A controversy broke out on BookTok after an influencer complained that the novel she was reading contained “too many words.”
Yana from California reviewed Leigh Bardugo’s “Six Of Crows” on TikTok and expressed her annoyance that “every page” contained “so many words.”
BookTok is a subsection of TikTok that is credited with “making reading cool again among younger people.” However, the platform has also been criticized for the quality of the books it promotes.
The video posted by @yannareads has since been deleted, but still garnered 36 million views when reposted on X (formerly Twitter).
Many immediately attacked BookTok itself, with some saying the organization had “lost the plot,” while others claimed influencers viewed reading as nothing more than a “status symbol.”
Yana from California reviewed Leigh Bardugo’s “Six Of Crows” on TikTok, expressing her annoyance that “every page” contained “so many words.”
Yana said some of her followers had recommended the young adult fantasy novel “Six Of Crows” to her – but after page 34 she was no longer so enthusiastic.
She told her 284,000 followers: “Can we talk about something real quick though? Can I just talk shit for a minute?”
“Why the hell is this book? First of all, the font is so tiny. And why are the pages filled with so many words? What the hell?
“I like pages that aren’t filled with so many words. Like, literally every page! Like, look at this, are you kidding me?”
While filming the video with her large book collection in the background, Yana said she would read until page 100 before giving up.
She continued, “Convince me otherwise, because this book is so damn hard for my brain to follow.”
“Like I’m only on chapter two, I understand that. But all these words? Like I have no idea what’s going on.”
Yana read an excerpt from the book with a stunned expression on her face, referencing some names and places from the book’s fantasy setting – including Big Bolliger, Elzinger and Ketterdam, one of the main locations in the series.
Other BookTokers couldn’t believe that Yana had anything against the popular fantasy book Six Of Crows
@hopechulka said the book Yana wanted to read required reading comprehension skills
“Am I drunk? Or is this book drunk? Because what the hell, guys, how can you all follow this? I’m scared,” Yana said.
After admitting that she was “completely lost,” she showed her followers three maps at the beginning of the book to explain the fantasy world.
“There are things like cards that I have to learn because I can’t read all the names,” she explained.
In a later update, she shared that she had given up on the book, although she had switched to her Kindle in an effort to enlarge the font.
In her TikTok bio, Yana wrote, “If it’s not smut, I probably won’t read it,” referring to books with sexually explicit scenes.
Viewers flocked to social media to express their doubts about the quality of the books TikTok actually promotes.
One person wrote on X: “I fear Booktok has lost the plot, because why are they shocked that book pages contain… words?
Viewers flocked to social media to express their doubts about the quality of the books TikTok actually promotes
‘It’s troubling when reading becomes your entire personality, but you’re unable to read a book that doesn’t contain profanity, creates a world, and is long. Since when have we been like this as a society?’
Others said: “This Booktok girl was embarrassed throughout the entire video. Shake your head, I hate this for real readers.”;
“Booktok probably once existed to share all books, but its main attraction now is DEFINITELY sharing dirty books”;
“Booktok girls, when they realize that reading is not the aesthetic hobby of the Gilmore Girls of Pinterest and that you actually have to read”;
“Maybe she can stick with romance”;
“I’m sure they see books as just background decoration for their videos. As a status symbol and not as something they really enjoy.”
“Six of Crows is a young adult book, as if it were not difficult at all.”
Others defended Yana and admitted that they too had difficulty reading Six Of Crows, writing: “To be honest, I have a degree in English Literature and Creative Writing and I couldn’t get past page 50 of this book.”
With over 32 million posts and more than 167 billion views on the platform, BookTok has played a major role in making reading a popular hobby among young people again.
The owners of the Notting Hill bookstore previously explained to MailOnline how TikTok has contributed to the increase in Gen Z customers
The popularity of a book on TikTok can now determine how many sales it makes.
Popular BookTok books often belong to the “Romantasy” genre – a combination of romance and fantasy – such as the books by Sarah J. Maas.
Other BookTokers couldn’t believe that Yana had complained that her book had too many words.
One, @hopechulka, said: “It’s a young adult fantasy heist novel. It will have fantasy elements that require reading comprehension.”
Another, @jordy.pearson, posted a reaction video saying: “I want to give this girl the benefit of the doubt. She starts by talking about how few words there are and how many words are on the page.”
“Fantasy books and reading fantasy are not for everyone. It’s so exhausting to get into a fantasy book because the author spends so much time at the beginning creating the world that you’re immersed in – the characters, the lore, everything.
“I love reading fantasy, but she probably doesn’t, and that’s OK. She reads a sentence, and the sentence is literally made up of made-up names of cities from all over the world, and she thinks, ‘What does that mean?'”
“I have so many questions, like why she goes to BookTok and says with all her heart and conviction that the words are too small and that there are too many words on the page.”
Brighton-born Jack Edwards is one of the biggest names in the BookTok community, reviewing books he has read
“What? I just wanted you to hear how crazy this is – complaining about there being words on the page in a book!”
Previously, the owners of Notting Hill Bookshop in London said their sales had increased by “100 percent” since the pandemic – which they attributed to social media.
With over 167 billion views on TikTok, reviews and recommendations in the global BookTok community have inspired Generation Z to turn off their screens in favor of a good, old-fashioned book.
BookTok has gained so much momentum recently that TikTok launched its first book awards in the UK and Ireland last year, with thousands voting for their favourite books, authors and bookshops of 2023.
The most popular authors include Ayman Chaudary and Jack Edwards – they are part of a group of authors who want to make reading cool again.
