Read more by watching more
I was a bookworm in high school — and then never again. If it’s not YouTube comments, a textbook, or an assignment, I don’t have time to read it. Things changed in 2020 though, and it wasn’t only because of the pandemic. I started using a website to track books I read and connect with others, and I started watching BookTube.
If you’ve ever been part of a book club and enjoyed it, BookTube is like that but better.Â
BookTube represents a community of literature lovers who talk about books on YouTube (hence the name BookTube). Watching them as someone who didn’t read regularly was oddly inspiring and motivational. Popular trends are monthly to-be-read lists (TBRs), recaps and reviews, reading vlogs that let you see live reactions to plot twists, and even pulling names of books out of a hat to decide what to dive into next. Before long, I realized I was buying half the books my favourite BookTubers were reading — I was in deep and actually reading again.
Here’s a list that represents the diversity that BookTube has to offer. If reading more has been an annual New Year’s resolution for you, this guide is for you. Or if you’ve never committed to becoming a bookworm, maybe learning that leisure reading is at an all-time low will help turn you into a rebel. It’s time to rediscover and fall in love with books.
Cindy is the no bullshit, sarcastic wine mom we all need in our lives. She’s highly hilarious and isn’t afraid to stray from what other BookTubers are doing. (Cindy once read and reviewed an R-rated romance where a scientist sleeps with a personified version of COVID-19 — but she interprets it like an English professor.) Cindy’s also openly criticized the BookTube community for its promotion of consumerism and creating the notion that to be a valid reader you need to buy the newest books. According to her, she reads exclusively from the library, which I respect.
Cindy’s channel is equally great for when you need a laugh and for when you need an honest opinion about a book. She’ll give you the good, the bad, the ugly, and the weird in an entertaining way.
Noelle, on the other hand, has a more high-energy, bubbly personality. She regularly reads jokes off popsicle sticks to start her videos, and she has an adorable pug that’s frequently featured lazing behind her. Noelle offers a lot of variety in her taste; she reads everything from classics to raunchy romances to Stephen King. Her videos are fun to watch, light-hearted, and her TBRs never fail to entice me to add another book to my shelf.
Noelle is also part of a monthly book club,: the Late Night Book Club. She and two other BookTubers announce what the book of the month is, then at the end of each month they host a live show to discuss it with each other and viewers. I’ve never delved into it myself, but it’s another fun way she interacts with her fans.
Waldun is the only channel here that’s not exclusively about books; he also explores the craft of writing, philosophy, and academics. His channel would be a great starting point for those interested in a male perspective, non-fiction, or even academic subjects. He even has an interesting educational journey that started with him pursuing a degree in physics before realizing his passion aligned more with literature.
Waldun is very much an intellectual, but he makes that realm of books, which traditionally may be intimidating, very accessible. If anyone was going to convince me to read or watch a Shakespeare play for leisure, it would be him. Waldun also has some down-to-earth tips for reading: commit to reading 30 pages a day (anything more is extra), read outside your comfort zone, and don’t overthink or be afraid of classics. If you’re into the aesthetics of dark academia, leather book bags, and mugs of coffee, then you’ll dig this channel.
If you’ve ever analyzed your bookcase and realized you aren’t reading from diverse voices, then Jesse’s channel has you covered. They’re a non-binary YouTuber who does a phenomenal job of featuring Black authors in their Blackathon vlogs (a reading marathon centred around Black Lives Matter) and Black Girl Magic series (reviews of sci-fi and fantasy books from Black authors that feature Black females). They also frequently recommend LGBTQ+ lit.
Jesse has an insight and a way with words that’s compelling. Their Black Girl Magic series allows this to truly shine with their ability to analyze the representation of Black women, Black beauty, and sisterhood in fiction. Even if you’re not actively looking for more diverse spines, Bowties & Books has a valuable and engaging perspective on literature.
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Chandy is a biology major/chemistry minor who's been a staff writer, Arts editor, and Managing Editor at The Cascade. She began writing in elementary school when she produced Tamagotchi fanfiction to show her peers at school -- she now lives in fear that this may have been her creative peak.