Uploaded November 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
A candid BookTube check-in about burnout, balance, reading goals, and staying joyful during a hectic season. If you’ve ever felt pressure to “keep up,” this one’s for you.
Hi, I'm Mike - this is Riiff Raff's Reading Renaissance. Welcome!
Today’s video is a different kind of update — a personal reality check on where I am in my BookTube journey. With the end-of-year rush, a demanding (but meaningful) day job, a more ambitious reading life than ever, and the joy of becoming a BookTube creator, I’ve reached a moment where taking stock feels necessary.
In this candid check-in, I talk about:
- balancing reading time with content creation
- the pressure many BookTubers feel (algorithms, expectations, output)
- the challenges of November/December in the Southern Hemisphere ahead of summer holidays
- the joy and time commitment of editing and creating videos
- my desire to explore South African literature & banned books
- why some weeks may be quieter on my channel
- remembering that this is a joyful hobby, not a production line
I also share my reflections on VicTober, the surprise success of my Vanity Fair deep dive, and the incredible kindness of the BookTube community. Thank you all for the support, the invitations, the conversations, and the encouragement — it means more than I can say. If you’re feeling pressure on BookTube — or anywhere in life — I hope this video helps remind you of what matters most: joy, connection, reading, and taking care of yourself. My output will slow for a couple of weeks, while I balance work, life, and reading — but the joy of this community keeps me going. The joy of reading brought me here, and you keep it joyful. See you in full force again in a few weeks. Until then, thank you for being part of this journey. Appreciate you all.
📚 Watch my Vanity Fair Deep Dive here: youtube.com/watch?v=comdHj18rdA&t=105s
📚 Recent Lives & Collabs:
Dr NoVember - 1st Live discussion : youtube.com/watch?v=IHVRJIWTYnc
Dr NoVember - 2nd Live discussion : youtube.com/watch?v=8Z0wW0PqeXk
My guest slot with Mark & Randy - youtube.com/watch?v=ptfP9k68AxQ
RiffRaff's Playlist - youtube.com/watch?v=c_9CCtDL8aY&list=PLlpN8mmVl6oHmqEoxGD1Zg8TnCDFBpu68
And for the almighty Algorithm :
#BookTube #ReadingCommunity #BookTuber #ReadingJourney
#CreativeBalance #BookTubeCheckIn #ReadingLife #SouthAfricanBooks
#BannedBooks #BookTubeDiscussion #ReadingUpdate
A candid BookTube check-in about burnout, balance, reading goals, and staying joyful during a hectic season. If you’ve ever felt pressure to “keep up,” this one’s for you.
Hi, I'm Mike - this is Riiff Raff's Reading Renaissance. Welcome!
Today’s video is a different kind of update — a personal reality check on where I am in my BookTube journey. With the end-of-year rush, a demanding (but meaningful) day job, a more ambitious reading life than ever, and the joy of becoming a BookTube creator, I’ve reached a moment where taking stock feels necessary.
In this candid check-in, I talk about:
- balancing reading time with content creation
- the pressure many BookTubers feel (algorithms, expectations, output)
- the challenges of November/December in the Southern Hemisphere ahead of summer holidays
- the joy and time commitment of editing and creating videos
- my desire to explore South African literature & banned books
- why some weeks may be quieter on my channel
- remembering that this is a joyful hobby, not a production line
I also share my reflections on VicTober, the surprise success of my Vanity Fair deep dive, and the incredible kindness of the BookTube community. Thank you all for the support, the invitations, the conversations, and the encouragement — it means more than I can say. If you’re feeling pressure on BookTube — or anywhere in life — I hope this video helps remind you of what matters most: joy, connection, reading, and taking care of yourself. My output will slow for a couple of weeks, while I balance work, life, and reading — but the joy of this community keeps me going. The joy of reading brought me here, and you keep it joyful. See you in full force again in a few weeks. Until then, thank you for being part of this journey. Appreciate you all.
📚 Watch my Vanity Fair Deep Dive here: youtube.com/watch?v=comdHj18rdA&t=105s
📚 Recent Lives & Collabs:
Dr NoVember - 1st Live discussion : youtube.com/watch?v=IHVRJIWTYnc
Dr NoVember - 2nd Live discussion : youtube.com/watch?v=8Z0wW0PqeXk
My guest slot with Mark & Randy - youtube.com/watch?v=ptfP9k68AxQ
RiffRaff's Playlist - youtube.com/watch?v=c_9CCtDL8aY&list=PLlpN8mmVl6oHmqEoxGD1Zg8TnCDFBpu68
And for the almighty Algorithm :
#BookTube #ReadingCommunity #BookTuber #ReadingJourney
#CreativeBalance #BookTubeCheckIn #ReadingLife #SouthAfricanBooks
#BannedBooks #BookTubeDiscussion #ReadingUpdate
