and then I decided to read the kiss quotient and now thats like one of my favorite books ever! This is such a great video I really hope we get more discussion videos like this. I still need to read all your other recs I have most of them on my list!

[@Eddysig]

As a pretty sheltered person, I saw this title and clicked immediately. I'm not on tiktok, but the "book tok" stuff has made me feel a bit left out, because of how fast-paced and consumerist it felt, and also as a queer person, it's hard to see all these lil rich white girls and their huge bookshelves talk about some fantasy romance, or talk about some overly sexual stuff. It's hard to feel like you can be a part of it. Respectfully I was like, I would love to hear a person of color talk about this, because genuinely this title is so right, and I get weird vibes from "book tok". Still watching the video but already thank you for making this! Been trying to find smaller creators that I vibe with.

[@LisatheWeirdo]

Monster romances and Sapphic romances are my favorite!! Sorry, just had to write this comment. I feel like there isn't enough of these two romances... And Undead Girl Gang has been on my tbr for a while!

[@winterbelle03]

its so easy to find diverse books. so many amazing and interesting books are diverse. great video!

[@ixeliema]

My alto section leader from my first round at university started reading mid-pandemic and has done nothing but talk huge game on all the tik tok darlings for over a year and I am praying she realizes that she's missing out on a huge part of reading and society as a whole like, damn girl you read every single SJM and CoHo book before you read a single classic? Not an ounce of melanin or non-white/queer/disability rep (not counting FW bc I hated the way Yarros portrayed her EDS) in her faves list 😅 I tend to read largely fantasy and sci-fi as both escapeism and a journey into a world that is wildly different from my own. I get extremely hyped when I see POC fantasy and sci-fi, especially bc they're both still extremely white genres overall. I tend to avoid pure romance or pure contemporary stories because I feel like they're harder for my ADHD brain to commit to, but goodness do I love a contemporary story with a protagonist who looks, acts, and lives nothing like me, especially if it's written by an author who has actually LIVED these experiences. There will never be enough Own Voices stories to satiate my thirst for understanding and learning about people who aren't like me, and I can't understand people who read fiction (especially fantasy) and don't feel the same way. We read fiction. These things aren't our experience and likely never will be, and that's why we love it. Why would you treat stories about real people who do not share your experiences any differently?

[@myocoree]

honestly what inspired me to make this video was someone trying to recommend my mom SJM at her job and i was like what!? my mom is a lifetime movie girlie you need to be recommending her thrillers and my moms coworker recommended her other authors but they were all white and i was like is this subconscious? no way you aren’t considering recommending a black woman books with no black authors as an option

[@queerpoetssociety_]

this is such a good video essay 💜 my best friend shared this video with me. i agree with everything you're saying. honestly, i am just sick of seeing the same popular books floating around everywhere. in fact, i am from india and i barely ever see books from india being pushed to mainstream bookish conversations. like why?? and on the rare occasion that i see an indian book being mainstream, it's usually a diaspora author. not that there's anything wrong with it but everyone needs to celebrate and push native voices too!!

[@angelyntor2273]

thank you so much for this video! I added some to my tbr, and am most excited to try out the Liana De La Rosa books

[@chocolateoreo6489]

I adore this video! Thank you!❤ rewatching this video really reinsures the importance of reading diversely!

[@Merdragoon]

