Booktube

What is Booktube?

Over the last 4 or 5 years Youtube has changed radically. It used to be a video-sharing platform where you could find funny cat videos and David Letterman reruns. Then, almost suddenly it seems, it became the new TV. New Youtubers started making channels about specific interests, they vlogged, they created web series' etc.
I love Youtube. I don't own a television and I don't miss it because on Youtube I can find pretty much everything I'm looking for: historical documentaries, cooking shows, interviews, rare concert footage, rambly vlogs by entertaining families (Shaytards anyone?) etc. What Youtube also enables, compared to traditional TV, is community and connection with other viewers and content creators. The first Youtube community I stumbled across were the so-called Beauty-gurus - offering tutorials, reviews etc. Later I started following the fitness community (who needs to pay for workout dvds anymore?) and I only just recently found the Booktube community.
Booktube has literally exploded over the last couple of years and while in the beginning most of the books people reviewed and talked about were YA, now there is a very diversified group of people, who interact with each other through tags and collaborations.  Most reviewers are not by professionals of the literary world - and that's a good thing, if you like the informality of hearing someone chat about a book they just read, showing you what they just bought (hauls) and what is on their TBR (to-be-read) list. I enjoy this, and obviously, I enjoy listening to other lit students and scholars, as well.
Booktube is a great place to go in search for inspiration (I've definitely started reading more now that I watch these videos) and to connect with other people from around the world who share your love of reading.
I'm always discovering new people to follow, but here are a few of my current favorites:

Readingbukoswki. She is a lit major from York and was the first Booktuber I discovered. She is my absolute favorite because she is so passionate in her reviews. Like me, she reads a lot of classics and literary works.
https://www.youtube.com/user/ReadingBukowski

Librarianfanmail. A quirky Canadian librarian whom I find incredibly entertaining. She reviews a variety of genres. I have to say, she usually talks about books that I have never read or even heard of, but her reviews - and discussions about other things as well - are so interesting, I could sit and watch her for hours.
https://www.youtube.com/user/librarianfanmail

AdamandKarate. This Booktube couple makes quick and funny videos, mostly about non-fiction. Again, I rarely know the books they talk about, but their videos are really entertaining.
https://www.youtube.com/user/adamandkarate

BOOKSandBable. A lovely (former?) Lit student.She talks about classics and literary works in a very knowleadgable way. I love her attitude (and her accent).
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtEzD16lgejopt7rKMNfq7A/feed


 

Booksandquills. Like me she is bi-lingual (Dutch and English in her case). She reads a wide range of styles and her reviews are always very thorough and well though out.
https://www.youtube.com/user/booksandquills

RonLit. A Lit graduate student from Canada. She is hilarious and also really informative.
https://www.youtube.com/user/bookjunkielit

WordsofaReader. Again, she reviews classics and literary books so most of her choices are right up my alley. And she has a lovely Australian accent too!
https://www.youtube.com/user/WordsofaReader

FromtheShelf. She hasn't been vlogging as long as others, and her videos aren't quite as professional as some, but I love her taste in books and her chatty, informal style. She just seems like a genuinely nice person I could be friends with in 'real' life.
https://www.youtube.com/user/FromtheShelf