Book Lovers And Bookstagram

by Ravmeet kaur Oberoi · Published August 30, 2020 · Updated August 30, 2020

Hey guys! I am always getting questions about my love for reading and what it takes to have the “perfect” bookstagram account. So I thought that I would take you into the world of 5 amazing book lovers and talk to them about their take on books, reading and bookstagram. Here we go!

Book Lover 1

RKO: Hey! Tell us a little about yourself.

I am Japneet from Delhi. I am a postgraduate in English Literature and work as a freelance writer in the day but by the time night comes, I snuggle into my bed with a cup of tea and the book I’m currently reading and read till the time sleep envelopes me. Reading has been my solace and books, my safe space for as long as I remember so my introduction wouldn’t have been complete without mentioning it.

RKO: How did you develop your love for reading?

I started reading as young as 4 or 5. Thanks to mom, who inculcated it as a habit. During my school years, I always felt like a ‘misfit’. When people made fun of my ways and made me feel like a pushover books were always there to comfort me and I lost myself to their magic and always felt safe and those stories helped me gain confidence. I was the lonely teenager you meet in my adolescent years and yet books were there to make me feel a little less alone and a lot more complete. That is I think how I developed my love for reading and it has only increased over the years

RKO: Your Bookstagram:

My Bookstagram is @millennial_reader

RKO: When did you begin it?

I began around one and a half years ago on 14th December 2018.

RKO: Why did you begin it?

I started my Bookstagram handle because of two reasons. One, because I didn’t have many friends who are readers and I was dying to discuss books. And two, because all the handles I saw I felt like were focussing on either Classics or the literature of the West. I wanted to shift the narrative from the Occident to the Orient. Most of the books I read are by South Asian authors because I feel they are closer to home and the literature is indeed beautiful.

RKO: According to you, what are the three essentials for creating the perfect Bookstagram account?

I don’t think there’s anything like the perfect Bookstagram account because I think the idea of perfection is overrated. But I think the essentials for having a great Bookstagram account are: good content, especially in terms of reviews, beautiful pictures, let’s face it, it is a visual platform and we do have to have good pictures, and inclusivity. You can read all your fantasy novels and canons and classics but if you’re not reading about the issues in your own country or for that matter, books by the marginalized communities then I don’t see the point.

RKO: What is your favourite post from your page and why?

My favourite posts from my page are two. Sorry, I can’t choose one. One is my review of ‘The Namesake’ by Jhumpa Lahiri. I loved that book and it took a lot of time to process it and then write a review. The other one is an apology I wrote to Kashmir and Kashmiris because that was long due. It was a heartfelt and heartbreaking apology but I felt I had to write it.

Book Lover 2

RKO: Hey! Tell us a little about yourself.

I am Aayushi Vasishat, a millennial from New Delhi. A writer first and a reader later, I just feel that my love for the English language is what keeps me surging ahead. It took me graduation in commerce to realize that but as they, better late than never. Since then, there’s been no looking back. I write, read, repeat.

RKO: How did you develop your love for reading?

English has always been my favourite subject at school. When I had nothing to do, I’d re-read stories from the English literature book. With time, the literature book got replaced with novels.

RKO: Your Bookstagram:

My bookstagram is called @readipedia. It’s my stress-free zone. There’s so much that I’ve planned to do for my bookstagram. I’ll do it tomorrow. Did I tell you I’m a professional procrastinator? Maybe I was gonna tell you tomorrow (Haha!)

RKO: When and why did you begin it?

I began my bookstagram account in December 2018. So, the twist in the tale is that I initially started this account because I wanted to teach English digitally but somehow started posting about books that I read and then stumbled upon this community of like-minded peeps.

RKO: According to you, what are the three essentials for creating the perfect Bookstagram account?

#1 would definitely be aesthetics, that’s absolutely necessary for anything you’re putting on Instagram.

#2 would be engagement. Interactions with your current audience, your target or probable audience would definitely help you realize what they would like to see more of on your IG feed.

#3 would be authenticity. Now I realize that social media and authenticity generally do not gel well together but that’s something I personally swear by. I would not talk about something just because it is the talk of the town, I’ll talk about it only when I am well read about it.

RKO: What is your favourite post from your page and why?

This one picture I posted on World Book Day this year. It’s just a photography hack I tried and the results really surprised me.

Book Lover 3

RKO: Hey! Tell us a little about yourself.