You got a new subscriber through this video lol. Because honestly there's need to be more people who talks about this. I know there's others in the Booktube community (at least the ones I watch), but there isn't enough of them as it seems like you're running into a *lot* of people who don't read diversely. Reads with Rachel and Bookish Realms have very good book recs that are more diverse (Reads with Rachel would say if a book is sapphic as she does enjoy them. Ashley from Bookish Realms is a Libarian so a lot of her recs are actually based through her day job but she also been avocating for reading diversly), I have a lot of of diverseity in my TBR list through them, along with mynameismarines and Lou reading things, and Elliot Brooks (she does some ones with Disabilities recs as well). Though I did find some that I'm really happy with even on my own through the Stuff your Kindle Day. And I'm probably going to glean through your older videos for more Monster Romances xD because I have buddy reads that are looking for more and I'm absolutely enjoying them myself because they do worldbuilding so well when need be. (I put in the Monster Romance "Plucked by an Orc" Which is a Regency Historical Monster Romance and I'm so excited for it even though I wasn't expected it. Right now it's going to be either Ensnared by Tiffany Roberts or A Soul to Keep by Opal Reyne depending on what the third person of the buddy read decides on. It's being leaning into Ensnared though it seems.) Just to name a few that I put on my TBR: -The Will to Change: Men, Masculinity, and Love By Bell Hooks (Discovered through Reads with Rachel - YT) -Monday's Not Coming by Tiffany D. Jackson (Discovered through Merphy Napier - YT) -All Boy's Aren't Blue by George M. Johnson (Discovered through Reads with Rachel) -Freshwater by Akwaeke Emezi (Discovered through Reads with Rachel) -Legendborn by Tracy Deonn (Discovered through Bookish Realm - YT) -How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water by Angie Cruz (I can't remember if was Mynameismarines or Lou reading things, but I have a feeling it's Marines.) - What Happened to Ruthy Ramirez by Claire Jiménez (Discovered through Mynameismarines - YT) - Minor Detail by Adania Shibli (discovered through Mynameismartines) - Vampires of El Norte by Isabel Cañas (discovered through Mynameismartines) - The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones (discovered through Reads with Rachel) - Silent Sounds by Annait L.J. (Found on my own through Stuff your Kindle Day) - Kingdom of Souls by Rena Barron (Discovered through Bookish Realm) - Delicious Monsters by Liselle Sambury (Discovered through Bookish Realm) And this is just the tip of my TBR that have diversity. There is more, but that would pretty much just make this comment even longer than it already is. It's also why I'm recommending some Booktubers that talk about more diverse books in their recs. Figured it may help in your search for even *more* diverse books since it sounds like you're a little fustrated with the circles you've been watching.

[@sleepless7867]

Here for your video essay era.Thank you for talking about such an important topic. 🖤

[@shaylacrittenden]

Ok phone mic 🤩 video essay era coming in???

[@myocoree]

well yes!

[@mariamelia9453]

can I just say how well that hair suits you. you look amazing

[@toyahailey]

This is how you lose the time war. I'm going to give it another try. You really have to sit and think and decipher it. Love the video I grew up reading, mainly black authors, but now I read read so much more. It's hard to find booktubers who are reading different genres.

[@pauieeepau]

I'm not into romance novels, but I do read some monster romance webcomics. Maybe I should find some monster romance books lol👀. Anyway, I'm way more strict with my novels when it comes to diversity. I read so many white cishetero books as the "most well read" while in school (I'm Southeast asian in a SEA country), so i think it's just right to balance the scales these days, especially since there are more diverse books than in my youth (but dang, it's so hard to find them in stores ugh). Even before I learned what diversity was, I already gravitated towards learning about other cultures, historical events, disabilities, to learning about neurodivergence or sexuality, to also understand not only about others but about myself. Atp, I also tend to follow book socmeds that read/recommend diverse books.

[@rouxellereads]

Happy to see you make this video! I really started to curate my space of people who actually read diversely. I know everyone’s on a journey and/or they don’t but I don’t have the patience anymore. I just follow likeminded people that read diverse books no one talks about. Below I listed a few books that you could potentially check out based on a few things you mentioned wanting. Sapphic romance: When Blood Meets Earth by EA Noble, The Balance of Fates by Raquel Raelynn, Omegaverse: Dark City Omega by Elizabeth Stephens, nothing but the wolf in me by Nikki Clarke Why choose: He Calls Himself Veles by Tierra Cox (potentially-I don’t read why choose romance a lot so I might be confusing if this actually fits)

[@adavis1585]

Reading diversely is more interesting. Who wants every book you read to be about a 30yo white woman from NYC? It’s boring. I feel it’s SO HARD to find books about Black folks living their lives. Not Black trauma. Not enough Latinos either.

[@jordansiarya762]

yes!!!!

[@KolorfulDreamsArtKda]

Hmm but Latino is not a race. Latinos can be represented by people from all races, that's the beauty of being Latino.

[@preciousjade7336]

Or maybe you can also read about people living in different time periods or different parts of the world? People with different opinions/beliefs than you, different genres you hate or not familiar with? I don’t think it only has to do with POCs or people with disabilities. While it’s great as well to read about them, it doesn’t have to stop from there.

