I’ve been seeing these crazy debates online about how people don’t always consider audiobooks to be real reading.

It makes me a bit sad because I think it’s amazing that stories can become more accessible through audiobooks.

It’s great that Pagebound has a feature to log audiobooks! It makes me want to try one for the first time, I just don’t know where to start.

Would you consider more comic style books or Webtoon stories to be real reading too? I’m really curious!

Do you ever see an opinion in a book's forum or review that makes you so mad you have to close the app? I find that being on Pagebound makes me a LOT less angry than other social media apps (mostly thanks to how sweet everyone here is!), but sometimes it's tricky to see criticism of a book you love--or love for a book you despise. Do you see yourself as a book debater, or are you more likely to step away from a disagreement?

Anyone else reading something that they can't or won't log for any reason?

I'm reading a beta project (deadline approaching) and it's not out yet for me to log my reading. Which is a bit sad buy hey, at least I'm still reading! And I'm nearly done ^^

So, what are you reading in secret? Take this as your chance to boast!

I NEED MORE SWEET COWBOYS.

Listening to Make Me Wanna-Thomas Rhett and I just want some cute, calm rancher romance. First thing coming to mind is the Rebel Blue Ranch series since it was very low stakes but still felt like it had driving factors. I’ve already read the OG flawless series but UGHHH I wish I could go back to it.

Bonus points if it’s got minimal spice 😼

UPDATE: I reached out asking how they got my email, waiting on a response

I have a very strange situation right now. An indie author has signed me up to their ARC team and newsletter without my consent

And I know this isn't something I've signed up for and forgotten because I have never heard of this author, and I don't read space opera (things like Star Wars) which this ARC is. Plus I am mega busy and only have time for one ARC right now that I'm waiting on the author to give me which is a Mafia Romantasy.

Do I demand how this author even got my email? Or do I tell them doing this is illegal? Both? Ignore and block?

It's so creepy 🙈

I have had quite a few songs in my head lately that I just keep singing so that has inspired this question!

Songs I've had in my head lately and the genre I think they fall under.

Seven by Jungkook featuring Latto- Romance specifically steamy reads

Skyscraper by NCT 127 - Sci Fi

Faster & 2 Baddies by NCT 127- Adventure since these songs are about cars specifically (they are from the same album. So is Skyscraper)

No Longer by NCT 127- This song would be under Romance, but one with a bunch of heartbreak. The boys sing as if they are heartbroken.

Fact Check by NCT 127- Nonfiction (They are telling you to check facts 😭😂)

I know most of them are NCT songs...they are currently my favorite to listen to...though I will be taking a massive break after the news of Mark Lee leaving them.

So what are some of the songs that have been in your head?

Casually strolling when I stumble upon Jason Pargin's page (aka David Wong, author of John Dies at the End and othe books) where he's explaining that several books have been changed to update the pop culture elements.

Edit to add this post covering the Kindle "Modernization" already on the forum and full of very good points

He uses Pretty Little Liars as an example, when the line went from "Come watch Fear Factor at home tonight" to "Come watch this tiktok at home tonight" here is the link of his video He's much more articulate than me about why reading old references in books is still part of the journey, but I'm also flabbergasted at the thought process of even changing references.

Is the publisher thinking that a book that did quite well will suddenly be dropped cold because it mentions something outdated ? Years ago there were "emoji version" of Shakespeare plays (this did kill something in me at the time) and it feels like the same idea : readers can only understand and appreciate what is immediately known. No time for looking up a reference, no time for learning to just roll with a vague reference that isn't even that important in the context. And as Jason says, it even makes no sense. Changing a reference from decades ago for a more modern one might not work because the world is different and modern readers will raise a brow at the absurdity of the situation described.

Are we really dumbing down books ? Is the plan to make it impossible to have something last and span over decades and become itself a reference ?

One of the things people are doing to farm fake Internet points is abusing the recommendations section of individual books. It's especially bad for books in series. They'll put every book in the series on each book in the series, crowding out many other recommendations. They also put the sequel in multiple times. For example, Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko has its sequel in its recommendation section twice.

Can we get some guidance on this? In my mind, the only recommendation needed on a series is the next one in the series, and maybe different entry points at different parts of the series. For example, Mercedes Lackey's Valdemar has a publication order and a chronology to it that means you can diverge at a few different points. But for books like it, and Pratchett's Discworld, or Sanderson's Cosmere, there's no need to put every book in the series or arc in the recommendations section for each book. It's an abuse of the feature that makes it harder for legitimate recommendations to load and display, especially on mobile.

Is there a way to report duplicate recommendations? Would y'all like us to report them? I checked Roadmap and other Club posts and didn't see anything referencing this issue.

For me, it's the Shadow and Bone trilogy. I tried to read the first book, and i had to put it down after chapter 2.

My current goal for myself is to limit buying and checking out books from the library to read what I actually own on my shelf. I've already broken both of my "rules," went to a new bookstore and wanted to support as they were closing, and then read the first book in a trilogy and then immediately checked out the next two from the library. I think this is to say, why is it so hard for me to stick with what I have!! Why am I so obsessed with wanting more? Of course, buying things always contributes to consumerism, but why am I frustrated with the library? I still feel like they're constantly pushing new books? And I'm never content with just what I have in front of me. IDK if anyone understands what I'm saying, but TLDR I'm just annoyed with the publishing industry and my own vices of succumbing to capitalism.