I didn't get into reading until college when I was finally taught how to read and the connections between reading, writing, thinking, and discussing. I am now a third year in college and I am so glad I started reading! Literacy is so important to having a deeper understanding of ourselves and the world.

@WillowTalksBooks

2 жыл бұрын

Hearing this makes my heart sing!

Grandma here. Remember me? I’m 70. I enjoyed reading at an early age but my parents found me a bit odd. They didn’t discourage my reading but they were not literary at all. I’ve loved reading as an escape into another world and still don’t always read the synopsis of a book before I read it. I need to be taken in right away so the description of blades of grass with dew on them at the beginning of a book is a kiss of death. I say I don’t like time travel. Yet I’ve enjoyed time travel books. I say I don’t like dystopian novels but thoroughly enjoyed Odd Billy Todd by N C Reed (about a pandemic!). I loved hearing your story and as a grandmother 7 times over I can say to you that you’ve got so many years of reading ahead of you. My current TBR will outlive me!! Kudos to you for seeking counseling to help you deal with whatever is causing you angst. ❤️

@WillowTalksBooks

3 жыл бұрын

I love your attitude towards reading. It lifts my spirits.

Hey, I don't know if you still read these comments but I just wanted to say that I love how open you are about talking about your experience and love for reading - even if "unconventional", it's truly inspiring. Being the only child, I read a lot as a kid to escape from the world of the mundane (often the characters from stories would feel like the best friends I so desperately wished to have/become for someone). I also resonated with your family not being readers - my parents would often tell me off for having my nose stuck in a book during dinner! However, I fell out of love with books as I entered secondary school as it was deemed "uncool" at the time. I've recently reconnected with books, and found (through your channel) that I really enjoy translated fiction and I'm really excited to go on this journey! I don't think being a late bloomer for books is a negative - the games you've played, the anime you've watched in your childhood/teenage years are all storytelling devices and have probably shaped the way you appreciate art in your adult life. If anything, it's exciting since you have a have a lot of literature discoveries to make now! I see myself as a late bloomer is many other aspects of my life - for instance, I feel like I didn't really appreciate film properly till I was 18, but I have to remind myself that it means I have more beautiful stories to experience on-screen :)

So interesting to hear about people's reading history, especially when it's so different to my own. Have always been a reader recently found my reading history video. It's old but still true.

I work as a bookseller with children's books. Here and there a parent will say I have a something-year-old and they dont read/dont like to read, what book should they get. Initially, I feel pressured to come up with that perfect recommendation that will inspire a young reader. But then, I remember that I was a late reader. My mom would have to essentially lie on my reading logs for school because i refused to read junie b jones handed down from my sister, and it wasn't until my father gave me his adult fantasy, from urban fantasy to D&D novels, that I felt inspired by the power of books. So I try to share that too, it's okay to be a late reader, it's okay to read only comics for a while (if not forever), it's okay to only like pokemon right now (here's a game guide, here's a comic!) 😊Thanks for another great video.

@WillowTalksBooks

3 жыл бұрын

I'm so happy to find another late reader with their own inspiring story to tell!

My Mum introduced me to reading. I remember she bought me a book by Enid Blyton. So it was her fault that I spend money on books. Thanks for sharing your story 💕

@WillowTalksBooks

2 жыл бұрын

I'm jealous! What a wonderful mum 💜

Later reader here too and I went through long periods of no reading after I started. Great review! Sounds like an amazing book!

Great video - thank you. I could not read until I was about 12, so never read kids' books until I was an adult. I'm in my 50s now, and still find reading a bit hard, although I enjoy it as long as I take it slowly.

Just loved listening to your story! Thank you for sharing.❤

I didn't really get back into reading until around your age as well! I was in the generation where Minecraft, Roblox, and anime took up the majority of my time alongside school. Unsurprisingly, the Harry Potter books and the Percy Jackson series that were introduced by my sister were what brought me back into the land of reading. Reading in english, which is my second language took time; I couldn't grasp the concept of 'imagining' scenes in my head until one day it just clicked? What probably aided in that was watching the adaptations for Harry Potter. I'm in university now and I don't see myself losing this hobbie anytime soon though I've since moved away from the likes of Hogwarts and Rick Riordan books. Thank you for sharing your experience, it's always lovely to hear about how people get into reading :) Also wanted to say that I love your videos, Willow! I really enjoy the way you share your thoughts on each of the books you talk about and your channel has introduced me to a lot of translated fiction that I would've never discovered without you. PS: Would love to read/watch a piece about your favourite albums or the ones that have impacted you the most. That Bon Iver album is excellent, and I am incredibly curious now with your music tastes 😆

OMG in school not being into Potter when everyone was reading it!? lol me too, and I remember there was this massive weekly HP discussion group led by our science teacher and thinking, who the fuck would miss lunch for that?! I didn't get it at the time. I didn't start reading until I was maybe 19/20 - I said to myself I was just more into music and film, but like you said, I thought books were beyond me. I think I started reading when I found some of my fav films were adaptations and went from there. This is a lovely video btw.

