This might be an unpopular opinion, but it is just my opinion. I think I need to stop reading reviews on Goodreads and in general.

I think it's one thing to say you don't like a book, and say things like 'the pacing wasn't for me' 'didn't like the writing style' or whatever else. It's even valid to say you personally hated the book.

But I find it upsetting when people are just intentionally... cruel? Like insulting anyone else who likes the book. Wondering what people are 'on' to enjoy it.

Opinions are personal, not facts. What feels boring, clunky, or frustrating to you might feel moving, brilliant, or comforting to someone else. I don't think criticism has to be mean to be valid, but it feels like people are really just trying to see how snarky and mean they can be.

People have a right to their opinions and how they word things. I'm not saying they don't. I'm not even saying people shouldn't post those reviews. That's their right. I'm just venting personally, and I think I will probably just avoid reading reviews because that's how I can curate my own space. I just wanted to vent a little because I'm having big feelings about it.

(I will say, it really does not feel valid when people go out of their way to post on someone's positive review/post about how they liked the book to insult the book. I think opinions are valid, but it feels so unnecessary to try to bring someone else down.)

My current decade-long reading goal is to read one book from each country around the world! This has been a wonderful experience and I've encountered so many wonderful books! The only difficulty I've faced is there are a few books that I've seen that look incredible, but haven't yet been translated into any languages that I read!

I have two questions - is anyone else trying this challenge, and would we like to make a thread / group about the challenge itself?

Secondly, I'm curious if anyone has any recommendations for books from their home country that they might recommend. I'll go first - Greenlands by Michael Christie (A Canadian) was a surprise gem, and helped me out of a huge reading slump!

I’ve always been a journal girly and have been following many others in the community for years. I’ve seen a rise of people sharing their reading journals and I’m currently contemplating starting one. I’m intrigued to find out how many people on here keep one. If you do, what sort of things do you track or journal about? Do you create your own or buy a pre-designed one? How do you typically use your reading journal? What are your favourite things about your journal? Would love to hear any other insights you can offer as I start planning what I’d like to capture in mine 📖

My current decade-long reading goal is to read one book from each country around the world! This has been a wonderful experience and I've encountered so many wonderful books! The only difficulty I've faced is there are a few books that I've seen that look incredible, but haven't yet been translated into any languages that I read!

I have two questions - is anyone else trying this challenge, and would we like to make a thread / group about the challenge itself?

Secondly, I'm curious if anyone has any recommendations for books from their home country that they might recommend. I'll go first - Greenlands by Michael Christie (A Canadian) was a surprise gem, and helped me out of a huge reading slump!

How many books do you read at the same time and why?

I feel like only one is not enough to keep me focus, so here I am juggling between 4 and having so much fun I might add a fifth. I have 2 book in french, 2 in english, 2 in audiobooks, 1 paperback and 1 on my kindle.

It's like having multiple format helps me keeping my enjoyment for reading (ADHD life, it might seems).

What about you??

Does anyone have any advice in reading House of Leaves???

I have it on pause at the moment while I'm reading a palate cleanser for the last book I just finished. While I'm at it I'm trying to figure out how to approach HOL. I've had it for a few months now and started reading about 6 weeks ago maybe and I'm still on Chapter 3 😭.

I know there isn't a right or wrong way of reading HOL but I have never read a book like this before and would like to hear thoughts from others that have finished it/currently working on it.