So I don’t really follow BookTok because TikTok is banned in India. Most of what I see comes through YouTube commentators, and if something’s interesting, I bring it to Pagebound to have an intellectually stimulating discussion. A few minutes ago, I came across a YouTuber talking about BookTok in 2026—specifically the drama surrounding Tracy Deonn. And it got me thinking about what content creators, authors, and entertainers actually owe their fans.

Here’s the situation: if you don’t know what happened, there was this woman named Samira who went up to Tracy Deonn at a signing with a bookplate. When she met her, she started going into a monologue about how much Legendborn meant to her, very personally. But Tracy interrupted her mid-sentence to ask where she should sign the bookplate.

Now, in my opinion, if you actually watch the video, it doesn’t feel like Tracy Deonn was being rude. It just seemed like she was confused about where to sign and asked a practical question—and honestly, she asked it pretty sweetly. But Samira felt it was rude and now fans are saying that Tracy should be “cancelled” over it. And that’s what’s bothering me. Do content creators really owe you constant warmth and enthusiasm every single time you meet them? Does someone deserve to be cancelled over a 20-second clip, especially when you don’t know the full context—like the fact that it was chaotic, it was a signing session and not a meet-and-greet, and things are naturally rushed in those environments?

It also made me think about the pressure we put on creators and entertainers to make us feel special every time we interact with them, as if we “made them famous,” so they owe us something. And then there’s another layer: gender. Why do we especially expect women to always be smiling, warm, and emotionally available? Like, “Oh my God, how are you? That’s so sweet!” all the time? And beyond that, she’s also a Black woman. There’s a long history of Black women being unfairly labeled as aggressive or rude. So when she behaves completely normally and it still gets interpreted that way, I think it’s worth questioning why.

If you truly love an author, there are so many ways to show it. But expecting them to stand there and absorb a full monologue in a chaotic, time-limited setting—it’s just not realistic. Maybe you expected her to accommodate you in that moment, but she didn’t, and that’s okay. Not everything has to center you. I think what’s happening here is extremely unfair to entertainers, to creators, and specifically to Tracy Deonn—especially when her work is genuinely loved by so many people. Meanwhile, there are authors with far more serious issues, like being transphones, rapists, or zionists who continue to receive—and I will be using a hindi slang here because it sounds fun—bhav (which means attention). But someone gets dragged over something like this?

It just doesn’t add up. So yeah, I’d really like to hear your thoughts on this whole situation with BookCon and Tracy Deonn, because right now it just feels deeply disproportionate and unfair.

Edit: Y'all I've accidentally been using the alternative version of her name's spelling "Samira" instead of "Sameera". Both are pronounced the same but my apologies. Please use Sameera from now on. Thank you 🫶

I'm gonna say this one time. And anyone who needs this explained to them, in any other context, is welcome to be sent right back here to learn this lesson.

This user, now deleted, wanted to throw a tantrum because what they wanted in terms of assembled literature on antisemitism, didn't already exist here. That was where it started. And where it ended was the nature of this user only being interested in pro-Israel, pro-Zionist representations of Judaism and antisemitism being brought to light. That went round and round until the person deleted their account. And at the core of this misunderstanding isn't whatever content on Judaism we do or don't have here. It's the lack of respect and understanding this user has for this platform.

There is no AI, no algorithmically generated book curation going on here. Nothing is automatically creating reading lists and quests here on every imaginable topic and human interest. Everything here is user created. The quests, the lists, the events, all of it is hand made by an actual person.

I'm gonna say something really honest, and I want y'all to hear what I'm saying, and only what I'm saying. There was jack shit on this site for black fantasy, science fiction, and speculative fiction when I joined. I'm not accusing anyone of anything when I say this. That was just the reality of the situation. So I sat my ass down and curated that content! I made the things I wanted to see on this site, and that's why they're here now. I have added hundreds of books to this site, in those genres and many others, specifically from black authors. I have given so much of my time to that endeavor because I care. I can bitch because it's not here, or I can do something about it. I can complain that the potluck doesn't have what I want to eat, or I can bring something I want to eat and share with others.

On this platform, no one is special or exempt from that.

If you want something to exist on this website that isn't already here, you have to build it yourself! If you're an expert on something, congratulations! You're the one we've been waiting for to build the lists and content for that subject. It's you, or it doesn't exist. And if you aren't willing to do that, it's because you don't actually care that much. You want someone else to do it for you. You see those of us who do that work as your servants, not your peers. You expect us to reach outside of our expertise and interests to create things for you, when YOU are the one who should be sticking out your neck and being judged on your efforts.

