How is a livestream book talk different from ordinary book-summary videos? Utsudo noticed that modern life moves fast and fewer people sit down to read—even she, a book lover, often loses time to her phone. So she decided to share books she’s read through livestreamed book talks: first discussing what she sees as the key points, then exchanging thoughts and experiences with viewers, so even those who haven’t read the book can remember its content. She’ll cover not just self-help books but also novels and picture books; the first episode featured a Haruki Murakami book.

Translated from Utsudo’s original Chinese column.

Starting a livestream book talk show

This is a show I recently decided to start. I want to join the ranks of book talkers, sharing books I’ve read recently and discussing them with everyone.

I grew up among piles of books and love reading. I believe books carry the experience of many experts, and when I’m bored they open a window into fantasy. They’re both teacher and friend—something very important in my life.

Fewer people sit down to read these days

People move faster and faster now; everyone’s used to a fast-paced life, and fewer people are willing to sit down with a book. Honestly, even I, who love reading so much, have less and less time to read, with more and more on my plate and a growing financial burden.

Besides, I spend my days reading text while writing and revising, so I don’t really want to stare at text in my free time too. So I scroll my phone, listen to music—and play games!

Sharing books in a different way

By the way, “book talk” videos are pretty popular now.

I watch them occasionally, but when I hear about a book I like, I still want to hold it and read it myself. After all, a book talk is just someone sharing their views and conclusions after reading—the information isn’t complete. And everyone finds different points important or moving, so ten people’s book talks will give ten different versions.

So I want to “share” books in a different way.

Via livestream, I’ll talk about what I see as key points, then branch out from them, discussing viewers’ thoughts or sharing experiences with each other. That way the book isn’t just something you’ve heard about—it’s a deep conversation like a book club.

I think this way, listeners will remember the book’s content more easily, and even if they haven’t read it themselves, they should still learn a lot.

Which books will I share?

I’ll share books I’ve read and want to recommend, so it won’t be only self-help or reference books—it may include novels and picture books too. I hope to introduce books I’m interested in to all of you.

The first work I shared was Haruki Murakami’s book on being a professional novelist. Since it was a members-only video, the audience was small, but we still discussed a lot in depth, and I think it went quite well. I wonder if it would be even more fun to open it up publicly so more people can join the discussion.

No time like the present—see you at the next book talk!

FAQ

Further reading

• Previous: Hey! I Heard You’re a Writer on Ghost Island #216: A Speaking Experience That Shocked Me
• Start from the beginning: Hey! I Heard You’re a Writer on Ghost Island #01: Utsudo’s Debut — A Road to the Dream Covered in Frost
• Utsudo’s books

About the author

Utsudo is a Taiwanese light novelist and novelist VTuber with more than ten years in the industry and 40 commercially published print books. Her novel 《遺失的情書》 received a 2022 Ministry of Culture youth creative award. The 《嘿！聽說妳在鬼島當作家》 series records her experiences as a novelist in Taiwan.