With the world in a mess of uncertainty, here’s one thing that stays consistent: bookstagram! Today’s feature is Tascha/@alllora. Her posts will make you feel like autumn never ends!
Why did you start your Bookstagram:
I sort of fell into it through photography. I have a photography degree but had totally lost my inspiration to take pictures after I’d finished uni. I created my Instagram as a way to try and make photography fun again and it wasn’t until I discovered the bookstagram community that I really regained my love for the medium. I’ve always loved reading so it just seemed like a perfect way to combine my two hobbies.
Where are you from:
I’m from a small town just outside of London, England
What do you want your Instagram to bring to the world:
Hopefully just a form of escapism. Reading is so good for that anyway, so I just hope that my pictures can accompany that in some small way.
Fun Fact about you:
I have an unhealthy obsession with Christmas! I’m pretty sure that people who know me just think of me as the crazy Christmas lady.
Favorite Bookstagrammers:
There are so many! @polly.florence @sumaiyya.books @jessbetweenlines @thelostlibrary @stefiereads @crimeofrhyme @twinklingchapters
Favorite Books and Authors:
This is a really tough question. Great Expectations by Charles Dickens is definitely the book I consider to be my favourite. But I also love The Heart’s Invisible Furies by John Boyne, The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt, and Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier.
image via @alllora
Fictional Crush:
Atticus Finch from To Kill a Mockingbird.
TBR List:
Pride and Prejudice is definitely at the top. I’m almost embarrassed I still haven’t read it! I also want to read more Toni Morrison so Beloved is high on my TBR, along with David Copperfield by Charles Dickens and The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead.
What’s Your Special Approach to Content:
I wouldn’t say I have a special approach, but if I’m not feeling inspired to take pictures, then I won’t force myself. It’s so easy to beat yourself up for being unmotivated and feeling like you’re being lazy, but I personally don’t think any good comes from forcing creativity. You end up running the risk of turning it into a chore, which it shouldn’t be.
image via @alllora
Aesthetic / Instagram page theme:
Dark academia/cottage core is what I’ve been told, but I don’t really know! I don’t set out to try and take any certain type of picture.
How often do you post:
I try to post once a day but I’m not too strict with myself. If I don’t feel inspired to post then I would rather miss a day than force it.
What does your Bookstagram mean to you:
It’s a place where I can express my creativity and connect with other lovely people who share similar interests. I think that’s been the best thing about creating a bookstagram actually, getting to be part of a community.
Favorite Bookstore:
Honestly, just any charity/secondhand/antique shop. I love finding the hidden gems!
image via @alllora
Who would you have supply you with a lifetime of books:
Any publisher, anywhere! I’ll take them all :)
Author to take a selfie with:
If it could be anyone, maybe someone like Charlotte Brontë, that would be pretty cool.
Favorite book cover:
That is such a hard question and I know that later on I’m going to think of other answers I wish I had said, but right now the ones that come to mind are both Shirley Jackson novels actually. We Have Always Lived in the Castle and The Haunting of Hill House.
image via @alllora
Book you have claimed to have read that you didn’t:
I don’t think I’ve ever done this!
When did you know you had made it as a Bookstagrammer:
I don’t really know what “making it” means, but maybe the fact I’m being asked this means I’ve made it? I don’t know! Ha ha
Favorite fandoms:
It has to be the Harry Potter fandom, right? It’s just so vast! You can find a HP fan literally anywhere
image via @alllora
Advice for aspiring Bookstagrammers:
With Instagram, it is about consistency I think. Consistency with your posting schedule and also the type of content you are posting. Take pictures in bulk, choose a colour scheme or editing style and stick with it. Also, ingrain yourself in the community; reach out to people, comment and interact with other posts, take part in shoutouts, giveaways, etc. as it’s a great way to meet other people and get yourself out there!
Additional bookishness:
I love secondhand books and often try to find ones that have inscriptions. I think it’s like looking through old family photographs
