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World’s most powerful literary critic is on TikTok

55 points by insistey

by jalev

2 subcomments

I went and looked at the Tiktoks. As far as I can see from the few videos I've watched it's not so much "criticism" as "plot overview, small background details, and what I liked about it".
It's kind of weird it's being framed as a tiktok sensation when there's nothing to really differenciate him from other booktokers? Other than perhaps more subscribers than usual.
Also, per the article:
> Edwards champions BookTok and also defends it...
Kind of interesting to note given his video saying he doesn't like booktok books[1]. I suppose he knows not to piss in the pond he drinks from.
[1] https://youtu.be/AuEipfQbHrU

by yoyohello13

0 subcomment

If you’re not on TikTok yet, and are curious, just don’t. Your life will be so much better if you just stay away.

by kubb

4 subcomments

I wish we had more plurality. Not just convergence on one ultra influencer for books, but an ecosystem, with offerings tailored to audiences.

by terespuwash

0 subcomment

I acknowledge his expertise in literature. I find his approach to non-fiction sometimes less insightful and note a recent shift toward following popular book trends but it’s still great to see his videos.

by dang

2 subcomments

I expected that to be a hit job but it's actually rather poignant.

by philipallstar

1 subcomments

Why are all these institutions so susceptible to bring led by so few people? Can't they figure out what books to get without being told?

by leoc

0 subcomment

How good is the book he successfully sold to HarperCollins, The Uni-Verse? Either he's pretty good, or he was quite lucky, or he had some inside track.

by 3rodents

1 subcomments

[flagged]

by dyauspitr

0 subcomment

How interesting. I thought booktok was an aggregated list of the books people were most talking about on TikTok or something. Turns out it’s just one guy making recommendations.

by BoredPositron

2 subcomments

influence ≠ powerful I admit if you are permanently only this might blend together.

by swang

3 subcomments

I had to go through a cookie request, a subscribe to us popup and then had to close another popup telling me I could only read two articles.

by matt3210

0 subcomment

Guys, this is an ad.

by xorvoid

0 subcomment

[flagged]

by IlikeMadison

3 subcomments

[flagged]

by mullingitover

2 subcomments

Sort of an aside, but what's next now that Tiktok is deeply into end-stage enshittification? It'd dead now, a formerly fun app morphed into grotesque eyeball milking system owned by one of the worst people on the planet. I deleted the app this week after the feed ramped ad content up to being an ad every other video, frequently with ads back to back to back.
It's cooked.