This summer I got my first e-reader: I found a Kindle from 2012 in a free pile on the curb and was instantly in love. The battery still has tons of life, so I did a factory reset, put it in airplane mode, and back loaded it with Calibre. It can't update anymore so I'll never see a single ad - it's as close to a dumb phone ereader as you could get and has zero functionality outside of reading books. I put a compostable phone grip from Pela on the back, and it's the last gen to have physical buttons on both sides, so I literally can walk and read at the same time, read while lying in bed, while cooking, etc. It's not back or side lit but I just use the book light I already had when I need it. I have ADHD and hate small font so now I can read way faster with big type. For anyone in the fence about e-readers, I highly recommend getting a Gen 4 Kindle off eBay for $15 as they've only gotten worse since then imo.
@@CreativityDiaries yeah you have to pay an extra 20 to remove the ads. Ive heard people say they were able to get them off for free by lying to customer support about having inappropriate ads on them but thats a your mileage may vary thing
WHAT? ADS??? i have a kobo (idk what gen or model but its relatively new, bought it new in 2022 i believe) and it has no ads and i only pay for kobo plus for books to read (cancelling soon tho bc of 🏴☠️ lol). honestly the kobo is really good so if you do want back lighting and a few other things i’d also recommend a kobo.
@@CreativityDiaries yeah if you get the non ad-free edition for cheaper and it cycles through ads for new book releases etc. from Amazon when the Kindle is off. No idea if other e-readers do this but just another reason Amazon fucking sucks. Thankfully my Kindle is too old for the system update that would implement ads 😈
@@CreativityDiaries Canadian kindles actually don't come with ads! I have a Kindle but I've never bought a single e-book from Amazon. I get them elsewhere and use the "send to Kindle" function
I am an indie author and THANK YOU for being a certified Amazon Hater. They have been keeping book prices so artificially low and it's TERRIBLE for authors, it's terrible for bookstores, and it's terrible for readers. Also, thank you for the Audible hate. Authors get MAYBE 20% in royalties, literally the lowest of all audiobook platforms. I hate Amazon and how it's got authors between a rock and a hard place and it's got readers in the frying pan. It's bad for everyone who loves books. But it's also gaslit so many indie authors into thinking they won't make ANY money unless they are exclusive to KU. They've convinced too many indie authors that being exclusive to Amazon is the only way to reach readers. But guess what? When you're exclusive to Amazon, they don't let you put your book in libraries! Libraries; the literal easiest way to reach readers. "oh but if my books aren't in KU, low income readers won't be able to read it for free!" ah yes because a low income reader can afford $11.99 for KU but can't afford the $0.00 for a library card and the $0 Libby app????? Sorry for popping off in your comments but oh my gosh de-influence Amazon HARDER PLEASE.
Sadly in some places KU really is the only way for indie authors. In my country for example, it's the only platform that's actually talked about, and whatever low profit we make it's still better than nothing. It sucks, but it is what it is
@@Disapointedmellencol uhh Libby doesnt get *any* books at all. its just an app to access public library books. The libraries get their books from publishers and other distributors, not amazon...
I literally bought a kindle off a second hand website for 1/3 of the price. It functions the same. The primary use for it is reading. Why do people think they need gadgets to do everything like water ur plants and cook your food? An ereader is not a tablet, it is more like a house appliance like a vaccuum. There is no need to constantly upgrade.
@@melima_I live in west Texas which is the ugly shitty desert part of Texas and you can dust and 2 seconds later, there’s more dust. But surprisingly, the Lego succulents my daughter made me stay clean! Maybe I have a little Lego fairy 🧚♂️
I love that you touched on the fact that the holder is good for accessibility, even though you hated the ereader holder for yourself! I’ve been considering getting one because some days my joint pain in my hands/wrists/elbows can make it painful to read, but i can definitely see how it’s ugly and kind of inconvenient LOL Just love seeing a queen remember the disabled community in her reviews ❤❤❤❤❤
Libby is a lifesaver. Helped me with my library books and the book on the shelves that I read. And sometimes I double read. Read a print book that is not on Libby while listening to an audiobook.
GIIIIRRRLLLLL i've been looking for a booktuber who is outspoken about any amazon related products. not a lot of booktubers have either the guts or the ability to actually do their own research on why everything amazon is shit to do that. love you for that!! ❤
Yeah, I try to avoid buying books on Amazon. The rumors that they're trying to shut down book stores doesn't seem all that unlikely. So...just in case.
Like everyone, I am a hypocrite when it comes to Amazon and Amazon knows that. For most, it is a necessary evil. And I hate what Amazon did to Book Depository. I loved that online book store and Amazon ruined it.
I swapped my audible for everand which gives you UNLIMITED audiobooks + ebooks + other stuff like articles, sheet music for the same price it's soo much better. On the very rare occasions I've wanted an amazon only book I just use a fake email to get the trial and download it lol
Love this de-influencing! I had no idea that Kobo worked with Libby in Canada. I have a pretty old Kindle I picked up used many years ago and have been considering getting a Kobo once the Kindle kicks the bucket. Knowing a Kobo can be used with Libby just made my decision to get one that much easier.
The arm and the pageturner are actually nice for me. My wrists hurt sometimes, and often I find myself listening to podcasts to avoid using my wrists, so they help!
thank you for the accessibility shout-out. I think a lot of people can forget sometimes even for people who really care about aesthetics, it can be needed. Unfortunately a lot of things that make things accessible are not aesthetic
@@BinxThinx mine's ceramic! I personally don't like the acrylic ones, totally agree with you on that! I definitely think that there's plenty wrong with the trend!
@@Quantumbe that’s great to know that some ceramic ones exist! Can imagine it looks beautiful with your dried bouquet 💐 wish those were advertised or seen more than the plastic waste people keep collecting. I have so many regrets about collectibles I purchased in the past
Libby is amazing. I already have an iPad for art so I can just download the kindle app and I have a bunch of books/audiobooks available to me for free. Also, they don’t take up space, I don’t have to worry about carrying around a big heavy book, and I’m already taking my iPad everywhere anyways. Ever since getting Libby, I’ve been reading so much plus it feels good supporting the library.
