There are 3 very important reasons I love books.
And because I am the magnanimous kind of queen, I’ll share these three reasons with you: (1) they are portable tomes of magical adventures, (2) if I stand on a small stack of them I become normal height and other humans can stop using my head as an elbow rest, and (3) THEY LOOK JUST DOWNRIGHT SUFFOCATINGLY RIDICULOUSLY PERFECTLY GORGEOUS.
Obviously today we’re going to focus on reason #3. And call it shallow if you want, but I shall shake my head most fiercely at you, good sir, and say YOU ARE WRONG! It is perfectly acceptable to be obsessed with how pretty books are because we spend more time looking at them than reading them. Humans like good art. Book covers should be good art.
Which leads me to the glorious creature of #Bookstagram. And if you haven’t heard of #bookstagram or aren’t sure what the flippity flying pumpkin froth it is, LET ME EXPLAIN. It is just accounts on instagram wholly devoted to books. Basically it can be summarised like so:
Accurate Representation of Instagram:
Human 1: Look at this cute picture of my child!
Human 2: Look at this cute picture of my dog!
Human 3: Look at this cute picture of this delicious food I will eat!
Bookworm: LOOK AT MY GORGEOUS SHELFIE AJFDSKALD I’M IN LOVE.
And we call it #BOOKSTAGRAM. Genius, I know.
I only really got obsessed with bookstagramming this year hence I feel we are long overdue of a post on 10 reasons I’m thankful bookstagram exists. I’m linking up with the Top Ten Tuesday prompt of Thanksgiving-themed-thankfulness…DESPITE THE FACT I AM NOT AMERICAN. I AM AUSTRALIAN AND WE ARE NOT THANKFUL. HA! *
* I’m just kidding!! We are thankful for lots of things!! We’re thankful for the wallabies we ride to work each day and the koalas who raise our children and the lamingtons that is our sole diet.
OTHER BOOKSTAGRAMMY POSTS YOU MIGHT LIKE:
1. BECAUSE IT’S JUST SO DOWNRIGHT PRETTY.
If you ask me which is prettier, books vs cake, I will actually smack you in the face with a lemon tree because HOW DARE YOU ASK ME TO CHOOSE. IT’S IMPOSSIBLE. Cake is life, obviously, but books are a feast for my dear delicate eyeballs.
2. SO MUCH #SHELFIE APPRECIATION
It is a known fact on #bookstagram that if you share a photo of your bookshelf (kindly dubbed #shelfie because they’re more important than a #selfie) you will receive choruses of heavenly singing from (A) every bookworm ever, (B) every human who knows what beauty is, (C) probably a stray alien surfing the human’s interwebs, (D) probably inanimate objects too who just know when they see something divine. WHAT I’M TRYING TO SAY IS BOOKSHELF PHOTOS ARE THE REASON THE PLANET IS STILL SPINNING. *
It doesn’t matter if you disagree on dog-earing pages…we bookworms will ALL come together to praise shelfies. Any shelfie photos I post get a gazillion ** more likes than any other kind of photo.
* Because goodness knows 2016 has made the entire earth weep into the void. Without shelfies I’m not sure earth would still be here.
** This is actual accurate maths because I wouldn’t lead you mathematically astray.
3. IT’S A QUICKER & EASIER WAY TO BLOG.
Sometimes we don’t have enough time to blog. It’s the #2 most sad fact of life. * But if one has a bookstagram account, you have a very quick way to share you bookish enthusiasm. You can give recommendations, write a mini-review, just flail over a book you love, or make a list about why the term BOOK DRAGON is better than BOOKWORM and start a war in the comments. **
* The #1 sad fact of life is, obviously, that we don’t all have pet dragons who are skilled at baking and toasting cakes.
** NOT THAT I WOULD EVER DO SUCH A THING OF COURSE HAHA HA HA HA.
4. BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS GALORE
Because nothing sells me on a book quite so much as someone shouting, “LOOK HOW PRETTY IT IS” and then possibly adding, “oh and the actual words are kinda good too”. That’s quality recommendations, my fiends! I’m all for that!
5. CHALLENGES TO CONQUER LIKE THE NAPOLEON YOU ARE DEEP DOWN INSIDE.
Once upon a time, when Cait was a very new bookstagram user and saw people participating in “challenges” where they followed prompts for each day of the month, she thought this was FOR MERE SHEEP who LIKE TO BE CONTROLLED. And she is neither sheep, nor controllable, so she turned her nose up at challenges.
Why are we talking in 3rd person? Who can know.