[@alyssapinon9670]

I’m gonna drop a couple recommends here. Kimberly Lemming’s books all have black women leads in lighthearted romantasy settings. Anything by Silvia Moreno Garcia has a wide range of Mexican female leads (I’m in the process of finding more Latino reads that aren’t just Mexican culture but SMG was the first author that came to my mind).

[@darthmazing]

you should give books written by caribbean authors a try! there are lots of fun contemporary books of black leads just chilling and living their lives.

[@isirlasplace91]

I was in a huge reading slump for years because I just couldn't find joy in reading anymore. And then my daughter started recommending books but I was still skeptical. I asked what was different and she flat out told me the reason I wasn't happy with reading anymore was because I was reading like an old white woman!! And I really should diversify my reading. I took her advice and have found such a rich resource of books, beautiful stories and some of my favourite authors like RF Kuang, Jordan Ifueko, Octavia E Butler, Akwaeke Emezi, Amal el-Mohtar, and many more!! It's not that I didn't realize my previous reading habits sucked. It's that I didn't know where to start to find good reads. Thanks for putting this out there!! More ppl need to read diversely!!!🫶

[@myocoree]

wow i absolutely love this comment!

[@isirlasplace91]

@@myocoree Thank you!! She's a really good kid of almost 20 lol

[@perlapamela2023]

Do you have any book recommendation that is close to rf kuang stories ? ❤i LOVED the poppy war series and now I’m in a slump

[@acciobambi]

i’ve just found your channel! i’ve been trying to found new reads and this vid was helpful! Ty

[@ChemicalPenguinn]

Brilliant video about something I have noticed more and more recently. Some personal recommendations: Amari and the Night Brothers (middle grade fantasy), Last Night At The Telegraph Club (YA historical fiction), The Spirit Bares Its Teeth (YA historical horror), The Adventures Of Amina Al-Sirafi (adult fantasy), and of course anything by R F Kuang.

[@perlapamela2023]

Do you have any book recommendation that is close to rf kuang stories ? ❤i LOVED the poppy war series and now I’m in a slump

[@Eddysig]

the hockey romances! I totally see your point there that was like all about/for white girls, it's like marginalized people have to wait for "their edition to drop" after the "original" because we don't get considered in the "original" tropes..... love your points. And as a white person your take on black romance was eye opening. I'm aware of how grossly s*xualized black girls are from a young age already plus how people racistly project stuff onto black children as though they're not literal KIDS. But romance specifically, that opened my eyes a lot. I realize how the media has treated things like romance, and elegance, and being blissfully in love etc as though they're reserved for white people by just the absence of poc in those tropes. Thank you omg everyday I see how sheltered I am lmao yikes

[@myocoree]

yeah hockey romance became a thing bc originally it was football and basketball romances that were popular but then people started asking why they’re never even black characters bc we all know those sports are dominated by black people so they moved to a sport where they could get away with only having white characters (hockey)

[@c3koz]

Just the video I needed right now as someone who does not read for pleasure, but wants to give it a try. Had been feeling skeptical about the typical things that people recommend.

[@ReadingIDEAS.-uz9xk]

Best wishes with what you choose to read and to your channel. Happy reading.

[@camillereadss]

this is such a great video!! so happy to have found your channel

[@myocoree]

literally so sweet! thank you

[@Thumbnailsquid5767]

This is the video that brought me to your account; I am here to stay!!

[@ymr92461]

Thank you for making this video !

[@alexandervillagomez1281]

Honestly I completely agree with your stance on how to consume books, on the whole books should turn your brain on and not off and just mindlessly consume content like watching tv/youtube. Books Arnt that fun when consumed casually, (in my opinion anyone can disagree) but it’s only a problem with booktok cause it’s ALL THEY DO. Like you can read romance and I’ve read a romance book, granted I didn’t like it but it had nothing to do with me not liking the romance, more so everything around it. The problem is just only reading romance and just consuming as many as possible, even if they admit they don’t remember like 1/3 of them. That’s honestly such a lame way to consume books imo

[@cynthiagates9627]

I just can’t stand hearing the excuse when reading books by POC author’s writing about POC characters ‘I just can’t relate to the characters’ or ‘too much slang was used and therefore the story didn’t resonate with me’

[@AlwaysSadé]

I have been searching HIGH and low for booktubers who dont only love acotar, colleen, and stuff like 4th wing and have a personality. Its all the same

[@viridityforever]

shawnaci Schroeder is cool and has a few videos reccomending booktubers who are diverse :)

[@viridityforever]

also I love Mina reads and Cameron | slaggy book club, there recs are so good!

