BookTubers You Should Be Watching
by Alice Xu
If you’re a person who loves literature and watches many YouTube videos, then you might be aware of a community called BookTube, which is the term that encompasses the group of people who post videos on their YouTube channels. In addition to reviewing books, many discuss topics like reading diversely, upload book hauls, tour their shelves, and more. If you're interested in classical and contemporary literature, then here are some BookTubers I recommend watching along with a video or two from each of them:
Ron Lit
Intelligent, witty, and delightful, Ron engages you to think critically, delivering insightful arguments. She often posts videos on classical literature and analyzes them from a feminist lens, so she’s the perfect person for people who are interested in Jane Austen and feminism (and the correlation between the two as well). I have gained a breadth of knowledge from watching her videos. I would have never considered the vocal fry phenomenon from a feminist perspective if it weren’t for one of her videos. She additionally creates hilarious videos where she plays games featuring literary characters (e.g. Marry, Kiss, Cliff). I recommend starting with watching Ron’s Lit brilliant analysis of Pride and Prejudice.
C. A. DuBois
Choncey uploads insightful, in-depth, and enjoyable videos on a hosts of topics. Although many of her videos are obviously about books, she also uploads a considerable amount of videos on her personal life, education, and many other videos filled with such wisdom that you should view. I’m going to recommend two videos from her, one on books and the other education because they both are amazing.
Brown Girl Reading
Didi creates a variety of extraordinary reviews in the videos she uploads. She analyzes the books she reads from a critical perspective, considering vital components such as characterization and structure (she also doesn’t give spoilers away, if you worry about that!). I recommend starting with a video where she discusses Langston Hughes’ and Claudia Rankine’s poetry, Emma Donoghue’s novel, Room, and Hanya Yanagihara’s book, A Little Life.