Nothing gets me through the week like a good bookstagram! Today’s feature is Jessica/@oddandbookish. She’s got soft backgrounds so her bright book covers can POP.
Why did you start your Bookstagram:
I started my Bookstagram in April of 2017. I had just come out of a year-long reading slump and had fallen back in love with reading, so I wanted to share my love of reading with others.
Where are you from:
I am from the San Francisco Bay Area.
What do you want your Instagram to bring to the world:
I hope it inspires people to read more and to discover new and different books from authors both well known and little known.
Fun Fact about you:
I have the same Zodiac signs as Charlotte Bronte. I recently developed an interest in astrology and discovered that I am a Taurus sun, Aquarius moon, and Virgo rising just like her! Once you get past the cliched stuff you see in magazines, astrology is actually super fascinating and insightful.
Favorite Bookstagrammers:
I have so many and will probably forget a bunch but here are some of my favorites: @remarkablylisa, @thereadingchemist, @nurse_bookie, @reading.rah, @jessbookishlife, @literarycritique, @a.fangirl.life_, @bunnys.reads, @abookwormwithwine, @yasthebookaddict, @slreadsbooks, @bibliovirgo, @thebooksinmylapp, and @bookapotamus.
Favorite Books and Authors:
It’s so hard to choose! In terms of classics, Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte and Little Women by Louisa May Alcott are two of my all-time favorites. For more contemporary reads, I am obsessed with Conversations with Friends by Sally Rooney, Trashy Romance Novel by Jacqueline E. Smith, Tears of Tess by Pepper Winters, and The Wood of Suicides by Laura Elizabeth Woollett. For YA, I love Patron Saints of Nothing by Randy Ribay. Lastly, I love a good poetry book, and Dirty Pretty Things by Michael Faudet is my all-time favorite.
image via @oddandbookish
Fictional Crush:
John Ambrose McClaren from the To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before trilogy by Jenny Han. I’ve always thought he was total husband material. Sorry, Peter Kavinsky!
TBR List:
My TBR is endless, but some books I really want to read are Loki: Where Mischief Lies by Mackenzi Lee, The Rise of Kiyoshi by F.C. Yee, and Simmer Down by Sarah Smith.
What’s Your Special Approach to Content:
I like to feature a wide range of books. I am not a picky reader at all so I read books from all genres. Romance, historical fiction, contemporary, nonfiction, I love them all! I will always post about books I am currently reading as well as featuring other books I receive. I also like to spotlight #OwnVoices books. As a Filipino American, I know how important it is to see yourself and your culture represented. I want everyone to be able to see themselves in books and to have their experiences heard and valued.
Aesthetic / Instagram page theme:
My theme is very simplistic. I like showcasing the book without too much else going on in the photos. I also use a thick border to make it more cohesive and to give it a “snapshot” kind of feel.
image via @oddandbookish
How often do you post:
I post anywhere from 2-5 times a week. It mainly depends on my schedule and how busy I am.
What does your Bookstagram mean to you:
It means a lot to me. I am a law student and in law school everything is so rigid. I sometimes feel like they put you into a cookie cutter mold and you end up losing a part of your personality. With my bookstagram I am able to express a more authentic, creative, and fun side of myself. The law is fascinating to learn about but sometimes a girl just wants to swoon over a romance novel!
Favorite Bookstore:
I buy most of my books from Amazon, but a local bookstore I love is Recycle Bookstore in San Jose. They have the most gorgeous collection of vintage books.
Who would you have supply you with a lifetime of books:
Amazon because they carry all the books, even the ones from self published and independent authors.
image via @oddandbookish
Author to take a selfie with:
Jenny Han! I love her books, plus she has great style.
Favorite book cover:
To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before! Everything about that cover is so spot on. I love the font of the title. I love the girly aesthetic. I love the Asian American representation. It’s everything I could ever want in a book cover.
Book you have claimed to have read that you didn’t:
I never do this. But I will admit that I say that I’ve read A Little Princess but I am not 100% if I did. I read the adapted version as a kid and saw the movie so I know the story, but I can’t remember if I ever read the real thing.
image via @oddandbookish
When did you know you had made it as a Bookstagrammer:
When I started getting review requests from authors, publishers, and publicity companies.
Favorite fandoms:
For bookish fandoms, The Chronicles of Narnia and To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before. For more general fandoms, Disney, Marvel, and Avatar: The Last Airbender.
image via @oddandbookish
Advice for aspiring Bookstagrammers:
Be yourself! Post what you want to post. Don’t feel pressured to have a theme or to read certain books (it’s easy to fall prey to the “bookstagram made me do it” mentality). It is your account so do what makes you happy.
Additional bookishness:
I love a good coffee table book. They are so underrated but they are a great way to add personality to your home. They can be a little expensive but TJ Maxx and Homegoods are great places to buy them at a discounted price!
Also, old book smell is the best smell in the world.
