your unpopular book opinions 🚑 coho, fantasy romance, the book community, and aaron warner hate lol

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your unpopular book opinions | coho, fantasy romance, the book community, and aaron warner hate lol

[@willardreads]

“you are responsible for what content you consume” SAY IT LOUDER FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE BACK

[@caricanread]

❤❤❤

[@caricanread]

@lu4397 we’re talking about hate-watching videos lol as in, dont click on a video you know youre going to be angry about and then getting mean in the comments. not sure what you're referring to!

[@robyn1766]

this is so true, i also think algorithms have ruined people a bit, like with so much content pushed to appeal to "you" specifically, when content comes across someone's feed that doesn't align with their interests or opinions they get unreasonably upset about it because they don't know how to filter out content that they're not interest in

[@LilyEvansP]

@@robyn1766 You make a good point. With Instagram reels or Tik Tok, we don't actively choose the videos we watch most of the time. Personally I wouldn't leave mean comment no matter what, but if I really disagree with something I will express my opinion politely.

[@lakshmirekha9168]

@@robyn1766preach!

[@alyzzzea1864]

My hot take: like a solid 90% of books that go mega viral on booktok have wattpad fanfic kind of writing 😳😳

[@clossalad]

FOR REAL

[@clossalad]

It’s like they’re only popular and read by so many because the writing is so simple and basic 😂

[@isa-belva]

​@@clossaladno deadass because that's a reason i hear from ppl i know who reads them - "their writing style is easy for me" "i go through the book quickly" "it's like reading a fanfic"

[@agentpebbles749]

no you're right and you should say it

[@kairitetra]

I've given up on reading super popular books because I hate them almost every time.

[@emmajoy1752]

My unpopular opinion: emotional intelligence and healthy relationships are so hot, and it is frustrating to have such unhealthy dynamics uplifted constantly (but also I’m a sucker for enemy to lover and forced love so I am the problem I see)

[@caricanread]

lmao this is me

[@emmajoy1752]

@@caricanreadbtw you’re the person that has gotten me back into reading for fun! Since I started undergrad I’ve had such a hard time enjoying time reading and the vampire-gargoyle-school book (forgot the name) was such a fun read that made me so happy 😂💙

[@squidwardtentacles7144]

No, I totally agree with you (i also enjoy enemies to lovers, but it needs to be done "healthy" i guess; i don't like romanticized abuse in books). I'm actually on the hunt to find romance books that depict healthy relationships or at least have characters work on having a healthy relationship. It sucks how hard they are to find nowadays. I'd love to fall in love with a romance series where the relationships are heart-warming and healthy.🥺💕

[@reesesbeanses]

I don’t like when unhealthy fictional relationships are intended to be sexy, but I’m fine with stories where the unhealthy relationship is supposed to be interesting in a nonsexual/nonromantic way. If a fictional relationship is mutually unhealthy and it’s portrayed as tragic or a trainwreck or both, that’s one thing. It’s another thing entirely if that toxic relationship is supposed to be a steamy romance, especially if one partner is abusive and the other partner is like “oh he’s so dark and edgy and sexyyyy UwU” the entire time.

[@julieantoine2857]

@@squidwardtentacles7144 you probably read it because this author is well known, but Book Lovers by Emily Henry as a really healthy and relatable relationship. I'm not Into romance, but i read it because i saw people who didn't like romance, said that it was good. The only thing i notice is, even if i'm not a native english reader/speaker, there are repetitions, especially some expressions.

[@maddiebeth_o]

Hot take: people (particularly on BookTok) have an alarmingly low ability to think critically. I’ve been seeing so much hate being sent to different authors for writing flawed characters, where people think that the author must be flawed in the same way as the character (particularly see this with instances of misogyny in books). It’s like people have forgotten that humans are inherently flawed and make mistakes and sometimes authors write (and SHOULD write!) flawed characters because it’s our job as the reader to think critically about the material and LEARN FROM IT. We would get nothing from literature if every character was perfect and if every situation worked out perfectly!!!!

[@ElinWinblad]

Yes they will say the characters did things they didn’t support lol - it’s a story it doesn’t reflect on you it’s okay to read it

[@maddiebeth_o]

@@forg_tful. very true, sometimes the line between “bad characters = harmful book” (aka coho novels) and “bad characters = important insights to reflect on the world around us” can be blurred. I think in the case of Colleen Hoover-esque books, it’s more about genre. Glorifying an abusive relationship in a romance novel is very different than including an abusive relationship in a piece of literary fiction. Love being able to talk about this subject! It’s so interesting to dissect.

[@maddiebeth_o]

@@ElinWinblad EXACTLY. If every book had only “perfect” characters we’d learn nothing from them!!

[@marymurphy1877]

I remember when all of Tumblr turned against John green, saying that his characters reflected who he was and at some point it escalated to basically bullying him off of the site. the internet continues to have zero critical thinking skills. it's so sad bc if we can't have interesting flaws characters we will continue to only have mediocre uninspired work ):

[@krazyketo5148]

Thank you!!! I just got kicked from a book reviewers Patreon because I didn't agree with her hot take on a book I liked, and she said he must share the same view. Stfu, read and think critically. No bad characters equals a lousy story.

[@pendragon2012]

Every fantasy absolutely needs a FREAKING DRAGON. Tolkien himself said so. I will die on this hill. Right next to my pet dragon. Oh, hey Cari, have a good night!

[@caricanread]

LMAO

[@pendragon2012]

@@missallisnow Well, we're all entitled to one wrong opinion in our lives. Just one though so you've used it up! ;-) (I kid, of course, you are free to have as many wrong opinions as you please, lmao.)

[@pendragon2012]

@@missallisnow Nice.

[@joalgustas6498]

I agree! I actually wish there were more dragon stories with POV from the dragon and their rider. I love political intrigue in books, but when books have dragons, that’s all there seems to be! I want more dragon-focused books! I love Love LOVE them!

[@pendragon2012]

@@joalgustas6498 It's what I'm saying.

[@emi843]

my unpopular opinion is that i hate ppl pretending that terrible (mostly smutty) books are all amazing. just bc you love a book doesn’t mean it’s a great book. like i read icebreaker and i had a fun time reading it, but i’m not going to go around saying what an amazing work of literature if is. ya know?

[@caricanread]

yes omg! thinking something is entertaining and enjoyable does not literature it make hahaha

[@3bellam]

so true, there is defo a distinction between objectively well done literature and entertaining literature. A book can be both or it can be just one. It's not always necessary to defend the integrity of a book even when you really enjoyed it! It's okay, you can like a trashy book! There is no shame in that! I enjoyed the characters and some of the plot of the acotar books, but I was also cringing at certain lines and thinking to myself how bad some of the writing was, and that's okay! Nuance, ladies and gentlemen.

[@taylorelizabeth9018]

I haven't made it through icebreaker yet. ;-;. My biggest problem with it is that the actual plot that was advertised to me didn't start until 200 ages in, so they had already developed their relationship, it felt so pointless for me. I'm glad you enjoyed it though

[@ninninin656]

Cough, Fourth Wing, cough. It's trashy romantasy, but people pretend it's a literary masterpiece with the most amazing world building.

[@pamelamurillo2966]

I agree but also I think people do it to counter attack the amount of hate and judgement people get from liking smut. Specially woman who enjoy smut.

[@sophiehaslam2492]

about the stuff about the toxicity over different opinions in the book community, i once saw a booktokker (cannot for the life of me remember who it was) say that reading is percieved as a moral act. there's a set of values and personality traits ascribed to reading that not many other hobbies do, like readers are seen as inherently more educated, mature or good for instance. there's a certain elitism, that you're better than others because you read and reading makes you a good person. all hobbies form part of your identity, but i think because reading is perceived as innately moral, your reading choices are seen to reflect part of your values, hence the vitriol when it comes to people disliking other's favourite books. it is seen as an attack on their personality, not just a disagreement over a book.

[@caricanread]

i agree :')

[@Rhaifha]

Totally agree! To a point where there's a category of Literature with a capital L, that's written in a super obtuse way *on purpose*. Because if you can't enjoy that kind of writing that's supposedly a moral failing on your part. It's so weird!

[@nKosmos747]

This was described so well!

[@thefirebirdflock3440]

Granted most of what people are reading is erotica and toxic relationships nowadays so it really reflects the modern movement of people being whores.

