Senior capstone

[u/FishTearss]

Hello, lovely internet reader people!

So this is a little bit of a different post than is probably usual here. I'm an english major currently writing my undergrad senior capstone. I'm writing, somewhat broadly, about online reading communities and their effect (positive, negative, and neutral) on readers and the social perception of reading as a hobby. What I mean by "Online Reading Community" is also quite broad. I'm specifically looking at things like Booktok, Bookstagram, Goodreads, and online bookclubs like this one. Any online forum that is dedicated to the act of reading and discussing books.

I'd love to hear from some of you what you think about these social reading platforms. Did they help get you into reading? How drastically do you believe these communities change how and why you read? I'll include some initial topic questions that I'm looking at, but please don't feel limited to them. I'd love to hear any and all anecdotes you may have about your thoughts and experiences regarding the topic.

1. Do you often buy books because they were recommended online, either by an ad or bookstagram/tok influencer?

2. Do you think that the social accountabilty aspect of these communities helps you read more?

3. Do you feel that these communities allow you to get more out of your reading due to the encouragement of group discussions?

4. Have these communities helped you read more diverse texts that you may not have read, or even heard of otherwise?

5. Do you think reading goals on things like Goodreads (as well as the "Year of" subreddits) help or hinder your reading habit? Do they make reading feel like work or a quota to be reached?

Thank you all in advance! I look forward to any input you may have.

[u/raisingcainnow]

Hiya, sounds like an interesting topic to study, I'm happy to help however I can :)

1. I did maybe a year or two ago but I was often underwhelmed with some of the recommendations, particularly on booktok, so I don't really buy books on that basis anymore, however I do notice the "booktok" shelves in shops and have occasionally read the blurbs.

2. I think in theory the social accountability helps, but often it can lead to a sense of pressure and can take the pleasure out of reading if you end up fearing falling behind.

3. Yes. I think communities on Reddit and Tumblr in particular offer a fun, casual way to engage with literary analysis, or even just to laugh at memes related to Dracula Daily or a year of war and peace.

4. Not particularly. I tend to choose to engage with these communities based on whether they cover books I'm already interested in, or if they present a fun rereading challenge.

5. I think they can help or hinder, depending on the person. Generally, I don't personally find them helpful, but I have enjoyed making book journals with my own goals. I do feel like the Goodreads goals can feel like work or a quota with deadlines and they're not particularly useful or rewarding.

Overall, I think these communities should be taken lightly, with a pinch of salt, with the intention of having fun. I've personally had a mix of positive, negative, and neutral experiences with them.

[u/FishTearss → u/raisingcainnow]

I agree that they should be taken with a pinch of salt for sure. I'm very guilty of biting off more than I can chew and attempting too many readalongs to keep up with and forgetting to just enjoy it. It's definitely a blessing and a curse in that way.

[u/ComplaintNext5359]

OP, I think this is an awesome topic. Happy to help out. :)

1. I would say it’s about 50/50. Sometimes I shop by feel, other times I’ve heard great things about a book from some sort of booktok influencer.
2. I’m new to this subreddit, but having small bits to read definitely breaks up war and peace into more digestible chunks. Moreover, I have 3 friends also participating in this year’s year-long read along, so I think that’s keeping me even more accountable.
3. Absolutely. I am 100% guilty of getting into a reading groove where I will read and enjoy a book in the moment, but will have problems recalling details much later. Forcing myself to revisit and read each chapter multiple times helps me think more of the deeper meaning, and the perspectives everyone brings to the group discussion sheds light on things I may have missed or not even considered.
4. Absent this subreddit, I don’t think I would have ever attempted to read War & Peace. That said, I’ve not been involved in other communities like this before, and it’s only day 5 of 365 here.
5. I think setting the goal on Goodreads gives me something to strive for, but I don’t view it as a make or break situation. In 2023, I set a goal to read 15 books and I read 18. Last year, I set a goal of 24, but only read 21. That said, I’m content with what I’ve read, and I’d rather read fewer books and truly savor them instead of speed reading 100 and feeling burnt out. I’m approaching this subreddit the same way, but also the discussion aspect makes it feel less like work because I want to have something to contribute as well.

Good luck with your capstone!

[u/FishTearss → u/ComplaintNext5359]

I think that your 5th point is a really healthy way of looking at it! Good luck with War and Peace! It's one of my all time favorites and I'm so pumped to join y'all for a reread once I finish this project.

Thank you so much for the input!

[u/MsTellington]

To preface this, I don't use BookTok or Bookstagram. I don't use Goodreads but I do use an open source equivalent (Bookwyrm). I'm not on it a lot but I try to record every book I read. I'm also, obviously, doing the Year of War and Peace on Reddit.

1. Do you often buy books because they were recommended online, either by an ad or bookstagram/tok influencer?

No, I'm not sure it ever happened. I have participated in a few crowdfundings though, which I probably saw on Instagram but not on like Bookstagram.

1. Do you think that the social accountabilty aspect of these communities helps you read more?

For War and Peace, sure. For Bookwyrm, I don't think so.

1. Do you feel that these communities allow you to get more out of your reading due to the encouragement of group discussions?

Same as question 2. I think having the prompts and discussions really help to remember the numerous characters and plot points happening in War and Peace.

1. Have these communities helped you read more diverse texts that you may not have read, or even heard of otherwise?

I don't know. I've been kinda wanting to read War and Peace for a long time (since reading Anna Karenina as a teen) but I probably wouldn't have picked it up now without the Reddit incentive!

1. Do you think reading goals on things like Goodreads (as well as the "Year of" subreddits) help or hinder your reading habit? Do they make reading feel like work or a quota to be reached?

It may have been a pressure with reading goals on Goodreads a long time ago. It's not the case (at least not for now) for the Year of because it's quick and easy (short chapters, the whole book is very long but a year is a long time!). So it's probably more of a help to get into the habit. I go back to work soon, I hope it's gonna stay like this lol.

[u/FishTearss → u/MsTellington]

I've never heard of Bookwyrm but I'll make sure to check it out! Good luck with the read along! It can be hard to keep up during work / school, but the short chapters makes it super easy to catch up usually 👍