TL;DR
The above shorthand has become ubiquitous online. So common in fact, people write their posts utilizing this catch phrase to indicate a summary. In case people would rather not be bothered to read the full piece. Too long; didn't read. Even the phrase itself is shortened to an acronym to save time.
This attitude of instant to near-instant gratification has resulted in a new attitude towards reading as a skill. I was recently made aware that bookish influencers on TikTok and similar have been only reading the dialogue of books. Then proceeding to make videos either extolling a book's virtues, or vilifying it.
Skimming is not new as a reading activity. What is new, however, is claiming that skimming makes you an authority on something. Worse, telling others whether it is worth their time or not.
Consider this: everything authors write is intentional. Everything. it all matters and provides substance. It is supposed to take time to read a book. to not only read, to absorb what has been read. From there to understand it. No shade, people read for all sorts of reasons. I have skimmed many a text for a college paper searching for keywords relating to my needs. Once found I read more thoroughly to ensure the source really did suit my needs.
What I have never done, and will never do as a blogger and book reviewer is to review a book I have not read in it's entirety. I have been known to provide an explanation of why I didn't finish a book. I certainly don't star rate or otherwise attempt to influence its sales. Not with an incomplete understanding of the work.
For professional people to be engaging with media in this manner is irresponsible and reductive. I don't expect the judges for book awards to have read every entry themselves. I do expect that they would fully read a selection assigned to them so they can engage in reasoned debate with other moderators. Failing that have your assistants fully read them and provide accurate and detailed summaries of the major plot points and themes.
For people who make their living in some form to do with book blogging, I do expect that you have read the full book. From now on I will know not to assume it. If you haven't, at least state it up front so people understand that your opinion is based on limited information.
So much detail, and nuance, and Worldbuilding, is missed when skimming a text. At the barest of minimums as members of the book promoting world we owe the readers of our reviews, the watchers of our videos, the listeners of our podcasts, our honesty and integrity. They are taking the effort to tune in, therefore we should put that effort into our product.
Where Kindness Lives: A Women's Fiction Anthology by Janet Koops