[@graysummerday]

An unpopular opinion of my own: Dark romance is not an excuse to just write terrible things and then justify it with dark romance (this take brought to you by my horrendous experience reading Haunting Adeline)

[@ginnyluv4601]

I was traumatized from that book!!! Traumatized!!! I have the second book! But I’m scared to read it! I don’t want to damaged ❤

[@caricanread]

:''''')

[@graysummerday]

@@ginnyluv4601 Same! After the first one I was like never again and I refuse to read it. The first one scarred me for life

[@ginnyluv4601]

@@graysummerdayLiterally! What is with the author making the main guy character a f*cking stalker who forces himself on the main girl character? Like why is this a plot line? 😭❤

[@Sarina_Dear]

I know what you mean- I get writing things down to cope with trauma but that doesn’t make it ok to publish.

[@Kaiheart]

Spicy opinion on POVs: We need more books in 3rd person POV. I'm sick of 1st person POV being in almost every recent major book series.

[@caricanread]

oh hoooooo!

[@artie2822]

Oh thank god its not just me. For some reason I have such an irrational hatred of 1st person POV in books, I feel like it too often goes hand in hand with "relatable" blank slate main characters with no personality that the reader is just supposed to project onto.

[@Kaiheart]

@artie2822 Right! And the supposed "blank slate" has the most horrible personality, sometimes I just have to shut the book and be like 'I can't take your sour attitude anymore'. I've DNF'd books I was excited about because the 1st person POV grated on my nerves. Give me 3rd person omniscient, give me 3rd person limited - heck, get creative and try 2nd person for once! I'm just tired of 1st person and these whiny narrators!

[@isa-belva]

​@@Kaiheartfr being inside a person's mind is so infuriating sometimes especially if they're annoying😭😭 maybe if i get to step out of their head in a 3rd POV i'd tolerate the book more

[@Kaiheart]

@isa-belva See, the only story I've been able to tolerate recently with 1st person POV was Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint - but that's specifically because it switches between 1st & 3rd person on a regular basis. It either needs a good balance or just straight out 3rd person only. Being in the head of someone constantly complaining about being in a cool fantasy just drags down the mood of the story, to the point of "you don't think these dragons are cool? How can you not think this stuff is cool?!" And I can't deal with it anymore.

[@shaheryarnadaf475]

My unpopular opinion is that most teen books where the main character is a girl, don't have fully fleshed out male characters. Everything about the love interest - even the flaws - just exist to make them all the more attractive. They're so similar now that they are literally interchangeable.

[@cyralamen]

In other words Mary Sue

[@meli8.9]

Yess they’re just there for the girl and don’t usually have their own story

[@chiariscuro]

The same way male protagonists are usually surrounded by women who are interchangeable... and both happen on tv shows as well. Its common

[@Ich-Existiere-Nicht]

​@@chiariscuro With other words: Writers need to realize that all characters need to be fleshed out and not only the main characters.

[@bookoffholicbookwart5945]

Unpopular opinion:Romance books are becoming more aggressive and setting toxic relationships as ideal relationships

[@sketchbookstour]

THIS !

[@zakiyah6711]

Oohh this is interesting, from what I’ve seen/ read I would say the opposite. I will agree that the more popular romance books are setting a bad example

[@taylorwalker7417]

I agree that bad relationships have become a pervasive trope. I kind of always viewed it like the Barbie controversy, though, like, everyone loves it, but no one is actually adopting it as their personal standard. At least, I sure hope so😩

[@jaginaiaelectrizs6341]

Do you remember back when all those innocent romcoms always had those classic scenes where the guy either grabs the girl by her wrist and drags her with him somewhere to 'talk' or to 'get her away[ from some situation or another]' and/or where the guy physically boxes her in with his hand in the wall as he leans over her? I kinda think romance books have always been more aggressive and toxic than people often realized or recognized that they were.

[@sakurablossoms94]

@@jaginaiaelectrizs6341 I have always read romance and the books from the 80s and 90s would be classified as dark today

[@Moonzart]

I am so sick of the "I'll burn down the world for you" types of male love interests. It’s rare to find a love interest with a golden retriever personality in fantasy romance. Every time Ryhs or Jax or Aaron Warner is talking I just want to reach into the story and smack them around a bit.

[@squidwardtentacles7144]

No, for real! God forbid the male main character is a nice boy who is also nice and kind to others.

[@Martyna-hu9xs]

I Personally love it when a character says it ONCE or something. Like in a fight and he goes like : I WOULD KILL THRM ALL FOR YOU! But once… NOT 10 TIMES IN EVERY BOOK LIKE AARON CREEPY ASS WARNER

[@kindred-spirits]

Have you read "The Infernal Devices" series by Cassandra Clare? Some of her series (like Mortal Instruments) aren't good, but this has one of the best handling's of a "love triangle" I've ever seen. The character Jem Carstairs is such a sweet, gentle and respectful character who's been through terrible things but is still so compassionate, not just towards the main character but everyone. I know a lot of people dislike CC, but do consider just trying this one of her series out.

[@arshiyaamreen5808]

Like the other commentor said, please give the The Infernal Devices a try. It's CC's best written seies imo and not only is one of the guy called Jem literally the most compassionate and understanding human in existence, even the other guy WIll isn't technically your stereotypical extremely jacked up, aggressive, save the world for you type.

[@Moonzart]

@@kindred-spirits Thanks for the recommendation! I'll definitely put the series on my tbr

[@joalgustas6498]

Not unpopular opinions, sorta, but more of my hot take. Romantic tropes are spoilers, like friends to lovers, enemy to lovers, found family, etc., more so than any other genre. Once someone starts describing books with those, I get aggravated cuz you ultimately know how the leads are going to end up together. And I am Team Crack the Damn Spines!

[@caricanread]

lol!!

[@3bellam]

yeah I get this. labeling/marketing books with the tropes is so weird to me, like I don't really want to know that this is an enemies to lovers or that it's a love triangle or whatever, just label it as romance and let me find out the rest lol. But I also understand why book communities like to recommend certain tropes to each other, just please leave it out of the actual marketing/advertising.

[@ChiaraMihara]

@@3bellam I get where you're coming from - although especially for love triangles I hate if it's not advertised... like, I don't need to know who ends up together right from the start, but if 90% of the book is going to be two characters pining towards one who cannot decide (and they don't all end up together at the end!) then please tell me beforehand so I can skip it. D:

[@polinakrivonosova]

i agreeeeeeeee

[@gabbyparr6099]

I try to go into books as blindly as possible these days for this exact reason!! As soon as I see something about a title being buzzed about by readers I know I share similar tastes with, I add it to the TBR and never look at anything about it again until I read it 😂 sometimes it gets me into trouble where I end up in over my head because I don’t like super spicy books and because I didn’t read about it I end up in a spicier-than-I’d-like book 😅 but it’s all to avoid learning the tropes!

[@ShadowMor00]

17:05 I think the timeless, more romantic pet names like "beloved" and "my love" are great and I like being called a pet name irl platonically, romantically, or by family. But there's just something SO gross about reading a "babe", "princess", or "baby girl"! It's awful when male authors do it, it's awful when female authors do it. Someone needs to research why that is 😂

[@Actuallyalizard]

Agreed. My Love, Beloved, etc like you said also sound so much more romantic

[@kimilynP]

For me reading it never feels natural. It usually is forced in to pretend characters are closer than they actually are. It's unearned because authors aren't doing the work to show the relationship with actions and conversations.

[@Actuallyalizard]

@@kimilynP yeah, it definitely needs to be earned, like in a slow burn or something.

[@superhpfan00]

babe in books? ick babe when my partner is trying to get my attention? *chef's kiss* tbh I stan stupid terms of endearment. It's true that my boyfriend is the compliment to my soul, but i get far better responses when I call him a sap or a goober or my ridiculous man (because he is also all of those things)

[@brillador7958]

"Baby" and "princess" can come off as condescending to my ears. "My love" is a bit cheesy but earnest and reverent. Gimme that any day

[@DiceNinja]

Unpopular Opinion: a lot of modern fantasy books are written like a fan fiction set in someone else’s fantasy world- and it makes them unreadable.

[@gigiwhatnot]

like retelling?

