I love this sub

Submitted by tommy_the_bat t3_127krkm in books

Quick shout-out to not only the moderators but the users themselves. I've always been a voracious reader and that has only been encouraged by this sub. I absolutely love talking about books and reading is my primary hobby but I only have one or two friends I can actually talk to about books. The idea of a book club never appealed to me really, the whole idea of reading a prescribed book and then having a certain time limit on finishing it never sat well with me, but this sub offers a very different, and in my opinion better, experience.

I can't tell you how many books I've read based off the weekly recommendations thread or the weekly what are you reading thread.

Long story short sub good books good.

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HauntedReader t1_jeehyvg wrote

Yea, most of the mods and people here are great.

It's one of the better places for discussions on book-related topics.

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twenty-six-sixty-six t1_jeelkcb wrote

great sub for the lowest common denominator, dissent is not tolerated

truelit is too snobby though -- we need something in the middle, but will probably never get it

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SalemMO65560 t1_jeemuca wrote

I also feel this sub has energized my passion for reading. The What Are You Reading sub has also been a consistent source for finding books I would have otherwise never heard about.

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tommy_the_bat OP t1_jeen3uk wrote

Replying to twenty-six-sixty-six (#2,528,821)

Eh, I've had pretty civil conversations with people who have book views that are on the other end of the spectrum of mine. Never really got a sense of a reddit hivemind compared to other subs. I think it's all about tone and approaching conversations in good faith. Obviously there are popular opinions but I don't see people getting "down voted to oblivion" as you say.

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twenty-six-sixty-six t1_jeeom7r wrote

Replying to tommy_the_bat (#2,529,425)

the definition i'm using means to showing little regard for the opinions of others

i see no point in showing regard for an opinion i disagree with, and i don't expect other people to show regard for my opinion, but people here seem to want a lame kumbaya prayer circle where we all talk about how every writer is equally good, it's just a matter of opinion. nothing could be more boring

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tommy_the_bat OP t1_jeerkog wrote

Replying to twenty-six-sixty-six (#2,529,576)

Why would anyone enter any conversation with someone who, right off the bat, says they have 'little regard for the opinions of others'? That's just deranged. You don't have to be an asshole to have a good conversation.

I never understood people who enjoy arguments rather than a simple disagreements. Just talk to people like you would in real life. So yea I guess that's what I mean by getting bored by those conversations. Like just scream at a wall or cry in a pillow if you want to get emotional.

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UnspentTx t1_jeexxfp wrote

Replying to twenty-six-sixty-six (#2,528,484)

Just went and checked out r/truelit and this is how their sub's description starts:

> The premier place on reddit for discussing books and literature, both fictional and non-fictional alike.

So, like, they discuss books that really exist and also fake, made-up books...? 😆

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vibraltu t1_jegf4x0 wrote

This sub tends to be limited to repeating the same conversations about a handful of selected authors/titles.

A few times I tried to make posts recommending some different titles by newer authors, and the mods hassled me because of "promotion" (true, I guess?) and "low-effort" (ouch. I could be worse).

I could go elsewhere, but hey it's the only game in town.

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Character_Vapor t1_jegn5gw wrote

Replying to tommy_the_bat (#2,530,503)

>I never understood people who enjoy arguments rather than a simple disagreements

I mean, it all depends on context, but I got in a debate about Thomas Pynchon with a friend of mine last week at a bar that culminated in him raising his voice over the table and telling the rest of the group that I was an "odious motherfucker". Those kinds of heated debates about art are way more enjoyable than worrying about making sure everyone feels validated all the time.

Yelling and arguing about your opinion (if not literally, then in spirit) about a piece of art is a great time, as long as everyone is secure enough to know that saying someone's opinion is "bad" or "tragic" or "the worst thing I've ever heard" does not mean you think those things about them as a person.

Give me some Balzac, Lost Illusions-level shit-slinging about books! Tell someone they should have been sent to the guillotine for not liking Emile Zola. Tell someone they have an unhealthy fixation on 19th Century fuckboys after they tell you they love Heathcliff in Wuthering Heights. Tell someone they should be tried at The Hague for not having read Toni Morrison. It's more fun that way.

Let’s bring this kind of Ebert energy back into arts discourse and maybe we can all start having a good time talking about this stuff again.

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UnspentTx t1_jeh4vfu wrote

Replying to Sumtimesagr8notion (#2,546,883)

Followup, also a genuine question (I'm not trying to wind you up or anything, I promise)... How do you keep from getting stuck in a rut discussing only authors/books/series you already know you like...? I mean, yeah, I love talking about what I love with other people who love it, but I also like coming here and seeing what everyone else is up to, what are they reading, etc... And it's cool to see all the non-specific-book related posts too, like posts about book bans or discussions about ebooks versus digital, or how someone just rekindled their love of reading and had to come share it, etc etc... Anyway, I'm just trying to gauge your thoughts on why subs about reading/books in general don't really work for you, and how you keep from getting stuck inside 'echo chambers' (etc) I guess...

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