The reading nook is my favorite place to be in winter! Today I’m annotating Tolkien’s On Fairy-Stories and reading the tale of Turambar and the Foalókë in The Book of Lost Tales Part Two.
Sad Nostalgia - Things I Miss About the "Old" Bookstagram
Real Comments
Bookstagrammers used to comment on one another’s posts. We’d discuss books, exchange opinions, ask one another questions. Now it’s just “love this” or 😍😍😍. I miss having CONVERSATIONS with my fellow book lovers.
DMs Filled To The Brim
Getting random messages from other Bookstagrammers encouraged connnection + made us a community. It was a chance to yap about beloved books, exchange book recs, + learn more about one another.
Real Book Reviews
People used to post lengthy, personal, detailed book reviews that displayed their love, passion, + honest opinions. Now, it’s all about the aesthetic, minimalized (or barely legible) text, character art, + trope lists. What happened?
Authentic Friendships
All those comments on book review posts + DMs from fellow book lovers turned strangers into friends. We knew one another’s names. Now, people call me “Batty.” They follow expecting a follow back without any real care about the person behind the post.
Real Bookish Content
Book reviews.
Monthly recaps.
Monthly TBRs.
No more. Now, it’s photos of what you’re cooking, places you’re going, matcha lattes, and gimmicky tutorials with no real advice.
Real Bookish Content (Yes, Again)
We talk more about TALKING about books (“how to request ARCs,” “how to use Canva,” “whimsy” this, “trends” that) instead of actual DISCUSSING the books we’re reading + what we love about them.
Actual Empathy
We used to care about each other, used to recognize the person behind the account instead of the pretty book photos. When did Bookstagram become more about the aesthetic than the real, authentic connections?
Variety
Bookstagram used to be brimming with a mix of books. Now, people read what’s trending (+ if you’re not, does anyone really pay attention)? You’re more likely to see 100+ posts about the same book than a mix (allowing readers to find books that meet their specific tastes).
Fun
Being a Bookstagrammer used to be fun.
Now, we’re obsessed with follower counts + reach. We’re so stressed about what we’re posting + how much engagement we get that we don’t post what we want to post.
“For a moment,” he says, “I wondered if it wasn’t you shooting bolts at me.”- I make a face at him. “And what made you decide it wasn’t?” He grins up at me. “They missed.”
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