Cosplay Questions, Anti-Book Clubs, and More!
Happy New Year, everyone! And welcome to the Dear Book Nerd podcast, a bi-weekly show that answers your questions about life, love, and literature! My special guest co-host this week is the wonderful Rincey Abraham. We discuss topics such as: respectful cosplay, keeping books damage-free while traveling, and the best way to start an “anti-book club.” Don’t miss it!
Rincey is a contributing editor at Book Riot – she makes a few videos every week for the Book Riot YouTube channel. Rincey also runs her own YouTube channel, “Rincey Reads,” where she talks about books and other bookish and non-bookish topics every week. You can find her on Twitter @rinceya. Thanks, Rincey!
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QUESTIONS DISCUSSED:
Dear Book Nerd,
Over the past year or so, I’ve been slowly getting into comics. I love Saga, Ms. Marvel, Bitch Planet, and Sex Criminals. I enjoy these new comics so much that I’ve thought about going to comic conventions, which I’ve never done before.
When I considered characters that I might want to dress up as, I realized there’s the potential for me to come across as a jerk, which I DO NOT want to do. I’m white and I would NEVER NEVER do blackface because that’s wrong, though the characters I most resonate with are diverse, like Alana, Kamala, and Kamau because they’re strong, courageous, and are such great role models for women and girls everywhere.Should I avoid attempting to dress up as these characters? Should I find other comics I like with characters that I CAN dress up as without potentially offending anyone? Do people at comic conventions normally dress up as characters that are not their assigned race or sex? Can you even go to comic conventions without dressing up as a character? Should I just not go to comic conventions at all?
Please help,
Socially Sensitive Newbie Comic Lover
Dear Book Nerd,
Bookish problem: I love taking a book with me wherever I go. Be it on the train, bus, etc. Problem is, I adore my books and they always end up getting a little damaged/worn/torn with all the travel and being carried around in a bag with other things. Really hate my books being damaged. Does anyone else have this problem and if so any solutions out there?
Facebook Reader
Dear Book Nerd and Co-Host,
I want to start an online ‘Anti-book club’ book club and/or blog. I have several ideas bouncing around in my head but I’m not quite sure which one to go with or how to execute them. I don’t like the required reading aspect of book clubs but I do like the idea of people talking about books together. I did a quick google search of “anti-book clubs” and they didn’t seem to last long. Is it because it’s a bad idea? Are they not doing it right?
Shvonne
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