confessing my bookish sins - Forum

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wrote:
and unpopular opinions because it crossed my mind

* I have zero issues dog-earing my paperbacks
* Using bookmarks in hardbacks when it has a dustjacke is redundant
* actually I don't understand collecting bookmarks. You need one, max 3, and it's expensive for something you can get for free by using literally anything u already own or just a piece of paper
* I don't get most merch really. If it's not practical as well and serves a purpose, it's just gonna be sleeping in a box as wasted money
* Spray painted edges on paperbacks is UGLY
* Spray painted edges on any books really is not optimal. They get ugly as soon as you've read the book and the paper starts showing through
* additional book art in special editions doesn't interest me. All I care for is the ALTERNATIVE COVER.
* sign-up goodies are not worth it bc i'm an international reader that PAY TAXES ON EVERY FUCKING THING
* i don't like acotar or tog much anymore. def. done with that era. tbh was done in 2019 but boktok can't get it out of my face
* I love borrowing my books to my friends and family
* I don't really like dark academia that much. I liked Vita Nostra, the historian, and A Deadly Education, but the secret history and Babel is too slow and descriptiony for me. they are heavy to get through and not a good reading experience. I tried to like DA for a long time and at a point I even did but now that DA is a lot of different things, I've come to decide I don't rly like it.
* Malibu Rising was awful. If this is prime adult romance literature, I'm skipping this genre.
* I hate crime books, and 99% of all paranormal -> makes me anxious af
* I actually prefer reading on my phone rn (i think my eyes and brain is f r i e d)
* I've come to realize I don't like watching other people's opinion on books anymore. they really don't matter a lot compared to if I like it. which is the only thing that truly matters. i'm just tired of being filled with other people's opinions and making them matter more than my own enjoyment.

that was it
WHAT ARE YOURS?
i'm actually taking a reading break sorta from now on.
i have 1 book i'm gonna read 4 review. it's nonfic so it's better than fic for me rn, and then i'll probably read some more books on writing. but fiction I need a break from that.

Private
Popstar

Melody wrote:
- i read far too few books
- if i read books they're e-books which means i can't rly commit the other sins
- i still don't know if ppl consider comics as books
- the only one i've read with actual scrutiny is the bible and biblical texts (i'm an atheist btw lmao which is a sin in itself)

Account deleted

wrote:

Melody wrote:
- i read far too few books
- if i read books they're e-books which means i can't rly commit the other sins
- i still don't know if ppl consider comics as books
- the only one i've read with actual scrutiny is the bible and biblical texts (i'm an atheist btw lmao which is a sin in itself)

3. for me, all types of books are books, incl audios and comics.

Atencia
World famous

atencia wrote:
* actually I don't understand collecting bookmarks. You need one, max 3, and it's expensive for something you can get for free by using literally anything u already own or just a piece of paper ... i mean fair, but i also love cute bookmarks. especially if they have tassels
* I don't get most merch really. If it's not practical as well and serves a purpose, it's just gonna be sleeping in a box as wasted money true
* Spray painted edges on paperbacks is UGLY AGREED. like why is this a trend, please stop
* Spray painted edges on any books really is not optimal. They get ugly as soon as you've read the book and the paper starts showing through some special edition hardbacks just feel complete with the spayed edge, but i mostly agree with you, yeah. stop the spayed edges, thanks
* sign-up goodies are not worth it bc i'm an international reader that PAY TAXES ON EVERY FUCKING THING hahah mood
* I love borrowing my books to my friends and family yes! i wanna be the library. well read paperbacks just have so much character
* I actually prefer reading on my phone rn (i think my eyes and brain is f r i e d) i used to read everything on my phone before i got an actual kindle or started collecting books. not the best for your eyes, but it honestly works. and reading library books for free on your phone through the libby app. wonderful. (i do prefer kindle over my phone now tho. it's a bit easier on my eyes, and i like 'switching off' from the world when i read, especially at night)
* I've come to realize I don't like watching other people's opinion on books anymore. they really don't matter a lot compared to if I like it. which is the only thing that truly matters. i'm just tired of being filled with other people's opinions and making them matter more than my own enjoyment. i spend way too much time on booktube, but i do see where you're coming from with this one. hearing other peoples negative opinions on books definitely does take away from my own enjoyment of it. i'd love to go into all books completely blind, getting surprised each time i turn the page

i don't have too many of my own, but;
- how many books you read truly doesn't matter. whether you read 1 og 100 books a year, you're still a reader. i wish social media wouldn't focus so much on numbers
- audiobooks is still reading, and reading everything physically doesn't make you superior in any way
- i cannot stand romantasy anymore. give me high fantasy with a hint of romance, or just a contemporary/historical romance. when i read fantasy i'm interested in the magic system, world building, characters, friendships... i don't want smut scenes every 10 pages
- and speaking of smut, can we just stop? one or two scenes that are filled with tension because they've been building throughout the entire book, fair, like that's all great, but that's enough. no offence if that's your vibe, but why is it so hard to find romance books without smut nowadays. i need to delve more into smaller, lesser known authors i think

