I feel like a lot of people are missing the point of the video... It's not to bash someone who has purchased any of these items, it's to open the conversation of making intentional purchases in the age of digital marketing where you are being sold things everywhere you look. Especially in the bookish space, we all like cute things, we all want to be a part of something, but if something doesn't make sense for you and/or your lifestyle, you probably don't need it!
100%! I do have a couple of items on this list like a book bag to protect my books and a case for my e-reader to protect it as well. That doesn't mean I need 10 book bags and a different case for every season and holiday (I have one of each and if it for some odd reason decides to break, I'll get a replacement but not before that)
Yeah, exactly. A video like this is about understanding the ways capitalism can (and probably has) invaded your hobby. We live around so much consumption now, we're so entrenched, that it can be hard to see when companies are taking advantage of the mentality that our society has purposefully grown within us to always be wanting & NEEDING more. Sometimes we're so stuck in our own soup that we don't ask "but do I actually need this thing being shoved at me all over my feed?" TLDR -- this is a good thing to talk about 😂
I have one single book sleeve to protect my paperbacks when I put them in my tote bag and I made sure to get one made by a local craftswoman instead of ordering one from a big company. Mine has little fish all over the outside and it makes me smile every time I look at it 🐟🐠😁
i love throwing my books in agressive purses and backpacks (agressive because they’re a mess and a menace). they get terribly damaged without a sleeve, so i just make my own! they are very easy, quick projects for even beginner sewist, or even people who don’t own a sewing machine!
I'm a little similar. I just use it because my bag gets messy so easy. There's a hardback I have that I accidentally messed up so I knew book sleeves were a must for me
I only bought one bookmark in my whole life and it was Jesus peeking around a corner and he says “is that smut?”. Lmao, I don’t even read smut, but I had to have it.
Book sleeves are honestly a life saver for commuting, I trade my books in for credit towards buying other books so if I can keep them in good condition for the next person in happy
commented on insta post, but thought i'd leave this personal tip here for people struggling with spending/using it as self-medication: whenever i feel like spending money on online shopping, i go to whatever platform i currently want to shop at, put literally all the items i like in the cart, review after I'm done, leave them there & return a few days/a week later & review what's in the cart again, removing what I no longer want, leave it again for a month & if i STILL want any items after a month, then i can buy them, knowing i'll actually need and use them & it's not about ownership/immediate dopamine. depending on the price tag of the item & how bank-breaking it is, the time periods can be extended to a few months etc
Something I find really helpful when I feel a need to get new stuff is to go to the library. You can check out a bunch of books, get the dopamine hit, and return them in a few weeks after the feeling has worn off. You spend no money, you don't clutter up your house, AND you help the library because the more books that get checked out the more funding they get (at least for the public libraries where I live). Win-win.
Great idea but doesn’t really work when buying things and clothes for my toddler 😅 by the time a few months pass he’s already in a new size but still needs clothes.
One of the things I've started doing is put stuff in the cart, and then see what the total WOULD be. Half it, and put that half into savings. Then remove that equivalent out of the cart before waiting a few days to see if I still really want what's left. Helps me build my savings and still feel like I "did something" in the short term.
I will say a book sleeve or a a book bag is actually useful. But you can also just put it in a tote in you other bag. The bag is just to keep the little baby from getting fucked up. like I love a lived in book but I dont want a book whose cover has been folded in half by the junk in my bag
you went so hard on the book sleeve and I think it's the most useful one lol. I've never bought it but the one I got as a present is really useful for when I'm packing lunch and a book in my bag or specially when it rains and my bag gets wet. it has saved my book a lot of times
5:20 Sooo true! I think instead of buying every new release you’re excited about, borrowing from the library helps you still enjoy those new releases and be in the know. And then you can always get a physical copy later if you loved it. I think a physical library should be a representation of you, so only buying books you KNOW you love is huge. Libby, you are everything to me
I wish my library had new releases 😭 To be fair, I live in a very small town and my library is in the next town over that is only slightly bigger than mine, soooo it's severly underfunded. I'm talking 'doesn't even have a supermarket' small town 😂 Though, I do prefer to get books from my library when they have them. I just don't have the money to constantly buy new books
Also your library has so many titles you may have never heard of. You can try so many books and genres and never have to spend a dollar. How could anyone not like the library?
Unfortunately the library in my city doesn’t have lots of stuff to choose from. It’s sad, cause if would probably keep me from buying so many books, but if there’s not the books I read, I can’t use them. :(
E-ink screens are fairly delicate and scratch/break much more easily than a glass screen. I'd rather spend the extra on a cover that can get beat up than have to be extra precious with my expensive electronic when I'm traveling. Book pouches make sense to me in the same way... I've had many a paperback have their pages or cover get damaged from being tossed in a bag. Though they do seem like they'd be fairly simple to DIY with scrap material
Yes! I have three (in different sizes) that I made myself and I use them everyday. I also put a little hoop/handle on them so I can hold the book with a finger while walking ti the library to read during my lunch break
It took about a month for my cover to come in the mail after I got my ereader & I literally treated like it's made of porcelain! Tho now that I have the case, I still avoid having it in the same bag pocket as an unsecured water bottle because I had too many cases of "oops didn't close that properly" 😅
For the page holder, I don't have a disability but the page holder has genuinely helped me so much. My hands/pinky start to hurt when I'm holding a book open for extended periods of time, and this tool has allowed me to hold the book open w/out putting that strain on my hands. Even though I do not have a disability, it has greatly helped me.
My tbr list is in my memory. Like idk why you need a cart to know which books are on your tbr. You can just pick out the ones you haven’t read from your bookshelf.
Yess Or if you really want them separated make a separate section on the bookcase for tbr or utilize an empty surface like a dresser, window sill etc. to keep them on
Yeah, I have a list of my unread books just so I can keep track of how many there are, but they just live on my shelves mixed with the rest of them and I know at a glance which ones I've read. It just makes more sense to me to go ahead and organize them.
i use a cart bc i don’t have enough space on my bookshelf 😅 my book cart is just a smaller, less expensive additional bookshelf (i got it on marketplace for like $15). it’s normally where i put new books until i can find a place for them.
Same! I also note down the name+author of books that sound interesting, so that when my tbr list is smaller, I can borrow it from the library or buy it then.
I use a book sleeve when I know my book will be near water or a waterbottle with condensation. I often bring my books to the beach or on vacation by the pool. I want to make sure when I jump into the water, it's not getting wet when it's out of sight.
May I please mention using your local library whenever possible!! It solves a lot a lot a lot of the issues invented to make you want to buy a product! Amazon products? Your local library will give you access to Overdrive, Borrowbox, Libby, etc to use instead of Audible, and those three are all apps you can use on your phone - you don't really NEED to buy an ereader. Book sleeves? Library books usually come in plastic sleeves anyways, nicely protected! Buying more books and not reading them? Borrow from the library! If you borrow books from the library and don't read them, it's guilt-free because you haven't spent any money, you're supporting your local library and the author, and you won't ever reach a point of book clutter or book-buying regret because you can easily return them and someone else can read them. TBR cart? The entire library can be your TBR cart if you want it to be, you don't need an actual cart in your home taking up space.
I love my library but good gods they don't have even half the books I'm interested in and when requesting they be added I get "these are too niche/published more than 2 years ago and cant be added to our collection" 🥲 (I'm not in the US, but NL)
@@ThePathOfAshes yeah, unfortunately that's super common. It's why I said use your local library whenever possible, because I have the exact same problem, being into mostly sci-fi lol. Do keep making those requests though! Even if they can't get that particular book in and you have to buy it elsewhere, requesting books is still an awesome way to support your local library, and they might reconsider those books when they're next bulk buying stock! I'm a librarian myself and we LOVE requests. We wish so badly we could fulfill every single one, but the more requests we get from patrons then the more proof we have that such-and-such book is in demand and that stock should order it in even if it's niche/too old.
I've been using my library waaaay more often than I normally do and honestly it's saved me so much money! Every single thing you touched on I've experienced. Every time there's a new book that's out that I'm interested in, I just go to my library website and ask for it to be held for me. It helps prevent me from keeping a book just due to the sunk-cost fallacy. If I reeeeeally LOVE the book, THEN I go and buy the book. I also feel a lot better about supporting my local library system instead of just giving away money to a billionaire by just randomly buying a ton of books from Amazon that I may or may not like.
I LOVE using the Libby app for library books! I posted a main comment about this, but I’ll just say it here too, that ereaders are great for accessibility reasons! More specifically ones with e-ink screens. I’m photosensitive, and looking at my phone too much can make my daily migraines worse and make me incredibly nauseous. Having an ereader where I can completely turn off all the lights and the screen is like a page allows me to read ebooks even when I’m feeling sick. (I just like to spread awareness since I also used to think there wasn’t a point to ereaders LOL). But yes, please support your local library everyone 🙏
i have paperback books where the covers are torn and corners are frayed because they're banging against my keys and other items in my purse, so i understand using book sleeves to protect your book, but i just wrapped my book in a bandana i found in junk drawer, problem solved 🙂
Accessibility consultant here. Accessibility isn't just about *now*, it is also for prevention. Accessibility is for disabled and non-disabled people. So having those page holders now can/will help you in the future from having any disabling issues with your hands.
the book sleeve is SUPER effective at keeping the paperbacks from creasing, bending, or getting wet if a water bottle leaks or something. they're like maybe $15 on etsy and really pull their weight
I don't have one of those page holders, but arthrosis runs in my family, so when I hold a big book for a long time, my thumb sometimes starts to cramp up and my wrist feels sore. So I imagine this gadget is supposed to help with that. What I don't understand about people's annotating habits is if you tab (nearly) every single page, you might as well tab none of them. How are you ever gonna find anything again? I also annotate my books and only ever felt the need to tab that extensively for one book (a fantasy novel with an unreliable narrator that required me to keep track of all the contradicting new info coming in at every single page). Usually, if I tab 20-30 passages, it means I enjoyed the book a lot. Totally agree about not needing a new e-reader. I had my Kindle Keyboard since 2011 and only replaced it this year after the battery reached its end. (And I probably would have just replaced the battery if it wasn't for the integrated light in the newer models, which is a game changer for bedtime reading.)
