Being an International Book Blogger
Recently on Twitter, I saw a lot of international bloggers tweeting about the privilege surrounding US/UK book bloggers. It’s a heated topic on Twitter, and it’s been discussed many times. As an international book blogger myself, I’ve been green with envy about the merch, books and sub boxes available to Americans.
Book culture exists, and it’s definitely centred around US/UK book bloggers. I’m not one to complain (usually) because even as a South African book blogger, I’m still privileged. I get review copies from imprints here, I can afford a Fairy Loot box maybe once or twice a year. But there are a lot of other people in third world countries like my own who don’t have that privilege.
I want to simply raise awareness of the privilege that some of us have because there is increased pressure for us “third world” bloggers to keep up with American/UK bloggers. It’s physically impossible for us to do so, and it discourages a lot of bloggers to join this amazing book community.
PSA: I’m not saying that there aren’t less privileged people in the US/UK, my point revolves around those readers with privilege who don’t seem to recognize it.
You have a personal library
Okay look, you’re entitled to a personal library. You definitely are. What makes me mad is the fact that there are multiple copies of SIGNED books sitting on your shelf. There are multiple ARCs sitting on your shelf. Why do you need all of those ARCs?
I’ve literally seen bloggers get 10 ARCs of one book, and I have to wait until an imprint decides to bring the book to SA. Why? Just why? Why leave all 10 ARCs sitting on your shelf? Is the point of books not to read them? It makes me really mad that those bloggers seem so selfish.
You have libraries, international bloggers do not
Sure, we have a library at the university. There’s no fiction section. My hometown doesn’t have a library. If it did someone would probably burn it down. Books aren’t accessible, especially in poorer areas of the country. I’ve seen people bring home stacks of NEWLY RELEASED books from the library. I have to buy every single book I read.
There is no borrowing. And for people with less money, or international bloggers, it makes it impossible to read.
You have Book Cons, author signings and merch
I saw an author on Instagram ask how many book signings we’ve all been to. NONE. I have not been to a single one. And there are people who have been to 30. I get it, you’re not really gonna fly an author out to South Africa for a signing. I would just like everyone to stop assuming that meeting authors are a common thing. The closest I’ve ever been to an author was when Melinda Salisbury liked my tweet.
And according to some of ya’ll, we shouldn’t even be tweeting at authors. But that’s tea and saltiness for another day.
Book Con. Don’t even get me started. You go to Book Con and grab 20 ARCs at once! I’ve seen people Instagramming it and they literally walk out of there with 20 signed ARCs. I will probably, never in my life be able to afford to go to Book Con or any other book convention. And here you are chilling with 20 new FREE books. I cannot.
And then there’s merch. Candle stores, bookmarks, prints, book boxes, you name it and we don’t have it. It costs me $22 to ship a $3 bookmark to SA. And then there’s no tracking information and it takes three months to get here. Sometimes it even takes a year. I ordered a signed copy of Song of Sorrow back in February and guess what, it’s still not here.
Why should I then pay all that money just for something to never show up? Book Depository takes three months to get here if you’re lucky.
It’s really excluding
I can’t tell how many times I’ve seen giveaways (from authors, publishers and other bloggers) only be open to US bloggers. Pre-order campaigns are only available for the US/UK. Signed special editions are only for US/UK bloggers. ARCs are only available to US/UK bloggers.
It honestly makes it impossible to be part of this community.
I’m really salty about this, as you can tell
We do have some amazing book stores in SA, such as Bargain Books and Reader’s Warehouse. And we have amazing, hard-working publishers that I’m so privileged to be able to work with.
I just wish that we had access to books that US/UK bloggers do, and I wish those people would be more aware of the fact that they often exclude international bloggers in what should be an inclusive environment.
Amazing! I loved this post and I too feel the ‘saltiness’. It’s unbelievable how unaware a lot of bloggers are as to how privileged they truly are! I would give anything for even one of the opportunities these bloggers are exposed to on a weekly basis. Thank you for writing this.
I have never thought about this, I consider us all global as we are wherever there is internet. I have never been to a signing or convention, although I am American, I’m still much too far away as I’m in Hawaii.
I’m Canadian so some of the things that you said apply. We do get some book events, but it’s normally arranged by a local bookstore. I sometimes get annoyed when some contests are only open for US residents.
Must be hard being an international blogger. Thanks for explaining everything.
Thanks for the post. You brought up some fairly interesting points.
I didn’t realize the lack of access so many other countries had to books until I became a blogger. I think your saltyness is warranted.
This is very interesting. As I am whitelisted from most major publishers, I think I have been getting countless ARCs for granted. It is disconcerting that others have difficulty obtaining them.