Okay, maybe this sounds silly, but another user and I were talking about this earlier!

I was scrolling through quests and noticed there are a handful of books marked as unread for me, that I certainly have read… in fifth grade. I’m almost 28yo now, with little to no interest in rereading middle grade books.

But I’m a little purist about it, I only began tracking about two years ago, in real time. Now I’m hesitant on whether I want to add books from almost two decades ago for completionist sake. 😅

What do you guys like to do?

I've already read the master of djinn for the spring challenge and thought it was alright. I am reading goddess of the river rn and I think it's decent but not good, can't bring myself to care. I am 25% in rn and consider DNFing but then I won't get the pretty badge... 🤣 I don't know what to do now. I want the badge but I am not particularly eager to read books that are just alright.

What would you guys do? Also feel free to brag about your pretty badges.

The cat had climbed up onto Ruth’s desk and was preparing to make a strategic incursion onto her lap. She’d been reading the diary when he approached from the side, placing his forepaws on her knees and nudging his nose underneath the spine of the book, pushing it up and out of his way. Once that was done, he settled himself on her lap and started kneading, butting his head into her hand. He was so annoying. Always looking for attention.

Yea, so, I officially hate Ruth 🔫

Boundling Friends - I feel I will find my people here in this, does anyone find the version of them that places book holds at the library is a different version of the person who then has to read said books?? 😅😂

Because tell me why when I went to hold a book this evening, the library system politely told me that I had maxed out at the current 15(!!!) books i have on reserve and so computer said no….. which on the one hand I thought RUDE how dare you hinder me this way library system demon, ALL THE BOOKS SHALL BE MINE …. 😈 I will not be beaten by some arbitrary restricting number….

But then also, I am a fast reader granted, but even so I was thinking “ma’am, I beg, you work full time, what crack have you been smoking here to think this is manageable” 😂😂😂

We also won’t discuss the side eye my current shelves of over 100+ TBR give me every time I bring all these library books into the house 🤣

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 ?

Do you like to have bookish items/merch/STUFF? 📚

I do find myself gravitating towards bookish themed things, but try to watch my consumption unless it’s things I either: a) really want b) need and will use

If you have bookish stuff, what’s your favorite? Do you collect a certain thing like bookmarks or bookish stickers?

Right now mine is this bag! My wife got it for me this weekend while in the city, and it’s perfect for carrying my normal odds and ends, plus a book and my e-reader!