the bed time reading >>> yes i totally get wanting something new, and consuming isnt always bad, like its so amazing that you took the time to consider what you need in a product and what will look like you long term. thats thoughtful consumption and we looooove to see it
Aw man, I had a 3rd gen kindle from like….2010? Oh gosh, how to explain this LMAO. Basically all my stuff is in a different country so I didn’t have access for years. I really wanted to find it again cause the e-ink screen does wonders for my migraines. When I visited the states again and finally found it, it wouldn’t turn on. So I bought the special chord it needs…..and it would say it was charging but wouldn’t hold it. So I got a new battery and it turned on and “worked”……but I couldn’t connect it to the WiFi which is a necessity for using it. At that point I already left the states, and after hours of fiddling around and researching I discovered that you can ONLY sync it up/update it in the states 🥲 So I ended up being gifted a brand new one so that I could still read LMAO. Thus is my saga 😔
I got a new one a while back, even though my old one was still functional. But I disliked The Design, font size etc. to The Point that I didn't use it at all. The old one I've used to lend IT to other people in my Family for vacation or If they're considering getting one themselves. The new one works great for me and now I actually gravitate more to IT, especially during late night Reading (DARK Mode is a Game changer) or in the train
After multiple books getting covered in tea from floating around in my bag unprotected, I got a book sleeve. Countless books have been saved. I also invested in a better container for tea 😅
You bring up a lot of good points and I mostly agree, however I do disagree on two of them: Book sleeve: I'm not precious about my covers; I crack spines etc., but I work in a very dusty and muddy, sometimes wet, job, and I don't want my books getting ruined in that way. I think for the small price of a book sleeve, they're a really nice and harmless item, especially if they are handmade. E-reader accessories: I have a case for the same reason as above, but I also use a popsocket on it. I don't use a popsocket on my phone or anything else, but my Kindle is an awkward size and it is nice to have support for my fingers to keep it balanced. Also I am autistic and love fidgeting with it, which keeps me focused. I love stickers, I maximalise everything and make it my own. I think personality is a really nice thing to see visually. I would be inclined to agree if people are spending extortionate amounts on their stickers, and I'm sure some do, but I think on the most part this is also harmless and adds no weight to the reader at all.
Agree sm!! I’ve been collecting stickers on and off for awhile now and can’t wait to get a case for my e-reader (so it can be protected) and so I can customize it. I’m also autistic and love maximalism. But am I going to go out of my way to buy new stickers for my case? No, I’m perfectly excited to choose from my own collection.
Same back in my school days a cup of this to go coffee (you can buy it in Germany sealed) was in my backpack and we'll it ruined everything so yeah.😂 😂😂 I'm glad about this little extra protection for the books
Okay but I absolutely love my pop socket on my e-reader and phone. Makes it easy easier to hold, which is great for if I'm reading for a long time. A lot easier on my hands and wrists. Would recommend that. You only need one though, not a bunch to switch out colors or anything
My tiny hands cramp so bad without that extra support. I’m also a huge klutz and it has saved my phone sooo many times lol. And important to note, but they also have a recycle program!
I use book sleeves because I have a lot of random stuff in my backpack and it keeps the book safe. Especially important if it's a library book or I borrowed the book from someone. Also protects it in case my drink bottle leaks or it rains. But most of all it stops my keys scratching the screen of my ereader (learned that one the hard way!)
Nope, your book will not be okay by just putting it in your bag. I destroyed 3 books by putting them in my daily bag and I felt devastated. So I decided to buy a book cover and it was AMAZING! Best decision ever, no more beaten books!
i really love how you’re creating a space for mindful consumption (and being an anti amazon household 😤) without shaming people who might have these things. i have book sleeves, not that many but some, and i mainly use them for books i bring to author signings so they don’t get that banged up against each other and sometimes it’s a long book festival day-plus i have a book sleeve that looks like a library card that i get authors to also sign if they can, so it’s like a bonus souvenir for me to keep those memories. also i have annotation supplies and always tell people “if you didn’t like annotating books for school, you’re probably not gonna find it interesting/keep up with it now” (i was an english major and have a lot of fun tabbing my books up)
8:28 You may not care about paperback covers getting bent, pages scrunched up, or even ripped out because something in your purse/bag got in between the pages. I have a book sleep for my current paper back. I have another cover, that is meant for a bible that I have books that I take to meetings. If you do not like it fine, but for me as an AuDHD who just throws things in my bags, it is a godsend.
I came here to say this. My paperbacks get brutalized in the bag if it isn't covered. I did make my own knitted book sleeve out of scrap yarn to save money.
I don't have page holders but I can definitely see the value if you're reading for a long time. But an important point to note is that a lot of accessibility aids are not financially viable to produce if they were *only* to be used by people who *need* them. They depend upon people who don't *need* them to still use them because they think they're kinda cool or they help a bit, in o order to keep them in the market for the people who do *need* them.
What I do to avoid buying every book I’m interested in is I take pictures of the covers. And recently I compiled all the books have taken pictures of into a spreadsheet. This way when I am ready to buy a physical or ebook I can look back at the spreadsheet and find what book I have already been interested in. I know this is not revolutionary but I think I could help decrease the feeling that you need to buy the book in case you forget about it or can’t find it again.
Lastly, it depends on how much you put in your bag, but crushed pens, leaking fluids (water, juice, hand sanitizer), candy that falls out, etc. can do a load of damage to your books. The book sleeve adds an extra layer of protection because you can wash that, but you can’t fully clean a book.
Ok as someone who has crocheted far too much in my 23 short years and gave herself some bad carpal tunnel/arthritis/unknown joint issue... the page holder might actually be a good thing for me. I did not know such a thing existed but I sometimes have to put my books down before I'm "done" so I can give my hands a break. On the same token... I agree with the book sleeve thing. I crocheted myself one and use it for paperbacks when I'm on the go, but otherwise I don't use them!
I didn't even annotate in college. I wrote down the page number and used little bookmarks made from torn paper. I hated to write in my books, and I still don't do it. Ultimate declutter... the library! I pretty much read library ebooks and audiobooks.
I got the page holder thingy because i felt like it would help, but it has served me SO MUCH BETTER as a fidgeting toy!! So, loving it, but not for what it was intended, hahahah!
Book sleeves are probably the one thing I don’t agree. At the risk to sound like a hipster, I’ve used one before those got popular. My books always get scratched with random stuff in my bag, the corners get damaged with me taking my books everywhere; and more than once I have got my books damp when rain leaked on my bag or a pen explodes or something similar. It also applies to e-readers, my screen has gotten scratched without protection. They have been a game changer because even if I own my books, I’d like to keep them in good condition for years to come. Then again, I know how to sew and I’ve sewn mine, and the ones I’ve used in the past were tiny, book sized totes I’ve gotten as gifts with purchase of clothes or other stuff (yay for reusing things).
I love making bookmarks for the books I'm reading. Nothing too complicated, just too pieces of paper stuck together. When I'm closer to the middle of the book and I know the vibes and the themes, I think on a design that represents the book and draw it with pencils, paint or markers. It doesn't really turn out the way I want it to be, because I'm not the best with art in general, but it is just a fun way for me to further connect with the book
I thought the page holder was for arthritis (both me and my mom love ours)! I don't know why anyone else would want or need it. I appreciate the accessibility callout! And I killed my TBR by using Libby and the library - who wants to spend that much $$ on a book you're not even sure you'll like?!
It’s also to prevent issues, not just address already existing health issues. I currently don’t read a lot on paper, but if one does, holding a book for a longer time will strain the wrist. Using a holder might prevent some of that strain.
I think people should buy without culpability harmless little things such a bookmark or a booksleeve. Maybe these things are not strictly necessary for enjoying reading ( even if for me they are pretty useful, especially bookmarks) but sure can bring some joy to everyday life, so why not? You can easily find handmade ones and I always prefer handmade products if possible but even if they aren't I really think people should be entitled to buy with no guilt
I know what you said about bookmarks. But I need a bookmark with “the Amazon haters household” printed on it. Side note, I use book covers because I beat the hell out of my books if I do t and I like taking care of my books. 😂
The page holder is to help remove strain on your hands when holding a book, especially hardback. I think it helps a lot for many people as you can notice the pain lessening in the wrist and hand tendons. 😊
I have not bought a SINGLE bookmark in my life! And ironically this video is making me want to look into page holders lol 😅 like my wrist and finger got hurt so badly while I was reading war and peace and I'm already planning to start reading some more thick paperbacks by the end of this year (monte cristo and brothers karamazov)
the inside of my bag is MESSY which is why i use book sleeves - but i have two that i crocheted, one is the size of a hardcover, one for softcovers. plus they protect the corners of hardcovers :) but you don't need one for every aesthetic of book cover to match!