[@datemrzeadatisedive6291]

myocore, chloe bunnie, Bookish Realm, Jesse On KZbin, jessethereader, A Clockwork Reader, Jordaline, Gavin Reads It All etc.

[@AlwaysSadé]

@viridityforever she reads too much romance for my tastes, so I had to let her go. Shawnaci.

[@AlwaysSadé]

@datemrzeadatisedive6291 you gave me 2 new ones so I'll give them a try

[@OOoKarmaoOO]

(Sorry now I realize that I wrote an essay buuut someone might read it🤷🏾‍♀️.) I read some stuff on what people usually read on platforms because I write on french Wattpad 🥖. But so far I'm not really writing the usual plots that might work better. It's not really erotica/smut or bw really involved in criminal and abusive stuff or extreme enemy to lover. But I did write a lot of ir relationships (and idk if it's right tbh but it's a deeper story), I know they got their public but idk if it's that big of a helping hand. I'm sure black love stories work very well too. Right now I'm writing the first novel where I really go in depth with the non black love interest's ethnicity and it's pretty interesting to research on. I also just finished my dystopia and my medieval stuff. Sooo yeah I try a bunch of stuff and you should too if you're writing. Thank you for the recommendations and for the insight myocore. But I don't really see much black "online authors?" that I could talk about this to and I thought of creating a Discord to find people but it's like throwing a bottle in the sea. So if someone knows a place I'm heeere 😂. Sorry again I love to write too much obviously 😶‍🌫️.

[@angelaholmes8888]

I love reading diverse books to me it's really important because i have found some really great books last month i absolutely enjoyed stars in your eyes by kacen callender and one summer in Savannah by terah shelton Harris im planning on reading books for pride month

[@myocoree]

i have a kacen callender book on my tbr hopefully i stop putting it off lol

[@CryAboutit-bu7re]

Your blush looks so good on youuu

[@myocoree]

thank you! it’s juvia’s place 4 (or 5 sorry i forget)

[@DannyReadss]

I wish I could like this video 1 million times!

[@kalawa4384]

i agree 1000%.

[@palamedes4740]

That so interesting about male male because being a fantasy girly I can't find any male male that isin't omegaverse. love that for girlies who are into it but where are the warlocks the vampires and the fey? I can't find it.

[@AlwaysSadé]

Try Vita Nostra. Its a dark academia russian translated novel. I LOVE IT. It was recommended to me by JordalineReads, she is great about reading all types of books.

[@frann1403]

YES. omygod. Hot take, but the amount of popular books on TikTok that gets recommended that either has bad representation or bad writing 😭 like I don't mind some fun, mindless books to read, those are ok, but high key the amount of books with racism or homophobia or synonymous of the like that are popular and recommended, or problematic writing like the romanization of abusive relationships or writing about war then they inappropriately add romance (talking about adding a smut scene while describing that ppl are dying outside and that's supposed to be hot) etc. because people don't or haven't read the good ones simply because they don't have a diverse reading genre or choose not to (like when there's no smut) is a PAINNNNNN 😭😭😭

[@Allinmyworld]

THISSSS and I want to see older books! I took a break from reading in 2020 but I don't see any older book recommendations from previous years. Yes, i want to read popular titles while they are popular now but i also want to see older books that people recommend and different books not the same old same old books, same old authors. Same old genres. I want to see something unique. What was the black girl and alien book? I'm not into fantasy but i do like romance so i might check it out. Very good thoughtful discussion on this video and in going on in the comments. As a black girl who is mixed I tend to want to consume more works by black authors. I started reading some Terry McMilan books this years and i also haven't jumped into Eric Jerome Dickey but i plan to. As a girl who read Addicted by Zane was one of my first books as a teenager that i fell into love with reading as an adult. Sometimes i want to read my white authors but i've also read a lot of Asian authors like Amy Tan. I want to know if book it program is still around because it started a generation of readers including me. I related to a lot of what you said i even try to switch up my genres because i love thrillers and i love romance but i did read The invisible life of Addy La Rue which to me bordered on fantasy which is outside or my realm. Keep up the good content and dare to be different.

