Reacting To More of Your Unpopular Book Opinions 🔥 | The Book Castle | 2024
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- Опубліковано 15 чер 2024
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Hi! My name is Alice and I love books! I read just about everything from classics to contemporary fiction, adventures to mysteries, fantasy to all kinds of non-fiction - and I love reviewing and recommending books, and just generally having a chat about literature. I also adore baking, hot chocolate, crafts and basically everything cosy, soft and peaceful. I currently live in Oslo, Norway.
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Imo making everything only on ebook format is a bad idea. Doesn't mean I don't care about the environment, but with physical books you can take them to your local library or Goodwill so that others can enjoy them as well. Some people can't get a device for ebooks or afford to buy new books, so being able to pass along physical books is important.
Exactly! ❤️
I would not say that an author's blurb on a book would make me buy a book I wasn't interested in before, but I certainly got exited once or twice when I saw that a talented author liked the book I was about to read
Interesting! Makes sense ❤️
Hi Alice! I used to have books in reverse on my shelves hehe ! The reason was that a lot of my friends used to borrow them and never return. So I did this, and as people could not see what I had, they gave up asking to borrow. But I agree , it was annoying!
That’s a very good reason though! 😅
Dear Alice, your calmness, neutralness, yes-and-no-ness is the reason why we enjoy your contents. it’s nice to see people able to tolerate different points of view and at the same time stand their own grounds.
Thank you so much!! 🥰🥰🥰
I would be very sad if ebooks replaced physical books. I rarely read one and never listen to audiobooks. I’m a retired librarian and have had a lifetime love for the feel of a book in my hands. I don’t think books are an environmental problem. The world would suffer greatly by their elimination. When you walk through a mall, you see one clothing store after another, and rarely a bookstore. Heaven for me would be the reverse of that!
Totally agree! ❤️
I love reading fanfiction because it allows you to explore all the different possibilities and paths a single fictional universe that you love could take. I think that’s great. It’s like your favorite characters in a quantum state😂 I love naomi novik’s fanfiction, she’s a co-founder of ao3 after all
Interesting! 😍 Maybe I should get into it too 👀
I agree with your response to the productivity mentality. These past years I've been trying so hard to re-learn doing things just for the sake of having fun and try to escape that productivity mentality in my 30s. It really messed me up and I didn't fully understand the impact of it until I hit burn out in my early 30s. Now I make it my mission to do as many things as possible that are just for fun. It's such a game changer.
It’s so hard to unlearn! But very freeing as well - totally agree! ❤️
I only read ebooks and audio books but I think it’s still important to have paper books. I share my ebook and audio book account with 6 other people , so it is a bit like passing the book on
Thanks for commenting on my unpopular mass market paperback opinion! I only read mass markets and never had an issue with poor quality :) they're cheap, easy to hold, and fit nicely on the shelf for they're all the same size. I can fit almost 500 on 1 Billy bookcase!
Of course! I can imagine your bookshelf, I bet it’s great 😍
disclosing fanfic preferences in a non-fanfic context feels so daunting, I think I can't :D I will passionately say AYE though, if someone asks whether fanfic is the fraying thread that keeps me together :D I get a lot of comfort from it and with tagging etiquette I can always find a story that is suitable/safe to read for any mood that strikes and that is also very reassuring. I wouldn't say most fanfic has outclassed the source material, especially if the source is a show or game and you can't just compare writing styles or whatever :D But boy oh boy, have I read imaginative efforts that have way, WAY outgrown their canon, so I also can't really think of fanfiction as "only" building on other people's ideas and worlds anymore. There are some geniuses out there and I am in awe of them and thankful as fuck that they offer their work to us mere mortals. so yup, fanfiction? big fan :D
Love that! 😍
There are definitely some books that I like to watch the movie first. I think classics or books written many years ago, watching the movie helps me follow the story better when I’m reading
Yes, I agree! ❤️
For me personally, I don't mind reading an ebook, but I hate paying for something I don't and can't physically own. Some ebooks are more expensive than a physical book and I simply refuse to pay that kind of money for sth I can't hold in my hand
Totally agree!
The bigger environmental worry in the book industry is transportation. In my bookstore, the publisher sends the books to a distributor, the distributor sends the books to a wholesaler, the wholesaler brings a truckful to my warehouse, my warehouse uses 2-3 trucks to take it to my various stores, the stores sell what they can. Then, 4 months later, the publisher will accept returns -- this is basically the whole system in reverse. The publisher gets the books back, they will mark them down, and will then send the books back to the bookstore at a largely reduced price, and that's how remainders are made. The gigantic use of fossil fuel has an immediate effect on the environment. This is just one industry -- think of all the others -- nails, and teapots, and laptops, and watches, and shoes, and, and, and.... I think most stores mark down their own products, so that leg of the journey is absent. Book shredding is definitely a thing to be concerned about, as well, and probably a bunch of other book industry systems/practices which need to be looked at, but I'm not sure who should do the looking.