I'm sure a million other people have already said something similar, but my spouse loves to read laying down on their side, but that means the pages slip out from under their pinky, so I bought them a page keeper for that purpose! Thanks so much for keeping us mindfully consuming!
mabye this isn't welcomed and i agree with everything else in this video so much, but i crocheted myself a booksleeve because when i kept a book in my bag i accidentally tore off the cover when i was pulling it out because it got caught on something else lol. but if your bag is more organized than mine this wouldnt be a problem but i do love my booksleeve. i only have one tho and i made it myself. i also have a friend who wraps her books in plastic grocery bags lol. we are just messy people
I also made my own booksleeve! (Okay, booksleeves, because I made different sizes for different books). Before that I used to wrap them in the little paper baggies that some bookstores (including the one I worked at) put your books in to bring them home safely, and that worked fine too! I just love crocheting booksleeves they're so easy to mindlessly make lol
It is actually so crazy to me how little people talk about Amazon's impact on the publishing and book buying space. Like they're terrible and almost all the creators I watch, regularly buy from them
so the biggest thing I disagreed with was the tbr cart but here’s my reasoning: my bookshelves are 50-75 depending on whether they’re on sale or not. I specifically have to buy short ones bc I’m in a rental and tall ones could fall over and kill someone since my floor is carpet and I can’t drill them into the wall. I have run out of space on them. and I have dogs so I don’t like stacks of books around, bc I don’t want them damaged. so rather than spending 50-70 on another bookshelf (that I don’t even really have space for) I spent like $25 on a tbr cart, which then allowed me to clear space on my bookshelves again without needing to go thru and buy an entire new one. could I have a smaller tbr list? yes. absolutely. I will not disagree with that in the slightest. however I don’t pay for cable or wifi or any of the normal escape from reality things. so I tend to like to have a massive amount of books on hand, but I also know they WILL be read. I’ve had weeks where I read 3 books each day, for every day. so limiting my tbr cart would just be limiting me. that said, that’s ME and not the norm. so I think the biggest thing is not letting other people make your decisions for you and figuring out what works best for your life and wallet
I use my old book sleeves to keep my books from ripping since my book bag is small, and so many times have my books ended up being damaged (such as covers being ripped, pages being ripped, etc) because I have so much stuff I need to shove into this small bag. It is honestly helpful, book sleeves are great for keeping books from becoming damaged if you have a small backpack for school or are traveling a lot. I also don’t buy any new book sleeves, if anybody ever wants to buy book sleeves, just buy two or three at most, and don’t buy the super fancy ones, the book sleeves from dollar general work just fine, and will do the exact same thing as prettier book sleeves. Also loved your video! ❤
My tbr list is "books I already own at my house" ($1 used book sales always get me), and a tagged list on Storygraph. I tag each book by what library / internet archive / Libby format the book is available from so I can read those before buying anything else!! Idk, we are so lucky to live in the digital era. Books, movies, music we can all access in digital format first (or borrow a copy from the library), and then if we /really/ like it we can go ahead and purchase a copy for ourselves.
Books sleeves - I bought one once but it didn't work out because it was the wrong size for larger books. However, I sew and would to make one or more to protect hardback books. It seems a fun little project. I feel okay just chucking a paperback book in my bag, but avoid transporting hardback books in a bag and would like to do so. I chuck all sorts of things into my bags and don't want the hardback books to get banged up. Book marks - I like the ones with ribbons/tassles which I use over and over. Often, I have more than one book going at a time. In book stores, I usually turn down the book marks unless it's something super interesting. Page holders - I use a book stand/holder for a variety of reasons. When I've had issues with my shoulders/arms, it has been necessary for accessibility reasons, but it's still helpful even now when I don't have issues (usually). It can hold my book/ipad when I'm eating. I use it to display pretty books etc.
I have a raskog cart, but I don’t use it for my TBRs (they’re just on my shelf where they belong lol). I use it for all my library books. I have them at the top, and then once I’ve read them and they’re ready to return I move them to the bottom. And it can double as a second bedside table if one of my friends sleeps over since I only have one.
no i hear you so loud and clear!!! its not about never purchasing these things ever but its about like, why are we all getting pressured to buy all this shit to look so pretty and perfect
6:36 i got a kindle paper white 11th gen almost two years ago, and i literally cannot make this up-it’s literally unusable at this point with no damage or signs of wear. It literally will not do what it’s supposed to do for $150 dollars. Best Buy where I bought it refuse to look into it or fix and Amazon won’t do anything either. I travel a lot and this was going to be a game changer. I will NEVER NEVER get a kindle ever again. I’m even hesitant on rolling the dice on a Kobo. Am I going to throw $300 dollars away after I’m done? Everything is made to break in this society and it makes me so angry. A kindle is not a complicated device that is impossible to fix. THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO FIX IT even if I pay for the repair!!
I just love that you consider disabled folks. I recently bought an e-reader case with a holding strap part to prevent e-reader slaps and it worked well for me. Keep up the good work 👍🏽
I got a clear case for my kobo and I print out a little seasonal image as the seasons change if I want to change up how it looks. I just size the image in Canva and trim as needed. A great way to avoid seasonal case/sleeve/skin FOMO
Omg! Tbr cart! That's a good idea! I had to shrink my library to a 4x4 cube storage shelf and I've collected a handful since that don't really fit. But I /already have/ this little 3 tiered cart.....I could totally use that for my books and my WIP crochet. You have influenced me to rearrange my room a little!! Thank you!
Oh, the book sleeves thing i can see being an excusable purchase under specific conditions. Like, buy one that's good for multiple sizes NOT buy 24 for every color and size. But like a) some of us are messy as fuck. Books get ruined around me. Sometimes it's my fault (pudding) sometimes it's just a dog with a chewing fixation 🤷♀️ b) bag accidents happen. Thermos leaks, coffee spills, bag spills contents into street. The extra protection for your book might be worth it. c) the book your reading is special. Special/limited edition, special to YOU, borrowed from the library or a friend. Maybe it's a student book and you want to sell it at the end of the year. d) you're a book archivist, and you like to keep your books in their best condition. Having a THICK or FULLY covered additional case for your book isn't the WORST thing in the world if you can afford that luxury. But it is a luxury, and you could probably look online and find some DIY alternatives that would also keep your book safe. That's just my opinion tho. I'm glad you're here and deinfluencing us. Doing globs work 💕
I personally do need a book sleeve because my books always get damaged in some sort of way when they’re in my bag. But I didn’t buy some expensive bs I just crochet myself one.
As another artist I will definitely say the printed ones you get at the library or something will end up getting lost but I if I got a book mark from an artist I would cherish it because it’s more about the art than just something to keep my page 🫶
I keep a list of all media recommendations (games, movies, books, etc) on my notekeeping app, and that includes any book I find intresting but don't intend to read immediately. The nice thing about wide-release books is they tend to stick around. You will be able to get your hands on it later, trust me. If you also shop local, ask your local bookstore proprietor about their process for ordering books though the store. Every bookstore I've stepped it offers to aquire books for you if you want something they don't have on the shelves. Many have an online catalog.
When it comes to books I haven’t read yet, I put them on the shelf so that the titles from the spines can be seen. Books that I have already read are reversed so the pages are seen. It looks nice and attracts more attention to the titles that can be seen. ❤
the bookmarks one is so funny bc unless i've made them myself (i have sm art material and for some reason that means i should make a corresponding bookmark for every book), i have not bought one in years. all the ones i do use are from a decade ago and some of them are metal so those are 100% outliving me. also, as some who annotates, the margins of the books are right there and also if you do need the space, just put it on a sticky note or on the rare case you need to write an essay/rant (in my case, not so rare (im not in school so that tells you how much of a nerd i am)), just have a loose-leaf sheet, fold it in thirds and stick it in there (i use random paperclips from a pack i got also a decade ago to clip them in)
I love my bookmarks. I know I don't need more. I know I didn't need one in the first place. But nothing beats the joy of of having a cute bookmark for me, especially if it's character art or related somehow to the book I'm reading. It's like keeping concert tickets, back in the day when you actually got physical concert tickets. Keeping movie tickets! It's like that. They bring me joy. But they are actually a waste of money, yes, you are absolutely correct. I will level with you on that.
About page holders: depending on the book the pages might fall and cover the text when you hold it with one hand, or the book might keep closing itself when you put it on the table.
I have the tabs cause I don't like writing on the books, just in case i ever pass on the book, sell trade it etc. I just remove it and thats it. I do take note on a seperate notebook. All my bookmarks are memories, gifts whenever someone goes on a trip and ask me what I want I ask for a bookmark of the place or a postcard, once for a birthday I ask everyone if they wanted to gift me something I wanted a handmade bookmarks, a friend even crochet me one so they are memories for me that i get to look when reading. I'm also guilty of the TBR cart but trust me I need more bookshelves im out of space, im a mood reader so i having options helps but i do go on book bans once my tbr cart is full again. Book Covers also prevents damage from other items on your bag, waterbottles, even my wallet fallin on top of the book has ruined and crumpling the pages it cause a weird angle or weight of the item open the book etc. even preventing it from pen stabbing or ink spills But i understand, i think in general we just need to be de-influence from overconsumption we honestly only need one of each.
I have a case on my kindle too and plan on getting either the straps of a pop socket for, so its easier to hold D: I don't think this channel is for me ahahaha
A Year ago I made the switch to only buying books if I liked them and can see myself re-reading them. I read a lot, so not only is this a lot better for my purse, but it also stopped my Frustration from hating a book I spent money buying. That only works because my library is awesome and has lots of new releases
My kindle case was definitely an intentional purchase lmao. The buy itself supported a small business and it gave me a pocket to put a tracker tile on...AFTER i lost the dang thing and found it two days later. "I think it's all gonna be okay" well said. Thanks for a great video ❤
I’ve never bought a book sleeve but have you really never had a book get beat up inside your backpack? There’s other objects in there and it moves around a lot. If you have a laptop charger and a spiral bound notebook in there, those things will beat the crap out of a book. Also schools used to require covers for textbooks that you’d be borrowing from the school and returning at the end of the year.
That said even if I bought a book sleeve I would never remember to bring it with me. I can’t even remember all the necessary steps in daily life, I’m not gonna add another step!!
Agree with some (Page holder- uncomfy as hell for me!) but do not for example with the book sleeve. A friend of mine sew me two bags with a zipper: book-bags and they saved so many of my non-hardcovers! Not only the edgea but also that I shove down something in my bag and spill/ negatively Impact the Pages.
Thank you for acknowledging the accessibility usage of some items! I'm disabled (partial paralysis of one arm, and both my thumbs dislocate easily) and often see products that I use out of necessity being mentioned in overconsumption critiques or de-influencing videos without mention of it. I'm not offended by people not promoting these items as accessibility tools, but I will admit, it becomes tiresome feeling like I'm living an alternate reality than most people after years of dealing with the tiny inconveniences of being disabled. It's just nice to feel understood sometimes. Totally agree with everything you've mentioned, though! The overconsumption in online reading spaces has annoyed the heck out of me and I feel like it further turns people off from the main point (actually reading and enjoying yourself!) by making them feel like they need to have the latest trendy accessories or a giant aesthetic stack of TBRs in order to share their hobby.
7:37 - In the early 1970's this was a practice of the Hess oil company. They would open a gas station, sell gas below cost (I saw gas for 10 cents a gallon at a Hess station when Esso (now Exxon) was selling it for 33 cents a gallon) to run small gas stations out of business and when that happened Hess gas prices went up to what was normal for the time.