[@jordansiarya762]

speak on it!!!

[@palamedes4740]

Not bullying your dad for that Pizza Hut chile 🤣🤣 good for you.

[@myocoree]

are you even a father if you aren’t getting bullied by your eldest daughter!

[@shahrazede3865]

Another great video, also reading diversely is just more fun than only reading self insert stories with mcs that look and think exactly like you all the time. That gets boring and you become less empathetic like you said.

[@bookish_vickie]

And with all that, said and done , i am 100% following 👏👏👏👏

[@myocoree]

thank you!

[@moonmamma]

yes! I LOOVEE a good Jamaican or Nigerian novel.

[@StayFocused902]

12:42 Same and it was your video that made me read it but I actually like that book!

[@myocoree]

😭😭

[@perlapamela2023]

Do you have any book recommendation that is close to rf kuang stories ? ❤i LOVED the poppy war series and now I’m in a slump ❤❤😢😢

[@myocoree]

the sword of kaigen

[@evam6961]

When i make my tbr if i wanna remove some books from it cause it is over 300 books long i make sure i remove books from like white american/british writers cause even after i do that ill for sure still have so many books written by them on my tbr. also from this year in trying to move from american authors in general when i noticed 80% of my books are from USA authors and i dont even live there 😭

[@yo.johnson]

YES TO MONSTER ROMANCES!

[@jasminesmith6361]

Yesssssss RF Kuang is my favorite author of all time!

[@saladinhadefruta]

I read a big range of books bcus Im poor so I jus read hand me downs from my parents and books from my school library, wich are very random

[@abelvanvroztco.7949]

This is what I am worrying about because I want to make self published a dystopia time travel adventure with romance subplot book (I am POC author) featuring three POC MMC (Malaysian indigenous + Muslim) as well as four FMC (two of them are POC). The plot focused on journey of the MMC, brothers trio to cope culture shock of accidental time travelling across past and future, and how to cope with those situations. Each of the timeline where they went to has their dystopian situation where there are detailed economical, political and social conflicts. For the romance subplot, it bit slow burn with strangers to partners to lovers concept, but the adventure plot drive it all. And this would be huge challenge for me with booktok phenomenon because everyone wants to read overrated book / book with spice, even my home country is not exception with lots of local spice novels in bookstore. Even though my novel would be has spice on one of two versions (the other one has no smut), the risk of my book will get low rating would be high because I believe the story is complicated for them when they are only looking for spicy scenes 😢

[@NateReadsDiversely]

19:23 About to order "Arsenic and Adobo" just from the title alone!

[@myocoree]

it’s such a fun read!

[@B.B.H2.0]

What's the title amd author of the poly book that has a black girl as the main character and three black men as her love interests???? I must read this asap.

[@myocoree]

i’m not sure i couldn’t remember which is why i didn’t add the book but im sure you could google it

[@evam6961]

You are sooooo pretty♥️

[@myocoree]

thank you!

[@LilRonGal]

The way Everything, Everything pushed me to write my own books 🥹 I have so many feelings about how books by BIPOC authors are received… especially Black authors. It’s rough out here. Enjoying your content!

[@metalgearsenshi]

I too enjoy being able to insert my delusions into the story, haha. I'm still watching at the moment but I feel Beverly Jenkins may have something in the cowboy romance range. Sometimes honestly I think of writing my own stories to just post online or I even start movie scripts in my head 😂 because I dont wanna always adjust to most of the default NPC personality MCs we get. Also, anyone who goes "hmm sword of kaigen idk i want diverse but eh put it off" mayyyynneeee I'm not done yet but its so good. I know imma cry bc my friend cried through it and she doesn't really read-cry 😂

[@Jasmine-rm8nh]

Please Please Please drop the f/f/f/f recs!!! The only time I've been able to read anything like that was Faberittana fanfic

[@myocoree]

if i could remember correctly its apart of clio evans creature cafe series

[@Jasmine-rm8nh]

@@myocoree just borrowed/placed a hold on a couple of them! Thank you 😊

[@autumnritchie1473]

🥰🥰🥰

[@nikkisumesh]

I just realized you read an absurd amount of books each month! What is your job? How do you find the time?

