If you’re from planet Earth, chances are you’ve heard of the incredibly popular South Korean group BTS. Yerin Kim, the author of I Love BTS: An Unofficial Fan Journal, goes beyond just offering a glimpse into their world. She does an exceptional job of providing insight into their background and history, even providing tidbits that the group’s self-proclaimed biggest fans may not be aware of. For instance, she reveals that the group’s leader, RM, sought input from a regional women’s studies professor to ensure their lyrics were sensitive to gender equality.
This author is either an ARMY (the name of the BTS fandom) or was diligent in her research. Either way, fans will appreciate her work.
Now, one would think because of the word “journal” in the title, this book would be aimed at the younger fans of BTS, but I view this as being for fans of all ages. Each chapter has a quiz with multiple-choice answers to test your knowledge as an ARMY. The journal also includes questions specific to BTS. For example, “If you could make a ‘starter-pack’ playlist for your friends or family members who are unfamiliar with BTS or are not fans yet, what five songs would you include? Why would you choose these songs?”
The journal has a designated space for you to record your answers to each question.
The questions cover a broad spectrum from light-hearted to thought-provoking. “Which song has your favorite lyrics? Which lines, in particular, resonate with you the most? How do those lyrics make you feel?” require more thoughtful answers and provoke discussions.
If you’ve ever ventured on the ARMY side of social media – Twitter, in particular – you’ll note this author isn’t far off with the questions being asked in her book. Often times you will see BTS fans set up polls asking each other questions. Yerin Kim’s new book is designed for fans to write down their thoughts about BTS and keep it as a journal and keepsake. It can be added to their bookshelf, which is probably already filled with their most cherished BTS merchandise.
Overall, the I Love BTS: An Unofficial Fan Journal is full of facts, tidbits, quizzes, and even thought-provoking questions that make it a fun addition to any BTS collection.
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The I Love BTS: An Unofficial Fan Journal is a Simon & Schuster’s Adams Media imprint and will be available on May 16, 2023. For more details, visit simonandschuster.com.