Anyway.... sorry for the consumerism lecture!
I love Circe, but I did think it was a bit boring and dragged a bit in the middle.
I've read some fan fiction, and there were some good writers, some bad, some horrible. I found one that was excellent, and I messaged her, and told her she was publisher ready. I hope she publishes someday.
Didn’t even think of that!! Thank you for sharing, makes total sense 😅
Well, that was interesting! First of all I am 76 and read fiction for enjoyment!! Don’t have to learn anything. And I do not have an e-reader and never intend to
get one. Want to hold a real book and turn pages the old fashioned way. Love your videos Alice!
Love that! 😍 And thank you so much!
To be fair- if you have a book with amazing sprayed edges, I think you can get a pass on showcasing it with said edges forward 🤷🏼♀️🤔
That’s a very good point, I didn’t even think of that!
Kayla from BooksAndLala has been reading books based on the reviews/quotes left on her favourite books (and then picking up books from the authors who are on the cover of her faves) and it's super interesting!
I’ve watched some of those and I agree, really interesting 😍
Sometimes I consider buying a book if an author I love has blurbed it. But conversely, I've been put off by seeing quotes on books by authors I don't like! I assume the publishers get quotes from authors who write similar style or genre books in which case it might be helpful.
I agree with you on physical books being better in many ways - I like to browse in a bookshop and pick out things I've never heard of. Independent bookshops are especially good for this. They promote different books to the average high street chain, and scrolling through lists of ebooks is just more screen time. I also think if you have a physical book you lend it, donate it, etc and it can go through many people's hands once you're done with it if you don't keep it.
I think trying to be "productive" all the time is terrible, and there are many studies that show how much better brains work if they have down time and rest. In fact, ironically there is a book about exactly that by Claudia Hammond which I learned a lot from!
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My final thought is that liking or not like a book or author isn't really controversial. It's just being human! We all like or dislike different things and everyone has different tastes. I prefer if someone didn't like something to just tell me about something they did like instead.
I am my own worst enemy when it comes to spoilers like I was reading a book and I jumped ahead to see how many pages were left of the chapter then I accidentally went to far and there was a bit about a funeral - I read on to find out who's funeral it was then turned back like I saw nothing
Ooof I do this occasionally too 😅
Thank you for your thoughtful discussion on my comment about too many books being printed. I've enjoyed reading all the different perspectives in the comments as well.
To be clear, I also love physical books and am not advocating that we move entirely to ebooks! But working for a publisher and a bookstore and seeing the warehouse stacked from floor to ceiling with dusty, frankly mediocre books, that I knew in my heart were never ever going to be sold or read, made me disillusioned and overwhelmed with the waste of it all.
That’s interesting! Makes sense as well ❤️
Unpopular bookish opinions are great, especially if interesting conversations are to be had!🧡
Totally agree! 😍
Appreciated your take on ereaders. My biggest problem with making many or most things completely digital is the ownership rights. In many places, you don't buy the book if it's digital. Instead you're buying access to the book. Should the service die out or they decide not to carry that book anymore, then suddenly they can remove that access. Buying a physical book means it stays my property. I say this as someone who still loves my ereader and buys lots of ebooks. I just understand the risk.
Didn’t even think of that! It’s a good point - reminds me of streaming services now, lots of them don’t have older series I like so I watch them on DVD 😅
I don’t pay much attention to author blurbs. When there’s a page or more inside, I don’t even read them. The only time I get pages out is when the edges are sprayed or stenciled. The rest of the time I honestly think it’s non readers using books as decoration. I don’t like musty smelling books but I love the smell of new books. (And yes, I do smell them lol). I read cozy mysteries and a lot of them are mass market. Spoilers are kind of a non issue for me because I seldom read reviews before reading anyway. And I don’t see many movies anymore. I’m a book lover, so while I see where the commenter is coming from about ebooks I would be devastated if physical books were done away with. And what about the second hand book dealers? Series commenter - I do not agree. Louise Penny is one of my favorite authors, and her three Pines series is about 17-18 books long so far . And they’ve gotten better with each book. I can’t imagine not having these books after the third one. I don’t read much fan fiction so no comment. I agree with you on reading and learning. A mix of each is best for me. I like to learn things but sometimes I just need to shut down and have fun. Plot holes, same, I don’t always even see them. Depends on the book😊 I haven’t read the rapid fire books, even Emily Henry except Evelyn Hugo. I liked it but didn’t love it.
About the paper books vs. e-readers dilemma. I did a quick search into it, and there has been research on this topic. According to which if you read 15 or more books on an e-reader, or 25 or more on an iPad in the course of 3 years (which is considered the lifespan of the device) then it starts shifting to being more environmentally friendly to have the e-reader.