The page holder though sounds like an amazing product to make reading comfortable. Also if you buy a wooden one you’d only need one in your whole life which makes it a very smart purchase to le
That Amazon rant comes from such a place of privilege. I get that it's not the best for the publishing industry and independent bookstores. But not everyone lives in the US or the UK where books in English are easily available. Some people need to use Amazon because not using Amazon means not reading at all. Libraries here don't have books in English and the few places that sell them have an incredibly limited selection, so there's really no other alternative.
For me, the book sleeve is a godsend for my paperback books as I commute. I have to commute or bike sometimes an hour with other essentials in my bag (water bottle, keys, wallet, etc) and I love to read in those quiet times. But the friction inside the bag or taking it in and out after different stops really damages the book. So I just have one that fits (most) paperbacks and have the backpack ruin that itself.
I've got a few of the book sleeves, they are actually really good. I am rough on books and carry a back pack. So a book can often end up buried and twisted. So the sleeves are useful. It also stops the book from opening in my bag and gives it some protection from my lunch etc. But I have I think 3... not one per book I own which some people seem to have!
I use a pillow sleeve (like the bag that the pillow cases and bed sheets came in) as my book sleeve 🤣 it is cotton fabric and has an elastic on top. Perfect size. I need this because my bag and other stuff in it at the same time ruined the cover on a 1950s copy of a Shaw play. It helps! It was a tote bag so it kept moving around with the other stuff like my keys and wallet. The deinfluencing should be u dont need more than one and u probably can turn an old pillow case into one easily.
To keep my cookbook open, I use stuff lying about: crystals, paperweights, a couple of knives, etc. I make my own bookmarks or use old business cards. Why use a cart to put books on?
I have like 20 books on my tbr shelf.... I have to remind myself I don't need to buy books constantly!!! I do have some exceptions though- like if I'm on vacation I always go to local bookstores, get recommendations from their book sellers, & buy a book or two as a souvenir. I always end up with a nice memory from my trip and a free bookmark to show where I've been 💕 And if I see a book I've been wanting to read at my local used bookstore I'm snapping it up... I spent full price for a hardcover Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow at Target and the next week I saw it at my used bookstore. I was so mad at myself lol.
I love annotating and I do pick a different color scheme each time, but not to match the book and I don’t buy them for each book. I just cannot dedicate specific colors to one thing across all my annotating because I like to track different stuff per book, so I will decide on a per book basis what I’m gonna tab and what colors (that I already own) I will use.
I like to actually make my book covers for my library books! Especially for paper backs I don’t want them jostling around and bending as I tend to toss my bag around a lot and keep lots of stuff in it. I don’t like the idea of buying them, crocheting them is much more fun!
I wrap my kindle in a vintage jil sander silk scarf, it helps prevent scratches in my bag from my keys and it feels so bougie 😎 I agree with everything you say btw! Great list!!
Let me just say that I have a kindle sleeve (which I crocheted myself) because my kindle does get scratched up in my bag, and a past one has been broken from just being thrown directly in my bag. A pop socket helps me hold my kindle when I'm reading, idk I just find it helpful so that my hand doesn't cramp up and it doesn't drop on my face. Of course this is just what I find helpful and necessary from trial and error. Also I just put my tbr in a place that I can see it everyday so that I don't forget, also that way putting a finished book on my bookshelf is like a reward.
A lot, and I mean A LOT, of these products I've received in book boxes (which I don't subscribe to anymore.) It sort of just encapsulates, at least for me, how book boxes send you a bunch of stuff you absolutely do not need.
Literally just had the most wonderful day out buying 2 books from my local mystery bookstore, when your video crossed my feed. Seeing all the TBR carts and shelves online stresses me out! I used to feel so guilty buying more new books ppl would recommend and then not reading them for YEARS. Finally decided to instead borrow the books I hadn't read from my library and only buy books I had read and knew for a fact I loooved. Wallet saved and Marie Kondo'd my bookshelves :D
I've had a tbr-cart for years, but I’ve always called it an art cart, since I use it to store my art supplies. Those carts are a great place to store art stuff, but I don’t get the whole 100 book tbr thing in them
My favourite bookmark that I use all the time is one I got in a craft subscription box a couple of years back, and my next most used are the ones I get from a local independent bookshop where they throw one into every order for free. Still doesn't stop me eyeing the pretty new ones I could buy, but it does make me less likely to actually buy them! Most of my book purchases are as much to support my local bookshops as to actually have the books, because I feel it's essential to keep these spaces around. I'll try to buy from independents first, then chain stores (which we're down to only 2 of here in the UK, and only 1 of them is really good for books - the other has heavily diversified and is more a newsagent and stationery store that also has some books). Just yesterday I found a local independent bookstore that will special order any book that's still in print, so I suspect my days of online ordering are completely over now.
Hehehehe I think that I have all of these products except the TBR cart. I will say that I can never have enough dyslexia bookmarks. I prefer the yellow pane ones. It helps to isolate one line at a time and keeps my eyes from going all over the page. I also do have a couple of covers for my eReader. I use this reader pretty much daily, and I will drop it. It is also easier to hold with the case. As far as the booksleeves, I love these! It prevents your books from showing wear. Books can easily snag on notebooks or computers, etc. I will say that someone did buy that wood page spreader for me. I hated it! I actually have EDS in my hands, and WOW! Using the wood page spreader made my hands ache like you wouldn't believe. Instead of that, you could try to use a bookstand, and I use a bone folder paper creaser. This also is a nice tool to use if you cover your books in mylar plastic - reusing products is a win!
A good alternative to the colorsoft is the kobo libra color! I love mine!! Honestly tho I don’t think a color ereader is required period especially if you already have one - my KLC is my first ereader ever and just happened to be the model I was most interested in
I always get little bumps and scratches on the covers and sides of my book because I often carry them with me in my backpack with my other stuff. I don't have the money to buy a book sleeve so I use a small towel where I wrap my book in. Sure I get weird looks when I get this towel bundle out of my backpack and unwrap it but it gets the job done.
I definitely think people get very caught up in what the CAN buy and don’t think about if they SHOULD buy it! I’ve definitely been tempted by some of these, the TBR cart and the Kindle specifically. The funny thing is I don’t even like Kindle or read KU books, I have a Nook reader that works perfectly fine! The only reason I want a Kindle is it’s smaller so more hand-held and I like the look of the stickers on the back and that’s NOT a good enough reason to get a Kindle when I have a perfectly good Nook with Libby! The page holder thing I’m iffy about. I have one and will say it actually does help your hand not cramp as much when reading hardback books holding it with one hand. But I feel like the design leaves a lot to be desired and I also generally don’t read a lot of hardback books. It certainly isn’t an ultimate game-changer for everyone like people say it is.
interesting with the hard cover vs paperback! Im a hard cover lover and didnt even think about the comparison between the two (I know I am in the minority here)
I'm the one who buys the page holders! Lol. And yes it's for accessibility. I have RSIs in my shoulders/forearms so I try out book holders to make it easier on my arms. They're not great, tbh! Sometimes they're helpful, but sometimes I find (depending on the book size, my posture, and other factors) that I need to put a lot of pressure down with my thumb to keep the page open, which defeats the purpose. I have yet to find a book holder that I'll happily use for all/most of my books. If your arms don't hurt, I don't recommend them. If they do hurt, they might help *sometimes*. But you'll probably need a combo of different ones to meet your needs, anyway. They suck.
I use a booksleve because I'm an really active person and travel a lot, like go skiing, camping, hicking and so on. So I have a waterproof booksleve just incase of spills in my bag or my bag getting wet in some way due to the weather. I also borrow a lot of books from other people and the library so It's been a life savior.
I also don’t understand what the page holder even does, unless someone might need it for accessibility purposes. And I’m such a sucker for cat bookmarks. I have plenty of bookmarks (and guitar string packets I use as bookmarks) and yet I recently bought a couple of cat bookmarks. I keep eying the TBR cart because I put my current reads on one random shelf, the books I just got but haven’t filmed a book haul for yet on another random shelf, and the books I already read and haven’t mentioned in a wrap-up yet on yet another random shelf, and it’s such a mess. I have a couple of book sleeves, and I really only use it for taking hardcover books somewhere (like to get them signed at a book event that I’m traveling to). But since Covid they haven’t had much of a purpose for me anymore.
My hand starts to hurt when I’m holding a heavy book for awhile. I noticed the page holder helps my thumbs because it distributes the pressure more evenly plus if you read out on a windy day at the beach it’s really handy 😊
I feel like a lot of people are missing the point of the video... It's not to bash someone who has purchased any of these items, it's to open the conversation of making intentional purchases in the age of digital marketing where you are being sold things everywhere you look. Especially in the bookish space, we all like cute things, we all want to be a part of something, but if something doesn't make sense for you and/or your lifestyle, you probably don't need it!
100%!
I do have a couple of items on this list like a book bag to protect my books and a case for my e-reader to protect it as well.
That doesn't mean I need 10 book bags and a different case for every season and holiday (I have one of each and if it for some odd reason decides to break, I'll get a replacement but not before that)
Yeah, exactly. A video like this is about understanding the ways capitalism can (and probably has) invaded your hobby. We live around so much consumption now, we're so entrenched, that it can be hard to see when companies are taking advantage of the mentality that our society has purposefully grown within us to always be wanting & NEEDING more. Sometimes we're so stuck in our own soup that we don't ask "but do I actually need this thing being shoved at me all over my feed?"
TLDR -- this is a good thing to talk about 😂
why I have a book sleeve: mostly protecting my library books from being folded/torn by things in my purse
@@maiiau we love a respectful library user 🫶🏻
I have one single book sleeve to protect my paperbacks when I put them in my tote bag and I made sure to get one made by a local craftswoman instead of ordering one from a big company. Mine has little fish all over the outside and it makes me smile every time I look at it 🐟🐠😁
i love throwing my books in agressive purses and backpacks (agressive because they’re a mess and a menace). they get terribly damaged without a sleeve, so i just make my own! they are very easy, quick projects for even beginner sewist, or even people who don’t own a sewing machine!
