For Hispanic Heritage Month this year, we at Bookstr have taken the time to reflect on how we can further promote Hispanic and Latinx voices. Our idea? Talking with some of our favorite Hispanic and Latinx Bookstagrammers that bring joy into the world! This week we’ve talked directly with Meirys of @musingwithmeirys, a well-rounded Bookstagrammer who knows exactly what she wants to bring to her audience.
Meet Meirys the creator of @musingwithmeirys
Instagram | YouTube | LatinxReadToo Bookclub | Bookish Ladies Club
This is our Hispanic Heritage Month special, and Meirys does recommend quite a few Hispanic authors on her Bookstagram.
I’m going to ask this and it might be difficult to answer, but who is your favorite Hispanic author?
Ahhh I have so many, haha! But if I have to choose one it will be Elizabeth Acevedo. As a Dominican American poet/author, I connect a lot with her writing. Her prose is so beautifully crafted, and one of my favorite books from her that I truly adore is Clap When You Land.
Now like with all our Bookstagrammer of the Week features, we had to ask some questions about initial inspiration. So Meirys…
What inspired you to start @musingwithmeirys?
I was always the only reader in my family. Ever since I was a little girl, I enjoy the company of books. And upon arriving to the United States, they became a tool for me to learn English. However, reading seemed like a lonely hobby, and I always wanted to talk to someone about the books I was reading. Until one day I decided to share them on my social media. Little did I know there was a whole community out there feeling the same way I did. It was one of the few instances where I felt seen and like I had found my people! Haha.
The hard-hitting questions definitely aren’t done quite yet. I think in order for many people to understand the situation of giving a platform to underrepresented voices I have to ask your opinion on something.
Why is it important (to you) to highlight Hispanic-voiced narratives?
As a Latina born and raised in the Dominican Republic, I always wondered why it was difficult for me to find books with characters and stories similar to me and my community. Even though I loved the books I read, I always knew something was missing. That is why showcasing and supporting POC books is so important to me. I want other readers like myself to see themselves in the book they are reading. I want owned-voice stories to be heard and known.
We here at Bookstr definitely agree with you on that, Meirys. To lighten the mood, can you tell us a fun fact about yourself?
I actually learned how to read when I was 3 years old. And when I was in 3rd grade, I was voted the best reader in the class. I think that is when I discovered my love for reading.
We do have one final question and this is something that we ask all our Bookstagrammers of the Week. We want our audience to get to know you a little better, so…
What does your Bookstagram account, @musingwithmeirys, mean to you?
My Bookstagram account is definitely my little escape. It is the only place I can connect with people who love reading as much as I do. It’s where I find books that inspire me and motivate me to continue reading. It is where I have met so many incredible people, who some I have the pleasure to call friends.
Look, there is no right or wrong way to do Hispanic Heritage Month. There isn’t a guidebook or instruction manual to tell you how to better uplift this Hispanic and Latinx community. The only that that I suggest is taking the time out to talk with people from that community, and by talk I mean listen. Listening and offering support are some of the best things that I think anyone can do.
For more Bookstagrammer of the Week features, click here!