Have you seen the large amazon book hauls? I saw video of someone buying over a hundred paperbacks of the most popular books on tiktok to fill new bookshelves 😭😭😭😭😭
i think i know who you’re talking about. for a month or two after that video she made book-related vlogs but now has COMPLETELY stopped. she clearly just hopped on a trend and now probably has hundreds of books just sitting there unread 🙄
Thank you for mentioning the accessibility of the ereader arm. As someone with chronic pain, it’s been an absolute hand/finger saver for me. But yes unfortunately it isn’t very aesthetically pleasing lol
The one that I like is Book of the Month. I liked the free shipping and being able to buy books cheaper than you would at a chain or local book store. No shade to your local book store. Support small businesses. And I found some favorites on there. And I like the rewards you get. Am unemployed at the moment, so I had to unsubscribe, but it was one of those few subscriptions I actually did not mind paying for. But agree with your points. It is hard to catch up, but that is a me thing. It is my fault that I keep finding 3 books on the site that I want to read.
I've started asking myself, "will i read this in the next 90 days?" If not, that add-on can wait. It doesn't always work, but it helps. I've also gotten way better at skipping if none of the books appeal to me. I will say though, that in terms of finding new authors, Aardvark is better and the book quality is much higher. But the subscription is more expensive. So you win some you lose some.
@@CreativityDiariesI will say if you do annual instead of monthly it’s a few dollars cheaper per month. Total you end up paying I think $168 a year instead of I think $18 a month. You can still skip a month anytime you want even if you do the annual plan. I know that’s still a lot of money for a lot of people, but just a heads up if you decide to do ever subscribe at some point. The6 also do audiobooks now as well.
And you can have more than one library card. Some libraries have non-resident cards (in the USA, at least) for max $100 a year. (usually around $30-$50). Libby's the best thing to happen to phones/the internet ever.
You can try searching up other libraries, some have specific library cards that are for people who don’t live in the city of the library. You can then use that card for Libby.
One thing to add as an editor. specialize in ebooks: never, never, never buy a kindle unless you live in the US. Kindle have a really specific type of file they can open and it's not compatible with everyother one. So you basically force to buy all your ebooks from amazon with a kindle. While you can go on almost every website with the other ereaders.
My sister got me a wooden tulip from the Netherlands when she was there - absolutely perfect for my bookshelf :D regardless of the unnecessary moisture in the periphery of books, I wouldn't be able to trust myself not to knock over a vase at some point.
My kobo lasted for 10 years before it died, I could not recommend it more. They are built to last and I really like that you can add your own ebooks and pdfs to it, plus adding library books etc. You're not limited to what you can get at the kobo store.
I’ve had my Kindle forever, and at this point, I only use it to read Kindle unlimited books that I’m not sure if I want to buy a physical copy of because I can return the Kindle unlimited book if ive DNF’d it or I liked the story enough, but not to actually buy the physical copy. But just because you buy the book Kindle does not mean you actually own the book apparently. Amazon can take the book off at any point in time. So yeah that’s why I stick to KU books, yes, they can pull those books off at any time, but it doesn’t make any difference to me
Just found your channel. I love books and have been heavily involved in the bookish online community for 13 years now. But I am also passionate about over-consumption. SOOO lovely to find a booktuber who is REAL and rational and advocates for mindful and ethical book consumption. Instantly subscribed.
I found out a few weeks ago that authors get only about 20% of audible sales cause of how mich amazon squeezes them. 😮 Everyday I find another reason to ditch Amazon.
Love this! Love a book space that doesn't promote overconsumption! I have about 100 books total and only about ten of those were bought new. I love getting a good deal on a used book!
Libro is a good alternative to Audible too! It costs a similar amount and also includes a credit per month. Plus it supports local indie book stores, and it's not Amazon
THANK YOU there are so many irl book shops that have trouble getting rid of used books for a dollar or two. And if they're not near you or don't have what you read, there's non-amazon used book sites online. Of course I understand using an e-reader for accessibility or practicality reasons, but other than that you really don't need ANYTHING for reading
I personally like my subscription with book of the month. The books always resell well at my local second hand book store. Plus I get a sample of new books each month. But I can mostly keep up with each month with my reading
I have just recently joined the Amazon hate support group, my new Kobo libra arrived today as an upgrade from my very old Kindle paperwhite (I wanted page turn buttons, and having the book covers in colour was also a bonus) But I am a bad bookish follower as I refuse to use tiktok so I am oblivious to anything booktok, and I hate having too much clutter around so I don't usually buy into the accessories (I will confess to buying a book sleeve, which I used once and now it acts as a dust collector on my bookcase 😂)
libby is AMAZING!! unfortunately a few years ago bought the newest kindle sold at that time, but i refuse to give them one more single cent through kindle unlimited or buying e-books from them. i exclusively use the send-to-kindle system libby has for reading on it. i do think the kindle i have will last for many many years, and no matter how much i dislike amazon, getting rid of an e-reader i have just to replace it is wasteful and ridiculous. if it ever DOES die, i will probably buy a used older model from e-bay or somewhere similar instead of opting for a kobo, exclusively so i can continue to utilize my public library. if anyone reading is interested in e-readers and lives in USA where libby is send-to-kindle, i highly recommended doing the same! buying secondhand & supporting your public library is the way to go imo :)
This is not something I wanted to hear, but you are completely right. Even though I don't have Instagram or Tiktok, I still bought one of those stupid gooseneck tablet holders and a page turner. I do use the page turner occasionally because my e-reader doesn't have page turn buttons, but it is a bit unreliable, so I normally don't use it. I never use the e-reader holder though. It's ugly, impractical, and the arm is too short, so it's not even comfortable for me to use while laying in bed. I 100% have buyer's remorse about those two purchases. But since I already bought them, the least I can do is use them, instead of letting them go into a landfill. I might use the gooseneck holder for my Nintendo Switch or something instead.
the trick with libby is having 5 billion holds all the time, so when you want to listen to an audiobook you’re interested in at least oneeee of the holds available
Just so you know, kindle is the only option for Americans if they want ebooks through their library! Kobo and Nook doesn’t connect to Libby or overdrive!
