I love this sub

Submitted by tommy_the_bat t3_127krkm in books

Quick shout-out to not only the moderators but the users themselves. I've always been a voracious reader and that has only been encouraged by this sub. I absolutely love talking about books and reading is my primary hobby but I only have one or two friends I can actually talk to about books. The idea of a book club never appealed to me really, the whole idea of reading a prescribed book and then having a certain time limit on finishing it never sat well with me, but this sub offers a very different, and in my opinion better, experience.

I can't tell you how many books I've read based off the weekly recommendations thread or the weekly what are you reading thread.

Long story short sub good books good.

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froeuhouais1 t1_jeeklw9 wrote

Project Hail Mary

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chicasparagus t1_jeepfa4 wrote

The alchemist is overrated

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little_carmine_ t1_jeeq9jx wrote

Life’s too short to read books you don’t enjoy. Put it down.

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froeuhouais1 t1_jeesbzy wrote

Do we really need to « read books » in order to call ourselves readers? If so, is it fine to skip most chapters?

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UnspentTx t1_jeew1to wrote

Can you guys help me find this book? It has a man in it, and has something to do with bread or cupcakes or something...

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fleshybit t1_jefy234 wrote

A Wizards's Guide to Defensive Baking for Surviving Medieval England

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twenty-six-sixty-six t1_jeelkcb wrote

great sub for the lowest common denominator, dissent is not tolerated

truelit is too snobby though -- we need something in the middle, but will probably never get it

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King_Allant t1_jeeoach wrote

/r/literature is between /r/books and /r/truelit, probably the best one at the moment.

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UnspentTx t1_jeexxfp wrote

Just went and checked out r/truelit and this is how their sub's description starts:

> The premier place on reddit for discussing books and literature, both fictional and non-fictional alike.

So, like, they discuss books that really exist and also fake, made-up books...? 😆

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Bikinigirlout t1_jeghxiu wrote

I like 52book. It’s a lot better. A lot of the times people will be like “I wasn’t a fan, but it sounds like it’s up your alley so you might like it more than I did.”

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[deleted] t1_jefwv3t wrote

Hard to believe anything is too snobby for someone who would write that but ok.

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twenty-six-sixty-six t1_jefx5z5 wrote

truelit is a bunch of people pretending classic fiction is more complicated than it is to make themselves feel superior

it's enough for me to simply enjoy it

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tommy_the_bat OP t1_jeem9hs wrote

Respectfully disagree. Not sure what dissent you're talking about and I'm not exactly looking for PhD English analysis.

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twenty-six-sixty-six t1_jeemidi wrote

it's really more of a reddit problem, but comments that are against the mainstream opinion get down voted to oblivion

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tommy_the_bat OP t1_jeen3uk wrote

Eh, I've had pretty civil conversations with people who have book views that are on the other end of the spectrum of mine. Never really got a sense of a reddit hivemind compared to other subs. I think it's all about tone and approaching conversations in good faith. Obviously there are popular opinions but I don't see people getting "down voted to oblivion" as you say.

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twenty-six-sixty-six t1_jeen9mg wrote

well i prefer a more abrasive tone personally

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tommy_the_bat OP t1_jeenh9r wrote

Idk man, that gets boring very fast IMO

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twenty-six-sixty-six t1_jeeo14n wrote

i think it's boring when people state their opinions blandly, without confidence -- but it seems to be the preferred communication style here

i'd rather have good arguments with people who have courage of their convictions

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tommy_the_bat OP t1_jeeo6bl wrote

That's not what abrasive means lmao

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twenty-six-sixty-six t1_jeeom7r wrote

the definition i'm using means to showing little regard for the opinions of others

i see no point in showing regard for an opinion i disagree with, and i don't expect other people to show regard for my opinion, but people here seem to want a lame kumbaya prayer circle where we all talk about how every writer is equally good, it's just a matter of opinion. nothing could be more boring

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tommy_the_bat OP t1_jeerkog wrote

Why would anyone enter any conversation with someone who, right off the bat, says they have 'little regard for the opinions of others'? That's just deranged. You don't have to be an asshole to have a good conversation.

I never understood people who enjoy arguments rather than a simple disagreements. Just talk to people like you would in real life. So yea I guess that's what I mean by getting bored by those conversations. Like just scream at a wall or cry in a pillow if you want to get emotional.

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Character_Vapor t1_jegn5gw wrote

>I never understood people who enjoy arguments rather than a simple disagreements

I mean, it all depends on context, but I got in a debate about Thomas Pynchon with a friend of mine last week at a bar that culminated in him raising his voice over the table and telling the rest of the group that I was an "odious motherfucker". Those kinds of heated debates about art are way more enjoyable than worrying about making sure everyone feels validated all the time.

Yelling and arguing about your opinion (if not literally, then in spirit) about a piece of art is a great time, as long as everyone is secure enough to know that saying someone's opinion is "bad" or "tragic" or "the worst thing I've ever heard" does not mean you think those things about them as a person.

Give me some Balzac, Lost Illusions-level shit-slinging about books! Tell someone they should have been sent to the guillotine for not liking Emile Zola. Tell someone they have an unhealthy fixation on 19th Century fuckboys after they tell you they love Heathcliff in Wuthering Heights. Tell someone they should be tried at The Hague for not having read Toni Morrison. It's more fun that way.

Let’s bring this kind of Ebert energy back into arts discourse and maybe we can all start having a good time talking about this stuff again.

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[deleted] t1_jees0ay wrote

[removed]

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vibraltu t1_jegf4x0 wrote

This sub tends to be limited to repeating the same conversations about a handful of selected authors/titles.

A few times I tried to make posts recommending some different titles by newer authors, and the mods hassled me because of "promotion" (true, I guess?) and "low-effort" (ouch. I could be worse).

I could go elsewhere, but hey it's the only game in town.

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SalemMO65560 t1_jeemuca wrote

I also feel this sub has energized my passion for reading. The What Are You Reading sub has also been a consistent source for finding books I would have otherwise never heard about.

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tommy_the_bat OP t1_jeendd0 wrote

Definitely my favorite part of this sub. Also can we talk about how beautiful and calming the design of it is?? At least on old reddit, love the moving books in the header.

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SalemMO65560 t1_jeeny9i wrote

Indeed! I love the banner of scrolling books. Also an old reddit user here.

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HauntedReader t1_jeehyvg wrote

Yea, most of the mods and people here are great.

It's one of the better places for discussions on book-related topics.

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Sumtimesagr8notion t1_jefe5xy wrote

It's really not

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UnspentTx t1_jefzt0n wrote

Honest question: Any suggestions for better subs for people who love to read? I'm here and in r/52book...

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Sumtimesagr8notion t1_jeg6avh wrote

I like subs that are specifically for certain authors that I enjoy. r/literature is ok but it's starting to feel more like r/books

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UnspentTx t1_jeh4vfu wrote

Followup, also a genuine question (I'm not trying to wind you up or anything, I promise)... How do you keep from getting stuck in a rut discussing only authors/books/series you already know you like...? I mean, yeah, I love talking about what I love with other people who love it, but I also like coming here and seeing what everyone else is up to, what are they reading, etc... And it's cool to see all the non-specific-book related posts too, like posts about book bans or discussions about ebooks versus digital, or how someone just rekindled their love of reading and had to come share it, etc etc... Anyway, I'm just trying to gauge your thoughts on why subs about reading/books in general don't really work for you, and how you keep from getting stuck inside 'echo chambers' (etc) I guess...

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