Account deleted

wrote:

atencia wrote:
* actually I don't understand collecting bookmarks. You need one, max 3, and it's expensive for something you can get for free by using literally anything u already own or just a piece of paper ... i mean fair, but i also love cute bookmarks. especially if they have tassels
* I don't get most merch really. If it's not practical as well and serves a purpose, it's just gonna be sleeping in a box as wasted money true
* Spray painted edges on paperbacks is UGLY AGREED. like why is this a trend, please stop
* Spray painted edges on any books really is not optimal. They get ugly as soon as you've read the book and the paper starts showing through some special edition hardbacks just feel complete with the spayed edge, but i mostly agree with you, yeah. stop the spayed edges, thanks
* sign-up goodies are not worth it bc i'm an international reader that PAY TAXES ON EVERY FUCKING THING hahah mood
* I love borrowing my books to my friends and family yes! i wanna be the library. well read paperbacks just have so much character
* I actually prefer reading on my phone rn (i think my eyes and brain is f r i e d) i used to read everything on my phone before i got an actual kindle or started collecting books. not the best for your eyes, but it honestly works. and reading library books for free on your phone through the libby app. wonderful. (i do prefer kindle over my phone now tho. it's a bit easier on my eyes, and i like 'switching off' from the world when i read, especially at night)
* I've come to realize I don't like watching other people's opinion on books anymore. they really don't matter a lot compared to if I like it. which is the only thing that truly matters. i'm just tired of being filled with other people's opinions and making them matter more than my own enjoyment. i spend way too much time on booktube, but i do see where you're coming from with this one. hearing other peoples negative opinions on books definitely does take away from my own enjoyment of it. i'd love to go into all books completely blind, getting surprised each time i turn the page

i don't have too many of my own, but;
- how many books you read truly doesn't matter. whether you read 1 og 100 books a year, you're still a reader. i wish social media wouldn't focus so much on numbers
- audiobooks is still reading, and reading everything physically doesn't make you superior in any way
- i cannot stand romantasy anymore. give me high fantasy with a hint of romance, or just a contemporary/historical romance. when i read fantasy i'm interested in the magic system, world building, characters, friendships... i don't want smut scenes every 10 pages
- and speaking of smut, can we just stop? one or two scenes that are filled with tension because they've been building throughout the entire book, fair, like that's all great, but that's enough. no offence if that's your vibe, but why is it so hard to find romance books without smut nowadays. i need to delve more into smaller, lesser known authors i think

YOU GET IT. THIS IS WHAT ROMANTIC FANTASY HAS BEEN FOR YEARS UNTIL romantasy happened and all that's featured now is smut. and there's such a vague divison between romantasy YA and romantasy ADULT they are pushed into the same 'category' when fx. divine rivals is entirely different from ACOSF.

Glowed
World famous

glowed wrote:
I agree with you on most things, but I’m a sucker for DA (blaming my English language and lit degree for that one)

I don’t think I have any controversial takes?
but uhh I despise smutty booktok romance and I believe most people who are obsessed by this /genre/ are straight up p*rn addicts
and I love loved books. dog ears and scribbles and wear and tear and post its sticking out of books !! books are made to be loved ! I never understood why people cared so much about breaking a book’s spine for example?

Atencia
World famous

atencia wrote:

Oakwald wrote:

atencia wrote:
x

i don't have too many of my own, but;
- how many books you read truly doesn't matter. whether you read 1 og 100 books a year, you're still a reader. i wish social media wouldn't focus so much on numbers
- audiobooks is still reading, and reading everything physically doesn't make you superior in any way
- i cannot stand romantasy anymore. give me high fantasy with a hint of romance, or just a contemporary/historical romance. when i read fantasy i'm interested in the magic system, world building, characters, friendships... i don't want smut scenes every 10 pages
- and speaking of smut, can we just stop? one or two scenes that are filled with tension because they've been building throughout the entire book, fair, like that's all great, but that's enough. no offence if that's your vibe, but why is it so hard to find romance books without smut nowadays. i need to delve more into smaller, lesser known authors i think

YOU GET IT. THIS IS WHAT ROMANTIC FANTASY HAS BEEN FOR YEARS UNTIL romantasy happened and all that's featured now is smut. and there's such a vague divison between romantasy YA and romantasy ADULT they are pushed into the same 'category' when fx. divine rivals is entirely different from ACOSF.

