Coming back to Youtube, I wanted to make both Authortube related content as well as booktube related content. I’ve already introduced myself as a writer, you can watch/read that here, but today I want to introduce myself to the booktube community as well, and the easiest way to do so if through the Booktube Newbie Tag, originally created by Brenda C.
So, let’s get straight to the questions. You can watch the video or scroll down to read it my answers instead.
1. Why did you start this channel?
I’ll answer this in the sense of why I’ve revamped my channel, since I’ve been making videos here for ten years. I love talking to anyone who will listen about the books I’m reading, and I’ve watched booktube for about six years now. I’ve received so many wonderful recommendations through the people making content here on booktube, and I feel like I a) want to give back by recommending books to other people myself, and b) just want to join in and meet the people who I’ve been watching for so long, and new people as well, so we can talk about books and have a great time.
2. What are some fun and unique things you can bring to Booktube?
First of all, I am also a writer alongside being an avid book reader, and I tend to sometimes read books from a more critical point of view. Why is this book so good or so popular? What makes it a good story? I like to break these things down and learn from them so I can apply them to my own storytelling. It’s easy for me to see the bigger picture in a story and to see how it was constructed, and so I liked to talk about that aspect as well as the general entertainment value a book might bring.
Other interesting things about me: I am Romanian and live in Denmark, so take from that what you will.
3. What are you most excited for about this new channel?
As I’ve already mentioned, the thing I am excited about most of all is being able to talk to other book lovers about books and other writers about writing. I don’t know many people in real life who read as much as I do, and so I’m always going online to listen to other people talk about books at me, instead of with me. Which is fantastic, but sometimes you need a more personal connection than that, so I’m hoping to achieve that here.
4. Why do you love reading?
I think I’m not alone in the reason why I read and why I love reading. To escape into a different world. To live someone else’s reality, even if just for a little bit, even if it’s not a pleasant one. Books help me relax, they teach me new things, they make me laugh. They open my mind to important topics and they teach me to be more accepting of the different facets of life and in general they show me how to be a better version of myself.
5. What book or series got you into reading?
Not surprising anyone with this, but it has to be Harry Potter. I will never shut up about my love for this series and for what it has meant to me growing up and to an entire generation of kids, honing their love of reading and of books. Not only that, but it made me discover my own love of storytelling, so I can literally go on and on about why it means so much me, but I won’t, since I know my experience is not unique, and that is fantastic, in this case.
6. What questions would you ask your favourite booktubers?
How can you read so many books at one time? I know that part of the reason some booktubers can get through such a staggering amount of read books every single month is that they always have multiple on the go. I tried doing this and it simply does not work for me. I always end up favouring one book over the rest and they just sit there, on my nightstand, waiting for me to pick them back up again.
The only way I sometimes read more than one book is if I read them in different mediums. So, I always have one audiobook on the go, although I barely listen to audiobooks. Usually if I’m commuting I listen to music. And then the other medium is digital, so I always have a Kindle book on the go. That way, if I’m out of the house, I don’t even need my Kindle with me, I can just read from my phone if I really want to.
7. What challenges do you think starting a booktube channel will be the hardest to overcome?
The only thing I can think about would be feeling like I simply cannot read fast enough to compete with the amount some of the big booktubers here read. I have a full time job and I spend most of my free time writing my own books, so as much as I do read, I definitely read less than others here on booktube. Unfortunately there is simply not enough time in one person’s life to read all of the book they want to read. My To-Be-Read list on Goodreads currently has 950 books on it, and I add at least one every couple of days. It’s really sad to realise I’ll probably never get to most of those books because I am not immortal and new books come out every single day that might seem more tempting.
8. When did you start reading?
I read a few books for school before I read my first Harry Potter book, but I don’t think I would count those. So, basically I started reading when I was around 11. Too late to believe I would receive my Hogwarts acceptance letter unfortunately.
9. Where do you read?
Mostly at home, in my bed or at my desk. I can get motion sickness if I read for a long time on public transport so I tend to not do that a lot, but I always have a book with me wherever I go, just in case I find those five-ten minutes I would otherwise spend staring into space.
10. What kind of books do you like to read?