I'm a little similar. I just use it because my bag gets messy so easy. There's a hardback I have that I accidentally messed up so I knew book sleeves were a must for me
@@A.H._ or you can crochet booksleeves! thats what I do
I only bought one bookmark in my whole life and it was Jesus peeking around a corner and he says “is that smut?”. Lmao, I don’t even read smut, but I had to have it.
Slay
Is the best bookmark out there , so funny
Ha! I've seen that bookmark, and I almost bought it!
ROFL
I would pay good money for that bookmark
Book sleeves are honestly a life saver for commuting, I trade my books in for credit towards buying other books so if I can keep them in good condition for the next person in happy
Makes sm sense!
commented on insta post, but thought i'd leave this personal tip here for people struggling with spending/using it as self-medication: whenever i feel like spending money on online shopping, i go to whatever platform i currently want to shop at, put literally all the items i like in the cart, review after I'm done, leave them there & return a few days/a week later & review what's in the cart again, removing what I no longer want, leave it again for a month & if i STILL want any items after a month, then i can buy them, knowing i'll actually need and use them & it's not about ownership/immediate dopamine. depending on the price tag of the item & how bank-breaking it is, the time periods can be extended to a few months etc
this is a great tip!! thank you for taking the time to share here as well
Something I find really helpful when I feel a need to get new stuff is to go to the library. You can check out a bunch of books, get the dopamine hit, and return them in a few weeks after the feeling has worn off. You spend no money, you don't clutter up your house, AND you help the library because the more books that get checked out the more funding they get (at least for the public libraries where I live). Win-win.
I've been doing this for years.
Great idea but doesn’t really work when buying things and clothes for my toddler 😅 by the time a few months pass he’s already in a new size but still needs clothes.
One of the things I've started doing is put stuff in the cart, and then see what the total WOULD be. Half it, and put that half into savings. Then remove that equivalent out of the cart before waiting a few days to see if I still really want what's left. Helps me build my savings and still feel like I "did something" in the short term.
I will say a book sleeve or a a book bag is actually useful. But you can also just put it in a tote in you other bag. The bag is just to keep the little baby from getting fucked up. like I love a lived in book but I dont want a book whose cover has been folded in half by the junk in my bag
totally get that
you went so hard on the book sleeve and I think it's the most useful one lol. I've never bought it but the one I got as a present is really useful for when I'm packing lunch and a book in my bag or specially when it rains and my bag gets wet. it has saved my book a lot of times
5:20 Sooo true! I think instead of buying every new release you’re excited about, borrowing from the library helps you still enjoy those new releases and be in the know. And then you can always get a physical copy later if you loved it. I think a physical library should be a representation of you, so only buying books you KNOW you love is huge. Libby, you are everything to me
yes yes 100%
I wish my library had new releases 😭 To be fair, I live in a very small town and my library is in the next town over that is only slightly bigger than mine, soooo it's severly underfunded. I'm talking 'doesn't even have a supermarket' small town 😂 Though, I do prefer to get books from my library when they have them. I just don't have the money to constantly buy new books
Also your library has so many titles you may have never heard of. You can try so many books and genres and never have to spend a dollar. How could anyone not like the library?
If you live in a small town, libraries don't get new releases until like 6 months- 1 year later 😢
Unfortunately the library in my city doesn’t have lots of stuff to choose from. It’s sad, cause if would probably keep me from buying so many books, but if there’s not the books I read, I can’t use them. :(
E-ink screens are fairly delicate and scratch/break much more easily than a glass screen. I'd rather spend the extra on a cover that can get beat up than have to be extra precious with my expensive electronic when I'm traveling. Book pouches make sense to me in the same way... I've had many a paperback have their pages or cover get damaged from being tossed in a bag. Though they do seem like they'd be fairly simple to DIY with scrap material
love love love
I've had my e-reader screen break from throwing it in my bag! Now I have a little protective bag for my e-reader (a replacement)
Yes! I have three (in different sizes) that I made myself and I use them everyday. I also put a little hoop/handle on them so I can hold the book with a finger while walking ti the library to read during my lunch break
It took about a month for my cover to come in the mail after I got my ereader & I literally treated like it's made of porcelain! Tho now that I have the case, I still avoid having it in the same bag pocket as an unsecured water bottle because I had too many cases of "oops didn't close that properly" 😅
They are a very simple DIY. I made them for family one year with an english paper pieced book on the front. They were really cute!.
For the page holder, I don't have a disability but the page holder has genuinely helped me so much. My hands/pinky start to hurt when I'm holding a book open for extended periods of time, and this tool has allowed me to hold the book open w/out putting that strain on my hands. Even though I do not have a disability, it has greatly helped me.
I feel like this could be argued as a form of a disability. I have a similar problem, I’m curious on how difficult is it to turn the pages?
My tbr list is in my memory. Like idk why you need a cart to know which books are on your tbr. You can just pick out the ones you haven’t read from your bookshelf.
Exactly!
Yess
Or if you really want them separated make a separate section on the bookcase for tbr or utilize an empty surface like a dresser, window sill etc. to keep them on
Yeah, I have a list of my unread books just so I can keep track of how many there are, but they just live on my shelves mixed with the rest of them and I know at a glance which ones I've read. It just makes more sense to me to go ahead and organize them.
i use a cart bc i don’t have enough space on my bookshelf 😅 my book cart is just a smaller, less expensive additional bookshelf (i got it on marketplace for like $15). it’s normally where i put new books until i can find a place for them.
Same! I also note down the name+author of books that sound interesting, so that when my tbr list is smaller, I can borrow it from the library or buy it then.
I use a book sleeve when I know my book will be near water or a waterbottle with condensation. I often bring my books to the beach or on vacation by the pool. I want to make sure when I jump into the water, it's not getting wet when it's out of sight.
That makes so much sense!
May I please mention using your local library whenever possible!! It solves a lot a lot a lot of the issues invented to make you want to buy a product! Amazon products? Your local library will give you access to Overdrive, Borrowbox, Libby, etc to use instead of Audible, and those three are all apps you can use on your phone - you don't really NEED to buy an ereader. Book sleeves? Library books usually come in plastic sleeves anyways, nicely protected! Buying more books and not reading them? Borrow from the library! If you borrow books from the library and don't read them, it's guilt-free because you haven't spent any money, you're supporting your local library and the author, and you won't ever reach a point of book clutter or book-buying regret because you can easily return them and someone else can read them. TBR cart? The entire library can be your TBR cart if you want it to be, you don't need an actual cart in your home taking up space.
you can ALWAYS encourage the library on this page haha - thank YOU
I love my library but good gods they don't have even half the books I'm interested in and when requesting they be added I get "these are too niche/published more than 2 years ago and cant be added to our collection" 🥲 (I'm not in the US, but NL)
@@ThePathOfAshes yeah, unfortunately that's super common. It's why I said use your local library whenever possible, because I have the exact same problem, being into mostly sci-fi lol. Do keep making those requests though! Even if they can't get that particular book in and you have to buy it elsewhere, requesting books is still an awesome way to support your local library, and they might reconsider those books when they're next bulk buying stock! I'm a librarian myself and we LOVE requests. We wish so badly we could fulfill every single one, but the more requests we get from patrons then the more proof we have that such-and-such book is in demand and that stock should order it in even if it's niche/too old.
I've been using my library waaaay more often than I normally do and honestly it's saved me so much money! Every single thing you touched on I've experienced. Every time there's a new book that's out that I'm interested in, I just go to my library website and ask for it to be held for me. It helps prevent me from keeping a book just due to the sunk-cost fallacy. If I reeeeeally LOVE the book, THEN I go and buy the book. I also feel a lot better about supporting my local library system instead of just giving away money to a billionaire by just randomly buying a ton of books from Amazon that I may or may not like.
I LOVE using the Libby app for library books! I posted a main comment about this, but I’ll just say it here too, that ereaders are great for accessibility reasons! More specifically ones with e-ink screens. I’m photosensitive, and looking at my phone too much can make my daily migraines worse and make me incredibly nauseous. Having an ereader where I can completely turn off all the lights and the screen is like a page allows me to read ebooks even when I’m feeling sick. (I just like to spread awareness since I also used to think there wasn’t a point to ereaders LOL). But yes, please support your local library everyone 🙏
i have paperback books where the covers are torn and corners are frayed because they're banging against my keys and other items in my purse, so i understand using book sleeves to protect your book, but i just wrapped my book in a bandana i found in junk drawer, problem solved 🙂
Reuse recyclé queen
I use tiny tote bags I’ve gotten with gifts. Those are amazing.
Well, I am gonna steal your idea cause that's genious
Ooh and then it’s like opening a present every time you take it out!
Accessibility consultant here. Accessibility isn't just about *now*, it is also for prevention. Accessibility is for disabled and non-disabled people. So having those page holders now can/will help you in the future from having any disabling issues with your hands.
@@rikkipoynter good point!
I know this is from four weeks ago but could I ask what qualifications/experience you need to be an accessibility consultant?
How does it work to prevent disabilities in your hands?
the book sleeve is SUPER effective at keeping the paperbacks from creasing, bending, or getting wet if a water bottle leaks or something. they're like maybe $15 on etsy and really pull their weight
It's soooo refreshing to hear not to buy unnecessary shit when everyone is asking to buy it.
I am so happy you enjoyed! I love watching videos like this esp around black friday / xmas chaos
Please keep creating this type of content. Young people like you will benefit!
@@nevenkajevtic7390 deal 🤝
I don't have one of those page holders, but arthrosis runs in my family, so when I hold a big book for a long time, my thumb sometimes starts to cramp up and my wrist feels sore. So I imagine this gadget is supposed to help with that.
What I don't understand about people's annotating habits is if you tab (nearly) every single page, you might as well tab none of them. How are you ever gonna find anything again?
I also annotate my books and only ever felt the need to tab that extensively for one book (a fantasy novel with an unreliable narrator that required me to keep track of all the contradicting new info coming in at every single page). Usually, if I tab 20-30 passages, it means I enjoyed the book a lot.