As a comparison, I read about 100-120 books per year, and around 15-20% of them are e-books. Just this year along I have read 14 e-books. And I have had my Kindle Paperwhite for almost 7 years now. And it's still going strong, and I will probably use if for a few more years.
As far as I'm concerned the whole e-book vs. paper book is pure preference, and the environmental impact is clearly in favor of the e-readers in the long run.
Of all the topics, I definitely agree with three books max on a series! Great video! I don't read fan fiction. I loved Circe!!
The most annoying thing about quotes or reviews from authors instead of a blurb is when those reviews are for a previously released book and not the one you‘re holding in your hand 🤣
That’s such a good point!!
I absolutely love the actual book in my hand!
Regarding pages shown out instead of the spine. If it's a book that I've read but want to keep I will display it this way. It helps me keep track of books I've read.
Wow, I didn’t even think of that! Clever 🥰
I sort my books on (moods+months) - september are the cozy fall ones, october the witchy ones and horror, november is always vampires etc. And then i have classics or memoires, DA etc. It works so good for me, but i like the look of a few turned books. Usually are books for which i am not sure where i want them to be but is temporary.
Most of the books now are printed on recycled paper, so from this point of view is not a problem anymore, or at least not so big. I can't read an eBook with the same pleasure i read a printed one; even the audiobooks for me are not actually books, are narrated books, which does not equal the act of reading, but is so nice sometimes. But i must say that in 2020 and 2021, my country, The Netherlands, had a huge issue with the paper for books. All the reserves were gone, and we were on the verge of stopping printing new books. On the other hand, i am against buying the same book in 2 or 3 formats, just for convenience. I mean it gets very expansive. I don't like so much when people are pushing this way of consumerism, because they have sponsorships from different platforms. I mean is good for them, but for us, the ones who must pay, is not funny anymore. And sadly, the younger people feel the need to follow this way of "being a reader", because they can feel part of a community (which is another topic).
I don't want to read longer series. It becomes a chore, and in most of the cases, yes, they are dragged on. Three books plus one novel or something related to the books (short stories etc) is more fun, if someone really needs to bring more to the story.
But like with everything is life everything is very subjective, and i guess we need to find a certain balance or middle ways. And mostly, to do what makes us happy, what works for us.
Was such a fun video, i wish to be longer :) Have a good Sunday everyone!♥♥♥
Loooove hearing your thought, thank you for sharing 😍
Yes, sadly MANY books are pulped or simply trashed- mainly mass market paperbacks. I worked for Barnes & Noble for many years- and when I worked in the stockroom, that was one of my jobs. I would have to tear off the cover of mass markets that didn't sell and scan them (the ISBN is on the inside) and send that info to the publisher. Then I would THROW THE BOOKS INTO THE DUMPSTER. Seriously. I HATED doing it. You weren't allowed to save them, pass them out to booksellers, or donate them. They were thrown out. Like day old baked goods at a grocery store. It's awful.
Wow, that’s crazy!! I never knew 🥲 Sad they couldn’t just pass them on, that’s so sad!
Usually I avoid seeing movies of books I really want to read... however there have been a few where I was disinterested in the book until I saw the movie. After seeing the movie I wanted more. happened to me with StephenKing's IT. I loved the 2017 movie and now have read the book almost three times (rereading now) I love physical books. I don't know there is something so emotional about a real book in your hands. I understand the environmental affect and there is a lot of waste as well. I had no idea but apparently 320 million books are thrown away every year. I think there may be a better way to deal with book waste. Maybe recycling or donating because lots of books are just tossed instead of donated/ recycled.
Fanfiction I do say I read a lot of. A lot of it is pretty terrible. I guess it just really depends on the fandom. Some fandoms where you have to swim through shit to find a good one and there’s some where most of them are pretty well written and professional. However, I wouldn’t say that they are better than the original work just different. I’m sure there’s instances where it is better. But most of the time I would just say it’s different.
Interesting! Now that you say it, watching a movie sometimes makes me interested in reading the book after as well! ❤️
I also read and loved Normal People, I agree though its not one I would recommend to many people
Right? It’s just one those books ❤️
Omg I do that with movies too!! Hahahha
Regarding book series. I think longer series work really well with mystery/thriller books. They also don't demand from reader to read all the books in the series or remember the plot of a previous book well.
But even in mystery/thriller genre a lot of series don't work for me. There are a lot of time when a first book is good and fun, but it has too specific premise to make a good series. You can just feel that author wants to milk the success of the first book so they come up with weird excuses to stay with the same theme and characters.
Yes, exactly! ❤️
I agree that printing smaller batches of books would help mitigate the overstocking of bookstores. But, I admit I have a personal ick towards exclusive platforming. I think it's harmful and just a capitalist ploy that segregates a customer base. (And I agree with your take that electronics have a bigger environmental impact than books.)
