Let’s Talk: Which do you prefer – booktube or book blogs?

The bookish community has taken over social media. WE WILL RIIIIISSSEEEE. We’re everywhere.

But where is it most people go? Well, usually it’s either book blogs or booktube. If a bookworm wants to start their own little bookish corner on the internet, it’s usually one or the other – or both.

Aimee over at lovelybookloves inspired this discussion, when she ran this poll on twitter:

Because when I went to vote, I actually had to stop and think for a moment. Think about what I love about each, compare them to each other, and how often I spend on each. So here’s the discussion!

Do you prefer book blogs or booktube more?

It’s fairly obvious what the differences are.

You either stand in front of a camera and talk about books, or you sit typing on a screen talking about books. You edit or you spell check. You watch a video for 10 minutes or you read a 500 word long blog post.

But it’s more than that. While you can get your personality through on a blog (I sure hope I have), it’s much easier to see on a video. People might want to see your face. People might feel more connected with you if they watched a video rather than read your words.

And yet blogs seem to be preferred for reviews, I think. And for general ease of use. It’s much more handy to have a blog to read than a video to watch. What if you’re in public and you don’t have earphones? You’ll have to save it for another time, sorry. Plus a lot of people are camera-shy, so blogging may be their preferred method of making their corner.

I started this blog because I wanted to be a booktuber. Makes no sense, right?

I’ve always adored booktube. I admired the people who could put together videos, talking about books and everything to do with them. I imagined myself being a booktuber, thought about where I’d film, what I’d film, what my thumbnails would look like.

But alas – I don’t have a camera. Or the technical skills to make a decent video.

Then I started my college course, which we have to run a blog for. That’s how I discovered WordPress. Yes that does mean I have another blog out there in the world, and a few of you who have followed me from the very beginning actually do follow it…before I made it private. It’s a very boring blog, all full of journalism work. Anyway, that’s how I discovered WordPress and learnt the basics of how to use it, then a month later – TADAAA A Frolic Through Fiction was born. And here we are today. Almost a year later.

So I knew I wanted my little corner of the internet. I originally posted mini reviews on instagram, but that just wasn’t enough. I wanted to make longer reviews, but didn’t just want them on Goodreads. I wanted a place I could design and be proud of. I wanted to make my own version of those TBRs, Hauls and Monthly Wrap Up videos/posts I love so much. Basically, I wanted a project. And once I have an idea in my head, I do everything I can to make it happen. 

Funnily enough though, I’m being tempted back into the booktube idea. I’m actually currently in the process of making a bookish video (if you have me on twitter or snapchat, you’ll probably know which I mean). I’ve found a way for me to film. I’ve found a way for me to edit. I’ve found out that I can actually upload a half decent video to YouTube – and I will do sometime soon. And I know that if that one video is received well….I’ll be tempted. I’ll be tempted to make the channel a proper booktube channel, to pair up with this blog.

Honestly, I think I prefer booktube. I love seeing people’s faces, and watching their excitement when they talk about books. I love seeing the difference between different people’s backgrounds, bookshelves, opinions. I get excited when my favourite booktubers upload a new video – and the end of the month is just GREAT, because all my favourite sort of videos come out.

But then when I think about the actual content… it changes. I hardly ever watch video reviews. But I love reading reviews! And all the videos I love on YouTube (hauls, TBRs, monthly wrap ups) I love them just as much in blog form. Then we get to the comments. I NEVER post comments on YouTube – at least, not at the minute – but I always try my best to leave comments on people’s blog posts, just because I love chatting.

I kind of feel like Booktube is there when I want a quick version. I watch a video, then I’m done. But when I’m in for the long haul, I love spending ages trawling through people’s blog posts, writing my own, commenting on loads of people’s posts and having chats about books.

So while I may love booktube just that little bit more when it comes to my entertainment…it’s fair to say I adore both. And my little community on here makes me so incredibly happy ❤

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So now it’s your turn!

Which do you prefer? Booktube or book blogs?

Does it change when you consider what you watch/read, and what you make? Maybe you love watching booktube more, but would prefer to run a blog?

What made you decide to start a blog rather than a YouTube channel, or vice versa?

Does it ever change depending on your mood?

Or is there something else you prefer over both?

Join the discussion in the comments!

Until next time…

Come and visit me!

    

Bookish Snapchat : “frolic_fiction”