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Aella, and why BookTok has changed how people read

September 16, 2026 · 47 min

Show notes

Welcome to Touching Grass, where two extremely online people attempt to explain internet discourse to people sensible enough to spend their time offline. This week James Ball inflicts upon us a strange cocktail of Aella, AI doomerism and Harry Potter fanfiction. Meanwhile, Lucy Reade discusses why BookTok has changed how people read and… also gets on to the topic of Harry Potter fanfiction.


Warning: this episode contains material of an adult nature!


Aella:


https://x.com/Aella_Girl/status/1763383809284731208 

https://bsky.app/profile/bluser12.bsky.social/post/3mv4z6ycoks2r

https://bsky.app/profile/stejormur.bsky.social/post/3mvdjiy32pc24


Books:


https://x.com/bookslattess/status/2096580249232269563?s=20 

https://x.com/diatribadism/status/2097211649073545583?s=20

https://x.com/stargirlBaird/status/2097316740749234649?s=20

https://x.com/hexprax/status/2097192722767700087?s=20

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZGdQy1X5A/


Presented by James Ball and Lucy Reade


Produced by Matt Withers


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