books
A few days back I found book I didn't remember on my ereader. I had no idea where it came from, or what it was about (still not sure where it's going, 20% in). My immediate reaction was to search for reviews, hop on StoryGraph or whatever, and see what people were saying.
I didn't, because it was like 3am and I didn't wanna invite the infinite scroll demons into bed again. I just started reading instead, like I was someone who isn't poisoned by the internet. But I could feel this fucking itch, my brain screaming I HAD to know what people thought of this book. Like I said, I didn't even know what it was about yet, but I had to know what a bunch of internet randos were thinking about it.
There was this other feeling too, this kinda nostalgic feeling of reading a random book at the library. Picking up whatever I found in a shelf, 0 thoughts 0 expectations, and just letting the story lead me on it's journey. I didn't realise how long it's been since I did that.
This has been rotating in my brain for days now. I still haven't checked the reviews for this book, and I don't want to. I don't want to know if its worth my time or not (according to strangers), I want to read it and judge for myself. It's a completely clean slate in my mind, just the cover and the blurb.
I haven't read a book in years without checking the internet first. I've put back so many books at the bookstore, because while the physical book got me, the internet talked me out of it. I mean, I'm half-glad; I would have a shelf of frail ferocious sassy 2'2" girl/dark fae 11'15" fuckprince romantasy if I fell for covers alone. Respect to the genre, but I'm gay enough to have been born with knowledge of fanfiction. Still, I might've put back some books that I would've loved. And though my wallet might be happier for it, I don't bother going into physical bookshops on a whim anymore. It's very... unmagical. It's like looking at Santa and seeing he's a 20 year old kid with a fake beard.
I dunno what I'm trying to say, just chewing on this idea. I haven't made an independent decision on what book to read since the internet has been in my pocket. That's really sad.
Anyway, maybe I'll try to check out more books now without the 10 minutes research first. I'm having more fun knowing nothing.