A late reader is here too , I can relate to your story in a big way , my reading journey started when my father passed away six years ago, books were so comforting and helped me through a very tough period in my life, yes I feel so sad that it took me a long time to start this journey but as I watch this video and seeing you now I feel so optimist to whats coming next .

@WillowTalksBooks

2 жыл бұрын

I'm sorry to hear you lost your father, but I'm glad that books gave you so much solace. These days I feel like discovering reading later in life only makes us hold books even tighter.

I love stories about people who read or write stories. And yours is special as I'm learning so much through your channel. Maybe there's a language with a word that describes the sense of wonder a reader gets when someone recommends them a new book. I say, "Oh, I never knew this was here!" Indeed, I'm coming across so many beautiful books because of your channel. Thank you!

@WillowTalksBooks

2 жыл бұрын

Wow, thank you so much for this! I'm glad my channel has offered you so many new reads. We have so many more on our main blog as well. This channel is just a spin-off where I get to ramble a bit more and be goofy lol

This video was so beautiful!! Totally inspired me to re-pick up reading. Please continue to make these wholesome videos - you’re definitely reaching out & inspiring people to read more! Appreciate the great work 💙

I began reading super early in life, to the point it became unalienable when relatives would talk to or about me. But it was ironically when I was about 12 and I became exposed to YA BookTube and my family got better internet that allowed me to use it much more that I stopped reading almost entirely. I read maybe a book a year for 5 years and they weren't very long at all. But, for some reason, I was still buying books at a pretty steady rate even though I wasn't reading them, and kept up with the trends and new releases. So, while books were constantly a part of my life, reading was not. It took having nothing to do once COVID hit last March for me to look at my shelf and I reread an old favourite and then just kept going. Once I'd rekindled my love of reading I preemptively decided I would make myself do it for years to come and made it one of my majors in university. Hoping to become a teacher too, hopefully it works out good!

@WillowTalksBooks

3 жыл бұрын

What a lovely story! It's a nice silver lining seeing how people everywhere have been using lockdowns as a means to learn a skill or pick up a hobby. For me, it's KZread. I'm glad you've rekindled your love for reading and I'm sure you'll have a great time as a teacher. I just wasn't cut out for the job but, for the people who are, they live and breathe it.

I can’t remember when I first started reading (prob when I was first started writing). Being a bibliophile is literally my soul and I always read books a lot so hearing stories like this is very intriguing to me since I can’t fathom not reading at a young age myself. Still I’m sure this video comforts those who were or are in your shoes since I did agree that reading does get romanticize a lot and that school systems in general suck at establishing a good reading habit to children.

This is an amazing video. I enjoy learning how others fell in love with books and reading.

First of all, thank you! I stumbled upon your channel through your "I want to die but I want to eat tteokbokki" review. I really appreciate how you connect your recommendations with personal stories and feelings, it makes them and yourself relatable and intriguing. I think I have always been reading but I can relate to your feelings of 'being late' to a medium. I experienced something similar with anime. I did watch anime as a kid but then, growing up, I felt so detached from it, just until I fell in love with the medium (again) a few years ago, being in my 20s, going to uni. Engaging with anime helped me a lot to get better, mentally. So did and does reading. It doesn't matter when one starts, what is important is what it means to us today :3

@WillowTalksBooks

Жыл бұрын

That’s a beautiful way to sum it up! And the same actually happened to me with anime as well :)

Hi! Thank you so much for this video because I can relate a lot to your story even tho I read few fantasy books during my childhood, but it’s so encouraging in some way… And when you mentioned theatre (I study dramaturgy and playwrighting) I was like… now I maybe know why I feel your story so much 😁 And I do regret now the time I didn’t read and I could as well. I’ve just discovered you videos and I need to see them all, they’re so interesting and I love the way you talk about them 🌻 So please continue, this is really great channel! * I’m really sorry for my English, I do my best 😅 *

Got into it properly about 2018 October and absolutely consumes me now

@WillowTalksBooks

3 жыл бұрын

My heart is soaring for you

Congratulation my friend you got all my respect & anyone that is into reading ect

Thanks for sharing. Love this video, your voice is so soothing. I'm definitely going to order a copy of this book.

