Within the reading community, books serve not only as sources of knowledge and entertainment but also as consumer goods.
As a result, a certain pressure can build up to participate in the aesthetics and trends of the bookish community.
These pressures often go unspoken, yet we internalise them, leading us to question our own reading habits and the appearance of our book collections.
Instead of blindly conforming to these pressures, it’s essential to pause and reflect on our individual consumeristic habits and what truly brings us joy in our reading experience.
There is no universal answer to the question of how many books you should read per month or per year.
The only right answer lies within yourself.
Each person has their own unique pace and comfort level when it comes to engaging in the reading hobby.
Rather than comparing myself to others and setting unrealistic expectations, I focus on finding the rhythm that allows me to savour the books I read and retain what I value from those experiences.
If you’re like me, you’re simultaneously reading, watching movies and TV shows, and consuming other forms of media like music, comics and graphic novels, all of which take time and energy.
There’s no final exam or grade waiting for me at the end of the year, so it doesn’t matter how much of what media I consume.
Because it’s for enjoyment.
Reading is meant to be a source of enjoyment and personal growth, not a competition.
As I’ve said before, I’m a super slow reader when it comes to physical or e-books, and listening to a book or watching a movie are relatively easier for me.
While discussions about consumerism within the bookish community are valid, it’s unfair to equate reading fast or reading a lot with participating in consumeristic behaviours.
In fact, many avid readers that I know are avid users of libraries, emphasising the love for literature rather than excessive consumption.
Scrutinising consumeristic pressures in the bookish community.
The aesthetics and pillars of the book community, such as book hauls or accumulating a large collection of books, can inadvertently create a sense of pressure to consume more.
However, as an individual and consumer, I have the power to critically evaluate and scrutinise these pressures.
I strive to make intentional choices about what, how much, and when I consume, keeping in mind that the right way to approach my reading hobby is the way that brings me the most joy and fulfilment.
Reading and collecting books are two separate hobbies that can complement each other, and that do overlap, but aren’t the same thing.
While someone may find pleasure in amassing stacks of unread books or maintaining collections, I don’t derive enjoyment from owning books that I didn’t love.
What I love doing, is curating a collection that brings me joy, not just takes up space in my life.
Recognising my own preferences and desires is crucial.
Keeping books I didn’t enjoy or accumulating unread titles doesn’t align with my personal values or reading goals.
That’s why I will be mindful of which books I buy as physical copies, and try to find ways of borrowing ones that I’m unsure about before buying the book for myself.
I also tend to steer clear of content that focuses on the consumeristic side of being in the bookish community, such as book hauls, and focus instead on talking about the content.
Embracing this understanding allows me to customise my reading journey to my own unique tastes.
In the world of reading communities, I really enjoy celebrating individuality and breaking free from the unspoken pressures that revolve around consumerism.
The number of books we read, the pace at which we read them, and the nature of our book collections are personal choices that should be driven by our own enjoyment and fulfilment.
So, let’s focus on the joy of reading and forge our own paths in the vast world of literature.
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