Interesting! I agree with that ick as well 😅
If an author I like talks about a book online, it will make me interested in reading it, even if I wasn't interested before. I don't think that the blurbs on books sway me though. I think there was once when I was swayed because several authors I liked blurbed a book. I love the smell of old books. It's actually the smell of the paper and ink compounds breaking down. I like watching the movie or tv series first. I'm usually disappointed in the movie or show if I read the books first. If I read them afterwards, it's like a deeper dive into something I already know I like. As far as series go, it really depends on the type of book. I generally don't like series that are made up of 5+ books that are over 700 pages each, especially if there are multiple series that are all interconnected. I do like murder mystery series though. Also some of my favorite reads last year were the books in The Queen's Thief series by Megan Whalen Turner and that's a seven book series. I don't feel the need to learn something from every single book. Reading should be fun. I completely agree with you 100% on everything you said about that subject. I also loved Circe. I listened to the audiobook of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and the narrators were just so wonderful. I don't actually know if I would've enjoyed that book as much as I did if I read the physical book. I feel the same about Daisy Jones and the Six. The audiobook narrators were so amazing and I'm not sure how that book would've read physically and I don't know if I would've liked it so much and it was one of my favorite books last year.
What's an underrated horror novel that deserves more love? Bonus points if it's a quick read!
I would recommend You Should Have Left by Daniel Kehlmann!
Regarding my thoughts on Boy Parts...same as you. I was all over the place. That book messed with every emotion. I enjoyed the ride, but not a favorite book of mine...if that makes sense.
I know EXACTLY what you mean 😅
I only read the first book of Harry Hole series and I heard that the first books are quite mediocre, but the next ones are better?? I think he is a bit slow writer and im not sure if he is for me either
emily henry... onyl read beach read and nop
I think Fanfiction can be both good and bad.
Thank you for answering my unpopular opinion on Boy Parts! I found it repetitive and boring. It was well written but it felt almost like I wanted to get it over with because I was so bored. I do enjoy an unsympathetic main character, that wasn’t my problem, but, it’s the style I didn’t like I guess 🤷🏻♀️
Makes total sense! It was a trip, that book and I still can’t quite tell what I think of it 😂
Love from Thailand. 😊❤
You are the type of person that i would love to be friends with. the conversations that one could have with you... damn
Wow, thank you so much, that’s very kind of you! 🥰❤️
I agree series should not go on and on and on. Leigh Bardugo perfect example of that. 2 or 3 books max.
I feel that there a lot of very popular books that most people love-like Demon Cooperhead, that I just can't understand why. For me it was very painful to read and seemed like Barbara Kingsolver took all the social worker horror stories and compiled them into characters. She packed a lot of problems into Damon and it boomeranged my empathy for him. I just didn't care about him after a while. It was overkill. I just wanted to finish the book so I could read something better. Most characters in a book, readers root for and have sympathy for them. That book had the opposite effect on me which is why I could not understand how popular the book became winning two (?) awards.
Interesting! I haven’t read that one but I saw it in a bookshop, saw how long it was and just thought “nope” 😅
That was another that felt overhyped to me. I guess I often think differently than the masses, but I’m ok with that! I found several amazing reads Alice recommended which I never heard of elsewhere. Love those!
I look for books of authors I know. Dont generally deviate from that. I dont smell books haha. I sort my shelves by genres,. Ie my studies philosophy, robert greene, etc. Fiction I put in alphabetical order. 😊 I cannot read e-books, I have to have the actual book in my hand. Love turning the pages, annotating new phrases, new vocab words (but not in the book, I use separate thin exercise lined books for this). 😊❤ dont read on phone screens either, feels like work. I am an educator lol
Omw Circe was sooooo long and boring. 😂 Jo Nesbo Harry Hole series is great, but agree about 5 of them are not well written. Thank you for your attention here Alice. Great content. 😊
Hahaha fair 😂❤️
I think many people search for fanfiction when the original authors didn't deliver what they promised. I think about supernatural and similar shows, or just really bad fiction that had a promising plot or cast. In that case, of course the fanfiction would be better, it's objectively hard to write worse than the authors of supernatural.
Interesting! I haven’t watched Supernatural so I don’t know, but that makes sense ❤️
@@TheBookCastle Imagine a show where two brothers try to save each other from hell for literally 15 seasons, when one is out the other goes in and every time it's somehow worse than before, therefore coining the term "turbo hell". Oh, and no developed female characters to be found, so people famously started shipping the brothers
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Author quotes annoy me to death
An environmentalist in every chat. Yawn!
I 1000000% agree with the having books reserved! Like why?! If there is someone here that does that, can you give us the reason. No judgement, genuinely want to know 🤍
I would like to know too! 👀❤️