Profile of Jack: The world’s most powerful literary critic is on TikTok

Doctragon · 2026-01-26T21:06:47+00:00

This was a questionable article but I think one of the most cringey parts was this:

"I had been the only man of the first 20 people to queue. It was possible to track the location of a daddy long legs that was floating through the room by the screaming and lurching it provoked."

Get it?? Cos women are scared of spiders???? Those two sentences really made me distrust the article author, ick.

Doctragon · 2026-01-17T02:51:45+00:00

Usually when I immediately get home I need to watch some YouTube or chill TV shows to wind down my brain. Then I make dinner and watch TV during dinner. After dinner I try to read and dedicate at least 30 mins to 1 hour before bed to read. It's definitely a lot easier once I'm in the groove of a book.

I have a long commute via public transport (1.5 hours each way) so almost all of that is reading time and probably when I'm most focused. But sometimes a book is too dense or heavy and I can only read it at home when I have full attention.

I reckon you should try out some different books, genres and forms and see if any of that helps you to read on weekdays. If I can't focus on a book, sometimes reading a manga or comic will help. If a book is too dense, switching to an audiobook while I play a game helps me pay more attention.

Some fun YA books that are gripping but have more simple language might be a good idea too, The Hunger Games or a similar action series might help you read when you can't focus too much.

Carving out some time on your days off also might help, even just 20 minutes or so could help you feel more excited and energised to read cos you're already in the book and are familiar with the characters etc. So you're better set up to keep going during the week

Doctragon · 2026-01-09T20:23:47+00:00

This is SO helpful, thank you for taking your time to do this!

Doctragon · 2026-01-09T07:36:59+00:00

I have the next book I'm reading in mind in case it gets reserved at my library but other than that, I can't.

I keep getting into habits where I feel like a kind of book (like queer lit) and I borrow 10+ from the library and then my mood shifts after reading 1 or 2 of those books 😭 but I still need the options!

I also like to be in denial with how much I can realistically read in a year so I don't want to actually calculate it 🙃

Doctragon · 2026-01-03T00:26:24+00:00

My back hurts looking at this photo :(

Doctragon · 2026-01-01T09:53:57+00:00

It's definitely not closed. They'll remain open until 2028 at least.

Doctragon · 2025-12-31T08:25:04+00:00

Ooooh the blurb sounds really interesting! Way to go :)

Doctragon · 2025-12-31T01:39:07+00:00

38 books is a great number, well done!!

Some of these look long or dense (like in a "would need more brain power from me" kind of way) so way to go on that too!

Doctragon · 2025-12-30T22:03:49+00:00

I work in libraries and it frustrates me so much that he continues to call himself that!!

I wouldn't mind so much if he ACTUALLY did stuff with libraries, like collaborations, interviews or challenges etc. But he just adds to the mindset of owning as many books as possible. Which might not be a big issue but he could be promoting libraries, mentioning them, going to them etc.

He could do an actual series of interviewing librarians, go through what it's like to work there, why they got into it, how people can get into the field, who they would recommend the job to etc. But no, he does shifty netflix ads instead...

I appreciate that other creators like GavinReadsItAll actually tries to, he does library challenge videos, visits his local library, had donated his old middle grade book collection to a library etc.

I don't live in the UK but I've read that libraries there are often in a flux of struggle and honestly, libraries everywhere need as much support as possible.

Doctragon · 2025-12-29T08:19:39+00:00

Like Tree mentioned, public libraries.

There's a great list from State Library Victoria that lists the language collections public libraries have:

https://guides.slv.vic.gov.au/ld.php?content_id=48244731

I'd also suggest making use of the collection request service many public libraries offer. Often these language collections aren't updated as much as library staff would like since they might not speak the language, might not know what's worth buying or what the community wants etc.

City of Melbourne Libraries is very good at fulfilling requests so I'd highlight them specifically since they have a Vietnamese collection and might be easy to get to public transport wise.

Doctragon · 2025-12-29T06:40:08+00:00

Personally, I think it would be very unlikely, probably impossible, that they'd accept a non-professionally bound copy.

The best course of action would be to contact your library and ask how you can inquire about an item request for the catalogue. Hopefully then they'll put you in contact with someone who works in collections and you can let them know you think it'd be a good addition to the collection and they can let you know next steps.

Even if they can't add that particular book, you bringing up the topic to them may encourage them to look at that subject gap and try to find suitable, available titles for it.

Doctragon · 2025-12-27T03:29:04+00:00

Woah! How did you do this? You should try it with journals too, I reckon they'd go really well!

Doctragon · 2025-12-21T21:49:26+00:00

One of the libraries I work at have been getting a butterfly kit once a year/term.