like what happened? (tiktok i suppose.. and what sells is what get promoted in bookstores and by publishing houses and yeah that whole discussion) but WHERE have all the epic fantasy authors gone? i definitely need to get more into classic high fantasy, like the older ones, because new fantasy isn't doing it
also the YA, NA and adult distinctions... i don't even know anymore

Atencia
World famous

atencia wrote:
- i'd love it if my friends would read my copy of my favourite books and annotate them. like i'd love to have an entire shelf full of books with scribbles and dog ears and thoughts from multiple people

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wrote:
* annotating books is work. it ruins the reading experience. which is why i only do it 1 a year ish if i have the perfect book or a solid reread

Account deleted

wrote:

atencia wrote:

Oakwald wrote:

atencia wrote:
x

i don't have too many of my own, but;
- how many books you read truly doesn't matter. whether you read 1 og 100 books a year, you're still a reader. i wish social media wouldn't focus so much on numbers
- audiobooks is still reading, and reading everything physically doesn't make you superior in any way
- i cannot stand romantasy anymore. give me high fantasy with a hint of romance, or just a contemporary/historical romance. when i read fantasy i'm interested in the magic system, world building, characters, friendships... i don't want smut scenes every 10 pages
- and speaking of smut, can we just stop? one or two scenes that are filled with tension because they've been building throughout the entire book, fair, like that's all great, but that's enough. no offence if that's your vibe, but why is it so hard to find romance books without smut nowadays. i need to delve more into smaller, lesser known authors i think

YOU GET IT. THIS IS WHAT ROMANTIC FANTASY HAS BEEN FOR YEARS UNTIL romantasy happened and all that's featured now is smut. and there's such a vague divison between romantasy YA and romantasy ADULT they are pushed into the same 'category' when fx. divine rivals is entirely different from ACOSF.

like what happened? (tiktok i suppose.. and what sells is what get promoted in bookstores and by publishing houses and yeah that whole discussion) but WHERE have all the epic fantasy authors gone? i definitely need to get more into classic high fantasy, like the older ones, because new fantasy isn't doing it
also the YA, NA and adult distinctions... i don't even know anymore

booktok yes

i do have a handful of adult high fantasy w little to no smut on my shelf now but they are so big i don't want to read them

you probably already know of them tho, but here's a list if u want
- priory of the orange tree
- jade city
- the fifth season
- the jasmine throne
- the unbroken CL clarke
- the bear and the nightingale (the trilogy)
- a river enchanted
- the poppy war (og YA but def suitable for Adult)
- the fragile threads of power
- daughter of the forest
- deathless
- piranesi (mostly literary i guess, so well for everyone i guess)
- sons of darkness

Atencia
World famous

atencia wrote:

Oakwald wrote:

atencia wrote:

Oakwald wrote:
YOU GET IT. THIS IS WHAT ROMANTIC FANTASY HAS BEEN FOR YEARS UNTIL romantasy happened and all that's featured now is smut. and there's such a vague divison between romantasy YA and romantasy ADULT they are pushed into the same 'category' when fx. divine rivals is entirely different from ACOSF.

like what happened? (tiktok i suppose.. and what sells is what get promoted in bookstores and by publishing houses and yeah that whole discussion) but WHERE have all the epic fantasy authors gone? i definitely need to get more into classic high fantasy, like the older ones, because new fantasy isn't doing it
also the YA, NA and adult distinctions... i don't even know anymore

booktok yes

i do have a handful of adult high fantasy w little to no smut on my shelf now but they are so big i don't want to read them

you probably already know of them tho, but here's a list if u want
- priory of the orange tree
- jade city
- the fifth season
- the jasmine throne
- the unbroken CL clarke
- the bear and the nightingale (the trilogy)
- a river enchanted
- the poppy war (og YA but def suitable for Adult)
- the fragile threads of power
- daughter of the forest
- deathless
- piranesi (mostly literary i guess, so well for everyone i guess)
- sons of darkness

exactly why i haven't read as much high fantasy as i would love to... it just so daunting looking at a 600+ page book. but the books need to be that long for the amount of detail i like, so i definitely need to get over my big book fear because long books are actually the best when i get into them

i do know most of them, either read or tbr, but there were a couple i wasn't familiar with, so thank you!

Private
International star

Elisia wrote:
I collect bookmarks in the sole hope that i will be able to find at least one when I need a bookmark, but will use anything but a bookmark (including spoons, herbs, playing cards, basically whatever fits)

Used books are better than new books. ESPECIALLY ones with highlights, writing and annotations

Reading online is easier to follow since you can change the text font/size/color

The Bible is a series of FANTASTIC short stories, some better than others. But it isn't worth the read

Private
International star

Elisia wrote:
The big one is Booktok sucks
Most of their recommendations are mediocre

And I loathe Sarah j mass as an author. Her writing and worldbuilding just feels so rushed and incomplete