I hope other options come available soon! iPads are also a good option if you already have one (I used my iPad with Libby for years before getting my kobo!) but totally get that an ereader is 10x better
I am American and read almost exclusively library books on my Kobo Libra 2 through Libby. I usually browse/check out books on the Libby app and then sync my Kobo… never had any issues and have read hundreds of library books this way.
i can’t lie the holder and remote combo was actually incredible for me. i love it so much i want an even more luxe gooseneck holder that’s not so hard to move lol
I loooooooove the kindle holder/page turner combo it works so well for me especially when I have bad days w my chronic illness. But I definitely don’t leave the arm up bc I agree it’s uggo
Great video! I definitely think over-consumption is a HUGE problem in the book world and I too hate Amazon, haha, but I *really* disagree with two items on this list 🙈A Kindle and a page turner and arm! Haha. Just some reasons I stand by them 100% -> - the page turner and arm -- I looooove using it with my walking pad or in bed or bundled under blankets on the couch during winter or on my lounge chair outside in the sun, etc. I have friends who use it while breastfeeding and one who uses it while cooking (she has cookbooks on her Kindle). Many fold up and store away nicely so it doesn't need to be an eyesore in your living room! - my Kindle -- I know, Amazon, ugh. BUT a Kobo or any other e-reader does not have all the same features yet. I have hope that Kobo will eventually, as they are quick to improve and have some great features overall, but right now I will stick to my Kindle. Especially if you learn languages, a Kindle really is better. Kindles have mono- and bilingual dictionaries, Wikipedia, Google translate, automatically created flashcards and word lists, and more. Again, hopefully other e-readers catch up soon, but I do truly love my Kindle so, so much for now. E-readers in general are sooooo practical and useful to have!
@ Thank you 💜 I know it’s got almost all the features (which is why I’m so hopeful it’ll overtake soon 🤞), but I love the word lists and flash cards so, so much. Being able to see what words I’m looking up the most, the context of the words, what books I needed to look up the most words in, etc, is soooo helpful. Fingers crossed other e-readers catch up soon 😄
I'm waiting for the downfall of my Kindle paperwhite so I can finally replace it with a Kobo, but thankfully I haven't purchased a Kindle book from Amazon in ages. I usually buy DRM-free books and send them to my Kindle
My Kobo lasted 6/7 years, and stopped working because of my clumsyness (I let it fall a more couple times than the cover could afford). Its battery life was almost perfect, like if I bought it the day before, and the only thing it was starting to do slightly slower was turning on. I bought a new one only because repairing mine would be much more expensive. And i'll never fall for a Kindle. Nah Nah.
I'm using the eReader holder and clicker combo because of accessibility reasons. Yes, an eReader itself is already easier for me to use than a paperback or even a hardcover book. However, sometimes I cannot even hold an eReader, especially when I am entirely bedridden, and the eReader holder and clicker combo enable me to do more than just stare at the ceiling all day in those instances.
I didn’t understand the hype until I tried one either. I like them now because I feel like I’m offline. I don’t have notifications popping up. I’m also detached from my iPad which has my work on it.
@4:58 ok...hear me out....to make mini book themed earrings. 😏😬🙃🙃. The mini books are adorable, i've never even seen them, I may just have to get a couple to DIY some cute earrings. lmaooo
A few years ago, when I discovered the book community, specifically booktok, and started heavily reading i went to look for a Kindle bc of course i did 🤪 everyone else had one 😅 but lucky for me at the time the Basic kindle was literally $50 (it was close to the holidays) anyway it was such a good deal and considering i was pretty new to reading consistently and knew i probably would read consistently that was an awesome deal. Its no paperwhite or whatever but it gets the job done.
Amazon is evil, so I won't defend it, but I do want to point out that governments should be taking measures to stop these things from happening. In Spain, Amazon (or any business) can't make books dirt cheap. It's not legal. So you'll also never see sales on books, even for Black Friday. This was implemented to protect smaller book sellers and to stop unfair competition. It's part of a whole law that regulates the price of books.
for people living in countries that dont have libby, although paid (10.99€ in Spain), its a lot better than audible, i use everand!! its a paid subscription but you get up to i think 7 audiobooks a month, and therers also ebooks and magazines, podcasts etc. its pretty nice! also girl, this is so weird but I feel like I'm watching myself in a different font lol
I got an e-reader arm (gifted, thankfully) and was so excited that I could read AND snack and/or drink, and then I realized there's nowhere in my reading nook to actually attached it. I'm so glad I didn't also get the page turner to go with it lol but now I'm wondering if I can't find a way to use it as a holder for my phone while I'm cooking and I can have the recipe up and not spill something all over my phone 🤔
I don’t have access to Libby because I’m French so I use Everand and it’s not perfect but it’s a lot cheaper than Audible and I can listen to a lot more books each month
oh, theres this book that you might love, Against amazon and other essays by Jorge Carrión, (its been a few years since ive read it so my memory is a bit fuzzy but) its about, amongst other things, the harm of amazon in the book industry, but it also talks about libraries and bookstores around the world and how they are able stay open. really, really interesting read
I love booktube, but the level of consumption/amazon love is definitely too heavy for my taste! It's really cool to see someone actively going against that!
I love ereaders for books I want to try through libby and then I buy the ones I truly love as physical copies so I save space and cut down on impulse book buys that I don’t know I will actually like.
botm is like impossible to cancel, you have to call them on the phone and explain WHY you want it gone, i was subbed for months & only liked one book too
One thing i really cant stand it those little gadgets that you put on your thumb and its supposed to hold your page open, but you still have to hold the book. People swear by them and i just know it would drive me crazy having to move it out of the way just so I can flip the page, especially since i tend to read for long periods at a time
Honestly I wish I got a used e-reader for waaaay cheaper instead of following advice to get a new one 😭 Literally can get one so, so cheap and affordably that does the same thing as the new one! Mine isn't a color screen nor does it have audio. Nevertheless I don't think I'll have to worry about buying another one ever again because of the battery life. Genuinely a lot of reading you can do on your phone for free with Libby and not even need to spend money on an e-reader! And just in general the local library is a fantastic and amazing place to read... again for free. Thank you for being honest about your opinions!
i HATE Amazon - just bought my first adult ereader (i had an OLD nook when i was little) and it's a Boox, android based so i can read libby, nook, kobo whatever !! love it
Jumped the Amazon ship around 22 and other people are coming around. The only reason it took so long was because all the other ereader options came from China at that time and I'm not down with being monitored. I got a kobo two years ago and have been enjoying 0 ads full of shirtless smutty books I never wanted and will never read. Needless to say, I've been able to actually finish a book since then.
