I started the #ReadersSpeak feature last year but haven’t been able to sustain it this year. I decided to restart it – every 2nd and 4th Monday of the month – and what better way to begin than asking bloggers who are readers to share their their thoughts on books. For the next few #ReadersSpeak posts you’ll meet a couple of bloggers each time and read what they have to say on their love for books.
Bloggers Who Are Readers Part 1
Apeksha Rao
Apeksha is not just a reader, but also an author. Her book, Along Came A Spyder, was published last year and has been very successful.
Connect with her : Website | Goodreads | Instagram | Twitter
On average, how many books do you read in a year?
200
Do you think it helps to take part in reading challenges and/or to have a reading target for the year?
Not for me, because I don’t like to read by prompts.
Do you take part in reading challenges? Which has been your favourite one so far? or Are you taking part in any reading challenges? Which ones?
I tried, but couldn’t finish!
Tell me something about your reading history. When did you start enjoying reading? How do books help you, etc?
I’ve been reading from the age of 5. Books are my escape.
What is your favourite genre?
All fiction and interesting biographies
Any favourite author? If so, why?
Too many to enumerate.
Favourite book? What makes it so?
Can’t really say. Once again too many to enumerate.
Anything else you’d like to share with regard to reading, books etc.
Read what you like, not what you think you should be reading.
Jyothi Nair
Jyothi has been blogging for many years, but recently created an exclusive book blog on which she shares a lot of her book reviews.
Connect with her : Website | Instagram
On average, how many books do you read in a year?
50
Do you think it helps to take part in reading challenges and/or to have a reading target for the year?
Yes, I do.
Do you take part in reading challenges? Which has been your favourite one so far? or Are you taking part in any reading challenges this year? If so, which ones?
Yes, I do. I enjoyed doing the POPSUGAR 2020 challenge. They have a very active Facebook group where I get a lot of recommendations about genres and books I would never discover otherwise.
I am taking part in 6 of them this year :
Goodreads – 8/80
Popsugar – 7/50
Monthly Motif – 1/12
Reading With Muffy – 2/21
Book Bingo – 3/25
FNF Reads – 5/20
Tell me something about your reading history. When did you start enjoying reading? How do books help you, etc?
It all started somewhere in Grade 6 or 7 when they introduced a weekly library period into our timetable. Library become an almost daily visit space for me since then. I used to read mostly Nancy Drew kind of books, Hardy boys, Three investigators. They took me into a fantasy world or a very different one from the one I was living in.
What is your favourite genre?
Mystery. No, I am not into dark murder mysteries. But I like the investigative process. I wanted to be lawyer and solve issues/cases when I was growing up, but that didn’t happen. So, I guess this is a way of keeping that passion alive in me.
Any favourite author? If so, why?
Fredrik Backman’s books are totally awesome to read. But Agatha Christie is an all time favourite though. I don’t think I have read even one of hers that I haven’t enjoyed. Why- because it helps me engage my “grey cells”. Both of them do, in totally different ways.
Favourite book? What makes it so?
Last year’s favourite was “Anxious People” by Fredrik Backman. It had all the elements that I enjoy inside one book. Mystery – locked room mystery, humour – even though it’s translated into English, people – with both negative and positive emotions and very happenable situations that many can relate to.
Reading quotes. Please share your favourites.
“We don’t have a plan, we just do our best to get through the day, because there’ll be another one coming along tomorrow. ” – “Anxious People” by Fredrik Backman
Anything else you’d like to share with regard to reading, books etc.
The number of books you read does not quantify or qualify anything, but the more genres you read, the more you will understand about yourself and the people around you.
Thank you, Apeksha and Jyothi. I’ll have two other bloggers featured here on the 4th Monday of May!