Hello

My name is Laeba Haider and other than my love for books (which, I hope, is pretty evident from my profile) I spend my time working on digital posters and copy editing other people’s works, in addition to occasionally doing some freelancing work myself. Although I have no formal training or education in literature or the English language, for some years now I have had this inclination towards words and phrases which is why I am always involved in something that includes either reading or writing.

On an academic front, I have done my graduation in Zoology from Ramjas College, University of Delhi and I am currently pursuing MBA from Centre for Management Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia. Yes, you’re right, this jump from studying animals to studying humans is as bizarre as it sounds. However, I don’t regret either. While Zoology helped me understand animals and the world around me better from a biological perspective, MBA is helping me understand (and get frustrated with) human beings and their thought processes.

RKO: How did you develop your love for reading?

This one is difficult to answer, mainly because I am neither smart nor lucky like the people who have been reading since the age of 5-6. As a child growing up, or maybe even in my early teens, I was not particularly attracted to books or reading. Yes, I’d diligently read the books assigned by the school library but that was it. Then how did I become a person who has set a Goodreads goal to read 60 books in 2020? Umm, I’m not entirely sure, but a teacher of mine gifted me a book by Robin Sharma after my class 10 result and it sort of made it mandatory for me to read it (yes, not as bookish, I know). Later on, I developed this crazy desire to read the HP series and the Twilight series (guilty as charged :p) and regardless of what the issues with the stories are, they truly made me realize that magic exists, especially inside the pages of a book.

RKO: Your Bookstagram:

It’s @_readgret_

RKO: When did you begin it?

I started Readgret on December 25, 2019.

RKO: Why did you begin it?

Readgret is my second attempt at bookstagramming (yes, that’s a real thing now). I had created another account in the year 2017 and continued with it for around 2-3 months. Then due to some really toxic events, I ended up leaving this community once and for all (or so I thought back then).

I’m lucky enough to have friends and family who have always, always motivated and encouraged me to publish my thoughts and views about the books I’m reading online and after much persuasion, I finally plucked up the courage to create another account and because of the love and support I receive here every day, I plan to continue with it for a long time to come.

RKO: According to you, what are the three essentials for creating the perfect Bookstagram account?

I don’t think there is something called a perfect bookstagram account. Yes, there are a few people whose accounts and content inspire me every day, but still, I guess somewhere, somehow, someone else is always doing something better than all of us. And I, for one person, do not take it in a negative sense. Instead, I take it as an opportunity to identify the areas that I can improve myself and my content in.

But yes, in my opinion, the three essential things for any bookstagram account are books, honest reviews, and more books.

RKO: What is your favourite post from your page and why?

Oh, this is a tough one. Being the narcissist that I am, I love all of my posts, but if I have to choose some, I’d say the letter I wrote to Khaled Hosseini after I finished reading The Kite Runner, my review of A Burning by Megha Majumdar, and my review of the best book I read in 2020, Belonging by Umi Sinha. All three of these posts are about books that moved me. Don’t get me wrong, many others have too, but there is something about these three books that have actually touched me in a way others did not.

Book Lover 4

RKO: Hey! Tell us a little about yourself.

MBA Grad, feline and Canis lover, people tell me am a bit sarcastic but maybe they confuse honest opinions as that.

RKO: How did you develop your love for reading?

A habit I developed as a mere imitation of my family. Am an odia and we love our afternoon naps. But my mom used to pick up a book to read instead of napping and I’ve always seen my sister carry a book everywhere. I did that just to be like them and not get bored.

RKO: Your Bookstagram:

Ms.Teacupntale

RKO: When did you begin it?

I started my bookstagram on 6th of February,2020. I had this account for a long time but never started posting it because of intimidation.

RKO: Why did you begin it?

I was an avid reader till standard 11, then after with life’s trials and tribulations, the habit faded away. I had no patience to complete 5 pages a day. So I started bookstagram as a commitment. If it’s out there on a public platform, I’ll have to maintain it. And I must admit, it did indeed help!

RKO: According to you, what are the three essentials for creating the perfect Bookstagram account?

I believe there’s no thumb rule for this. All you need is love for books, desire to share and willingness to learn & unlearn.

RKO: What is your favourite post from your page and why?

I love my post on “Sabrina and Corina Stories” by Kali Fajardo-Anstine. That book of short stories took me to a different country and taught me so much about their culture.