@WillowTalksBooks

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you! I hope you enjoy it.

I am 73, my sister was the big reader, the promising student 5 years older than I so I am only coming to great lit and translated books now. I of course had to major in Math and minor in Econ so I wouldn't have to read much.

A fantastic reading journey and thanks for sharing. I am new to your channel and just wanted to say its brilliant, very informative and great reviewing. Looking forward to more and being inspired with recommendations. Happy New Year. Paul.

@WillowTalksBooks

3 жыл бұрын

Wow, thanks, Paul! I really appreciate that. Happy New Year!

Love this, thank you for sharing. And totally get the wasted years feeling! I read a lot as a kid but then almost nothing for most of my teens - much more interested in discovering sex and drugs. Didn't really rediscover my love of reading until my year off between school and university, when I was spending a lot of time either at home or in hospital looking after my mum (who was then largely immobile but is now much better) and needed something to fill the hours. At least we've found books (or found them again in my case) now though! Side note: whenever you talk about video games you make me really want to get into them.

@WillowTalksBooks

3 жыл бұрын

I'm glad to hear that you've rediscovered a love of books, and that your mum's much better now! Since I grew up playing video games, those were the things I pushed aside in favour of sex and drugs and a ridiculous obsession with punk music. Well done to us both for finding our hobbies again. And if you ever want any game recs, I reckon I can help!

@rebeccac5515

3 жыл бұрын

​@@WillowTalksBooks I genuinely might take you up on that at some point. Got very close to giving games a proper go during the first lockdown, but am slightly concerned I'll get very into them and they'll take up all my time. Also there's a lot to learn for someone whose last gaming experience was on PS1!

@WillowTalksBooks

3 жыл бұрын

@@rebeccac5515 I very much understand your concern! The only thing that stops me from losing my life to games is this kind of Catholic-esque guilt that I press on myself every day about working harder and not wasting my time. But if you don't have that guilt, you can lose yourself very easily!

I used to love reading when I was a kid. Now I'm older I want to read, but its much harder. I'm not dyslexic, nor do I think I have adhd, but keeping attention and reading slowly is a serious challenge. I'm kind of getting better at it now, using a bookmark under each line I read is helpful, it stops the other sentences getting muddled together and helps with subvocalising less. That's what's upsetting. I used to be really good at reading as a kid, I could finish a book in a few days. I relate to you buying comics though. This is what helps me now, I read manga because it holds my attention easier. You should check out Naoki Urasawa's manga. Neil gaiman's comics are excellent, I can see why you like those.

I started reading when I was in elementary school I was 8 years old I would read willy Wonka and the chocolate factory james and the giant peach the babysitter club books I had a horrible childhood reading helped me escape from all of it there was a time when I did stop reading I was suffering from a severe depression luckily over time I learned to love reading again I'm now 32 years old

I would buy books only for the experience and then just use them as decoration to give my self the illusion that one day I would read them. Anyhow, only about 3 years after I became a parent, (age 41) books became real to me. I would buy dozens of books for my kids and sometimes they’re were just not interested, also they were too young to understand the abstract emotional messages from the books. As a parent sometimes…I’m just kidding…most times…you give give give so much off your self to your kids that I decided to give myself something ‘ A book’ . Six months later, I read 15 books and I was shocked. Second year I pushed myself and read 67 books and this year I’m 24 books in. I’m still learning how to read books and your videos help me understand books better. I started late and I’m trying to make up for all the years in which I didn’t read and I have to remind my self that I need to learn to absorb books better and not make up for lost time. It’s not a competition I tell myself but It’s hard. When does this come ? Sometimes I read books, and I can’t see abstract messages hidden in the words. Anyhow, that’s my story, and again thank you for your videos, they’re very helpful!