I won an ereader 2 years ago and I love it!! I don’t know if I would have bought it myself lol. And it’s not a kindle, I don’t wanna support Amazon. It’s a tolino, an ereader from Thalia (the German Barns and Nobel). The only sad thing is that I can’t find cool cases, but I just crochet them myself 🤭 Oh and I use BookBeat instead of Audible. I read a lot of English books that my library don’t have 😞 maybe I can get an online subscription in an English speaking library. Is it for free? 🤔
You can try getting a library card at a US library! Some of them have offers for international people, but it does always cost. It's usually not too expensive, though. Usually less than 100 for the entire year! 💜
Hello. Fellow Canadian here and this is the first video of yours I have watched and I instantly subscribed. I understand that people have issues with Amazon and was disheartened to learn that Abebooks is owned by Amazon. This sucks because I do get a lot of my books through Abe. What is an alternative used books site for Canadians? In the UK they have Oxfam stores that sell books online and I would love something like that here.
@@hellopaulie I appreciate you and I’m so happy you’re here!! I honestly thrift most my books - I don’t have an answer for online used bookstores in Canada atm unfortunately but hopefully will soon!
Idk about Canadian availability but Better World Books is great! Plus if you bank with Atmos (an amazing sustainability focused bank) then you get cash back from buying through them.
I will say that Libby is amazing in some places but pretty unusable in others. I live in Norway and my local libraries have a pretty limited online selection so Libby kinda sucks…
I’ve had one of them $60 rca tablets from Walmart(got it in 2016) and literally stopped working like maybe 2 years ago. After it stopped updating, it took forever to load anything and it had to stay on charge all the time. Kind of glad it stopped working cause it stressed me out but I wasn’t buying a new one considering I have a phone now lol
Libby doesnt help me as i cannot afford a $280.00 per year library card!!!! I use kindle unlimited right now. I also use goodreads so i like using a kindle fire. I am limited somewhat.
I got a kindle paperwhite after literally a half decade of using a giant, heavy kindle fire for ereading. I pretty much instantly regretted it because I miss using libby and I can't read graphic novels on it because it is not in color. I was doing research recently and discovered the Kobo and put it on my christmas list. I hadn't even heard of the kobo until last month. I canceled my prime membership years ago cause i hate supporting them. I have felt weird supporting them with kindle and I am looking forward to not doing it anymore. Also I feel the same about Botm I just canceled my membership after years. I have read maybe 10 of them? Yeah. It's bad!
Yesss this video is so needed. I am aiming to use up my book of the month credits and then go ahead and unsubscribe. I don't even like to read hardcovers, and I really don't like their little logo on the spine :) I'm also unsubscribing from Audible and Kindle Unlimited for sure as soon as my credits are all up
This summer I got my first e-reader: I found a Kindle from 2012 in a free pile on the curb and was instantly in love. The battery still has tons of life, so I did a factory reset, put it in airplane mode, and back loaded it with Calibre. It can't update anymore so I'll never see a single ad - it's as close to a dumb phone ereader as you could get and has zero functionality outside of reading books. I put a compostable phone grip from Pela on the back, and it's the last gen to have physical buttons on both sides, so I literally can walk and read at the same time, read while lying in bed, while cooking, etc. It's not back or side lit but I just use the book light I already had when I need it. I have ADHD and hate small font so now I can read way faster with big type. For anyone in the fence about e-readers, I highly recommend getting a Gen 4 Kindle off eBay for $15 as they've only gotten worse since then imo.
Wait do kindles USUALLY have ads?? I did not know that! And that’s AMAZING I love this for you
@@CreativityDiaries yeah you have to pay an extra 20 to remove the ads. Ive heard people say they were able to get them off for free by lying to customer support about having inappropriate ads on them but thats a your mileage may vary thing
WHAT? ADS??? i have a kobo (idk what gen or model but its relatively new, bought it new in 2022 i believe) and it has no ads and i only pay for kobo plus for books to read (cancelling soon tho bc of 🏴☠️ lol). honestly the kobo is really good so if you do want back lighting and a few other things i’d also recommend a kobo.
@@CreativityDiaries yeah if you get the non ad-free edition for cheaper and it cycles through ads for new book releases etc. from Amazon when the Kindle is off. No idea if other e-readers do this but just another reason Amazon fucking sucks. Thankfully my Kindle is too old for the system update that would implement ads 😈
@@CreativityDiaries Canadian kindles actually don't come with ads! I have a Kindle but I've never bought a single e-book from Amazon. I get them elsewhere and use the "send to Kindle" function
I am an indie author and THANK YOU for being a certified Amazon Hater. They have been keeping book prices so artificially low and it's TERRIBLE for authors, it's terrible for bookstores, and it's terrible for readers. Also, thank you for the Audible hate. Authors get MAYBE 20% in royalties, literally the lowest of all audiobook platforms.
I hate Amazon and how it's got authors between a rock and a hard place and it's got readers in the frying pan. It's bad for everyone who loves books.
But it's also gaslit so many indie authors into thinking they won't make ANY money unless they are exclusive to KU. They've convinced too many indie authors that being exclusive to Amazon is the only way to reach readers.
But guess what? When you're exclusive to Amazon, they don't let you put your book in libraries! Libraries; the literal easiest way to reach readers.
"oh but if my books aren't in KU, low income readers won't be able to read it for free!" ah yes because a low income reader can afford $11.99 for KU but can't afford the $0.00 for a library card and the $0 Libby app?????
Sorry for popping off in your comments but oh my gosh de-influence Amazon HARDER PLEASE.
Sadly in some places KU really is the only way for indie authors. In my country for example, it's the only platform that's actually talked about, and whatever low profit we make it's still better than nothing. It sucks, but it is what it is
yes but LIBBY gets its books and audio books FROM amazon, its just your goverment footing the bill
@@Disapointedmellencol uhh Libby doesnt get *any* books at all. its just an app to access public library books. The libraries get their books from publishers and other distributors, not amazon...
I love deutsche Buchpreisbindung for this 🙏🏼
Finally someone acknowledging Amazon in all of this! People are way, way too casual about Audible. I will 100 percent watch your video on it.
Yay can’t wait to write + film this!
