I can’t remember where I first heard the term, “Chaos Reader.” Probably at my book club from some members who are younger and perpetually online, and thus up to date with the latest memes. Anyway, as I understand it, the term means someone whose reading plan is non-existent. No author favorites, no trope or genre love, no goals or tracking. Their plan is simply, “This sounds interesting,” pick it up, read it. Chaos readers have no idea what’s coming next in their reading life, just more books!
This hit me hard because I have always been a chaos reader. It wasn’t until social media blossomed that I realized there could even be any other way. Old age alert: In the old days, we didn’t have very many book reviewers. There were the big ones like the New York Review of Books, or Publisher’s Weekly, but they weren’t readily accessible to most people. Maybe you saw a mention in a mainstream magazine or TV show, but that was about it. If you wanted to find out what was new, you went to the bookstore or library and wandered the “What’s New” or “Bestseller” shelves.
There were no influencers, no websites dedicated to tropes or genres, and no algorithm shoving books in your face day after day. Your best hope for personalized recommendations was to make friends with a librarian or bookstore employee and let them gradually get to know your preferences. Either that or get lucky enough to have a friend with similar tastes.
Yes, there were some people who stuck like glue to things like pulp mysteries and Harlequin romances. They were the forerunners of today’s algorithmically driven readers. Slap a certain cover or brand on it and it was all some people would read. But I would argue they were the minority back then.
Most of us were chaos readers. We went to the store or library and found books that seemed interesting and read them. Maybe we liked certain genres or authors, but generally anything that spoke of possibility got a chance. We were feral and we were hunters.
We read back covers and jacket flaps. We wandered the stacks. We went down rabbit holes while digging through the card catalog and wrote down titles that sounded interesting. We went to the library looking for a cookbook and came out with that plus a crime novel, a biography, a couple of romances, and a fantasy. Heck, throw on a book about the pyramids for good measure. Sure, some were duds, but there was joy in discovering that rare jewel of a book that made you sigh with pleasure or see the world a little differently.
I don’t see that as often these days. When I go to the bookstore or library, I don’t see many people idly wandering the shelves and picking random titles up. Most make a beeline for a certain section, scan for the title they want, and leave.
Many people are online asking for recommendations that are so specific, it’s amazing that any book can meet all the requirements. Books must include certain tropes, avoid certain topics (or be certain to cover certain topics), be no longer than X-pages, have characters of specific genders, races, and sexual orientations, and take place in certain environs.
Jacket flaps and back covers are starting to sound like a shopping list, rather than a teaser designed to intrigue you. Gone are tempting synopses of stories, or snippets of the information to be found inside. Now you find back covers that read, “If you like love triangles, enemies to lovers, straight vampires humping gay werewolves, and it all takes place on an alien planet that never sees daylight in the midst of a dystopian regime change, this book is for you.” Okay… But what’s the story about? Why should I invest in these characters?
I get it, to some extent. There is comfort in the familiar, and we all need some comfort these days. As with food, there’s comfort in knowing exactly what you’re going to get when you sit down with a book. But where’s the serendipity? The joy of discovery? The thrill of being surprised? The simple act of pushing your personal boundaries? If all you read are books you already know you’ll like, aren’t you missing out on the fun of finding something new? The satisfaction of expanding your horizons, even a tiny bit? The possibility of growing, even a little bit? It’s like eating the same meal over and over. You know you’ll like it, and it will keep you alive and give you what you need, but wouldn’t it be nice to try something else for a change? Sure, you might not like it, but you might end up loving it.
In my life of chaos reading, I’ve discovered so many fabulous books that I wouldn’t have otherwise discovered if I’d stuck to a limited list of tropes, genres, and authors. I’ve found classics that I actually enjoyed (unlike the ones I hated in school). I’ve learned new things. (Even fiction can teach, or open your mind to wanting to learn more about a subject.) I’ve gone down so many rabbit holes that it’s a wonder I’ve found my way out. I’ve literally picked books up because I loved or hated their covers and said, “This looks good,” or “This looks so bad I have to find out if it really is.” And most of the time, I’ve been rewarded.
Yep, I’ve also hit some duds, but even those have been valuable in their way. Learning what I don’t like and, more importantly why I don’t like it is valuable information. And I’ve learned that just because I didn’t like one western, or romance, or fantasy, doesn’t mean that I will dislike them all. So if another comes along, I’ll give it a try because, why not?
What’s lost by branching out and embracing a little chaos? Nothing. (Especially if you use the library where books don’t even cost you money if you don’t like them.) But what might be gained? A new perspective? A new favorite author or genre? Empathy for others? Something new to discuss with friends? Something that makes you say, “Damn, I’m glad I’m alive to read this?” A new world to live in over the course of several books?
Chaos reading isn’t a flaw. Sure, it might be a little scary to step outside of that comfort zone, but that’s what life should be about. Growth. Moving forward. Trying new things, even if you don’t like them. At least you can say you tried. And you don’t have to chaos read all the time. When you need comfort, reach for a favorite. But at least be open to a little chaos in your reading life.