@WillowTalksBooks

2 жыл бұрын

You’re right when you say it’s not a competition, and there’s no right or wrong way to enjoy a book. Im a critic so I’m always looking for those layers and messages but nobody has a duty to do that. Anyway, your story is wonderful and it really hit me. The way you grew into a voracious reader pretty quickly once you got going, and at a time when you were at your busiest and had other humans to care for. It’s very touching and we do need to gift ourselves things! Books was a good choice :)

I’m so glad you find comfort and joy in reading books. I’m compiling a long list of books you’ve talked about that I must read. How do you have time to do anything else but read!

@WillowTalksBooks

3 жыл бұрын

I am lucky enough to run a book-related website full-time so I really do read a staggering amount! It's my job and my hobby.

@chelseadufresne9990

3 жыл бұрын

@@WillowTalksBooks I just discovered the website! I can’t wait to read Kobo Abe! I literally haven’t slept I’ve been watching your videos all night. Your very very interesting and captivating.

@WillowTalksBooks

3 жыл бұрын

Oh goodness, wow! Thank you so much! As someone who also stays up all night watching KZread, it's crazy to think people are doing the same with my videos. I'm really flattered, thank you.

I hope you're still not so hard on your child self. My bookish story is the most common, as in introverted child who prefers reading books to interacting with peers. For me it was my dad got me into books, as he was also introverted and bookish (he is deceased). Some of the books I remember reading as a child are Little House on the Prairie and the Goosebumps books, as well as Ella Enchanted. However, I am very late to the joy of experiencing metal music live. In September of 2021 Vintersea was the first metal band I've seen in person. I was 29. 😅

I did not read much when I was a child but I read some books. They had to be new or maybe given to me by a friend. The idea of reading books from a library was just to scary. I hated the idea of what other children might have done while reading it. Gross! But as I read more and more and became an actual bookworm I used our public library more often and suddenly libraries became my idea of heaven. I was lucky enough to get a proper job in a fabulous library a few years ago and it is actual heaven. New books all the time and not only mainstream and bestsellers. And my list of books I want to read gets longer every day. Also thanks to your reviews. So thanks for that! BTW you have a really nice voice.

@WillowTalksBooks

3 жыл бұрын

Your job sounds wonderful. If I ever got a job as a bookseller or a librarian, I'd happily stay that way forever. And thanks for the compliment!

Thanks for sharing your story. I‘ve been following your channel for quite a bit now and was lucky to find this older video. 🤓 I‘m one of those ignorant people who grew up in a family of bookworms and being a bookworm myself. Hence I always thought that everyone grew up like that and was extremely surprise to meet people and friends without a love for literature or only starting to become bookworms later on. 😅 But that’s where I lost it: The Goblet of Secrets or the Half Blood Chamber…. My heart 🫠 😀🔫 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

I absolutely loved this video - I’ve only just got into literature as I was writing my uni application, I really regret not reading when I younger. Love your videos!

@WillowTalksBooks

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much! Discovering literature a little later than most people only makes you appreciate it more.

My first book that got into me was Dune, a mate threw it to me saying you'll like this and he was right, I was about 14, I haven't really stopped since, maybe a good first book is so important, but not chosen by adults or school curriculums, but our peers.

@WillowTalksBooks

3 жыл бұрын

I couldn't agree more! My friend handing me Northern Lights was so crucial. And I didn't read Dune until I was about 24 and, oh, the wasted years!

I will be the first one to run out and buy your Memoir, so please write it..... I always loved reading since I was a young girl. I'm a recent widowed 70 year old woman. I love books even more now and always search and look for interesting books I never thought I would like before. I found out that you are NEVER too old to try to learn new things. The internet makes it easy to learn and discover anything. I pray to have many years left in this life, because I am not through yet!!! HaHa.. Chandler from Friends! BTW I thought you were about 22 years old.

@WillowTalksBooks

3 жыл бұрын

First of all, thank you so much for thinking I was 22. I'll be 31 next month and I moisturise a little bit harder every single day. Secondly, I love your lease on life, it is so inspiring. Knowing people like you gives me so much drive and so much hope. I have a friend from Boston MA who is in her mid-sixties and she has that same lust for living life to its fullest right until the end. I appreciate it so much. Thank you. You're truly inspiring.

@parkerrose3590

3 жыл бұрын

@@WillowTalksBooks I wanted to add that I live in Maine and I have a married daughter who will be 29 next month, so I am 40 years older than her. She keeps me updated on new things and I teach her Pop Culture from the 50's, 60's, and 70's! It's fun spending time with her, Also, I am a breast cancer survivor, so I am thankful for every day!! Wish more people will realize how precious life is and stop being petty.