I literally bought a kindle off a second hand website for 1/3 of the price. It functions the same. The primary use for it is reading. Why do people think they need gadgets to do everything like water ur plants and cook your food? An ereader is not a tablet, it is more like a house appliance like a vaccuum. There is no need to constantly upgrade.
Totally agree!!
ive had my kindle for 7 years and it still works perfect
@@blueandpercy yeah my old one is 11 years old and still works
Hear me out.. bookshelf vase.. Lego flowers.
@@Klinkertinlegs omgomgomg
I always wonder, who is going to dust that? 😅
My daughter did a Lego succulent arrangement for me and it’s one of my favorite possessions. And it’s on my bookshelf. Lol 🥹🌵
@@melima_I live in west Texas which is the ugly shitty desert part of Texas and you can dust and 2 seconds later, there’s more dust. But surprisingly, the Lego succulents my daughter made me stay clean! Maybe I have a little Lego fairy 🧚♂️
I love that you touched on the fact that the holder is good for accessibility, even though you hated the ereader holder for yourself! I’ve been considering getting one because some days my joint pain in my hands/wrists/elbows can make it painful to read, but i can definitely see how it’s ugly and kind of inconvenient LOL Just love seeing a queen remember the disabled community in her reviews ❤❤❤❤❤
@@emilybussinger4592 aw I adore you and appreciate your comment!
Yes! So many people 'forget' about us
Libby is a lifesaver. Helped me with my library books and the book on the shelves that I read.
And sometimes I double read. Read a print book that is not on Libby while listening to an audiobook.
Love love love
GIIIIRRRLLLLL i've been looking for a booktuber who is outspoken about any amazon related products. not a lot of booktubers have either the guts or the ability to actually do their own research on why everything amazon is shit to do that. love you for that!! ❤
Omg I looooove u
Yeah, I try to avoid buying books on Amazon. The rumors that they're trying to shut down book stores doesn't seem all that unlikely. So...just in case.
Like everyone, I am a hypocrite when it comes to Amazon and Amazon knows that.
For most, it is a necessary evil.
And I hate what Amazon did to Book Depository. I loved that online book store and Amazon ruined it.
The "certified Amazon hater" part, made me subscribe!
Hehe happy to have you
Ohhhh you are an absolute gem! The moment the landfill popped up behind you with you saying “where’s it gonna go?” Iconic
@@paperbackenthusiast omg I love you
I swapped my audible for everand which gives you UNLIMITED audiobooks + ebooks + other stuff like articles, sheet music for the same price it's soo much better. On the very rare occasions I've wanted an amazon only book I just use a fake email to get the trial and download it lol
I just went to sign up and they have gotten rid of their unlimited plans as of 10/31 😥
Omg SLAY - will check this out
i absolutely love this bec sometimes i feel like people are trying to influence me to buy book things rather than talking ab the books itself!!
totallllyyy understand this feeling
Love this de-influencing! I had no idea that Kobo worked with Libby in Canada. I have a pretty old Kindle I picked up used many years ago and have been considering getting a Kobo once the Kindle kicks the bucket. Knowing a Kobo can be used with Libby just made my decision to get one that much easier.
Thanks for the love!!!
The arm and the pageturner are actually nice for me. My wrists hurt sometimes, and often I find myself listening to podcasts to avoid using my wrists, so they help!
The goose neck e-reader support arm with the thumb clicker is a game changer. Probably the best gadget I can remember ever buying. It’s a game changer
thank you for the accessibility shout-out. I think a lot of people can forget sometimes even for people who really care about aesthetics, it can be needed. Unfortunately a lot of things that make things accessible are not aesthetic
of course of course
If Amazon has no haters, then I am dead!!!!!!!
SAME
I have a bookshelf vase which has my dried flower wedding bouquet 💐 I do agree that it doesn't work with fresh flowers though!
They all look like they’re plastic though when so many beautiful ceramic vases exist that aren’t as damaging to the planet
@@BinxThinx mine's ceramic! I personally don't like the acrylic ones, totally agree with you on that! I definitely think that there's plenty wrong with the trend!
@@Quantumbe so smart using it w dried flowers!!!
@@Quantumbe that’s great to know that some ceramic ones exist! Can imagine it looks beautiful with your dried bouquet 💐 wish those were advertised or seen more than the plastic waste people keep collecting. I have so many regrets about collectibles I purchased in the past
Cancelling audible is such a nightmare
YES THIS!!!
Once you’re signed in it’s like 3 clicks
Libby is amazing. I already have an iPad for art so I can just download the kindle app and I have a bunch of books/audiobooks available to me for free. Also, they don’t take up space, I don’t have to worry about carrying around a big heavy book, and I’m already taking my iPad everywhere anyways. Ever since getting Libby, I’ve been reading so much plus it feels good supporting the library.
Have you seen the large amazon book hauls? I saw video of someone buying over a hundred paperbacks of the most popular books on tiktok to fill new bookshelves 😭😭😭😭😭
My goodness. Over-consumption is such an issue in the book world right now 😭
@@RaesReadsugh just over consumption in our society overall. It’s overwhelming
i think i know who you’re talking about. for a month or two after that video she made book-related vlogs but now has COMPLETELY stopped. she clearly just hopped on a trend and now probably has hundreds of books just sitting there unread 🙄
They make me cringe so hard
it's so funny cuz corporations atp are literally just trying to come up with anything at all.... like the only book product you need is books.
Thank you for mentioning the accessibility of the ereader arm. As someone with chronic pain, it’s been an absolute hand/finger saver for me. But yes unfortunately it isn’t very aesthetically pleasing lol
@@Dani-vu7em omg always!
The one that I like is Book of the Month. I liked the free shipping and being able to buy books cheaper than you would at a chain or local book store. No shade to your local book store. Support small businesses.
And I found some favorites on there.
And I like the rewards you get.
Am unemployed at the moment, so I had to unsubscribe, but it was one of those few subscriptions I actually did not mind paying for.
But agree with your points. It is hard to catch up, but that is a me thing. It is my fault that I keep finding 3 books on the site that I want to read.
I've started asking myself, "will i read this in the next 90 days?" If not, that add-on can wait. It doesn't always work, but it helps. I've also gotten way better at skipping if none of the books appeal to me. I will say though, that in terms of finding new authors, Aardvark is better and the book quality is much higher. But the subscription is more expensive. So you win some you lose some.
