OCTOBER BOOKWORMS #3

Welcome to another October bookworms post. I’ve been a little MIA recently but I’m glad to be back and can’t wait for you to meet these bookworms.

First up is bookstagrammer Hawa

Hello Hawa. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

Hey everyone! My name is Hawa. I was born and raised in Maryland (United States) and I have West African roots (Guinea and Sierra Leone). My birthday is October 4th. My hobbies include reading (of course), going to concerts, watching movies and napping!

Why did you decide to start a bookstagram?

I received the book Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes for my birthday last year and that helped to revive my love of reading. I had been following pages like @goodblackreads and @wellreadblackgirl on Instagram to receive book suggestions, but when I clicked on the hashtag #bookstagram I realized it was a whole community and I loved the idea of being able to have my own profile where all I post and see is my books. (Plus on my personal profile I felt like people were tired of seeing me post my books.)

Photo credit: @hawareads

What is the weirdest place you have ever read a book?

At work by the trash can to be out of view of the camera.

What is the weirdest place you have taken a book pic?

In Michael’s Craft store

Favourite quote?

“Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is broken winged bird that cannot fly.” – Langston Hughes

Photo credit: @hawareads

What is your #bookishwish for your birthday?

My ultimate #bookishwish for my birthday is The Adichie Collection which is all 6 of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s books with beautiful Ankara style covers. Here’s my wishlist

Never have you ever _____ ?

Read a book that’s more than 1,000 pages.

Photo credit: @hawareads

You can find Hawa on the Instagram and Goodreads. Her bookstagram is filled with pictures of books by amazing black authors, you should totally check it out.

Up next we have Shruti, blogger, bookstagrammer and poet.

Hello Shruti. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

Hi there! I’m Shruti Ramanujam and I’m a blogger from India. I blog over at This is Lit. Reading is definitely a big hobby of mine. Additionally, I also write poems and binge-watch TV shows. I love watching TV shows almost as much as I love reading. So, hit me up if you want a TV show rec? 😛 Oh and I was born on October 31st. Though we don’t celebrate Halloween in India, I love that I was born then. I just love the creepy crawlies! xD

Why did you decide to start a blog/ bookstagram?

I’ve been reading for as long as I’ve known, but I started my blog only two years back. I was already reviewing books on Goodreads, and I wanted to make a book review blog. I had the thought one morning and my blog was up and running by the evening. Who knew a spur of the moment thing would actually go on to become a huge part of who I am as a person?

Photo credit: @thisislitblog

What is the weirdest place you have ever read a book?

I don’t know about weird, but I read every chance I get. Back in school, I’d read on the school bus. Now, I read while commuting to work. My reading nook would perhaps be considered weird–I lie down on my stomach on the floor between my bed and wall.

What is the weirdest place you have taken a book pic?

I’m definitely not great at bookstagram, but I do have a theme. It’s a black background in all photos. Where I get the background from is the weird part. It’s my mom’s kitchen countertop.

Photo credit: @thisislitblog

Favourite quote?

My favorite quote is from an interview William Faulkner gave to Paris Review. When asked about how he and his contemporaries write, he said this:

“All of us failed to match our dream of perfection. So I rate us on the basis of our splendid failure to do the impossible.”

And then he says this, for more background on why I love this quote:

“In my opinion, if I could write all my work again, I am convinced that I would do it better, which is the healthiest condition for an artist. That’s why he keeps on working, trying again; he believes each time that this time he will do it, bring it off. Of course he won’t, which is why this condition is healthy. Once he did it, once he matched the work to the image, the dream, nothing would remain but to cut his throat, jump off the other side of that pinnacle of perfection into suicide. I’m a failed poet. Maybe every novelist wants to write poetry first, finds he can’t, and then tries the short story, which is the most demanding form after poetry. And, failing at that, only then does he take up novel-writing.”

What is your #bookishwish for your birthday?

I actually have a full-time job, which means I can afford to buy books and satisfy others’ book wishes too. That’s why I never participated in the hashtag on Twitter. If I had to choose, however, I want any of Bukowski’s books! I love the guy and I want to read every book he’s written. But I’m on a book buying ban, so I don’t want to buy any of his books myself. x

I don’t really have a wishlist. I do have a poorly maintained TBR list on Goodreads, so maybe that would help? Here you go.

Photo credit: @thisislitblog

Never have you ever _____ ?

Went to a book reading/signing. I’d love to attend one.

Here are two of her blog posts:

• Wanted: Heroine of a Young Adult novel.
• Struggling male author just cannot write female characters.

Shruti Ramanujam is a blogger who enjoys reading and reviewing books. She’s usually got her nose in a book and slouches from the metaphorical weight of all the books she’s yet to read on her shoulders. When she’s not reading or writing about herself in the third person, she binge-watches TV shows and makes self-deprecating jokes. You can find Shruti on any of the social media below. Definitely check out her poetry instagram ?

Facebook | Goodreads | Bookstagram | Twitter | Poetry Insta