I Don’t Hate Amazon
Sure, I get Buy Local but I love the convenience of Amazon. Local bookstores don’t ever have the exact book I’m looking for and have to order it anyway. As a primarily ebook reader you can’t beat the ease of Kindle especially with Kindle Unlimited. It links up with my library app too.
And while we are talking about the Extended Amazon Universe –
I don’t hate Goodreads
I know everyone is always trying to find the perfect Goodreads alternative but I haven’t found one that works better for me. It automatically syncs my books when I finish them. It keeps copies of my quotes. It makes good recommendations to me about what to read next.
I don’t like bookstores
I’ve talked about this one before but to me bookstores are absolute chaos. I can’t find anything. I just don’t understand the minds of people who organize them. I’m a library person.
That may also be because –
I don’t like owning books
I don’t like the clutter of lots and lots of bookshelves. I want to read the book and then I want it to go away. (Somehow I still have too many paper books in my house). I definitely don’t see the point of collecting multiple versions of the same book because the covers or edges are different colors.
I don’t want to meet authors
I don’t want any signed merchandise. See Not Liking Clutter above. I’m not standing in line to get books signed. I’ll go to a talk to hear what authors have to say then I’m heading straight home without forced social interaction.
Sex in books is boring
Can we just not? Give me story without having to stop for detailed descriptions of body parts. It is especially bad on audio. I don’t listen to romance on audio but sometimes some will sneak in there on other genres. I’m a fast forward/flip ahead kind of person because I want to know what is going to happen in the story. I don’t care at all about your personal time. And overusing the word “Spicy” in reviews in a cutesy way just makes me want to punch people.
Reading deeply isn’t always necessary.
I see people write sanctimonious articles about how if you read a lot of books that must mean that you aren’t reading them closely enough. That could be true but you know what? Not everything needs to be read closely like a scholarly article. Some things can be read just to entertain your brain and that is ok. Other times you can savor with more thought.
The whole truth is that I disagree with you on most of these, but I am glad you shared all of these with us. And I do agree that I am not interested in owning books!
Last Christmas Eve, I was walking around a neighborhood to look at Christmas lights while listening to an audiobook with my headphones. There was a very graphic sex scene in the book. It was cringy. I was staring at a stranger’s house, listening to sex, and laughing. Fun times.
I don’t hate Amazon or Goodreads either though I love owning books
If you’d like to visit, here’s my TTT: https://thebooklorefairyreads.wordpress.com/2025/04/15/top-ten-tuesday-unpopular-bookish-opinions/
I like going to bookshops, but it is pretty rare because I am not all that great at browsing. Usually I know what I am going in the shop for and that’s what I buy!
I agree with almost all of these. The only difference is that I do like bookstores, but I rarely go to them anymore. Being primarily an e-reader, I really don’t have the need to.
I agree with you on the sex comment!
I love your highly discussable opinions! I think I love bookstores because reading people are the best people and I love being with them!
I don’t hate Goodreads either. There’s issues and it’s frustrating that they don’t care to fix them. I think it’s a “hot” take to hate it though. I have been using it for more than a decade and works. I do like Storygraph, but there’s more conversation on GR.
Whoa, there are some challenging opinions on here!
My TTT: https://laurieisreading.com/2025/04/15/top-ten-tuesday-books-on-my-tbr-i-avoid-reading-and-why/
I agree with people hating on Goodreads too much – while it isn’t perfect, it gets the job done! Not liking bookstores is a hot take haha – but I do see what you mean – libraries are better organized for sure.
And a big YES for the last point – not every book needs a close reading and not every book I read needs to be the next Great Novel either.
I agree with all of these. I’ve stuck with Goodreads because I can’t find anything else that suits my needs.
I don’t hate Amazon and Goodreads either. As an international reader that for the most part reads English books it’s hard to find them elsewhile for a decent price.