[@journeysilvers9838]

​@@gigiwhatnot Or maybe like the world building is so shallow it's more of a "I needed some kind of fantasy setting" backdrop than a fully fleshed out world. This is actually the reason I wrote fanfic as a kid-- I wanted to write about characters and their stories but world building is pretty difficult to do if you arent naturally excited by it. Write a fanfic in some other authors world and you don't have to focus on the world building at all.

[@mariah8595]

Yes !

[@EleiyaUmei]

But isn't classic fantasy also just like this? Like LOTR fanfiction because they all have the same European folklore-inspired worldbuilding with just a few variations.

[@Brbdreaming_asmr]

I agree about books being unnecessarily lengthy now 😭😭 like why am I reading 300pgs of fluff and only 200 of the storyline 😭😭😭

[@caricanread]

why are publishers extending everything into triologies! long live the duology!!!

[@Brbdreaming_asmr]

@@caricanread also this!!

[@lauramacdowell1612]

@@caricanread- yes!!!! I agree: I love a good stand alone or duology ❤️🙌🏻

[@someonewho]

I recently read a novel that was 400 pages,yet maybe 150-200 pages of actual content

[@nikkibuglass627]

This is the natural result of paying authors by word count… Vanity Fair, Picture of Dorian Gray in their unabridged forms are truly awful cos they were paid by column inch, I think.

[@leaf8997]

personally i love elaborate clothing descriptions/appearance descriptions. i read a lot of fantasy where the character is royal, or lives in a royal palace for something and i LIVE for that type of stuff. like omg yes she’s wearing a strapless purple dress with black lace and black satin gloves? give it to me. it makes me happy to see that in a book, and it also guides my imagination

[@nKosmos747]

I like clothing description in books because i do like dress designing, and like fashion.

[@Cecebookworm07]

I’ve always liked clothing descriptions cus it can say a lot about a character without the narrator explicitly saying it.

[@madz7131]

Nah cause I saw that in my head when you said it it’s so important.

[@Ich-Existiere-Nicht]

Oh yes. I thought I was the only one. Everyone gets so pissed when characters describe their whole outfit but I like it. I want to know how I have to imagine the scene.

[@parthianarrow5874]

Agree with that. I also tend to read/write (fanfiction) about were the story is set in another decade or centurie so clothing descriptions work as markers of the time. And now my unpopular opinion: I mostly hear women complaining about clothing descriptions on booktube and booktok in books also written by women. To me it feels like some kind of internalised misogyny. I can totally imagine cases where the description would be too detailed/ unnecessary but in my experience it was just one - in Gothicana which is generally a bad book. And the rest I don't really get annoyed by.

[@EenayaMajed]

yes to the slow burn bc once the main characters say i love you to each other and mean it the book is basically over to me and i clock out so if the author doesn’t save it for the end they’ve shot themselves in the foot

[@caricanread]

RIGHT

[@t.s.611]

Same same same. I've found my people!

[@lytenakye486]

Same goes for shows. I started a romantic soap opera that's 24 episodes. The main characters said they loved each other in episode 7 and all I can think of is wtf are the next 17 episodes about?!

[@ella.ztr7]

The First Kiss> Spice is so true. Nothing makes me madder than when they have a spicy scene first, without any yearning. It’s so uninteresting. I literally don’t care how spicy it is as long as it’s a good slow burn

[@Cecebookworm07]

UNPOPULAR OPINION: I’m getting so sick of morally gray characters and depressing books. I understand making things realistic, but at some point everyone being morally grey gets boring and honestly just unbelievable. And then with depressing books, at some point they become so depressing it’s almost laughable. Can we not just write stories about good people who struggle but make it through with resilience in the end? Those have ALWAYS been the stories that reminded me that there are reasons to keep fighting.

[@caricanread]

yeah i feel like a lot of publishers are looking for the next little life (which i didnt read more than a few chapters lol) so they're taking alllll the depressing stories and promoting them :'''')

[@ShadowMor00]

I was just think about this today. I think that if you're gonna give me an evil character just go all the way with it!

[@skyeoak3]

Yeah! I think there’s a difference between writing realistic characters and writing edgy ones, and I think trendy “morally grey” falls more into edgy (which isn’t bad, if that’s what a reader’s looking for, but it’s not necessarily “realistic”)

[@lenniemoo]

Ooookay girl time to play final fantasy 14 THE STORY IS EXACTLY THIS. Struggling thru tough times but staying hopeful and strong!!!

[@romywolfofficial]

THIS! Sort of related, but I'll never forgive the DC Verse for making SUPERMAN, of all characters, depressed and gritty. Just ... no. You had ONE job, DC. ONE JOB.

[@a.morujo6073]

i don't know what it is about you talking about the weather often, but it makes your videos very cosy, like having a conversation about everything and anything with a close friend

[@caricanread]

wahhh im glad!

[@thisisnancybot]

American librarian here! Colleen Hoover books are still VERY popular with certain types of readers, but it seems like just as many people can’t stand her. She also seems to be a good way to get people into books who may not be established readers. My hairdresser is a big example of this. So while the books are really not for me personally, they definitely have their people still.

[@bluegazella5875]

I'm sure you heard this before but coho is just for ppl who never had a fanfiction phase

[@taryndancer29]

To me her books are easy trashy reads when I am not in the mood to read something complicated 😅

[@myoldusernamewastaken]

Yeah I found out that my sister (who is newer to reading and actually almost 30 years old) has a copy of every single Colleen Hoover book in her house and I had to take a quiet moment to inwardly cringe. I’ll never make a person feel bad for what they enjoy, but I assure you all that the Colleen Hoover fan base is absolutely alive and well. 😂

[@rae3781]

We have so many of her books constantly circulating through my library. With how many books of hers we have, the shelf rarely has more than 1 because they're always checked out.

[@minano-nim6795]

When I was in middle school, my classmates discovered a crate of Sandra Brown books donated to our school library (this was not the US). Suddenly , everyone was hooked. I used to be bullied for reading too much, but now, teachers couldn't hold their classes because all my classmates were in a circle at the back of the class, passing Sandra Brown books between them like drugs. The silence was literally painful. When they finished the translated books, they hunted down English versions and the English skills of the whole class shot up 300% in three weeks. I'm saying this to say, all the Coleen Hoover and Sarah J Maas craze now just teleports me back in time. They're great at getting non-readers into reading. But many established readers, especially those that don't like their style, suddenly feel alien in their own world.

[@romywolfofficial]

UNPOPULAR OPINION: I will take a Found Family trope over a romance plot any time of the day. Seriously. I'm a writer (hi) and I actually struggle to write long books. It baffles me how so many writers just write so many long books, especially in a series. Mine usually end up on the shorter side because I approach my scenes with a "Do I need this scene to advance the plot?"-mindset, and when I feel it doesn't, I just drop it. (On the flip side, my books tend to be on the shorter side, which is also not ideal. I'm working on it.)

[@romywolfofficial]

P.S.: Sometimes, when you or another creator review a book that I ADORE but you say you didn't like it? I just skip the review and watch the next part of the video. It's that easy. No harm done. I definitely don't like some of the books you adore, and that's fine! I'm here to indulge my love for books and have a good time. On that note, thank you for all the effort you put into your videos!

[@kairitetra]

100% agree on both the found family trope and struggling to write long books. The way writers add in random scenes for the sake of lengthening the book annoys me, so I would never want to do that to someone reading my books either.

[@EleiyaUmei]

I kinda like your approach to scenes, maybe tweaking it a little to add "Do I need this scene for readers to get a feel for the character(s) and understand their actions?" might help you to make your books a little longer.

[@cyralamen]

For the tropes Why not a book with both? - the very secret society of irregular witches has both and it works pretty well imo

[@nKosmos747]

From a writer of series books; I cannot speak for all, but when i *write* , there is just too much story for one short book. Also i embrace the fact that it is an art, and describing things artfully often takes up a bit more space on the page. All of that said, i respect writers who get it right, to do stand-alone books, and shorter series books, because they have a talent that i might be lacking.

[@elias-ng3di]

to the faery thing- The Cruel Prince has really good Worldbuilding. It has it's flaws but holly black really makes it clear that they aren't human and it plays a big part in the story, and the whole series has kind of a fairytale vibe

[@caricanread]

agreed!

