Your relationship with books
1. Do you think a book can truly change a person, or does it simply reveal something that was already within them ?
I think it can do both. This can influence how people react to controversial or political books. Some take the lessons from a book and change themselves, while others respond with hatred and see the book as a threat. So, a book can truly change a person while also revealing what was already within them.
2. What place do books have in your life: a refuge, a mirror, an escape, or a way of understanding the world ?
The books I have read so far have helped me understand the world better and become more aware of what is happening in it, particularly the suffering of women. I also enjoy reading books with deep meanings and valuable lessons that help me understand the world and the truth more clearly.
3. Is there a fictional character who taught you something about yourself ?
That would be Ove from A Man Called Ove. He is a grumpy, introverted person who has isolated himself, and I relate to him the most. Through his character, I understood that there are kind people everywhere and that, in order to truly live, we need to interact with others.
4. Do you think we choose the books we read, or that sometimes, certain books find us at the right moment in our lives ?
I think books find us at the right moment in our lives. Every book I have read so far has touched me in exactly the way it needed to and given me something I needed. There are also books that I still keep on my shelves, waiting for the right time for me to open them and read them.
Reading & identity
5. Have your readings changed the way you see love, friendship, or human relationships?
Yes, absolutely. Books introduce us to different kinds of relationships and stories that make us realise how fortunate we are. Reading books from different parts of the world helps us understand what people are going through and has made me realise how lucky I am to have people around me who genuinely care about me.
6. Can we really separate the person we are from the reader we become ?
I'm not sure, but I think we tend to read books that reflect who we are, because I usually choose books that suit my tastes.
7. Can a book make us question beliefs we once thought were unshakable ?
Yes. I think one of the greatest benefits of reading is that it helps us understand things more deeply. We can turn to different books to explore the concepts we are trying to understand, find answers, and clarify what we truly believe is right.
8. What version of yourself do you find when you read ?
I find the most honest version of myself. It is the part of me that feels everything deeply, something that is often difficult to show in real life.
9. If someone wanted to understand who you are solely through your bookshelf, what would you want them to understand ?
I would want them to understand that I am a very melancholic person who enjoys reading deep, thought-provoking literature.
Bookstagram & influence
10. When did sharing your love for books become something bigger than simply talking about what you read ?
One day, I simply posted a reel about the books that had made me cry the most, and people really loved it. It gained me many followers, and that was when I realised I could recommend the books I love by sharing not just my opinions, but also how they made me feel.
11. Have social media changed the way you read ?
Not really. I mostly ignore negative opinions about the things I enjoy. I also believe that everyone has their own perspective, so I neither try to influence others nor allow myself to be influenced by them.
12. How do you remain a reader when you also become a content creator around books ?
I prioritise reading over posting. I share content when I feel like it, because social media can sometimes have a toxic impact on our lives. When I first started creating content, I actually began to lose my love for reading because the pressure was affecting me. I eventually decided to focus on doing what I genuinely love rather than creating content just for views.
13. Do you think a book can become “too popular” for you, or should popularity never influence the way we judge a book ?
I don't think popularity should influence the way we judge a book. I do read popular books, but if I don't think a book is good, then it simply isn't good in my eyes. I don't let its popularity influence my opinion. I want to be fair and give honest, impartial reviews.
14. In your opinion, does Bookstagram encourage people to read, or can it sometimes turn reading into simply consuming books ?
I think Bookstagram encourages people to read the right books.
15. Have you ever disliked a book that everyone seemed to love but felt like you couldn't say it ?
Yes, although I wouldn't necessarily say I disliked it. I would rather say that it wasn't to my taste.
A little deeper
16. What story would you love to forget just so you could experience discovering it for the first time again ?
As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow by Zoulfa Katouh is an unforgettable story and reading experience for me. I would love to discover it all over again for the first time.
17. Is there a book you wish you had read at a specific moment in your life?
Not really. I believe books find us when we need them most, and I feel that the books I've read have come into my life at exactly the right moments.
18. Do you think it's possible to deeply love a book while disagreeing with its message ?
I haven't come across a book like that yet, but I do think it's possible.
19. Does a good story necessarily have to make us think, or can it simply make us feel?
I think a book should make us both think and feel. While reading, we should be able to experience emotions while also reflecting on what the story means.
20. What do you think books have the power to do that other forms of content don't ?
Books allow us to live inside a character's mind. That's what makes the experience deeper and more personal.
One final question :
If the books we love revealed something about us that even we don't know, what would your books say about you ?
I think the books I have loved would reveal that I am drawn to the darker, more painful aspects of existence, yet fascinated by the ways human beings manage to preserve their humanity.