Totally agree about not needing a new e-reader. I had my Kindle Keyboard since 2011 and only replaced it this year after the battery reached its end. (And I probably would have just replaced the battery if it wasn't for the integrated light in the newer models, which is a game changer for bedtime reading.)
the bed time reading >>>
yes i totally get wanting something new, and consuming isnt always bad, like its so amazing that you took the time to consider what you need in a product and what will look like you long term. thats thoughtful consumption and we looooove to see it
Aw man, I had a 3rd gen kindle from like….2010? Oh gosh, how to explain this LMAO. Basically all my stuff is in a different country so I didn’t have access for years. I really wanted to find it again cause the e-ink screen does wonders for my migraines. When I visited the states again and finally found it, it wouldn’t turn on. So I bought the special chord it needs…..and it would say it was charging but wouldn’t hold it. So I got a new battery and it turned on and “worked”……but I couldn’t connect it to the WiFi which is a necessity for using it. At that point I already left the states, and after hours of fiddling around and researching I discovered that you can ONLY sync it up/update it in the states 🥲 So I ended up being gifted a brand new one so that I could still read LMAO. Thus is my saga 😔
I got a new one a while back, even though my old one was still functional. But I disliked The Design, font size etc. to The Point that I didn't use it at all.
The old one I've used to lend IT to other people in my Family for vacation or If they're considering getting one themselves.
The new one works great for me and now I actually gravitate more to IT, especially during late night Reading (DARK Mode is a Game changer) or in the train
After multiple books getting covered in tea from floating around in my bag unprotected, I got a book sleeve. Countless books have been saved.
I also invested in a better container for tea 😅
You bring up a lot of good points and I mostly agree, however I do disagree on two of them:
Book sleeve: I'm not precious about my covers; I crack spines etc., but I work in a very dusty and muddy, sometimes wet, job, and I don't want my books getting ruined in that way. I think for the small price of a book sleeve, they're a really nice and harmless item, especially if they are handmade.
E-reader accessories: I have a case for the same reason as above, but I also use a popsocket on it. I don't use a popsocket on my phone or anything else, but my Kindle is an awkward size and it is nice to have support for my fingers to keep it balanced. Also I am autistic and love fidgeting with it, which keeps me focused. I love stickers, I maximalise everything and make it my own. I think personality is a really nice thing to see visually. I would be inclined to agree if people are spending extortionate amounts on their stickers, and I'm sure some do, but I think on the most part this is also harmless and adds no weight to the reader at all.
Agree sm!! I’ve been collecting stickers on and off for awhile now and can’t wait to get a case for my e-reader (so it can be protected) and so I can customize it. I’m also autistic and love maximalism. But am I going to go out of my way to buy new stickers for my case? No, I’m perfectly excited to choose from my own collection.
8:50 I was influenced to buy a book cover after a broken gel pen ruined a library book.
Same back in my school days a cup of this to go coffee (you can buy it in Germany sealed) was in my backpack and we'll it ruined everything so yeah.😂 😂😂 I'm glad about this little extra protection for the books
Okay but I absolutely love my pop socket on my e-reader and phone. Makes it easy easier to hold, which is great for if I'm reading for a long time. A lot easier on my hands and wrists. Would recommend that. You only need one though, not a bunch to switch out colors or anything
i am a pop socket girl for life. when i lose the one on my phone, its like it’s my first day on earth and i don’t know how to use a phone anymore.
My tiny hands cramp so bad without that extra support. I’m also a huge klutz and it has saved my phone sooo many times lol.
And important to note, but they also have a recycle program!
I use book sleeves because I have a lot of random stuff in my backpack and it keeps the book safe. Especially important if it's a library book or I borrowed the book from someone. Also protects it in case my drink bottle leaks or it rains. But most of all it stops my keys scratching the screen of my ereader (learned that one the hard way!)
Nope, your book will not be okay by just putting it in your bag. I destroyed 3 books by putting them in my daily bag and I felt devastated. So I decided to buy a book cover and it was AMAZING! Best decision ever, no more beaten books!
This definitely messed up a few books by just putting them in my bag
i really love how you’re creating a space for mindful consumption (and being an anti amazon household 😤) without shaming people who might have these things. i have book sleeves, not that many but some, and i mainly use them for books i bring to author signings so they don’t get that banged up against each other and sometimes it’s a long book festival day-plus i have a book sleeve that looks like a library card that i get authors to also sign if they can, so it’s like a bonus souvenir for me to keep those memories.
also i have annotation supplies and always tell people “if you didn’t like annotating books for school, you’re probably not gonna find it interesting/keep up with it now” (i was an english major and have a lot of fun tabbing my books up)
8:28 You may not care about paperback covers getting bent, pages scrunched up, or even ripped out because something in your purse/bag got in between the pages. I have a book sleep for my current paper back. I have another cover, that is meant for a bible that I have books that I take to meetings. If you do not like it fine, but for me as an AuDHD who just throws things in my bags, it is a godsend.
I came here to say this. My paperbacks get brutalized in the bag if it isn't covered. I did make my own knitted book sleeve out of scrap yarn to save money.
I don't have page holders but I can definitely see the value if you're reading for a long time.
But an important point to note is that a lot of accessibility aids are not financially viable to produce if they were *only* to be used by people who *need* them. They depend upon people who don't *need* them to still use them because they think they're kinda cool or they help a bit, in o order to keep them in the market for the people who do *need* them.
What I do to avoid buying every book I’m interested in is I take pictures of the covers. And recently I compiled all the books have taken pictures of into a spreadsheet. This way when I am ready to buy a physical or ebook I can look back at the spreadsheet and find what book I have already been interested in. I know this is not revolutionary but I think I could help decrease the feeling that you need to buy the book in case you forget about it or can’t find it again.
Lastly, it depends on how much you put in your bag, but crushed pens, leaking fluids (water, juice, hand sanitizer), candy that falls out, etc. can do a load of damage to your books. The book sleeve adds an extra layer of protection because you can wash that, but you can’t fully clean a book.
Ok as someone who has crocheted far too much in my 23 short years and gave herself some bad carpal tunnel/arthritis/unknown joint issue... the page holder might actually be a good thing for me. I did not know such a thing existed but I sometimes have to put my books down before I'm "done" so I can give my hands a break. On the same token... I agree with the book sleeve thing. I crocheted myself one and use it for paperbacks when I'm on the go, but otherwise I don't use them!
I didn't even annotate in college. I wrote down the page number and used little bookmarks made from torn paper. I hated to write in my books, and I still don't do it.
Ultimate declutter... the library! I pretty much read library ebooks and audiobooks.
I got the page holder thingy because i felt like it would help, but it has served me SO MUCH BETTER as a fidgeting toy!! So, loving it, but not for what it was intended, hahahah!
Haha that’s perf though
Book sleeves are probably the one thing I don’t agree. At the risk to sound like a hipster, I’ve used one before those got popular. My books always get scratched with random stuff in my bag, the corners get damaged with me taking my books everywhere; and more than once I have got my books damp when rain leaked on my bag or a pen explodes or something similar. It also applies to e-readers, my screen has gotten scratched without protection. They have been a game changer because even if I own my books, I’d like to keep them in good condition for years to come. Then again, I know how to sew and I’ve sewn mine, and the ones I’ve used in the past were tiny, book sized totes I’ve gotten as gifts with purchase of clothes or other stuff (yay for reusing things).
I love making bookmarks for the books I'm reading. Nothing too complicated, just too pieces of paper stuck together. When I'm closer to the middle of the book and I know the vibes and the themes, I think on a design that represents the book and draw it with pencils, paint or markers. It doesn't really turn out the way I want it to be, because I'm not the best with art in general, but it is just a fun way for me to further connect with the book
I thought the page holder was for arthritis (both me and my mom love ours)! I don't know why anyone else would want or need it. I appreciate the accessibility callout! And I killed my TBR by using Libby and the library - who wants to spend that much $$ on a book you're not even sure you'll like?!
Yeah the page holder is just very useless it seems unless for accessibility? But idk! I get that is just a cute lil gadget
It’s also to prevent issues, not just address already existing health issues. I currently don’t read a lot on paper, but if one does, holding a book for a longer time will strain the wrist. Using a holder might prevent some of that strain.
I think people should buy without culpability harmless little things such a bookmark or a booksleeve. Maybe these things are not strictly necessary for enjoying reading ( even if for me they are pretty useful, especially bookmarks) but sure can bring some joy to everyday life, so why not? You can easily find handmade ones and I always prefer handmade products if possible but even if they aren't I really think people should be entitled to buy with no guilt
I know what you said about bookmarks. But I need a bookmark with “the Amazon haters household” printed on it.
Side note, I use book covers because I beat the hell out of my books if I do t and I like taking care of my books. 😂
LMAO honestly that would be a slay
Make one!!
The page holder is to help remove strain on your hands when holding a book, especially hardback. I think it helps a lot for many people as you can notice the pain lessening in the wrist and hand tendons. 😊
I got an annotating kit for christmas & I plan on using it until the last tab 😭
I have not bought a SINGLE bookmark in my life! And ironically this video is making me want to look into page holders lol 😅 like my wrist and finger got hurt so badly while I was reading war and peace and I'm already planning to start reading some more thick paperbacks by the end of this year (monte cristo and brothers karamazov)
the inside of my bag is MESSY which is why i use book sleeves - but i have two that i crocheted, one is the size of a hardcover, one for softcovers. plus they protect the corners of hardcovers :) but you don't need one for every aesthetic of book cover to match!
I got a bookmark with a ribbon so my book doesn't open in my bag or so.
A book cover is a fun crochet project tho :)
True!! And just in general they’re cutesie
I'm sure a million other people have already said something similar, but my spouse loves to read laying down on their side, but that means the pages slip out from under their pinky, so I bought them a page keeper for that purpose! Thanks so much for keeping us mindfully consuming!
mabye this isn't welcomed and i agree with everything else in this video so much, but i crocheted myself a booksleeve because when i kept a book in my bag i accidentally tore off the cover when i was pulling it out because it got caught on something else lol. but if your bag is more organized than mine this wouldnt be a problem but i do love my booksleeve. i only have one tho and i made it myself. i also have a friend who wraps her books in plastic grocery bags lol. we are just messy people
Hahah I have a pretty minimalist bag but that makes sense!!