[@nospoonfulofmayonnaiseforme]

ohohoh i loveeeeee tfota soooo much. It's more folk-sy than other fae books and just SO captivating

[@cmwattam]

Holly Black is also so good at writing such a technically "tight" and "correct" novel! Plot lines are finished and I struggle to find plot holes. Her books are so satisfying that way as well as being fun ideas, solid characters, and excellent world building

[@hannahluft6378]

I really loved this book because it is not just romance but really fantasy cause a lot of books that belong to the genre fantsay are actually just romance with a bit of fantasy. However this book just really concentrates on the fairy part and all the politics in the fairy world and how Jude schemes her planes and how everything works together in the end. Yeah it has romantasy and i like that BUT it does not really focuse on that. It really focuses on the fairys and i just love how Holly Black describes the world. Definitly one of the better fairy books!

[@burntfox]

It's the only fey book I've read. Honesty, planning to keep it that way 🥲

[@hannahloftus8385]

i always wondered why dual or multiple povs were never just written in the 3rd person..because you can still know the inner workings of a character in 3rd person, it just makes it not as confusing if you’re constantly switching between characters that have been written with really similar voices

[@nospoonfulofmayonnaiseforme]

it can also be confusing in 3rd person if it switches mid-chapter without announcing it. I've read books where a paragraph could technically be from anyone's pov and not in a cool deliberate way, it was just messy

[@hannahloftus8385]

@@nospoonfulofmayonnaiseforme oof, i must have lucked out on the books i’ve read in 3rd person 😬😬

[@peach_levell]

@@nospoonfulofmayonnaiseforme Dune, really liked to do this. Its the most awful thing to read :')

[@EleiyaUmei]

@@peach_levell Ooh, hot take :o (I feel like with the revival of the Dune franchise through the movies, there's a lot of hype about how great Dune is "before it got weird". Especially from scifi/fantasy experts.)

[@EleiyaUmei]

I'm such a proponent of 3rd person narratives that I think most published books could and should be written that way. Even in YA fantasy where there is just a single POV. You can write it the same way you do in 1st person, just with different pronouns.

[@elizakelly6742]

the thing about picturing characters is so so real. it’s always a blurry vague shape of a human in my head. the vibes of the character and the energy they give off is always prominent for me. i would know them always. but i can’t actually see them lol. thought it was just me and now i feel grateful and understood. thank you ❤ so much fun to spend time on this channel, as always

[@EleiyaUmei]

That's why I hate fans criticizing the casting in book adaptations for not getting eye or hair color right (or skin color or ethnicity in case of "assumed-to-be-white" characters whose skin color or ethnicity were never described or didn't matter in the book, e.g. Triss from The Witcher). It should matter whether the actors get the vibe and personality right, not how they look. (Hot take: Freddy Carter's Kaz is superior to any fanart of SoC Kaz Brekker that is not inspired by Freddy Carter.)

[@paularoth4915]

@@EleiyaUmei you're so right about Freddy Carter! But for me, some parts of the physical description are fundamental for the vibe. Staying in the GrishaVerse: It broke my heart to see Wylan having brown hair. For me, his poofy, a little bit longer, curly orangy-blondish-brownish(help) hair is important to the innocent puppy vibe I get from him, so I do understand that people get mad/sad/annoyed about inaccurate portrayal. But still, Jack Wolfe got the vibe of Wylan right, at least the basics, so I do see your point! But, like I said, I agree with the other side as well.

[@piscis210]

I don't get how easily people write stuff on their books with pens and markers lol, I feel bad even while underlining sentences with a pencil

[@caricanread]

sorry not sorry hahahha

[@Kaiheart]

See, I'll write in pencil in my books or put post-it notes, cause I'll have thoughts and want to remind myself to think about them in more detail later. Or I'll notice something that seems unimportant, so I'll make a note like "is this foreshadowing?" so I can come back to it.

[@joalgustas6498]

@@caricanreadI always wondered and meant to ask if you ever annotate.

[@apollolewis]

I’ve only done that for two book for Literature lessons. I felt so bad about it even though I used pencil

[@orpheousreads]

i only annotate on book i’m rereading and i know i’ll reread again, it’s nice to see my little comments when i’m reading again, but i can’t do colorful big annotations because it will take me out of the book

[@elizabethyalden2123]

the way you explained how murakami writes women was a really long way of saying he writes manic pixie dream girls lol

[@caricanread]

but not even because he doesnt write them on the page as manic pixie dream girls - you're just supposed to know that off the page they are lol

[@elizabethyalden2123]

@@caricanread thats the most infuriating part lmao. his writing is beautiful but he makes my eye twitch

[@kristinh6953]

I liked surprise pregnancy in romance books until I had kids. Like I can think of nothing less romantic than going through pregnancy, especially unplanned, and having a baby that screams and keeps you up at night for months-years and pushes your relationship to its limits. Kids are incredible and I love being a parent but it’s literally the opposite of a dreamy romance for me. Also the pregnancy epilogue. I hate the notion that the end or goal for all romantic relationships should be babies.

[@furonguy42]

I personally don’t get the spine cracking thing. Maybe it’s because my parents used to run a bookshop, so they’re both quite careful readers; but for me, “loving your books” is reading them and being gentle with them.

[@caricanread]

I mean my mom is a librarian and she dog ears and cracks hers up hahahha

[@madz7131]

I to the thing where before I start reading, I relax the spine to avoid cracking. It’s therapeutic and to me that’s loving the book and making it work for me

[@Maccastreisfan]

I like descriptions of the characters so I can remember them and I do picture them in my head. If they don’t describe them my mind will invent how they look and if later in the book they describe them it throws me off.

[@LoriAAndert-fc4xh]

I don’t mind descriptions of characters if it’s short and sweet and not repetitive.

[@sakurablossoms94]

@@LoriAAndert-fc4xh His blue eyes, those aquamarine eyes, the oceanic depths of his eyes... lol

[@v_loves_books]

the intense "who did this to you" / "i would burn down the world for you" etc scenes are weird in contemporary unless it's a specific context like mafia or spies or whatever I don't read those but i think it's better w/ stories with higher stakes like fantasy. It hits harder and it's more believable in that context

[@SaaitanK]

Urgh, pseudo-intellectual readers are the worst! They immediately try to push the narrative that one is too stupid to understand a particular book, and that's why you don't like it. Because personal taste dies off if you read Classics, it seems 🙄

[@caricanread]

hahahahah exactly

[@emilied5517]

my ex did that with Man of Steel even though I told him many times i don’t like Superman and had no interest in watching it. i finally caved because he really wanted to share it with me, and then he ranted for half an hour about how i “didn’t get it” when i inevitably didn’t like the movie. like bro, nothing about Man of Steel was lost on me, it’s just not a good movie 💀

[@PurpleKya]

Haha yeah, the pretentious attitude surrounding the classics honestly just keeps me away. I want to be able to not like a book without people coming at me, lol

[@EleiyaUmei]

That's one reason why I avoid classic(al) fantasy. Fans of those shut down every criticism with that "you're too stupid" argument.

[@bekichan91]

Art is subjective, that applies to Classics too. The only thing the "you're too stupid to get it" line is ever going to achieve is pushing people AWAY from the thing.

[@sodafraka]

17:57 ok but when Kenji call Juliette Princess, it's such a cute nickname, like I love his humor

[@caseyfaist7204]

these chats are delightful and every comedic edit that references mean girls gives me such joy

[@caricanread]

💕💕💕

[@bats550]

Loved the comment you made about not attaching who you are to what you read. I feel like if we attach who we are to what we read, when it comes to fiction, it results in us not being able to look at the book critically because we refuse to accept any critiques on it, even if they are accurate. We can like books that aren't perfect. Especially with classics, there do tend to be things that haven't aged well and that should be acknowledged. -from a former wannabe tumblr girly

[@caricanread]

yes!!!!

[@annikania2682]

I also think that! We can also like that books that are not like… “important and worthy”, not every book we liked or enjoyed needs to say something important or reflect on the terrible reality of the world. You (or: I) can like a book that is kinda trash, kinda fluff, not utterly poetically written - I can admit those things, and enjoying the time I had with it is still valid.