BUT NEEDLESS TO SAY, I tried a challenge and rapidly fell in love with how fun they are. Not only do they give you inspiration for what to take photos of (trust me, sometimes it’s hard coming up with new photo ideas) you get to make friends, join in the community, maybe win a shoutout from a host, aaaaaaand you get to make a long list of prompts and CROSS THEM OFF. And we all know the most fun and satisfying thing in the world is crossing items off lists. #win
And I mean, why do one challenge when YOU CAN TRY TO BALANCE NINE????? Which is where I am right now. #help
If you’re looking for challenges to join in, I frequently join in the ones hosted by @novelheartbeat, @_livelaughread and @reviews_from_a_bookworm!
6. YOU GET EXCITED ABOUT THE STRANGEST THINGS
This is totally something to be thankful for, because who wants to be normal? Hahahahah. BORING. And if you’re averted to being normal regularly — join bookstagram! We are absolutely bizarre in the things we get rabidly happy over. FOR INSTANCE:
- We flail when we buy a hardcover and it has a naked-spine the colour we were missing for our bookish rainbow stacks.
- We get so excited over matching series.
- We are ridiculously happy when we get some cool fake flowers, or little paper stars, or like a really weird stick that’s epic for photographing.
- We have huge appreciation for spine art.
- We love books that stand on their own and don’t need no man.
- Deckled pages. JUST SO MUCH LOVE FOR DECKLED PAGES.
- Lines of books makes our heart beat faster.
7. IT HELPS IMPROVE YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY SKILLS
I’m really thankful about this because I love my camera. I use a Nikon D3200 and only use automatic and have no idea about lighting or aperture and just GENERALLY I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I’M DOING. But taking so many photos a week has really improved my photography skills! You need proof? Here is proof.
FIRST BOOKSTAGRAM PHOTO EVER VS RECENT PHOTO:
Great strides have been made by humankind. So proud of me.
8. THERE ARE SO MANY ACCOUNTS I’M THANKFUL THAT EXIST IN THIS UNIVERSE.
I follow 106 people and I want to recommend them all to you. BUT ALAS. I cannot. So here let me recommend you some absolutely exquisite accounts I think you should be following right now. Like actually ditch my blog * and click these photos and GO FOLLOW THEM IMMEDIATELY.
@xenatine
@darkfaerietales_
@aenteereads
@therusticwindow
@sweetbookobsession
@novelheartbeat
@myfriendsarefiction
@xcrini
These creatures are so incredibly talented, I CAN ONLY MARVEL AT THEIR GENIUS.
* But come baaaaack afterwards or I’ll miss you and you don’t want to cause me grief and suffering, do you? I am too precious for this world to be caused pain. Protect me.
9. HARDCOVER BOOKS.
I’m thankful hardcover books exist. Ohhhhhhh am I thankful OR WHAT. Pre-bookstagram-days I always loved hardcovers but kind of distantly because they’re freaking expensive. But now? NOW MY PRIORITIES ARE IN ORDER.
Actual Conversation My Brain And I Have These Days:
Brain: We kind of need new clothes because these are kind of dying.
Me: I have one shirt.
Brain: um wait but —
Me: So it’s totally okay if I spend my money instead on hardcover books.
I love books. I LOVE BOOKS. I love arranging them and petting them and admiring the covers and lining them up and organising them by colour and being surrounded by shelves of pretty books. ESPECIALLY IF THEY’RE HARDCOVERS. I mean, I love paperbacks too. But hardcovers. You know what I’m saying?
THANKFUL, OH UNIVERSE, FOR THE GIFT THAT IS HARDCOVER BOOKS.
10. IT’S A REALLY HAPPY COMMUNITY.
All the best people hang around on #bookstagram. IT IS A FACT. (Well, except for the half dozen I block per week for stealing my photos BUT THIS IS A HAPPY POST SO WE WON’T FOCUS ON THAT.) They are creative! And kind! And welcoming! I get comments saying that they love my photos! They love the book I love! They love my captions! They love when I visit their accounts! See something here?
LOOOOOOOVE.
I’ll be real with you, fiends: lately the internet has been kind of scaring me. I got seriously attacked on twitter/goodreads over a review recently. My blog has been plagiarised. I’ve lost several blogging “friends” who’ve said some really cruel things. I’ve had trolls try to severe my skull on Goodreads. But you know what??? Despite all of that, EVERY TIME I COME TO BOOKSTAGRAM, I’M SURROUNDED BY LOVELY PEOPLE. It’s so refreshing! They inspire me to take better photos! Read more books! Flail over mutual love for fairy lights and bookish-themed mugs. Bookstagram is a really positive community still and that’s amazing. Please oh please let’s hope it stays that way because IT IS MY FAVOURITE.
