Let’s Talk Bookish is a weekly meme that was originally created and hosted by Rukky @ Eternity Books starting in August 2019, and was then cohosted with Dani @ Literary Lion from May 2020 to March 2022. Book Nook Bits has hosted since April 2022, with Dini at Dini Panda Reads as co-host from February 2025.
Let’s Talk Bookish May 2nd:
Bookish Fandoms
Prompts: There are very popular bookish fandoms out there, especially in the romance fantasy genre (Maas, Yarros, LOTR, etc.). Are you part of a bookish fandom? If you are, what do you love about it? If not, do you think you’d ever want to be part of one? Does being part of the online book community help you connect to fandoms?
I am not a part of bookish fandom(s) – not anymore, anyway. I’ve always been a bit passive with fandom – back when I was a teenager I’d read posts and fanfic, and post my own, and now I stick to reading fanfic and maybe posts/blogs etc when they appear, but I don’t seek it out like I used to.
When I was more involved with fandom, it was the community aspect I liked – the sharing space with others who were into the same thing as you. I liked when there were smaller, more ‘closed’ communities through email lists and forums (showing my age now!), where they were welcoming to newcomers, but everyone was sort on the same page re some parts of the fandom, and the mentality of ‘live and let live’ was key when interacting across the fandom.
I don’t think I have the energy to be part of them anymore! I still do enjoy some elements of fandom, but again, in more of a passive way. For stuff I like (whether it’s books, films, TV show etc) I see a lot of toxicity in (some) fandoms, and it’s really off putting – I understand there’s various reasons behind it, but it feels like fandoms are growing more entitled and negative across the board, or if you do criticise something, or don’t share a ‘popular opinion’, I see people personally judging others for those kind of things. I have a lot of frustrations around modern fandom that puts me off.
That’s not to say all fandoms are like this, and if you are part of fandom (bookish or not!) that you honestly enjoy, I’d love to hear about your own experiences!
Unwrapping Words 
Great post! I think because my introduction to fandoms through being part of the online book community has come much later compared to other readers, a lot of my knowledge on fandoms tends to fall on the more negative side. I know that “it’s not everyone in the fandom” and “it’s not all fandoms” but it just seems too intense (for me personally) and I would hate to be someone with an unpopular opinion or say something others don’t agree with and feel such hostility/negativity, especially if it’s supposed to be a safe space for mutual enjoyment.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I completely understand that – I feel like I can express whatever I want on this blog, but outside of that…I’m kind of nervous to! I think you’re right that it can be intense. My intro to most fandoms actually was through fanfic a lot of the time, or connecting with people on Neopets – which totally slipped my mind when writing this!
LikeLike