This is what I find profoundly offensive. It's not that someone with questionable views of Zionism showed up here. There really isn't a better place for them to be. I have no problem showing them zoharejacobi and moving on with my day. It's that they showed up here expecting to be served and catered to. That was their error and why they received the reactions they did.

If you have something only you can teach, then teach it. If there's a contribution only you can make, then make it. Don't expect anyone else to do it for you. Respect the labor it takes to build all of this by hand or go back to fucking Goodreads.

We're all here since we appreciate books, but since song lyrics are poetry, I was hoping to read and listen to some of your favourites.

This was prompted by the fact that I went to see City and Colour this weekend, and I cried listening to Against the Grain, unexpectedly.

you need not to climb mountain tops you need not to cross the sea you need not to find a cure for everything that makes you weak you need not to reach for the stars when life becomes so dark and when the wind does blow against the grain you must follow your heart you must follow your heart

all your friends have come and gone and the sun no longer shines and the happiness for which you long is washed away like an oceans tide when all the hard times outweigh the good and all your words are misunderstood when the day seems lost from the start you must follow your heart you must follow your heart

Dallas Green is a musician, but also a magician. It's a gift to be able to captivate an audience with only yourself and a single instrument. Acoustic sets from any artist are always something special. 🩷

Edit: I'm saving the thread so I can listen to the music from every post as I have the time. Please keep sharing and thank you 🫶

Since we all read, i am guessing my fellow pagebounders might also have fun or not library stories.

i will go first, when i was in primary school my class teacher banned me from going to the library (it was open during lunch) because i was reading too much. Apparently my best friend and i reading next to each other and not talking for 40 minutes wasnt good enough. She knew i was the ring leader of us two, so i got banned for a couple of weeks and if the librarian saw me she chased me out (She was a very nice lady and while my siblings went to the school after me i visited her and got paid to help organise the library in summer so no hard feelings). My best friend still brings it up. Does anyone else have a library story? Anything will do

Hey guys, gals, and non-binary pals! Let's play a game!

Think about some of your favourite characters and answer these questions :⁠^⁠)

1. Which character is most likely to be the most insufferable book club member? And why? 2. Which character is most likely go to jail in real world and for what? 3. Which character is most likely to say "uhm actually 🤓☝️" and for what?

I'll go first!

1. In my opinion, Jace Herondale from shadowhunters. He's got the blood of Will Herondale coursing through his veins and this man is going to be the devil's advocate just to fuck with people.

2. Both Kaz Brekker and Nikolai Lantsov for orchestrating and elaborate con. However, I have no idea if they will actually stay in jail.

3. NEEMA from The Raven Scholar BECAUSE SHE ACTUALLY DOES IT IN THE BOOKS. And it will be because you used who instead of whom.

Can't wait to see your answers!

It's great when you meet people who love your favorite books. You know what's even better? Finding people who hate the same books as you do!

I often go find one-star reviews of books I despise and give the reviewer a follow. It's funny to me that mutual hatred is more often a better predictor of shared taste than mutual endorsement :))

Here are some popular books I cannot stand or found underwhelming (apologies if this offends anyone here):

First and foremost, the star of the show: A Little Life ✨: this is easily one of my MOST HATED books of all time. I could make a five-hour video explaining why that is, but others have already done that. I hate it so much I'm using it as a coaster just to be disrespectful.

Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson: I know, I know, this is a favorite among many. This one I don't "hate" tbh, I just didn't care for the writing, the corny dialogue, the characters, and some plot points I found ridiculous. The world-building and the magic system was cool though. (I had this feeling it would be a much better experience as a video game!)

The Jade City: yes, another very popular fantasy, but I disliked it so much I DNF'd it after 100 pages. I really hated the objectification and over-sexualization of female characters, and I didn't care for the male characters or the plot either.

The Goldfinch by Donna Tart: I'm a sucker for big, slow-paced books with good writing so I had high hopes for this one but good grief this one KILLED ME. It was SUCH A DRAG. loved the prose but this did not have nearly enough substance to justify this much yapping. I might read her other book though.

The name of the wind by Patrick Rothfuss: I read this many years ago in farsi and I don't remember much except the main character was very clearly the writers' self insert and utterly insufferable. Some say this has good prose, but I read a translated version so this had no redeeming qualities for me.

What are your most hated books? Name them in the comments and see if you can find friends:))