[@bats550]

@@annikania2682 100%! I was watching a really interesting video that talked about the writers' side of this also where like the idea that everything someone writes doesn't have to be amazing, sometimes it can be just to work on improving your writing. Also, unrelated, I get the same awkwardness about using the generalized you sometimes so I appreciated seeing the (or: I)

[@CMWUR]

I made myself read Fourth Wing bc of the hype and it was literally the most average fantasy book I’ve read recently! 😂 I was so mad loool

[@caricanread]

Very mid hahha

[@victoriat.similien4973]

I read that book because I just wanted to find out what her power was 😅😂. But very predictable book and oh so boring 😅

[@Farkas818]

I definitely agree that the plot was predictable, and it wasn't the most unique or best written book, I think the hype is because it is written similarly to SJM books (At least it gave me the same feeling). I loved it, idk when was the last time I didn't want to put down a book this much. But I couldn't tell you why I loved it because I definitely read better written fantasy. Still, it was fun :)

[@nospoonfulofmayonnaiseforme]

shows people have different tastes because i really liked it lol. i wasn't bored which is unusual for a long book.

[@wickedxoxo697]

The author said she wanted to write a book for people who are looking to start reading fantasy but are intimidated by the selections lol. So yeah it's not the exact best but she achieved what she wanted!

[@Audrey_7]

I absolutely love reading standalones because I love exploring more and more worlds and characters! ( I can only read series' if I'm really dedicated to reading them personally..😂)

[@caricanread]

standalones are so good :')

[@EleiyaUmei]

I feel like series can disappoint and frustrate you more because you need to invest more time into them and it's easier for the stories to feel dragged out or unnecessarily expanded.

[@Books.with.Cara.]

I like pet names that start as sarcastic/condescending and turns into affectionate

[@cricket8875]

First, 100% agree on the surprise baby/pregnancy trope. No thank you, hard pass. Happy couple planning to have a kid under normal, healthy circumstances? Sure, cool, whatever. Still not my thing, because pregnancy in general is terrifying to me. But I get the appeal of the adoring family vibes. Second, honestly, give yourself some credit for the kind of community you've cultivated here on your channel. Because I've seen people in a lot of other places absolutely tear into the kind of "guilty pleasure reads" that over here we all just smile and laugh at. You are very kind and nuanced in the way you talk about books - even when it's bad over all, you still acknowledge when a particular line is funny, or a description catches you, or whatever - and your audience reflects that kind of understanding. For everyone in the comments that's like "OMG I couldn't even get past the first page! The writing was so bad!" there's someone who read it for the first time as a tween and absolutely loves them. But instead of taking the mick out of each other over it, you've cultivated an environment where we can all go "Ok yes, the writing is SO corny... but sometimes corny is fun!" and just live and let live. It's part of what makes this such an awesome space to be in.

[@caricanread]

thank you :''''')

[@_lilyofthevalley_]

completely agreed!!

[@ElinWinblad]

My whole life the idea of pregnancy freaked me out did not want kids yucky yuck. Now I’ll be 40 soon and realize I fu$ked up bad. I’ll have no family. Hopefully I won’t turn into a hateful old woman but it gets depressing thinking about being alone

[@_lilyofthevalley_]

@@ElinWinblad why don't you adopt

[@m.appleton9956]

I only ever buy used books, and the more beat up the better, because I love the idea that the book has been around for a while, moved through people’s lives, and look like they have been brought to the beach, on a plane, and read in a hammock or a tent. 😉

[@shalryma]

And I think it sometimes immerses you even more! I bought an old copy of The Secret History by Donna Tart on a library sale and it being bit beaten up with yellowed pages lowkey adds to the story!

[@jo_reads]

I'M DEAD the fear in your eyes displaying the aaron warner hate.... iconic

[@emilyj401]

Murakami thoughts: I don’t need to waste time reading from a man who doesn’t view women as equal when there are so many other books to read. I’ve only read a few chapters of IQ84 but it just made me uncomfortable. And that was before I knew he had this reputation. So I totally believe he’s a good writer and there are beautiful or important things in his books, but I can get that elsewhere and without the misogyny. (And I liked hearing your thoughts! I’m glad you enjoy him)

[@caricanread]

exactly! you can choose not to read but still recognize that his work holds some value to others and thats ok :'''')

[@anix670]

Agree with this. Murakami should probably ask himself why so many people think he's a misogynist...😅

[@rizzobeloved]

Very well said!

[@karenjobim5794]

I agree and I'd say it has a cultural tone to it as Japanese see women too. I don't read it bc I hate not considering women your equal and it's embed in Japanese society for a long time...I won't prolong my thoughts, but it's a NO for me.

[@evers33n]

I saw an interview he did with a fellow Japanese writer who happens to be female, and when she asked him why women in his books are written the way they are, he responded to her questions with answers like, “Oh..,” “Ok..,” and “No..”. So I think he knows his female characters are written in a misogynistic light. He’s just uncomfortable that someone called him out on it. There are so many better contemporary male authors, like Yann Martel and Markus Zusak, who can write actually fleshed out female characters and aren’t in denial about some of the flaws in their books.

[@Kaiheart]

I'm a spine cracker on some of my books - my collector's editions remain uncracked cause they're too pretty.

[@caricanread]

agreed!

[@Kaiheart]

​@caricanread Thank you. Just got to the part of the video on classics - I feel you. I majored in English in college and I got slammed by my small dept. for not liking The Great Gatsby. Also my friends were so surprised when I told them I don't like Game of Thrones, books or the show, but I like the Captive Prince series. It's s all up to personal preference and we shouldn't make fun of people for liking certain books.

[@IL-nl9jn]

One of my biggest bookish icks is a trope that i've seen in a lot of new adult romantic fantasies where the main male character has been through sexual assault and that theme is never explored or given proper attention. In so many of these books, it seems to me that the authors only add this to the character's backstory to make the character more "appealing" to the audience. It's like they want to create a dangerous bad boy character who is horrible and treats the main girl terribly without ever crossing the boundary of making it seem like he could ACTUALLY hurt her because he's been SA'd therefore he's not a threat. I've literaly seen ACOTAR fans imply that Rhys being SA'd makes him a feminist and I just want to bang my head in the wall. Especially because when these same authors write female characters who've been through sexual assault, they make it such an important part of the story, which is very understandable, but still depicted horribly. In most cases, i've seen it used as a device so that the main male character gets angry and kills the guy who assaulted her OR to make him more appealing because in comparison "well at least he didn't sexually assault her". I think in both cases it is a terrible depiction of sexual assault and these authors have to stop perpetuating these disgusting tropes. I want to emphasize that i'm not generalizing and saying that EVERY/ONLY new adult romantic fantasy books do this. But i've seen these tropes in many of them and it is so rarely talked about or in the worst cases praised. Sexual assault as a whole is a theme that needs to be explored sensitively and i don't think it should ever be used to make the story darker or more adult or whatever the fuck they are trying to make people believe. If you're not gonna depict it well, don't depict it.

[@e-nev]

The thing about dual pov for me is that it can take away all the romantic tension for me. With singular pov you don't know what the guy is thinking, if he's into her, when his feelings shift, etc. But with dual pov, that is gone instantly since you're in both their heads, taking all the intrigue with it. So you're just passively waiting for them to get together. AND it can make miscommunication that much more annoying.

[@MadHatter43]

Ooo Lowkey my favorite “I’ll burn the world down for you” is actually when Alec tells Clary that Jace would burn the world for her and like search for her in the ashes or something lol I don’t know why but that gets me everytime 👌🏻

[@seraphina1724]

13:50 I like clothing descriptions when it's established the character really likes fashion. It adds an extra layer of passion. I'm thinking of "A Lady for a Duke" when writing this. I love the descriptions of clothing in that because Viola LOVES clothes and it's something that was inaccessible to her before her transition.

[@Kayla_P99]

I love it in historical fiction or as a reflection of setting too!

[@allyaldridge]

When my little girl started school, her teacher says “Darling” and my daughter picked it up. She sounded so funny calling everyone Darling.

[@satinsleeves]

When you said you can't picture faces a lightbulb just went off in my head. I can't do that either!! ! I just imagine two nebulous people and all I care about is their relationship with each other, not what they look like!

[@caricanread]

yes! i can picture the physical world around me so well but when i turn to see a characters face...nothign hahahha

[@Actuallyalizard]

I’ve never annotated in a book bc I simply get too sucked in to even so that, but I do love the “aesthetic” of it when I see pictures of people doing it

[@Maccastreisfan]

My unpopular opinion is I hate romance in books but love platonic relationships between people that are attracted to each other. Any romance or makings out is so cringe to me because most authors don’t write it well and I don’t feel that having a hookup should be the payoff or happy ending to a book. It’s a distraction from the plot and flow of the book. Just write about friendships.