100% think BOTM is right for a lot of people - I’m sure I will subscribe one day as well!
I personally don’t like the BOTM labels printed onto the dust jackets; I think they clutter up the design, but that’s just me.
@ i am with you there. They were unnecessary, in my opinion.
@@CreativityDiariesI will say if you do annual instead of monthly it’s a few dollars cheaper per month. Total you end up paying I think $168 a year instead of I think $18 a month. You can still skip a month anytime you want even if you do the annual plan. I know that’s still a lot of money for a lot of people, but just a heads up if you decide to do ever subscribe at some point. The6 also do audiobooks now as well.
And you can have more than one library card. Some libraries have non-resident cards (in the USA, at least) for max $100 a year. (usually around $30-$50). Libby's the best thing to happen to phones/the internet ever.
5:52 Libby doesn't exist everywhere sadly, my rural library in France doesn't even know what an ebook is
You can try searching up other libraries, some have specific library cards that are for people who don’t live in the city of the library. You can then use that card for Libby.
One thing to add as an editor. specialize in ebooks: never, never, never buy a kindle unless you live in the US. Kindle have a really specific type of file they can open and it's not compatible with everyother one. So you basically force to buy all your ebooks from amazon with a kindle. While you can go on almost every website with the other ereaders.
My sister got me a wooden tulip from the Netherlands when she was there - absolutely perfect for my bookshelf :D regardless of the unnecessary moisture in the periphery of books, I wouldn't be able to trust myself not to knock over a vase at some point.
If i had a book shelf vase, I would put fake flowers, paper flowers or lego flowers in it.
love the lego flowers
My kobo lasted for 10 years before it died, I could not recommend it more. They are built to last and I really like that you can add your own ebooks and pdfs to it, plus adding library books etc. You're not limited to what you can get at the kobo store.
I've had my Kindle paperwhite since 2012 and I fill it with Libby books it's everything
Also Hoopla! Instant access to up to 4 books per month (depending on your library) no wait list!!!
I’ve had my Kindle forever, and at this point, I only use it to read Kindle unlimited books that I’m not sure if I want to buy a physical copy of because I can return the Kindle unlimited book if ive DNF’d it or I liked the story enough, but not to actually buy the physical copy. But just because you buy the book Kindle does not mean you actually own the book apparently. Amazon can take the book off at any point in time. So yeah that’s why I stick to KU books, yes, they can pull those books off at any time, but it doesn’t make any difference to me
I understand that!
Just found your channel. I love books and have been heavily involved in the bookish online community for 13 years now. But I am also passionate about over-consumption. SOOO lovely to find a booktuber who is REAL and rational and advocates for mindful and ethical book consumption. Instantly subscribed.
Yes!! And you can buy ebooks from indy bookstores if you still want to buy the book. And Libby is my LOVE!!
I found out a few weeks ago that authors get only about 20% of audible sales cause of how mich amazon squeezes them. 😮 Everyday I find another reason to ditch Amazon.
Love this! Love a book space that doesn't promote overconsumption! I have about 100 books total and only about ten of those were bought new. I love getting a good deal on a used book!
Libro is a good alternative to Audible too! It costs a similar amount and also includes a credit per month. Plus it supports local indie book stores, and it's not Amazon
THANK YOU there are so many irl book shops that have trouble getting rid of used books for a dollar or two. And if they're not near you or don't have what you read, there's non-amazon used book sites online. Of course I understand using an e-reader for accessibility or practicality reasons, but other than that you really don't need ANYTHING for reading
I personally like my subscription with book of the month. The books always resell well at my local second hand book store. Plus I get a sample of new books each month. But I can mostly keep up with each month with my reading
I have just recently joined the Amazon hate support group, my new Kobo libra arrived today as an upgrade from my very old Kindle paperwhite (I wanted page turn buttons, and having the book covers in colour was also a bonus)
But I am a bad bookish follower as I refuse to use tiktok so I am oblivious to anything booktok, and I hate having too much clutter around so I don't usually buy into the accessories (I will confess to buying a book sleeve, which I used once and now it acts as a dust collector on my bookcase 😂)
libby is AMAZING!! unfortunately a few years ago bought the newest kindle sold at that time, but i refuse to give them one more single cent through kindle unlimited or buying e-books from them. i exclusively use the send-to-kindle system libby has for reading on it. i do think the kindle i have will last for many many years, and no matter how much i dislike amazon, getting rid of an e-reader i have just to replace it is wasteful and ridiculous. if it ever DOES die, i will probably buy a used older model from e-bay or somewhere similar instead of opting for a kobo, exclusively so i can continue to utilize my public library. if anyone reading is interested in e-readers and lives in USA where libby is send-to-kindle, i highly recommended doing the same! buying secondhand & supporting your public library is the way to go imo :)
Can't you use your public library with kobo? I'm confused
yes yes supporting your library is the best
yes!
This is not something I wanted to hear, but you are completely right. Even though I don't have Instagram or Tiktok, I still bought one of those stupid gooseneck tablet holders and a page turner. I do use the page turner occasionally because my e-reader doesn't have page turn buttons, but it is a bit unreliable, so I normally don't use it. I never use the e-reader holder though. It's ugly, impractical, and the arm is too short, so it's not even comfortable for me to use while laying in bed. I 100% have buyer's remorse about those two purchases. But since I already bought them, the least I can do is use them, instead of letting them go into a landfill. I might use the gooseneck holder for my Nintendo Switch or something instead.
totally better to use them than let them go to waste
the trick with libby is having 5 billion holds all the time, so when you want to listen to an audiobook you’re interested in at least oneeee of the holds available
I didn't even know such a thing as a bookshelf vase existed 😂
Just so you know, kindle is the only option for Americans if they want ebooks through their library! Kobo and Nook doesn’t connect to Libby or overdrive!