I also made my own booksleeve! (Okay, booksleeves, because I made different sizes for different books). Before that I used to wrap them in the little paper baggies that some bookstores (including the one I worked at) put your books in to bring them home safely, and that worked fine too! I just love crocheting booksleeves they're so easy to mindlessly make lol
It is actually so crazy to me how little people talk about Amazon's impact on the publishing and book buying space. Like they're terrible and almost all the creators I watch, regularly buy from them
so the biggest thing I disagreed with was the tbr cart but here’s my reasoning: my bookshelves are 50-75 depending on whether they’re on sale or not. I specifically have to buy short ones bc I’m in a rental and tall ones could fall over and kill someone since my floor is carpet and I can’t drill them into the wall. I have run out of space on them. and I have dogs so I don’t like stacks of books around, bc I don’t want them damaged. so rather than spending 50-70 on another bookshelf (that I don’t even really have space for) I spent like $25 on a tbr cart, which then allowed me to clear space on my bookshelves again without needing to go thru and buy an entire new one. could I have a smaller tbr list? yes. absolutely. I will not disagree with that in the slightest. however I don’t pay for cable or wifi or any of the normal escape from reality things. so I tend to like to have a massive amount of books on hand, but I also know they WILL be read. I’ve had weeks where I read 3 books each day, for every day. so limiting my tbr cart would just be limiting me. that said, that’s ME and not the norm. so I think the biggest thing is not letting other people make your decisions for you and figuring out what works best for your life and wallet
I use my old book sleeves to keep my books from ripping since my book bag is small, and so many times have my books ended up being damaged (such as covers being ripped, pages being ripped, etc) because I have so much stuff I need to shove into this small bag. It is honestly helpful, book sleeves are great for keeping books from becoming damaged if you have a small backpack for school or are traveling a lot. I also don’t buy any new book sleeves, if anybody ever wants to buy book sleeves, just buy two or three at most, and don’t buy the super fancy ones, the book sleeves from dollar general work just fine, and will do the exact same thing as prettier book sleeves. Also loved your video! ❤
My tbr list is "books I already own at my house" ($1 used book sales always get me), and a tagged list on Storygraph. I tag each book by what library / internet archive / Libby format the book is available from so I can read those before buying anything else!!
Idk, we are so lucky to live in the digital era. Books, movies, music we can all access in digital format first (or borrow a copy from the library), and then if we /really/ like it we can go ahead and purchase a copy for ourselves.
Books sleeves - I bought one once but it didn't work out because it was the wrong size for larger books. However, I sew and would to make one or more to protect hardback books. It seems a fun little project. I feel okay just chucking a paperback book in my bag, but avoid transporting hardback books in a bag and would like to do so. I chuck all sorts of things into my bags and don't want the hardback books to get banged up.
Book marks - I like the ones with ribbons/tassles which I use over and over. Often, I have more than one book going at a time. In book stores, I usually turn down the book marks unless it's something super interesting.
Page holders - I use a book stand/holder for a variety of reasons. When I've had issues with my shoulders/arms, it has been necessary for accessibility reasons, but it's still helpful even now when I don't have issues (usually). It can hold my book/ipad when I'm eating. I use it to display pretty books etc.
I have a raskog cart, but I don’t use it for my TBRs (they’re just on my shelf where they belong lol). I use it for all my library books. I have them at the top, and then once I’ve read them and they’re ready to return I move them to the bottom. And it can double as a second bedside table if one of my friends sleeps over since I only have one.
no i hear you so loud and clear!!! its not about never purchasing these things ever but its about like, why are we all getting pressured to buy all this shit to look so pretty and perfect
6:36 i got a kindle paper white 11th gen almost two years ago, and i literally cannot make this up-it’s literally unusable at this point with no damage or signs of wear. It literally will not do what it’s supposed to do for $150 dollars. Best Buy where I bought it refuse to look into it or fix and Amazon won’t do anything either. I travel a lot and this was going to be a game changer. I will NEVER NEVER get a kindle ever again. I’m even hesitant on rolling the dice on a Kobo. Am I going to throw $300 dollars away after I’m done? Everything is made to break in this society and it makes me so angry. A kindle is not a complicated device that is impossible to fix. THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO FIX IT even if I pay for the repair!!
I just love that you consider disabled folks. I recently bought an e-reader case with a holding strap part to prevent e-reader slaps and it worked well for me. Keep up the good work 👍🏽
I got a clear case for my kobo and I print out a little seasonal image as the seasons change if I want to change up how it looks. I just size the image in Canva and trim as needed. A great way to avoid seasonal case/sleeve/skin FOMO
thats so cute i love this
Omg! Tbr cart! That's a good idea!
I had to shrink my library to a 4x4 cube storage shelf and I've collected a handful since that don't really fit.
But I /already have/ this little 3 tiered cart.....I could totally use that for my books and my WIP crochet.
You have influenced me to rearrange my room a little!! Thank you!
Oh, the book sleeves thing i can see being an excusable purchase under specific conditions. Like, buy one that's good for multiple sizes NOT buy 24 for every color and size.
But like
a) some of us are messy as fuck. Books get ruined around me. Sometimes it's my fault (pudding) sometimes it's just a dog with a chewing fixation 🤷♀️
b) bag accidents happen. Thermos leaks, coffee spills, bag spills contents into street. The extra protection for your book might be worth it.
c) the book your reading is special. Special/limited edition, special to YOU, borrowed from the library or a friend. Maybe it's a student book and you want to sell it at the end of the year.
d) you're a book archivist, and you like to keep your books in their best condition.
Having a THICK or FULLY covered additional case for your book isn't the WORST thing in the world if you can afford that luxury. But it is a luxury, and you could probably look online and find some DIY alternatives that would also keep your book safe.
That's just my opinion tho. I'm glad you're here and deinfluencing us. Doing globs work 💕
I personally do need a book sleeve because my books always get damaged in some sort of way when they’re in my bag. But I didn’t buy some expensive bs I just crochet myself one.
I stuck a magnet on the back of my kindle for a popsocket and I love it. It‘s so much easier to hold, to smooth and slips out of my hand without.
Oh no, I am an artist and sitting here painting watercolor bookmarks when I hear nobody should buy bookmarks anymore... ouch haha :')
As another artist I will definitely say the printed ones you get at the library or something will end up getting lost but I if I got a book mark from an artist I would cherish it because it’s more about the art than just something to keep my page 🫶
I keep a list of all media recommendations (games, movies, books, etc) on my notekeeping app, and that includes any book I find intresting but don't intend to read immediately. The nice thing about wide-release books is they tend to stick around. You will be able to get your hands on it later, trust me.
If you also shop local, ask your local bookstore proprietor about their process for ordering books though the store. Every bookstore I've stepped it offers to aquire books for you if you want something they don't have on the shelves. Many have an online catalog.
When it comes to books I haven’t read yet, I put them on the shelf so that the titles from the spines can be seen. Books that I have already read are reversed so the pages are seen. It looks nice and attracts more attention to the titles that can be seen. ❤
thank god my "tbr cart" is just a pile of books on the floor next to my bed
the bookmarks one is so funny bc unless i've made them myself (i have sm art material and for some reason that means i should make a corresponding bookmark for every book), i have not bought one in years. all the ones i do use are from a decade ago and some of them are metal so those are 100% outliving me.
also, as some who annotates, the margins of the books are right there and also if you do need the space, just put it on a sticky note or on the rare case you need to write an essay/rant (in my case, not so rare (im not in school so that tells you how much of a nerd i am)), just have a loose-leaf sheet, fold it in thirds and stick it in there (i use random paperclips from a pack i got also a decade ago to clip them in)
I love my bookmarks. I know I don't need more. I know I didn't need one in the first place. But nothing beats the joy of of having a cute bookmark for me, especially if it's character art or related somehow to the book I'm reading. It's like keeping concert tickets, back in the day when you actually got physical concert tickets. Keeping movie tickets! It's like that. They bring me joy.
But they are actually a waste of money, yes, you are absolutely correct. I will level with you on that.
About page holders: depending on the book the pages might fall and cover the text when you hold it with one hand, or the book might keep closing itself when you put it on the table.
I have the tabs cause I don't like writing on the books, just in case i ever pass on the book, sell trade it etc. I just remove it and thats it. I do take note on a seperate notebook.
All my bookmarks are memories, gifts whenever someone goes on a trip and ask me what I want I ask for a bookmark of the place or a postcard, once for a birthday I ask everyone if they wanted to gift me something I wanted a handmade bookmarks, a friend even crochet me one so they are memories for me that i get to look when reading.
I'm also guilty of the TBR cart but trust me I need more bookshelves im out of space, im a mood reader so i having options helps but i do go on book bans once my tbr cart is full again.
Book Covers also prevents damage from other items on your bag, waterbottles, even my wallet fallin on top of the book has ruined and crumpling the pages it cause a weird angle or weight of the item open the book etc. even preventing it from pen stabbing or ink spills
But i understand, i think in general we just need to be de-influence from overconsumption we honestly only need one of each.
as a kindle only reader I feel attacked
I have a case on my kindle too and plan on getting either the straps of a pop socket for, so its easier to hold D: I don't think this channel is for me ahahaha
A Year ago I made the switch to only buying books if I liked them and can see myself re-reading them. I read a lot, so not only is this a lot better for my purse, but it also stopped my Frustration from hating a book I spent money buying.
That only works because my library is awesome and has lots of new releases
My kindle case was definitely an intentional purchase lmao. The buy itself supported a small business and it gave me a pocket to put a tracker tile on...AFTER i lost the dang thing and found it two days later. "I think it's all gonna be okay" well said. Thanks for a great video ❤
I’ve never bought a book sleeve but have you really never had a book get beat up inside your backpack? There’s other objects in there and it moves around a lot. If you have a laptop charger and a spiral bound notebook in there, those things will beat the crap out of a book.
Also schools used to require covers for textbooks that you’d be borrowing from the school and returning at the end of the year.
That said even if I bought a book sleeve I would never remember to bring it with me. I can’t even remember all the necessary steps in daily life, I’m not gonna add another step!!