[@apollolewis]

I’m the same. Badly written romance is what makes looking for fantasy novels hard since I have to read the plot summary and the moment I see it mention a male and female character I immediately stop looking at it.

[@seraphina1724]

I really like it when books have both! I love romantic plots where the characters can emotionally support and uplift each other and I love it when main characters have strong platonic relationships. I also like when there are multiple POVs but only one romantic subplot so the other characters can focus on the non romantic parts of the story

[@CementFrosting]

being ace i need friendships and platonic love representation please!!

[@LauraNOTLauren]

I feel the same, I NEED friendship before anything romantic happens.

[@yasminnn8]

Whenever I read a poorly done romance I always think, "I wish they were friends instead." But I get bored when there's no romantic subplot 🤭😅

[@maddyelise]

I LOVE LOVE LOVE cracking spines and annotating my books (sparingly). It’s like a little Time Capsule every time you reread a book, I love looking back at myself 2 years ago and seeing how much growth, change, and love I’ve experienced for all of my books! Loved this ranking video!

[@caricanread]

💕💕💕

[@ZahraaNadhem]

My local bookstores flooded us with CoHo books to the point were her books would take a whole aisle ! They were EVERYWHERE!! After months of suffering, the finally started to disappear from shelves, cuz ppl really started hating her and it is a popular opinion to hate on her books😂

[@madz7131]

Book girlies equivalent of “I’m not like the other girls”

[@karinanieblas3677]

I hope everyone has a lovely day ❤

[@caricanread]

same to you ❤

[@rixanoz]

I feel like these weren’t nearly as controversial as you feared 😂 My two cents on Murakami is as far as I can see he’s a babyboomer who’s grown up separated from women so much he has no idea how harmful the patriarchy is even without a single insidious thought behind his actions. Just really out of his depth, and even more so when he tried writing an intersex gay man who had had enough of terfs and other harmful versions of nonintersectional feminism (so absolutely valid), but couldn’t even find the words for it. I think his foundational values checks out, it’s just not a very updated software.

[@caricanread]

exactly this :'(

[@quillheart877]

That metaphor is great haha

[@martham496]

I agree so hard with not wanting to know too much about authors! It makes it difficult to read the book without thinking about them actually writing the book. I feel the same way about actors too. I blame the internet and it’s obsession with Jennifer Lawerence for ruining my enjoyment of Catching Fire when it came out. All I could think of the whole time watching the movie was “wow that seems stressful to film” or “I wonder how many takes they had to do screaming and crying like that”.

[@melindamiller182]

Aww I wish you could talk more about lit fic. I loved hearing you talk about your thoughts on Murakami! I never realized that hate was more intense for different genres of book tubers.

[@caricanread]

my main space for talking outside of fantasy is when i make my monthly wrap ups!!

[@hollyhudson8911]

mine is that it’s possible to enjoy a book or series while also acknowledging it’s faults. i finished wheel of time recently and i can definitely say there’s a lot of issues but it is also an amazing series. these ideas can coexist and conversations about books shouldn’t be as black or white as they are.

[@paularoth4915]

The divergent trilogy is this for me. I love it, there are some great things about it, but there are horrible, i repeat, horrible flaws lmao

[@chell_bell666]

My kinda unpopular opinion is that Tiktok in particular is so oversaturated with the same hit-or-miss books with the same tropes, but I still want to read them cause that's what being shoved down my throat as 'amazing' only to end up dissapointed. If I'm reccomended a less popular book I have no desire to read it because its not in circulation, but I have no desire to read the popular ones because theres a weird pressure about them. It's odd, other people are saying how good book social media is by increasing peoples want to read but I'm feeling the opposite, yet I can't get away from it!

[@EleiyaUmei]

Yesss, the hype is so intoxicating and even on BookTube there's a pattern to exaggerate anything good or bad. If a book is bad, it's the worst book ever and irredeemable. If a book is good, it's so great, it changed or enriched lives, everyone should read it. Every book I read due to BookTube (Song of Achilles, One Last Stop, A Tale For The Time Being) has turned out mediocre for me and my latest read - The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea - has so many imo-badly written elements to it, I have to force myself to finish it. Yet people keep hyping up books that sound interesting and they are so convinced of their opinions that you just can't help but give them a try... I'm waiting for Iron Widow to come out in my native language and I'm so scared for the possibility that I won't like it >.

[@bethany833]

A nickname in a book that I think works really well: in Jianeine Frost's night huntress series the main character's name is Cat and the snarky love interest calls her Kitten at first to mock her but then it becomes really endearing as they fall for each other

[@camilafeitosa7743]

“Kindle unlimited is paying by pages read” oh boy we’re back in the victorian era

[@Thenoobestgirl]

Enemies to lovers, when done well, is absolutely superior!

[@Cmoore-Books]

I agree that Booktok has gotten to be a super toxic environment. I was actively on Booktok for a year and a half. It felt like there was a new scandal every single day. Some creator said something, an author said or did something, or the publisher did. It was honestly exhausting. My feed was ads, book hauls, and complaining for the most part. Book hauls are great, but you can only watch so many. 😂 I think there needs to be more positivity in the Book community all around. The most troubling thing for me on there is this list of authors that people should stop reading because of various offenses the authors committed. Book banning needs to stop! 🛑 I’m a librarian and it breaks my heart when I see articles about books pulled from shelves. I think that if you don’t want to read something; don’t do it. You don’t have the right to stop someone else from reading it.

[@reesesbeanses]

Choosing not to read a book because of the author is a very personal decision. It’s completely fine to say “I don’t read books by (X) author because (reason)” or even “(X) author did (bad thing) and I am spreading awareness for people who want to avoid supporting creators who do (bad thing)”, but it’s unreasonably controlling to say “I have decided FOR you that you can’t read or like this book because (reason).” This is especially true if you’re trying to make that decision for a complete stranger. You can decide what hill you’re going to die on, but you can’t decide what hill someone else is going to die on.

[@salindrab4493]

I am not on Booktok, never was and never will be. I fully agree, that never anyone has the right to stop someone else from reading something. Thisby the way is not only true for reading books but for every other aspects of our lives, too. We only ever can make decisions for ourselves but never for anyone else, not even for our loved ones. In my opinion this is so profound it should be taught to kids starting in elementary school - world would better place.

[@teeaaspoon]

THIS! I’ve seen the girl who keeps posting the list it’s ridiculous. Not only are some of the reasons just plain nitpicking, anyone choosing to read something from the forbidden list is attacked and judged. Nobody has the right to tell us what to do we can come to that decision ourself if needs be. The entitlement and self righteousness is on another level. I just hate the mob mentality of it all we’re supposed to blindly follow the opinion of another without question. It’s actually quite cult like behaviour

[@beyond.thepages_]

I agree. Recently, I felt really guilty because I enjoyed reading the twisted series by Ana Huang. I mean is okay to not like a book and I have to say twisted series is NOT for everyone because some people might not like it mainly because the male leads can be quite alpha and all which can trigger some people. And whenever I read books, I take everything as a pinch of salt only and don't bring them to reality. Like just because some books I read have alpha and possessive guys DOES NOT mean I like them in real life. Like if I see any real life guys that are like the twisted men, I would seriously run far away because they can be quite possessive at times...

[@mdrray4939]

Romance book ---> pregnancy ---> Horror book

[@vanessarider5708]

I was so shocked when she said she doesn’t like character descriptions/ doesn’t picture faces or features. I love outfit and appearance descriptions because I picture everyone’s faces in a lot of detail. (Sometimes I sit thinking until I have a picture of what they look like). The eye and hair color matters a lot for me, in Throne Of Glass I put a lot of effort into picturing Celaena with white hair lol. It also probably helps that I’m an artist and draw a lot of faces.

[@cookiemongirl]

I also can't picture faces and the like. If the look is needed, then I'll constantly google fan-art whenever the description pops up so I can remember what they're meant to look like. Your video on ACOTAR was amazing because Nesta and Elaine will now always be Regina and Karen from mean girls. Love you for that.

