heyy so i have 90 books on my bookshelf that i haven’t read 😃😭 the plus side is that i own around 150-200 that i HAVE read! i just made a shelf called physical TBRs, so i would love some recs because i am feeling so overwhelmed by the sheer volume 😣 take a look (if you’re so inclined) and let me know your top choices (and why, if you want), no more than 5 please because i fear that will make me more overwhelmed!! i’m excited to see what you guys think i should jump into first :))

I'm trying to find more people to be friends with who have similar reading tastes or simply other things in common for me to be able to yap with them. So let's write about ourselves in as little or as much detail as we'd like and find like minded folks to be friends with! I'll start with my intro in the comments :)

I am now several months free of algorithmic driven content (and more than one year free of short-form video content). I can feel my brain recovering slowly (both from the dopamine addiction and brain rot, as well as from an 8-month anxiety crisis which left me entering my PhD mentally scarred). I'm picking up on more in the books I'm reading and drawing connections that I wouldn't have drawn before when I was poisoning my brain regularly. I am purposely becoming more literate as praxis in a postliterate world.

I can't help thinking of the books I read during those years where I read without the ability to fully appreciate style, form, and metaphor. There are so many books which I claimed to dislike, and I wonder now how many of them were wonderful books which I was simply unable to understand well enough to enjoy.

Does anyone else feel anything similar?

Hello~ One of those subgenres I really enjoy (but certainly don't read enough of) is retellings - which made me wonder: what are some of the most unique retellings you've read? Those that got you because the premise was so interesting or unexpected? (and, of course, bonus points if the execution was equally 10/10)

My fellow readers, I have been reflecting on my book habits, and I have found that these days, I borrow more books than I purchase.

I am a huge fan of the library. I try to visit my public library at least once a week to pick out new books to read for the next week. My library does a nice job of updating their collection to get new releases, and I love checking out these new books when a title catches my eye. (There’s nothing better than being the first person to check out a new book.) I love that I can check out as many books as I fancy, and I don’t have to worry about my pocketbook. I also like that the library is low pressure—if I don’t like a book, I can simply return it. (This is especially great for trying books that are different from my usual tastes.)

Sometimes, a book in which I am interested is not available at the library. (Or the copy is in poor condition.) In this case, I will decide how badly I want to read this book. This deliberation process can take a while. I think this stems from my fear of buying books that I don’t read. (Which I am guilty of.) I also have limited shelf space, so I try to be careful with how many books I buy. I want my bookshelves to reflect the books that I love. For that reason, I usually pick up new releases by favorite authors and in favorite manga series.

This is why I like the library so much. All of these concerns are swept away.

At the same time, I want to support my local bookstores to keep them in business. So, I still frequent the bookstore and make sure to buy books when a title speaks to me.

I am curious, what are your borrowing/purchasing habits? Do you prefer to borrow or purchase your books, and why?