[@myocoree]

i currently don’t have a job but even when i do i always make time to read cus it’s my main hobby and i read 50 pages before bed every night

[@nikkisumesh]

@@myocoree but then how do you have money to buy so many books?

[@myocoree]

@@nikkisumesh i don’t 😭 if you look through my videos my last haul was 5 months ago, the books i read are either sent to me, i already owned them, my library or i do get money from youtube but very rarely. i utilize my library a lot though

[@nikkisumesh]

@@myocoree oh alright. Ik I'm being nosy but how can you afford to not have a job? How does that work? Or do you live with parents

[@flachshungflachs]

the book industry will never change and books are gonna stay stale if privilegded authors are being put on a pedestal.

[@myocoree]

exactly!

[@lr2ldn]

Well you're not going to see black reverse harems because as a culture, we're not into that. It's a cultural thing which is why you're not going to see too much of that. In real life, we frown on that.

[@myocoree]

being black isn’t a monolith! you can’t say that black people aren’t into that when a black creator is admitting to being into it? and i said in the video there is one that exists! i’ve read black girls getting smashed by aliens but reverse harems is where authors would draw the line? 😭

[@bluecannibaleyes]

“At the end of the day, if they don’t care they don’t care.” Well, thank you for understanding this. But do you ACTUALLY respect that opinion? I’m not going to read ‘diversity’ for the sake of ‘diversity’ and I’m not sorry about it. You seem to be unaware that ‘diversity’ is literally shoehorned into just about EVERY media nowadays. Contrary to your belief about the world, as a white person I CAN’T open a modern book and only see characters of my r4ce. It’s practically not allowed in traditional publishing anymore. Just the other day, I was reading what I thought was going to be a straight romance but no, they HAD to make one of the characters bi and go on and on about LGBT stuff. It was a huge turn off and the constant soapbox completely ruined the book for me. If you can understand that people like to see themselves in media, why can’t you respect that for white people and/or straight people who don’t like ‘diversity’ being shoehorned into everything nowadays? Most of the books touted as ‘diverse’ are something I honestly have absolutely no interest in reading anyway. It’s an instant turn-off for me when THAT is the selling feature. It makes me think that the book probably has few other merits if they NEED to emphasize that aspect of it in order to coerce white people to read it. If a book with a non-white author and/or characters sounds legitimately interesting to me, I’ll be open to reading it, but I’m NEVER going to read something just to please people like you. Ask yourself why ‘diverse’ always just means ‘less white people’. Imagine if someone told YOU that you should go out of your way to read books with less black characters in order to ‘diversify’ your reading because..well, just because it good to diversify. You said in this very video that you didn’t like it when they throw a random white person in a story about POC, so why can’t you accept that some of us don’t appreciate it the other way around either? And the other way around is practically all we get nowadays when it comes to stories about white people. There always HAS to be a POC person and/or an LGBT person SOMEWHERE. They literally don’t let us have media with just straight white people anymore. I try to diversify my genres and I think that’s more important than just arbitrarily reading books I don’t want to read just because the author or characters are non-white or gey.

[@myocoree]

i’m sorry i’m not reading all of this but you do you, i don’t care what you do. i was interesting in hearing you out but this is just too long and i’ve got too many books to read. just don’t read diversely i don’t know you so it really doesn’t effect me really.

[@bluecannibaleyes]

@@myocoree LOL I’m not sure why you made this video and replied if you don’t actually care, but ok.

[@myocoree]

@@bluecannibaleyes you asked me if i respect your opinion and i’m telling you i don’t care what you do? i’m telling you to read whatever you but im not going to get upset about it?

[@Qui-Gon_Jen]

I think people should just read what they like.

[@myocoree]

i don’t recall ever saying in the video “what does miss jenny think” if you didn’t like the video you could’ve just clicked out but you wanted to be weird.