Agree with some (Page holder- uncomfy as hell for me!) but do not for example with the book sleeve. A friend of mine sew me two bags with a zipper: book-bags and they saved so many of my non-hardcovers! Not only the edgea but also that I shove down something in my bag and spill/ negatively Impact the Pages.
Thank you for acknowledging the accessibility usage of some items! I'm disabled (partial paralysis of one arm, and both my thumbs dislocate easily) and often see products that I use out of necessity being mentioned in overconsumption critiques or de-influencing videos without mention of it. I'm not offended by people not promoting these items as accessibility tools, but I will admit, it becomes tiresome feeling like I'm living an alternate reality than most people after years of dealing with the tiny inconveniences of being disabled. It's just nice to feel understood sometimes. Totally agree with everything you've mentioned, though! The overconsumption in online reading spaces has annoyed the heck out of me and I feel like it further turns people off from the main point (actually reading and enjoying yourself!) by making them feel like they need to have the latest trendy accessories or a giant aesthetic stack of TBRs in order to share their hobby.
7:37 - In the early 1970's this was a practice of the Hess oil company. They would open a gas station, sell gas below cost (I saw gas for 10 cents a gallon at a Hess station when Esso (now Exxon) was selling it for 33 cents a gallon) to run small gas stations out of business and when that happened Hess gas prices went up to what was normal for the time.
The page holder though sounds like an amazing product to make reading comfortable. Also if you buy a wooden one you’d only need one in your whole life which makes it a very smart purchase to le
Omg I need you on standby in my life you are so good at de-influencing! Subscribing right now!
That Amazon rant comes from such a place of privilege. I get that it's not the best for the publishing industry and independent bookstores. But not everyone lives in the US or the UK where books in English are easily available. Some people need to use Amazon because not using Amazon means not reading at all. Libraries here don't have books in English and the few places that sell them have an incredibly limited selection, so there's really no other alternative.
For me, the book sleeve is a godsend for my paperback books as I commute. I have to commute or bike sometimes an hour with other essentials in my bag (water bottle, keys, wallet, etc) and I love to read in those quiet times. But the friction inside the bag or taking it in and out after different stops really damages the book. So I just have one that fits (most) paperbacks and have the backpack ruin that itself.
I've got a few of the book sleeves, they are actually really good. I am rough on books and carry a back pack. So a book can often end up buried and twisted. So the sleeves are useful. It also stops the book from opening in my bag and gives it some protection from my lunch etc. But I have I think 3... not one per book I own which some people seem to have!
I use a pillow sleeve (like the bag that the pillow cases and bed sheets came in) as my book sleeve 🤣 it is cotton fabric and has an elastic on top. Perfect size.
I need this because my bag and other stuff in it at the same time ruined the cover on a 1950s copy of a Shaw play. It helps! It was a tote bag so it kept moving around with the other stuff like my keys and wallet.
The deinfluencing should be u dont need more than one and u probably can turn an old pillow case into one easily.
To keep my cookbook open, I use stuff lying about: crystals, paperweights, a couple of knives, etc.
I make my own bookmarks or use old business cards.
Why use a cart to put books on?
I have like 20 books on my tbr shelf.... I have to remind myself I don't need to buy books constantly!!!
I do have some exceptions though- like if I'm on vacation I always go to local bookstores, get recommendations from their book sellers, & buy a book or two as a souvenir. I always end up with a nice memory from my trip and a free bookmark to show where I've been 💕
And if I see a book I've been wanting to read at my local used bookstore I'm snapping it up... I spent full price for a hardcover Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow at Target and the next week I saw it at my used bookstore. I was so mad at myself lol.
I love annotating and I do pick a different color scheme each time, but not to match the book and I don’t buy them for each book. I just cannot dedicate specific colors to one thing across all my annotating because I like to track different stuff per book, so I will decide on a per book basis what I’m gonna tab and what colors (that I already own) I will use.
I like to actually make my book covers for my library books! Especially for paper backs I don’t want them jostling around and bending as I tend to toss my bag around a lot and keep lots of stuff in it. I don’t like the idea of buying them, crocheting them is much more fun!
Why did I never think of having a cap on my physical tbr? I am stressed from how many unread books I have, it seems so simple but damn.
Oh no I stand by book bags, my backpack is a certified book killer
I wrap my kindle in a vintage jil sander silk scarf, it helps prevent scratches in my bag from my keys and it feels so bougie 😎 I agree with everything you say btw! Great list!!
Let me just say that I have a kindle sleeve (which I crocheted myself) because my kindle does get scratched up in my bag, and a past one has been broken from just being thrown directly in my bag. A pop socket helps me hold my kindle when I'm reading, idk I just find it helpful so that my hand doesn't cramp up and it doesn't drop on my face. Of course this is just what I find helpful and necessary from trial and error. Also I just put my tbr in a place that I can see it everyday so that I don't forget, also that way putting a finished book on my bookshelf is like a reward.
A lot, and I mean A LOT, of these products I've received in book boxes (which I don't subscribe to anymore.) It sort of just encapsulates, at least for me, how book boxes send you a bunch of stuff you absolutely do not need.
Literally just had the most wonderful day out buying 2 books from my local mystery bookstore, when your video crossed my feed. Seeing all the TBR carts and shelves online stresses me out! I used to feel so guilty buying more new books ppl would recommend and then not reading them for YEARS. Finally decided to instead borrow the books I hadn't read from my library and only buy books I had read and knew for a fact I loooved. Wallet saved and Marie Kondo'd my bookshelves :D
I've had a tbr-cart for years, but I’ve always called it an art cart, since I use it to store my art supplies. Those carts are a great place to store art stuff, but I don’t get the whole 100 book tbr thing in them
My favourite bookmark that I use all the time is one I got in a craft subscription box a couple of years back, and my next most used are the ones I get from a local independent bookshop where they throw one into every order for free. Still doesn't stop me eyeing the pretty new ones I could buy, but it does make me less likely to actually buy them!
Most of my book purchases are as much to support my local bookshops as to actually have the books, because I feel it's essential to keep these spaces around. I'll try to buy from independents first, then chain stores (which we're down to only 2 of here in the UK, and only 1 of them is really good for books - the other has heavily diversified and is more a newsagent and stationery store that also has some books). Just yesterday I found a local independent bookstore that will special order any book that's still in print, so I suspect my days of online ordering are completely over now.
Hehehehe I think that I have all of these products except the TBR cart. I will say that I can never have enough dyslexia bookmarks. I prefer the yellow pane ones. It helps to isolate one line at a time and keeps my eyes from going all over the page. I also do have a couple of covers for my eReader. I use this reader pretty much daily, and I will drop it. It is also easier to hold with the case. As far as the booksleeves, I love these! It prevents your books from showing wear. Books can easily snag on notebooks or computers, etc. I will say that someone did buy that wood page spreader for me. I hated it! I actually have EDS in my hands, and WOW! Using the wood page spreader made my hands ache like you wouldn't believe. Instead of that, you could try to use a bookstand, and I use a bone folder paper creaser. This also is a nice tool to use if you cover your books in mylar plastic - reusing products is a win!
A good alternative to the colorsoft is the kobo libra color! I love mine!! Honestly tho I don’t think a color ereader is required period especially if you already have one - my KLC is my first ereader ever and just happened to be the model I was most interested in
I always get little bumps and scratches on the covers and sides of my book because I often carry them with me in my backpack with my other stuff. I don't have the money to buy a book sleeve so I use a small towel where I wrap my book in. Sure I get weird looks when I get this towel bundle out of my backpack and unwrap it but it gets the job done.
I definitely think people get very caught up in what the CAN buy and don’t think about if they SHOULD buy it! I’ve definitely been tempted by some of these, the TBR cart and the Kindle specifically. The funny thing is I don’t even like Kindle or read KU books, I have a Nook reader that works perfectly fine! The only reason I want a Kindle is it’s smaller so more hand-held and I like the look of the stickers on the back and that’s NOT a good enough reason to get a Kindle when I have a perfectly good Nook with Libby!
The page holder thing I’m iffy about. I have one and will say it actually does help your hand not cramp as much when reading hardback books holding it with one hand. But I feel like the design leaves a lot to be desired and I also generally don’t read a lot of hardback books. It certainly isn’t an ultimate game-changer for everyone like people say it is.
interesting with the hard cover vs paperback! Im a hard cover lover and didnt even think about the comparison between the two (I know I am in the minority here)
I'm the one who buys the page holders! Lol. And yes it's for accessibility. I have RSIs in my shoulders/forearms so I try out book holders to make it easier on my arms.
They're not great, tbh! Sometimes they're helpful, but sometimes I find (depending on the book size, my posture, and other factors) that I need to put a lot of pressure down with my thumb to keep the page open, which defeats the purpose. I have yet to find a book holder that I'll happily use for all/most of my books.
If your arms don't hurt, I don't recommend them. If they do hurt, they might help *sometimes*. But you'll probably need a combo of different ones to meet your needs, anyway. They suck.
I use a booksleve because I'm an really active person and travel a lot, like go skiing, camping, hicking and so on. So I have a waterproof booksleve just incase of spills in my bag or my bag getting wet in some way due to the weather. I also borrow a lot of books from other people and the library so It's been a life savior.
I also don’t understand what the page holder even does, unless someone might need it for accessibility purposes. And I’m such a sucker for cat bookmarks. I have plenty of bookmarks (and guitar string packets I use as bookmarks) and yet I recently bought a couple of cat bookmarks.
I keep eying the TBR cart because I put my current reads on one random shelf, the books I just got but haven’t filmed a book haul for yet on another random shelf, and the books I already read and haven’t mentioned in a wrap-up yet on yet another random shelf, and it’s such a mess.
I have a couple of book sleeves, and I really only use it for taking hardcover books somewhere (like to get them signed at a book event that I’m traveling to). But since Covid they haven’t had much of a purpose for me anymore.
I actually didn't know that Amazon was ruining the publishing industry! Definitely gonna look into it
My hand starts to hurt when I’m holding a heavy book for awhile. I noticed the page holder helps my thumbs because it distributes the pressure more evenly plus if you read out on a windy day at the beach it’s really handy 😊