I hope other options come available soon! iPads are also a good option if you already have one (I used my iPad with Libby for years before getting my kobo!) but totally get that an ereader is 10x better
I am American and read almost exclusively library books on my Kobo Libra 2 through Libby. I usually browse/check out books on the Libby app and then sync my Kobo… never had any issues and have read hundreds of library books this way.
i can’t lie the holder and remote combo was actually incredible for me. i love it so much i want an even more luxe gooseneck holder that’s not so hard to move lol
ok love this for you
I loooooooove the kindle holder/page turner combo it works so well for me especially when I have bad days w my chronic illness. But I definitely don’t leave the arm up bc I agree it’s uggo
its so good for chronic illness and pain though!
libby my beloved
can't wait for the Anti-Amazon video 🔥🔥🔥
🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻
Great video! I definitely think over-consumption is a HUGE problem in the book world and I too hate Amazon, haha, but I *really* disagree with two items on this list 🙈A Kindle and a page turner and arm! Haha. Just some reasons I stand by them 100% ->
- the page turner and arm -- I looooove using it with my walking pad or in bed or bundled under blankets on the couch during winter or on my lounge chair outside in the sun, etc. I have friends who use it while breastfeeding and one who uses it while cooking (she has cookbooks on her Kindle). Many fold up and store away nicely so it doesn't need to be an eyesore in your living room!
- my Kindle -- I know, Amazon, ugh. BUT a Kobo or any other e-reader does not have all the same features yet. I have hope that Kobo will eventually, as they are quick to improve and have some great features overall, but right now I will stick to my Kindle. Especially if you learn languages, a Kindle really is better. Kindles have mono- and bilingual dictionaries, Wikipedia, Google translate, automatically created flashcards and word lists, and more. Again, hopefully other e-readers catch up soon, but I do truly love my Kindle so, so much for now. E-readers in general are sooooo practical and useful to have!
Thanks for sharing your experience!!!💜
Just to let u know Kobo does have mono and bilingual dictionaries as well as wikipedia! It does lack flashcard functionality!
@ Thank you 💜 I know it’s got almost all the features (which is why I’m so hopeful it’ll overtake soon 🤞), but I love the word lists and flash cards so, so much. Being able to see what words I’m looking up the most, the context of the words, what books I needed to look up the most words in, etc, is soooo helpful. Fingers crossed other e-readers catch up soon 😄
I'm waiting for the downfall of my Kindle paperwhite so I can finally replace it with a Kobo, but thankfully I haven't purchased a Kindle book from Amazon in ages. I usually buy DRM-free books and send them to my Kindle
Would love to know where you are getting drm free books from
Note to anyone considering a Kobo... at least here in the UK the titles available are SOOOOO limited and difficult to track down.
Good to know!
I've had the opposite... 90 percent of known titles are available asides from Amazon/self published stuff
My Kobo lasted 6/7 years, and stopped working because of my clumsyness (I let it fall a more couple times than the cover could afford). Its battery life was almost perfect, like if I bought it the day before, and the only thing it was starting to do slightly slower was turning on. I bought a new one only because repairing mine would be much more expensive. And i'll never fall for a Kindle. Nah Nah.
I've never seen someone with such an on sight beef with Amazon 😂😂😂
I'm using the eReader holder and clicker combo because of accessibility reasons. Yes, an eReader itself is already easier for me to use than a paperback or even a hardcover book. However, sometimes I cannot even hold an eReader, especially when I am entirely bedridden, and the eReader holder and clicker combo enable me to do more than just stare at the ceiling all day in those instances.
I never quite understood e-readers. I always downloaded an epub and read it on my iPad or iPhone, which I have had for years upon years now.
I didn’t understand the hype until I tried one either. I like them now because I feel like I’m offline. I don’t have notifications popping up. I’m also detached from my iPad which has my work on it.
Just cancelled my audible membership thank you for reminding me
@@blakea.e.1681 you’re so welcome!!
@4:58 ok...hear me out....to make mini book themed earrings. 😏😬🙃🙃. The mini books are adorable, i've never even seen them, I may just have to get a couple to DIY some cute earrings. lmaooo
i just keep watching your cat once they show up lol up there, grooming, and periodically staring directly into the camera xD
As a fellow Canadian I agree get a Kobo... buying a kindle made 0 sense to me.
new comfort youtuber unlocked! LOVED the video, especially the amazon hate 😻
@@conversations_with_kara so happy you’re here!!!
Thank you for considering the disabled in your video. Some make their statements but glance right over people who need it for accessibility.
A few years ago, when I discovered the book community, specifically booktok, and started heavily reading i went to look for a Kindle bc of course i did 🤪 everyone else had one 😅 but lucky for me at the time the Basic kindle was literally $50 (it was close to the holidays) anyway it was such a good deal and considering i was pretty new to reading consistently and knew i probably would read consistently that was an awesome deal. Its no paperwhite or whatever but it gets the job done.
love it!!!
I freaking LOVE Libby & don’t understand why people use Audible.
Amazon is evil, so I won't defend it, but I do want to point out that governments should be taking measures to stop these things from happening. In Spain, Amazon (or any business) can't make books dirt cheap. It's not legal. So you'll also never see sales on books, even for Black Friday. This was implemented to protect smaller book sellers and to stop unfair competition. It's part of a whole law that regulates the price of books.
I am located in Colombia and I also have a Kobo. Best freaking purchase ever!
@@mayra__ar loooove it
for people living in countries that dont have libby, although paid (10.99€ in Spain), its a lot better than audible, i use everand!! its a paid subscription but you get up to i think 7 audiobooks a month, and therers also ebooks and magazines, podcasts etc. its pretty nice! also girl, this is so weird but I feel like I'm watching myself in a different font lol
I got an e-reader arm (gifted, thankfully) and was so excited that I could read AND snack and/or drink, and then I realized there's nowhere in my reading nook to actually attached it. I'm so glad I didn't also get the page turner to go with it lol but now I'm wondering if I can't find a way to use it as a holder for my phone while I'm cooking and I can have the recipe up and not spill something all over my phone 🤔
yeah it seems like such a good idea but then its hard to find a good spot!
I don’t have access to Libby because I’m French so I use Everand and it’s not perfect but it’s a lot cheaper than Audible and I can listen to a lot more books each month
good to know!
Audible is also insufferable to cancel!
yesssss
oh, theres this book that you might love, Against amazon and other essays by Jorge Carrión, (its been a few years since ive read it so my memory is a bit fuzzy but) its about, amongst other things, the harm of amazon in the book industry, but it also talks about libraries and bookstores around the world and how they are able stay open. really, really interesting read
*Immediately puts it on hold at libby*
I love booktube, but the level of consumption/amazon love is definitely too heavy for my taste! It's really cool to see someone actively going against that!