[@3bellam]

NO BECAUSE SAME WITH NESTA AND ELAINE!!! I started reading ACOMAF after watching Cari's first video (just skipped ACOTAR altogether-that's how well done her video was lol), and I could NOT get Regina and Karen out of my head when thinking of the sisters 😭

[@vaishnavikuppa9539]

my minor itch with aaron warner was that he was written as unredeemable in the earlier part of the series and then the author saw "oh he's popular? let me try making him redeemable." and made him redeemable unrealistically, quickly, and just throwing in a heavy trauma backstory. Especially that weird plot point of how he gaslit(?) Juliette in saying that he didn't make her torture someone with her touch, but it was all a simulation?? like what. and then ofc, it wouldn't be believable if Mafi didn't attach a piece of trauma to it so she did.

[@melise9205]

I feel like I should defend annotating! I’ve always annotated books because I love to note my thoughts as I read, or else I forget them when I finish the book (and sticky notes block the words). Also, as I get older, my books have become a time capsule of my childhood thoughts and handwriting and it makes rereading them 10x better!

[@caricanread]

i definitely feel that way about underlining certain lines but i have yet to write a note in the margins hheheh

[@madimiss]

Not to mention post its are a waste of paper.

[@midorilove07]

I'm with you. Annotating, for me, is how someone can truly "own" a book.

[@isa-belva]

i have a blast everytime i read my silly little annotations on my school textbooks rife with complaints and sufferings so i totally get people who annotate novels this way and i might just start doing it too

[@Louigiart]

Annotating is really fun for me bc most of the time its not that serious! just short jokes

[@easay1989]

I appreciate you opening the window to share the rain noise.

[@flooryan8332]

I HATE the violent male leads, the male leads that will brazenly kill people left and right for no reason or are unnecessarily cruel- even henchmen of the antagonist or like inconsequential background characters. If killing people is the only way you can demonstrate to me that you are powerful and “hardened” then you just start approaching immature and emotionally stunted territory. Also the whole “you looked at her the wrong way? Im gonna kill your whole bloodline 😈😈” shtick is so overplayed and just sounds like a teenage edgelord ☠️.

[@jaginaiaelectrizs6341]

YEESSS! (And this is coming from someone who actually likes a lead character that will F you up if you hurt their love-interest, too.) You better have really darn good reason for it, and you better keep it restricted only to those exceptionally deserving of it, and if your love-interest tells you not to do it then you better care more about them than you care about anything else. But maybe that's just me. Like...don't just act like a giant knuckle head who simply beats anyone or anything up at the mere drop of a hat just because you can't truly control yourself. That's just not a sexy look. 🙃😶 😐

[@Punk_Butch_Bitch]

I KNOW! This bothers me so much. I’m writing fantasy myself, and I’ve tried to put a fresh spin on this by making my male leads focus more on family and caring for people because they want to improve the world that hurt them, instead of turning into something that hurts everyone else as revenge. It can start to feel really immature when all they do is throw chairs at the wall when another man even dares to *breath* in female MC’s direction.

[@aceclop]

Oof, that first part describes a decent amount of my story however they don't kill because they're evil, they just kill because they don't care and things like murder, drug use and assault are very inconsequential because everyone in my story has a super high level of apathy and corruption to the point that its comical and illogical.

[@lejenni7591]

21:30 I wanted to add on to this as well, like why is it that not having had depression is used to insult someone. Like I really appreciate how talking about mental illnesses has started to destigmatise a lot of the misconceptions and prejudices. However, at the same time it’s almost like having a mental illness is the new favourite trope/superpower or thing to have in books, movies, or social media. I think using mental illnesses in this way understates what it is actually like to live with one/multiple and also is getting turned into mocking people without mental illnesses or those with, who have a different experience than the “main” depictions of them.

[@natatatrn]

For annotating and underlining, I never do it to my own books. But that’s a thing I love about kindle is when it shows me lines that people have highlighted a lot. Idk why but I love it.

[@kuvistudios9343]

I personally love when people describe the hair and outfits!! I’m not great at imagining faces either, but I just think it’s fun to come up with the characters appearance in my head, even if it won’t be the “model” I use in my little mind scene thingies when I read :))

[@CaptainCarlsen]

I completely agree with your thoughts on Murakami. I was pretty surprised when I saw the amount of tiktoks calling his work misogynistic. In my eyes, I see his female characters as very similar to male love interests written by female romance authors. There, the male characters are often copies of each other depending on archetypes (the snarky businessman, the shy childhood friend, the jock etc). and they only exist to serve the romance plot.

[@l_Laudanum_l]

Thiiiis, I absolutely agree with you! I wouldn’t call Murakamis’ works mysoginistic, more like…not so clear in representing women as a human beings? I mean, to me it looks like he admires women in his own way.

[@notyetvet2124]

The problem with the pregnancy trope is how it’s done. 9/10 times the MC either doesn’t want children or literally doesn’t mention it ever? And then most dark romances, especially kindle unlimited, end with a kid/pregnancy. If the MC had always wanted to be a mom, had strong maternal instinct her whole life, that’s different. HOWEVER, I feel like usually it’s used as a closer. I’ve read quite a few dark romance novels that the author goes painstakingly out of the way to include and explain a pregnancy or child as making sense for the novel. Especially in stand alone novels it’s frustrating, you decided to have the book end with a baby before publishing it, at least make it a little bit more canon so it doesn’t seem like the plot and characters change a ton in the last two chapters to make room for this baby, and not like oh no we have to move so there’s literal room for the kid, but complete changes in life style and plot that weren’t even alluded to before it happens. It’s really frustrating as a woman who doesn’t want to have children. Like even these characters who have never mentioned babies are suddenly uprooting themselves to have a baby because that’s the “happy ending”? If it was more like the MC mentions once or twice wanting a kid and it’s the life circumstances that are preventing that, then I’d understand and wouldn’t mind, but shifting the whole story all of a sudden for that ending? I don’t get it

[@saram9434]

Intergenerational friendships, i just love them when presented in books ~😭💜 Enemies to friends to best friends are superior ~💜

[@dylan_2319]

In terms of annotating: - Doing it to keep track of info i.e. A Good Girl's Guide to Murder or Truly Devious (so you can try and solve the mystery) or like your fav OTP scenes is fine - esp. if your memory is iffy Thank you Carrie for all the amazing book recommendations!

[@ladybug-sb2uj]

Same- I only annotate mystery books to remember certain details or write my theories to try and solve the mystery

[@shareetz3154]

i’m so glad that you’re able to cultivate a healthy & respectful community on here where people can just have fun & disagree about books without becoming harmful or toxic ❤

[@jilianh]

Super interesting hearing you talk about the toxicity of the book "communites". I personally have considered it so many times because I love talking about books, but I can't handle the internet backlash 😅

[@caricanread]

Yeah i think its a very fine line you have to walk if you dont want people mad at you lol but for me i guess i picked which people im okay with being mad at me if that makes sense. Come at me with your vampire opinions but leave me and my mental health alone hahahha

[@gabz49242]

@@caricanread I mean, one is an opinion about a fictional world and the other is an ignorant indictment of you as a human being. I can understand why it would be upsetting. So sorry that happened to you, and even more sorry that this is what's discouraging people from talking about more than the standard lighter fare you tend to see these days.

[@j8n305]

“Sweetheart “ is what my father calls me so … it gives me major ick when it’s used in a romance 😂 I agree that ironic and funny pet names are the best it also makes the relationship seem more personal

[@selahdamerville4039]

14:15 I am so glad you said that about the blurry character outlines. when i say it people are like "you dont see stuff in your head when you read?" and im like no i do its just not like watching a movie it constantly changes.

[@blueowl07]

I specifically only use tabs in books that I love where I often want to reread certain scenes and it makes it easier to find those scenes again 😅

[@caricanread]

makes so much sense!!

[@idislikemacaroni]

😏

[@nospoonfulofmayonnaiseforme]

i do it just for the sake of it, idk why i like it even if i'd never re-read the book

[@Paige-bj3ho]

Thank you for sharing that article on Murakami! He is one of my favorite authors, and people sometimes do judge me for it, which has always felt a little wrong. I think you nailed it when you described the nuance of the issue. Even as a lover of his work I've taken notice of his female characters, but I don't think it comes from a place of misogyny. How you described it makes a lot of sense.

[@shelbypearson1340]

I’m just here to say I also love Murakami. Despite any discourse surrounding him/his work there has never been another author on this planet that puts me into a whole new mind space like his books do. Love that.

[@lindsaythemorallygay4586]

So my younger family members steal my books when they come over and so I started annotating my books specifically for them to read. That way they don't read a toxic relationship and think that it's the actual pinnacle of romance and what they should aspire in their own lives. I don't say anything in the middle of the chapter but at the end I’ll use a giant clear sticky note and be like “LOL [love interest] scares me/gives me the ick because…and that’s why they will NEVER be the blueprint.”