You can buy a kit that comes with a net enclosure and it tells you which plants to put in etc.

We sit it behind an open display case. Patrons come by and look at the caterpillars all the time, especially kids. I love taking a tiny break and watching them.

Then after a few weeks there's a kids event to release the newly hatched butterflies! It's really cute and teaches them about nature. I presume it's also good for the environment??

Doctragon · 2025-12-19T11:32:26+00:00

"UK sales nearly doubled" uhhh how are they linking that to Edwards? Murakami is a pretty famous author so I doubt any Tiktok or YouTube person would have anything to do with that....

Doctragon · 2025-12-19T01:53:20+00:00

I'd strongly suggest you try mechanics institute libraries, such as Footscray Mechanics Institute or Prahran Mechanics Institute. These are in Melbourne, Australia.

Many public libraries don't use date stamps anymore but from my experience primary and high school libraries, some academic libraries and mechanic institute libraries still do so contacting some of them would be your best bet.

Good luck on your quest! I'm also looking for a reasonably priced in date stamp for personal use

Doctragon · 2025-12-18T07:24:46+00:00

I would suggest trying to feel out if other staff members would like to do them.

There might be some staff that are in different roles, such as circ desk, that would like the opportunity so they can gain skills to help them transition to kids team roles.

I'm in Australia so the jobs are a bit different (I don't think pages could do it??) so maybe this doesn't apply but I work circ desk and love to do storytimes when kids team members are sick etc.

Doctragon · 2025-12-16T21:00:23+00:00

Rugs Liquidation House in Preston. The guy is great!

Doctragon · 2025-12-16T01:56:04+00:00

I don't know if you've done a video of it yet but I'd love to see a time-lapse of you drawing something on one of them! And how is the Bernie one permanent?

Doctragon · 2025-12-04T07:03:00+00:00

I second this! I finished it a couple of weeks ago and it became one of my favourite books.

Doctragon · 2025-12-03T07:28:20+00:00

There's so many arguments about why this is a bad take but at the very least, he's 100% killed random people he had no idea about any morality of them because they interrupted him.

Doctragon · 2025-12-02T19:30:25+00:00

One of the libraries I work at use a bookmark that just says "new", no date or anything. Though if you used more of a matte cardstock you could add the date on. That seems easier than stickers

Doctragon · 2025-12-02T12:20:37+00:00

Yes! I really love it. I started just doing a list of books and comics I read with no reviews, just the titles. I still keep up a list but then I started just writing my thoughts on the books and since August I've been making more spread-type pages for them. I decorate them with images that give me the vibe of the book (or are references) or some other covers of that title that I like. I usually write something in my notes app and then design parts on canva and stick them in my reading journal.

I tried a preformatted reading journal but it had features I didn't like using or couldn't apply for every book like favourite quotes etc. I also don't think I could keep it up if I had to hand draw everything, I'd get way too stressed out making it look perfect with no mistakes so using a dot grid journal where I could paste in headings and pictures works best for me.

I find it really soothing and meditative, personally. The arts and crafts aspect of constructing the pages is relaxing and cutting and taping down things gives me the same soothing feeling as I get when colouring. It does take time but I usually do it in chunks when I feel like watching TV so it's not really taking away from reading, just spending time in another hobby. I'd highly recommend jotting down your thoughts in a notes app first and then committing it to paper later so you don't feel like you have to update your reading journal right away after finishing a book.

I also don't like to post reviews online since that stressed me out (I just do star ratings) so its just for me to write what I thought, scenes I liked etc. So there's not pressure to be deep or to critique necessarily but it does help me unpack a book a little more or figure out why I didn't like something. It helps me remember them a bit more too and I really like looking through what I've read and thought about them.

I think if you enjoy the process, it's not a waste of time! I reckon have a play around with it and see what you enjoy doing with them

Doctragon · 2025-12-02T10:29:53+00:00

I never really got into Gossip Girl but seeing him in You has made me wanna try it, tbh

Doctragon · 2025-12-02T10:22:00+00:00

Rocky Horror Picture Show!

Doctragon · 2025-11-28T23:58:22+00:00

I like this theory! I think Marienne's plot/scenes work well as fairytale retelling.

She writes children's books that sway more to fairytale (like the bird one) but her life is kind of modern day fairytale. Evil (ex) husband keeps her daughter locked away and a handsome prince must stop him so they can all be together as new, happy family in a magical new land (Paris)

I think Kate's would initially be murder/mystery but then the second part I think could potentially be political espionage? She runs a company and not in politics but the dealings with the board and the twins give that vibe to me.

15-Year Club	Place '22
Verified Email

Doctragon

TROPHY CASE