[@jazlynjanai1686]

I think this comment is very weird. She even said in the video that people should read what they want. If you don’t want to diversify your reading that’s on you… (and it’s clear that you don’t)

[@Qui-Gon_Jen]

@@myocoreeI wasn’t trying to come off rude. That was just my not super deep opinion. I actually agreed with a lot you said lol. Just saying what I feel. But okie

[@lisagulick4144]

Got a few recommendations for you: _The Good Luck Girls_ by Charlotte Nicole Davis. I found this at a library book sale, and it was the best dollar I've ever spent! Five girls escape a "welcome house" (exactly what you think it is) and go in search of a mythical figure named Lady Ghost, who is the only one who can free them of the indelible "favors" - marks of "welcome house" ownership - tattooed on their necks in magical ink. This story takes place in an alternate Old West frontier, and there are not only lawmen chasing after the girls - there are also "raveners," who can inflict pain and soul-rending fear with a touch, and "vengeants," ghosts made up of anger and hatred, who are invisible but who can still tear a living person to shreds! Brrr! (Old West tropes with fantasy elements are sooo cool!) And on that note, Lila Bowen's Shadow series - _Wake of Vultures,_ _Conspiracy of Ravens,_ _Malice of Crows,_ and _Treason of Hawks_ - is another good read. The main character is a half-Black, half-Native girl, who kills a vampire in the very first chapter and uses his clothing and the ample money in his pocket to escape her abusive foster family and have some adventures...until she's given a job by some insistent supernatural forces! _Sword Stone Table,_ edited by Swapna Krishna and Jenn Northington. This is an anthology of stories that turn the Age of Chivalry upside-down, not only with diverse characterizations and locations (in both space and time), but with gender-bent romance as well (I mean, didn't we _all_ suspect that Britomart was at least bisexual?). Well worth your time, I think. And I think you are spot-on with why we should read more diversely. Ever since I found out about N.K. Jemisin and got a copy of her short-story collection, I've been on the lookout for other great WOC's. I think I like Nnedi Okorafor best - oh, how I want to be a Leopard Person...and while I'm wishing, could I also buy one of Binti's astrolabes? - but Carlos Hernandez and Yoon Ha Lee are also cool. I think the more people read and comment on WOC's and diverse characterization, the more publishers will publish those things. Up to now it's been a tautology - diverse voices hadn't been published because nobody read them, but nobody read diverse books because none were being published! All I can say is, thank heaven for the internet, where more voices can be heard and publishers can get their butts blistered for not listening!

[@yasminechoerryscherry3701]

17:17 this is so true, especially given the fact that 99% of sapphic shows get cancelled and most movies barely get promotion so they aren't widely known. Its almost like they want their wlw stories to flop Plus I have read some pretty amazing sapphic books in my lifetime! To recommend a few diverse ones: If you still recognise me by Cynthia So (east asian mc), The lesbiana's guide to catholic school (a mexican lesbian and her chinese love interest we love to see it), the henna wars (personally the first time i ever saw a queer muslim main character and it was so cosy and nice! the mc is Bangladeshi btw and we get to see a lot of her culture in the book. Kinda saw some similarities with my culture as well, since my fam is muslim and we also have henna as a tradition). There's also we've always been here by samra habib, which is a memoir but it's also by a queer pakistani photographer (even if you dont read their book, check out their photographies of queer muslims across the world). I can't think of other examples rn but ill add more if I remember to I have yet to find my identity completely represented in a sapphic story (im arab btw if anyone knows a queer arab story let me know) but I always relate a lot more to the stories written by poc authors even if they're completely different. They just get some things differently, like the importance of our family, language or culture and how that intertwines with our queerness etc

[@jasminesmith6361]

I wanted to ask if you have a Storygraph? I would love to add you on there!

[@myocoree]

i don’t! i only use goodreads sorry 😭

[@jasminesmith6361]

@@myocoree Convert to Storygraphhhhh 🤩 It's black woman owned! Hehehe it's obviously up to you tho girlie 🤭🩷

[@myocoree]

@@jasminesmith6361 i’m sorry i just don’t like the app’s interface and my goodreads does all the way back to 2017, i know storygraph transfers data but it doesn’t transfer all of my reading goals i’ve been building

[@jasminesmith6361]

@@myocoree You're totally good girl! I so understand, no need to apologize 🩷

[@queerpoetssociety_]

also for anyone looking to read diversely, the "read around the world" challenge is the way to go 🤌 i started it just a few days ago and i am having so much fun reading outside of the UK and US (that's where the bulk of my reading has been concentrated for a while). not only am i having fun but i am also learning heaps!!