As I mentioned in my previous post in this series, the #ReadersSpeak posts for the next few weeks (every 2nd and 4th Monday of the month) will feature bloggers. Today, in Bloggers Who Are Readers Part 2, we meet Reema D’Souza and Shilpa Garg.

Bloggers Who Are Readers Part 2

Reema D’Souza

Reema blogs at The Write World and is an avid reader who also curates Bibliophiles of Bangalore.

On average, how many books do you read in a year?

30-40

Do you think it helps to take part in reading challenges and/or to have a reading target for the year?

Yes! I like having a target and that pushes me to read more.

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?

Yes. I only participate in the Goodreads Reading Challenge though. Because I do not like challenges that very specific about the books to pick.

Tell me something about your reading history. When did you start enjoying reading? How do books help you, etc?

I started reading when I was really young. My parents loved reading and they introduced me to books. I lost my dad when I was 9 and books became my way of dealing with pain. I didn’t have a lot of books but I would reread the ones I had or look around the bookshelf at home for something that I could read.

What is your favourite genre?

I like fiction – mainly historical fiction and contemporary fiction.

Any favourite author? If so, why?

It is difficult to pick one. Some of my favourites are Fredrick Backman, Keigo Higashino and Kristin Hannah.

Favourite book? What makes it so?

I can’t pick just one! I loved Wonder by R J Palacio, A Man called Ove and Anxious People by Fredrick Backman, Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman. These books speak about the human spirit. These books mainly speak about kindness because we don’t know what the other person has been through. All these books have wonderful characters that are well written. These books are heart warming.

Reading quotes. Please share your favourites.

“When given the choice between being right or being kind, choose kind”
“I think there should be a rule that everyone in the world should get a standing ovation at least once in their lives”
“It is never too late or too soon. It is when it is supposed to be.”
“We all yearn for what we have lost. But sometimes, we forget what we have”

Do you review books?

I used to accept books for reviews earlier. But now I just read the books that I want to read and put up a short review on Instagram. You can find me on Instagram at The Book Lore.

Anything else you’d like to share with regard to reading, books etc.

I love books and I like people who love books. I started a little project a few years ago where I collect stories of people who read and post them in order to inspire others to read.

Shilpa Garg

A veteran blogger, Shilpa blogs at A Rose Is A Rose Is A Rose and an avid reader.

On average, how many books do you read in a year?

Since the last few years about 100, but 2020 saw a major slump in my reading!

Do you think it helps to take part in reading challenges and/or to have a reading target for the year?

Oh yes, I am a big advocate of reading challenges. Reading challenges have definitely expanded my reading experiences. Because of the prompts from the various reading challenges, I have stepped out of my comfort zone and read such diverse genres (I wouldn’t have picked biographies, classical literature, self-help, non-fiction, cli-fi, dystopian novels on my own), authors, formats… And a numerical goal certainly pushes me to read more.

Which has been your favourite reading challenge so far? or Are you taking part in any reading challenges this year? If so, which ones?

I have been taking part in various reading challenges since 2012. PopSugar Reading Challenge is my absolute favorite for diversity and fun it adds to my reading. Goodreads Reading Challenge helps me to track my reading. So, I take part in these 2 reading challenges every year.

Tell me something about your reading history. When did you start enjoying reading? How do books help you, etc?

I have been a bookworm all my life. Since I was an introvert back then, school library was my fav refuge. I started enjoying books, rather started devouring them when I was in college and there’s no looking back since then.

What is your favourite genre?

Psychological Thrillers! I love the twists, whodunnit or whodunnit, the surprises and suspense in these stories. I love the feeling of being completely fooled by the author, and never quite knowing what’s coming next!

Any favourite author? If so, why?

They are way too many. I love John Grisham, Jeffrey Archer, Sidney Sheldon, Arthur Hailey, PG Wodehouse, JK Rowling…. I love them for the way their words teleport me to new, different worlds.

Favourite book? What makes it so?

The Godfather by Mario Puzo. Simply because it is dramatic, heart breaking and chilling.

Reading quotes. Please share your favourites.

“You know that feeling,” she said, “when you are reading a book, and you know that it is going to be a tragedy; you can feel the cold and darkness coming, see the net drawing tight around the characters who live and breathe on the pages. But you are tied to the story as if being dragged behind a carriage and you cannot let go or turn the course aside.

― Cassandra Clare

Do you review books?

I used to review books on my blog, I have done some 150+ book reviews. I have stopped reviewing books on my blog now and just do mini or micro reviews on Twitter or Goodreads. Here’s the review link of Raakshas by Piyush Jha which I loved reading.

Anything else you’d like to share with regard to reading, books etc.

I wish, I could read a lot more!

Thank you, Reema and Shilpa. I’ll have other bloggers featured here on the second Monday of June!