If you need fantastic book recs or are looking to get purposeful with your reading, look no further than the illustrious Bookstagram page of Kristin Lee! A book enthusiast and writer, Kristin pairs gorgeous, aesthetic images with ruminative reviews and conversations on various reflective literature. Taking Bookstagram to the next level, Kristin also hosts additional diverse bookish activities on her page for her followers to engage with. Read on to learn more about this remarkable Bookstagrammer.
Kristin T. Lee of @ktlee.writes
Instagram | Goodreads | Substack | Website
Thank you for joining us! Let’s start the interview!
Where are you from?
I grew up in Iowa, but I now live in the Boston area. I love both the hospitality of Midwesterners and the spirited driving of Bostonians!
Why did you start your Bookstagram?
I initially started it as a way to keep track of all the books I’d read, upgrading from the Gmail draft that I was using as a reading log, which I was worried would get accidentally deleted. What a joy to slowly discover that there was a whole community of readers who were just as excited about books as I was!
What do you want your Instagram to bring to the world?
I’m passionate about introducing readers to a broader mix of literature, especially Asian and Asian diasporic authors, but also other lesser-known authors who write incredible books that don’t get the backing of big marketing money because the stories are deemed too niche – books like Fatin Abbas’ Ghost Season or Mai Al-Nakib’s An Unlasting Home, or Maxine Clair’s Rattlebone. I founded the #20BooksByAsianAuthors and #ReadAsianAuthors2024 reading challenges to help readers expand their concept of Asian lit, especially geographically speaking.
Lastly, my hope is that the Asian Classics Read Alongs that I host bring to the forefront Asian literary classics that are often ignored or forgotten in our cultural discourse on classic literature. Our heritage is so rich, and I’m here to celebrate it and other under-told stories in solidarity.
What books are on your TBR List?
I have a bunch of Asian American classics I’m hoping to get to, including John Okada’s No-No Boy, Alexander Chee’s Edinburgh, and Grace Lee Boggs’ memoir. In terms of upcoming releases, I can’t wait to read Lisa Ko’s Memory Piece and Danzy Senna’s Colored Television.
Who would you have supply you with a lifetime of books?
Hahaha I don’t know if I’m interpreting this question correctly, but I’m a picky reader, so this would be a tough job for anyone but me! But my booksta friends know my tastes pretty well, so I’d have to say a cabal of my booksta friends.
What does your Bookstagram mean to you?
It’s been both a creative outlet and a place of community and learning. As a science major who loves the humanities, bookstagram has been such a lovely space to make friends who love reading as much as I do and get exposed to books that I otherwise wouldn’t know about. It’s also my own personal fiefdom where I get to spout (hopefully thoughtful) opinions about books, haha!
What’s your favorite bookstore?
I have a special place in my heart for Prairie Lights in Iowa City, which is my hometown book store, but my current go-to bookstores are Harvard Book Store (its used books section is phenomenal) and Porter Square Books – both host amazing authors.
What’s your special approach to content?
I want my feed to be substantive, so I mostly post book reviews and themed compilations of book recs. I am passionate about hyping up other readers, so you’ll see me feature fellow bookstagrammers whom I think you should know about. I occasionally do Sunday Sketches, which are my take on a comic strip. Lastly, I’m a writer, so you’ll see me link to my longer-form writing every now and then, too.
Any advice for aspiring Bookstagrammers?
Be authentic to who you are. Diversify your feed so you’re not stuck in an echo chamber. Good lighting is everything. Make friends. Have fun!
Additional bookishness:
Since it’s sometimes hard to fit deep reflections into an Instagram caption, you can find my longer-form writing at my newsletter, The Embers, where I gab about books, faith, culture, and solidarity. I also write for magazines, and all my published writing can be found on my website.
Thank you to Kristin for interviewing and allowing us to get to know her and her incredible content! Don’t forget to follow her on Instagram, Goodreads, and Substack, and definitely check out her website!
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