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    A TikTok star who was functionally illiterate finds a community on BookTok

    Oliver James is a TikTok star who pledged to read 100 books this year. He has had a lot of difficulty with reading since he was a child and is now teaching himself at age 34.
    by Lilly Quiroz Jan 25, 2023 3 minutes
    Oliver James lives in California with his partner and their two kids.

    Oliver James exudes an abundance of positivity and hasn't let his inability to read stop him from pursuing his interests and needs. He's managing his mental health through reading books instead of therapy.

    In the United States, more than 8 million adults are considered functionally illiterate in English.

    James, 34, aspires to be a motivational speaker. And, in a way, he's achieving this by sharing his journey with more than 120k followers on BookTok.

    "I've had dreams of being more than I was showing myself," James told NPR's Leila Fadel.

    for book lovers and creators. The

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