[@taylorparis7228]

"I think that we need to stop attaching who we are, to what we read" so true. (Rant I guess) I am still young but the older I get, the more what you just said rings true and I am so happy to hear someone put it into words. When I was 12 and first got into "fandoms" I swear... myself and so many other people attached ourselfs (in a very serious and unhealthy way) to these characters, stories, and actors we loved who either A weren't real, or B don't even know we exist. In a way I think it's beautiful young people can be SO passionate and form communities with strangers over something we all love....... but when is it too much? When I was 12 arguing with grown adults for days about fictional characters online THAT was too much lol. Remember it is okay for someone to have different opinions than you - healthy even. And sometimes ask yourself if you're arguing just to argue (and not to explain your thinking/ side of things witch is how it should be). When two people have such strong opposite opinions on something as unimportant as fiction (not hating, just saying)...sometimes it's okay to just let people be. There will always be someone to agree and disagree with your way of thinking. With that being said though, it's also important to challenge your thoughts and opinions. It doesn't necessarily mean you were wrong, but you can't always be right. Now I am almost in my 20s I am starting to enjoy different opinions than my own on things... it's annoying having people agree with you all of the time tbh :) (sorry in advance for spelling errors)

[@emmacasey646]

I feel like "I'd burn the world down for you" depends on the sub-genre. For example, in fiction where they are in a war and they end up together (ACOTAR style), then I like it. But if it's a high school romance, boy sit down.

[@Kat-ge7nn]

Friend of Rachel’s! She’s thankful for you addressing your thoughts on content ❤ and on behalf of her community, thank you so much for reminding people they’re responsible for their own consumption!

[@emilied5517]

the one about book length is so true, i’ve never read a book over 500 pages and thought “yes this amount of pages was definitely need to tell the story” also, cracked spines and ripped covers all the way, the messiest books on my shelf are the most loved 💙

[@coral54hgmb]

Pet names are good only if it’s either a joke between the two characters/a joke in general, or if it’s sunshine. Idk why but that is the only pet name I can tolerate, and even then it has to be used in a very specific way. Edit: I paused the video like five seconds before she started talking about sunshine to write this. She gets me!

[@caricanread]

yesyesyes!

[@chelseyjohnson501]

On the hair description: I think Brandon Sanderson did a very lovely job with describing tress in tress of the emerald sea. Loved the Hair description

[@lolo240]

So many online bookish spaces are absolutely RANCID, I literally have every associated tag I could think of blocked on tik tok bc I just can't deal with people having the same 4 arguments over and over again

[@caricanread]

sounds about right :')

[@YukiiReads]

when I'm not feeling good, I watch your content and it always cheer me up. Thank you!

[@gingeramoeba]

This video is so much more than unpopular opinions. Cari, I think everyone in the book community needs to take a page out of your book (pun intended). You are so humble and inspiring. Keep being wonderful ❤

[@arfielding4495]

I similarly enjoy when pet names are a bit ironic or start off as a criticism rather than a compliment and then grow from there. Like a privileged character being called 'princess' sarcastically.

[@thebookhour]

as a person generally interested in Fae i agree that most often than not Faeries in books are not portrayed how they should be. i mean the cruel prince kind of does it though.

[@caricanread]

yeah holly black the the most obsessed with "true" fae for sure hahaha

[@thebookhour]

@@caricanread i know cardan did some bad things (and i hate him for it), but one just can not hate him after reading the letters he "sent" to jude.

[@CoreenMontagna]

Try Patricia Briggs’ Mercy Thompson series for what I think is pretty cool fae inclusion.

[@apollolewis]

I love the mischievous type of fairies. This is probably why I love the Wee free men 😅

[@thebookhour]

@@CoreenMontagna ​​ I'll add it to my reading list for sure..👍

[@VickiWeavil]

Peter S. Beagle's The Last Unicorn is only 250 pages and it is totally complete. I think many older fantasy books had to be shorter, and so they had to really create the world and characters and plots without wasting any time. I'd like to see more books go back to that.

[@e_skoble]

When it comes to Murakami (speaking as someone who didn't read all of his books), I remember that when I was reading Norwegian Wood, it struck me how amazingly he described women. I felt as if his descriptions were very respectful and filled with something like awe and mindfulness. It made me wonder for a moment how beautiful it might be if this is actually how someone portrayed me. Specifically, the thing that I yearn for is the way he described noticing small details about certain characters. Subtle movements, small characteristic traits, changes in body language, or the overall switches in the tone of a conversation. It's like you could feel the sudden difference in the mood of the speaker, the dark clouds that came in forms of darker thoughts resulting from some topic. And the enormous distance in the relationship that could still be felt. It's something that I also actually cherish because I simply relate in some way. In this specific book, the characters spent a lot of time apart. I think that portraying another person in a way that screams, "I don't know you, but I want to understand you" is really special and kind of realistic. I feel like readers are so used to knowing everything about the characters just because an author has a concept about the person described and wants you to know it without taking the time to organically make you discover that aspect of the character through boring talks. (There's nothing wrong with giving the reader some deeper insight, don't get me wrong, I also enjoy knowing things because it makes the character closer and opens a lot of doors. But closed doors are equally as fascinating) Let's be honest, getting to know a person, especially someone very fragile and complex is a long process, that takes a lot of talking and being with one another. It's like a scattered puzzle that gives you hints all throughout your relationship and it's hard to show all of that while keeping the reader engaged. Not even mentioning, that irl you can spend a lot of time with someone and still know frighteningly little about them and not undestand their worldview. I understand where some critique is coming from and I agree with some of it, but here is a fraction of my opinion that I hope someone can maybe relate to or that widens some perspective. I also feel like a lot of my perception of his books is dictated by my own experiences that make me relate to or understand on a psychological background and I do realise not everyone will feel the same way. I don't want to elongate this anymore, so if you have a question or opinion I would be glad to hear *read* it 😄

[@EleiyaUmei]

Interesting. I only watched the 2010 movie where everything you found so engrossing is missing because of the medium change and the cut to the narration. Did you watch the movie? I feel like it makes you see the protagonist for who he really is, that his egocentrism and mystification of the women he's attracted to are causing those women suffering. He never tries to understand them and always acts at whim. To me, all he ends up being is an unreflecting jerk and I don't want to read his thoughts, ever.

[@e_skoble]

@EleiyaUmei I'm aware that a movie exists, but I haven't actually watched it. I'm not sure I even want to watch it at this point because I'm afraid I will get the same experience as you described. As much as I love movies, I hate watching them alongside reading a book they're based on. It often crumbles my whole perception of the characters. Or perhaps I will watch it just to have some insight and compare it to my thoughts on the writing. If I do end up watching it, perhaps I'll get back to you and share my impression.

[@EleiyaUmei]

@@e_skoble I mean, I guess it could "destroy" your interpretation of the book but tbh, there are a lot of men worshipping women but not seeing and treating them like human beings and equals (with flaws, emotions, needs etc.) and they are so caught up in their obsessions/illusions/feelings that they end up hurting the women they love. And I'm sure the book's protagonist is reflecting someone like that, you just don't get to see it because you're so engrossed in his perspective. I think the movie disillusions you and shows how the protagonist affects and hurts others through his actions - whether he intended to or not. Yes, feel free to come back to this thread if you end up watching the movie° ^-^

[@hades_head_empty]

here's a book rec from my childhood that's wild and imo a hidden gem: the hollow kingdom. it's such a good take on the fae (not pretty people, like mythological type fae) plus a beauty and the beast type of story. it gets dark, but it's written really well. also, a lighter read that's my favorite from childhood is the may bird trilogy, it's whimsical and deals with the afterlife in a unique way! in terms of general faves, a close second to sabriel by garth nix (which also has such a cool approach to necromancy). 26:37 HELL YEAH hard boiled wonderland and the end of the world is so good

[@hades_head_empty]

29:46 it's very manic pixie dream girl? like his narrators are unreliable af, so their perception of women isn't necessarily his own. it's definitely a nuanced discussion.

[@jaginaiaelectrizs6341]

I'll have to look into those recs sometime, thanks! 🙂

[@t.s.611]

Hollow Kingdom is soooooo so good! I should reread them!