We're Lying About Reading Now?

Out of all the things I expected there to be controversy about online, I didn’t think reading would be one of them. I mean come on, it’s reading. It’s a fun hobby for some, a livelihood for others, something we’ve all done for school and even for pleasure. It seems asinine for there to be any controversy about reading. 

In a world where anything and everything can be marketed and commercialized though it was only a matter of time before reading fell victim as well.

I’m sure everyone has heard of BookTok at this point. The community – the named community that is – has been around for quite awhile. It started off rather nicely, just people talking about the books they read, sending out recommendations, all in all having conversations about books. It is called BookTok after all.

Like any community though, there were bound to be influencers. I’m still a little confused as to how there can be influencers for something like reading, and many of them aren’t even authors trying to sell their book. 

I’m sure a majority of BookTok influencers are those that actually enjoy reading. They find it interesting to dive into books, learn about new genres and authors, and share their personal opinions with the world. However, it seems like many BookTok followers are simply in it for the “aesthetic” of reading.

Really? The “aesthetic”? I remember when reading was something that you got made fun of for; I can still recall when I was in school and the other students poked fun at me, called me awful names, just because I picked up a book during recess instead of a football. 

So, perhaps a part of me is just bitter about that.

Another part of me is worried though.

What do you mean there are people that will only read the dialogue in books? Sure, dialogue can definitely move the plot along and dive into character’s personalities and beliefs, but so much of a good book is tucked away under the dialogue – the narration, the setting, the buildup, so much that can’t be delivered solely through dialogue. 

Other BookTokers demonstrate that we’re truly in a literacy crisis. I’m not saying that you should only read classics or early 20th century literature, but I am saying that if the only kind of books you’re reading are the same 15 BookTok recommendations, your level of reading comprehension isn’t going to improve anytime soon.

Then there are the controversies about BookTokers not really reading the books they’re recommending, or those that have such extensive reading lists that people can’t believe they actually read all the books on such a list. Are we really shaming people for reading too much now? It’s not impossible that there are some TikTokers or YouTubers that are inflating their reading stats – after all, online communities treat reading goals like they’re some sort of competition more than anything else – but I doubt the vast number of creators are doing such.

Overall, BookTok, BookTube, whatever the Instagram version of this community is, are all good ideas in theory. Like I said, we’re in a bit of a reading and comprehension recession at the moment, but we need to be smart about how we’re engaging with reading.

Just like a good diet, reading should be varied. I enjoy a few contemporary hits from time to time – I’m currently making my way through the Shadow and Bones trilogy and The Mortal Instruments series, both on a friend’s recommendation. That’s not all I read though. Recently, I’ve re-read The Alchemist to brush up on the key points of the hero’s journey. More on that, I’m re-reading The Odyssey as a test to improve my comprehension and reading level. 

One of my favorite things to do while reading is to annotate. I know, I know, that thing we all did in high school that felt more like a chore than anything else, but it really is a game changer.

Annotating forces you to slow down while you’re reading which is great to ensure you’re understanding every word on the page. Doing this has introduced new words into my vocabulary as well since I make sure to look up words I can’t immediately recall the definition of.

Sadly, you can’t annotate every book, and I wouldn’t say that buying every single book you consume is the way to go. First, go to a library if there’s a new book you want to check out – as a librarian, it’d be a disservice if I didn’t say that. Second, get a notebook. It doesn’t need to be anything special, it can even be an old spiral notebook you still have on hand from college. Annotate in the notebook by making notes of pages, lines that stuck out to you, and questions you have about the text. Simple as that!

BookTok isn’t the cure to our reading problems, and it’s certainly started a few more, but putting reading into the minds of those online is a start I can be happy with. 

Now, go pick up a book, any book, and get reading.