You’re right about how we romanticize reading in childhood. But even though I was an early reader, I don’t think it was any kind of leg up, because, to me, books and comics and video games (and even sport) is all the same: they’re narratives. Narrative is the important thing, I think, regardless of the form. It’s good for the soul to invest in something you can’t control, something bigger than you. That’s the true joy, the true gift, of reading (or playing video games or watching sports). And you were getting that, just from Pokemon Ruby instead of Jane Eyre. This the first 30 minutes I spent as an awake person in 2021. What a beautiful start to my year. (PS I never want to hear about other best friends ever again. How dare you.)

@WillowTalksBooks

3 жыл бұрын

You are the best person I know. And I'm sorry I brought up lesser people. Pay them no mind. And how beautifully you put the argument for narratives. I do totally agree; playing Final Fantasy as a kid instilled in me all the same morals, stories, and imagination fuel as I would've gotten from the Narnia books.

@RickMacDonnell

3 жыл бұрын

@@WillowTalksBooks Speaking of comics, aI started reading Ascender by Jeff Lemire and it’s v v good

@WillowTalksBooks

3 жыл бұрын

@@RickMacDonnell Oh yay! I loved Descender very much. I should just read comics and get used to parting with them afterwards.

@RickMacDonnell

3 жыл бұрын

@@WillowTalksBooks Whoops I meant to write Descender LOL. So yes, I am reading DESCENCER AND IT IS GOOD

Do you listen to or read Anne Vogel? She has a great podcast. She has encouraged me to “stretch” in my reading life.

Hello, have you read "Who" by famous authot, "Asked"? Very relevant to your profound journey in the prestigious field of bookworming. I give this video 2 worms out of 5 books.

@edwarddeklerk7559

Жыл бұрын

Thanks Edward, that's insightful. The shape of your head is like an egg. Your friends should call you Eggward de Fart. Thanks!

samedt. late book bloomer here 🙋🏻‍♀️ started 30 ♥️

@WillowTalksBooks

2 жыл бұрын

I love meeting fellow late readers. I appreciate books more as a result 💜

@hoyamistika6535

2 жыл бұрын

i was discouraged by my parents. “books are a waste of space and paper.” now a mother, 30 yrs old, bookworming my life awayyyyy

@hoyamistika6535

2 жыл бұрын

@@WillowTalksBooks you’re my most favoured book reviewer. you got me hooked on asian authors. more power love!

Am also a very late reader I started it around during pendemic on my birthday I got few books and am 1999 born so we're pretty much kinda same about late reading 😂

@WillowTalksBooks

3 жыл бұрын

Wow yeah, same kind of story. Well, keep at it because it changed my life forever!

@ramilasiyani6657

3 жыл бұрын

@@WillowTalksBooks I'll keep it up till the day I die and ya I love your videos they're all wonderful I've seen only 2 video about my story & korean novels and I already ordered kim jiyoung born 1982 ok so this is becoming long so in short I wanna say keep recommending as many books as you like especially foreign novel about different languages coz there that spark in it that I love about it so plzz... make as many videos as possible about different languages coz those really touch my soul ❤️ speaking from my heart it's true

I have never read anything by Philip Pullman and most likely never will. But I am really interested to hear your opinion on the second book in the Book of Dust series. Because I watched Mercedes from Mercy' s Bookish Musings video, in which she talked about the huge issues she had with it and how disappointed she was. Have you read it? I was an early reader, but honestly, I can't recognise any difference between you and me. You always warm my heart with your love for reading and books.

@WillowTalksBooks

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much! And yes, I have read the second one. It's full of problems but I'm not sure I can talk about them all now unless I read the book again. And it's 800 pages of problems so I'm not too eager to do that! The biggest issue is him writing a teacher who sniffs a 15 year old girl during a lesson. Made me feel sick. Worst thing is that these two characters are being positioned for a romantic plot in the next book. And yes, I will read he third one because I've come this far...

@ameliareads589

3 жыл бұрын

@@WillowTalksBooks It is even more disappointing, reading something like this from an author, who's work you've adored for ages.

@WillowTalksBooks

3 жыл бұрын

@@ameliareads589 It was heartbreaking. Over a year later, it still stings. At least he's not a TERF 🤷🏻

@ameliareads589

3 жыл бұрын

@@WillowTalksBooks Are you sure? If he is able to write something like that and to develop a romance out of this, I am not sure about that. It would be interesting to find out.