Before I stumbled across #bookstagram, I was already a bibliophile. I started reading when I was 4 years old and to this day, it’s been one of my favorite pastimes. When I was a preteen, I would frequently borrow books from a friend, read them at home, and bring them back to her within a couple days.
She didn’t understand how I could read so fast. But then, she wasn’t much of a reader, so I don’t think she knew how it felt to be so invested in a story and its characters that you just couldn’t help but turn page after page until you reached that very last one that said “the end.”
I made myself at home with every story. It was the place I felt most comfortable, and I read and reread my favorite books (which, at the time, were several Nancy Drew mysteries, Brian Jacques’ “The Outcast of Redwall” and a Redwall-esque story called “The Daring Adventures of Penhaligon Brush.”). If my parents didn’t have a three-books-only rule whenever we went to the library, I would have checked out a stack of books taller than me!
So, before joining the bookstagram community, I considered myself a bibliophile. But after becoming a part of it, I realized a few things.
There are so many more books out there than I’d ever imagined!
I only wish I could read them all.
Before, my reading mostly consisted of Nancy Drew, Narnia and a stack of Amish novels given to me by my grandma. I was halfway through my teens and I’d never trekked into the Young Adult section! Now, that’s the first place I head to when I’m at the library. My new favorite stories? YA romances. I can’t get enough of them. They probably make up half of the books I’ve read for this year’s Goodreads challenge!
Beautiful photos of beautiful books!
With bookstagram, I was able to mix two of my favorite hobbies: photography and reading. I’d never gotten around to flatlay photography, so I figured this would be a fun way to try it out. Through trial and error, I sorted out my theme and have posted regularly ever since. I cannot get enough pinecones, fairy lights, candles or coffee mugs – they’re my absolute favorite props! Also, most of these pretty photos floating around feature at least one book. Seeing the book covers or reading the summary someone wrote down in the caption entices me to read the book for myself. I add the title to my Goodreads TBR list so I’ll remember to check it out at the library.
Bookstagrammers are the sweetest people on earth!
(unless you hate on their favorite book…then they’re the sweetest people on earth who don’t understand how in the world you didn’t love it as much as they did!)
I’ve found some of my favorite IGers through bookstagram (Geneviève @thefreckledbookworm, Eleanor @cosybookcorner, and Samantha @everlasting.charm to name a few- go give them some love!), and made a lot of good friends along the way! There are some super kind, loving people in the bookstagram community – whether you need to gush over that book you just read, ask for advice or information, or rant about something, they’re there to listen. They’re also really, really good at suggesting books to add to your TBR…which probably explains why I’m constantly adding to my list.
If you’re a book lover and are considering joining bookstagram, please don’t hesitate! I know I speak for all of the bookish community when I say we’d love to have you! If you’re ready to join, these articles should give you some help and inspiration:
CG Drews over at Paper Fury wrote this fun post about How To Fabulously Get Started On Bookstagram.
A very detailed article from Page Anchor: The Complete Bookstagram Guide: 12 Bookstagrammers’ Tips For Success.
So You Want To Start A Bookstagram – lots of advice from Inside My Library Mind!
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