Aw thank you I appreciate your comment - it is exhausting for sure
RUclips has some free audiobooks too
@@AnUncreativePerson I didn’t know this!!
@@CreativityDiariesalso libriVox, though the quality varies hugely. It's only public domain works, but on the plus side everything's free
Yes, especially classics, usually if it's not copyrighted anymore there is one or more version here.
Also for anyone that has Spotify, audiobooks are included with premium (up to 10 hrs per month I think) and they have some pretty good ones on there 👀
YES so good
Yes, I only just found this out recently and I was so surprised to see new releases on there as well.
The mini books are perfect for barbies
I've never understood the whole book accessory craze. The only thing I've ever bought is bookmarks and ereader cases. The rest is just junk.
its good to know what works for you
My husband HATED the ereader arm I attached to my bed 😂😂 I also felt buyers remorse 😅
I would really love that Amazon video!!
I love my 1st Gen paperwhite, I got it off of ebay for $15 and it still works great. Second hand electronics are the way to go!!
I love ereaders for books I want to try through libby and then I buy the ones I truly love as physical copies so I save space and cut down on impulse book buys that I don’t know I will actually like.
thats what I do too!
botm is like impossible to cancel, you have to call them on the phone and explain WHY you want it gone, i was subbed for months & only liked one book too
One thing i really cant stand it those little gadgets that you put on your thumb and its supposed to hold your page open, but you still have to hold the book. People swear by them and i just know it would drive me crazy having to move it out of the way just so I can flip the page, especially since i tend to read for long periods at a time
LOL I just included this in my most recent deinfluencing video and I said the EXACT SAME THING like what the hell are those for
Honestly I wish I got a used e-reader for waaaay cheaper instead of following advice to get a new one 😭 Literally can get one so, so cheap and affordably that does the same thing as the new one! Mine isn't a color screen nor does it have audio. Nevertheless I don't think I'll have to worry about buying another one ever again because of the battery life. Genuinely a lot of reading you can do on your phone for free with Libby and not even need to spend money on an e-reader! And just in general the local library is a fantastic and amazing place to read... again for free. Thank you for being honest about your opinions!
appreciate your thoughtful comment! yes there are so many great options
i HATE Amazon - just bought my first adult ereader (i had an OLD nook when i was little) and it's a Boox, android based so i can read libby, nook, kobo whatever !! love it
BOTM isn’t even available anywhere but the USA😭
A bought a kindle second hand for like 40 dollars and it's used purely for fanfiction 😝 Amazon will not get my money
Jumped the Amazon ship around 22 and other people are coming around. The only reason it took so long was because all the other ereader options came from China at that time and I'm not down with being monitored. I got a kobo two years ago and have been enjoying 0 ads full of shirtless smutty books I never wanted and will never read. Needless to say, I've been able to actually finish a book since then.
Your personality is really fun😭 I just had to subscribe❤
@@its_august_ine aw this is so kind thank you!!
I won an ereader 2 years ago and I love it!! I don’t know if I would have bought it myself lol. And it’s not a kindle, I don’t wanna support Amazon. It’s a tolino, an ereader from Thalia (the German Barns and Nobel). The only sad thing is that I can’t find cool cases, but I just crochet them myself 🤭
Oh and I use BookBeat instead of Audible. I read a lot of English books that my library don’t have 😞 maybe I can get an online subscription in an English speaking library. Is it for free? 🤔
You can try getting a library card at a US library! Some of them have offers for international people, but it does always cost. It's usually not too expensive, though. Usually less than 100 for the entire year! 💜
That’s so cool that you crochet your own cases!
Hello. Fellow Canadian here and this is the first video of yours I have watched and I instantly subscribed. I understand that people have issues with Amazon and was disheartened to learn that Abebooks is owned by Amazon. This sucks because I do get a lot of my books through Abe. What is an alternative used books site for Canadians? In the UK they have Oxfam stores that sell books online and I would love something like that here.
@@hellopaulie I appreciate you and I’m so happy you’re here!! I honestly thrift most my books - I don’t have an answer for online used bookstores in Canada atm unfortunately but hopefully will soon!
I've ordered used books through Fireside Books in BC and Bay Used Books in ON. They both offer shipping options :)
Idk about Canadian availability but Better World Books is great! Plus if you bank with Atmos (an amazing sustainability focused bank) then you get cash back from buying through them.
I will say that Libby is amazing in some places but pretty unusable in others. I live in Norway and my local libraries have a pretty limited online selection so Libby kinda sucks…
Yes I have heard this! Totally depends on your library selection
There are so many Book Of The Month books in unhaul videos… :(
Bough my 2018 Kindle for $60 on Mercari. Sometimes she doesnt like to charge but I love her 🥰
iconic
@CreativityDiaries yeah as soon as it kicks the bucket, I'm definitely switching to kobo, tho 👍
I’ve had one of them $60 rca tablets from Walmart(got it in 2016) and literally stopped working like maybe 2 years ago. After it stopped updating, it took forever to load anything and it had to stay on charge all the time. Kind of glad it stopped working cause it stressed me out but I wasn’t buying a new one considering I have a phone now lol
Libby doesnt help me as i cannot afford a $280.00 per year library card!!!! I use kindle unlimited right now. I also use goodreads so i like using a kindle fire. I am limited somewhat.
You must live in my mind rent free while i shop. I must save money 💁🏼♀️💋
I got a kindle paperwhite after literally a half decade of using a giant, heavy kindle fire for ereading. I pretty much instantly regretted it because I miss using libby and I can't read graphic novels on it because it is not in color. I was doing research recently and discovered the Kobo and put it on my christmas list. I hadn't even heard of the kobo until last month. I canceled my prime membership years ago cause i hate supporting them. I have felt weird supporting them with kindle and I am looking forward to not doing it anymore. Also I feel the same about Botm I just canceled my membership after years. I have read maybe 10 of them? Yeah. It's bad!
I bought the holder and clicker too and I never use it. Such a waste of my money
All the Amazon hate makes me feel so at home here. I’m a Certified Amazon hater
Yesss this video is so needed. I am aiming to use up my book of the month credits and then go ahead and unsubscribe. I don't even like to read hardcovers, and I really don't like their little logo on the spine :) I'm also unsubscribing from Audible and Kindle Unlimited for sure as soon as my credits are all up