YAY FOR BOOKSTAGRAM! I’m so happy I started. AND YES TO THE SKILLS AMEN AMEN. I have even improved (ITHINK) in the two months I’ve been doing it (my first pictures ARE EMBARRASSING TO ME TBH). Also you are the queen of all things books, someone had to say it. AND OBVIOUSLY I’M FOLLOWING YOU. OBVIOUSLY. It’s what I’m best at. Following people. *shifty eyes*.
OH OH AND ALSO my bookstagram is @queen_of_fantasy_blog (you are already following me BUT OTHER PEOPLE AREN’T so I will shout it anywaysss)
I don’t know what I would do without books. ONLY ONE LIFE IS FOR AMATEURS.
I’M FOLLOWING YOU TOO ALREADY DON’T WORRY. *flings confetti* At least. I think I am?? Like I swear I’m sure I am.😂 I actually have the brain of a deluded grape when it comes to following people because I always forget to click the button, ahem, but moving oooooon. LET’S NOT TALK ABOUT OUR FIRST PICTURES.😂 I mean, I’m showing mine but just so I can laugh and then be thankful I didn’t quit then and there because omg that one is so so awful. WHAT EVEN WAS I DOING.😂
PRETTY BOOKS ARE THE BEST. BOOKS IN GENERAL ARE THE BEST.
YOU ARE no worries 😄
HA the only difference is that my irst photo was only. … like… 2 months ago. Excuse me while I go hide. Ahem. SO EMBARRASSING like when you see your fashion sense from 6th grade….. *shivers*
Yeah 😀 I am also thankful #bookstagram exist 😀 I totally agree about #bookstagram as quicker, easier way to blog and promote books 😀 It enhance my photography skills too 😀
I feel sorry for you that some member pf goodreads and blogging community has been cruel to you *pat Cait’s shoulder, give you cakes and tea
Yayyy for both of us falling in love with bookstagram!! IT IS SUCH A BEAUTIFUL PLACE! I mean, what can go wrong with a bunch of bookworms flailing over pretty covers?! I love it!
Aww, thank you. I appreciate that. <3 *eats all the cake and tea*
I love bookstagram so much for all the reasons you’ve mentioned! When everyone is arguing on Twitter it’s my happy place haha. It definitely makes us appreciate the aesthetic of books and photography skills as well. Lovely post Cait!
YESSSS. It’s like my go-to these days since twitter always seems to be setting itself on fire over something.😂 And then there we all are on bookstagram…actually RECOMMENDING good books and still remembering that reading is fun. Bless it.
Oooohh loved this post! <3 it's true that photos of books are just so so pretty and I'm kind of sad that I just joined the club this year. And YESSSS to recommending books through bookstagram! I've fallen into the trap several times. I bought books because I saw them on bookstagram!! Thank God it was pretty <3 I love challenge too, they're so fun ang actually give me ideas on what to post because sometimes I just run out of post ideas… which is sad </3 and before I joined bookstagram, I never knew that I was gonna be jealous of someone's table, blanket, and fake flowers :') It's also true that bookstagram improved my photography skill, dare I say, signifficantly! I used to take unfocused pictures but now I use manual setting on DSLR! Couldn't be more proud of me 😛 I've been following you and my bookstagram account is @sparklingletters_
AS LONG AS THE BOOK IS PRETTY, AMIRITE?! 😂 I mean, actually good words and a good story is, like, handy too…but pretty covers. *pets bookshelf lovingly*
oh I run out of post ideas sometimes too! IT’S SO HARD SOMETIMES. I tend to retake a lot of photos in the same styles but just with different books haha. Shhhh, I’m a cheater but don’t let anyone know.😂 But omg being jealous of fake flowers? I SO HEAR YOU. I’ve never coveted fake flowers like I have this year. Ah. The bookstagram life. SO MUCH FUN.
I shall go stalk your instagram now!! 😊
I am a newbie to bookstagram (@picnicreads) but I love it so much! ALL THE COLOURS. I do blame bookstagram though for making me want to buy all of the hardcovers ever, I absoloutley love the bookstagram community & all of the tags it’s so fun! At the moment I’m just playing around with all the different themes, I love waking up and going on instagram ALL THE COLOURS AND BOOKS! Also whoever asked Cait to choose between cake and books is messed up, WHO COULD DECIDE?!
Yesss, we shall ALL BLAME BOOKSTAGRAM FOR HOW BROKE WE ARE.😂 I mean, how ever am I supposed to resist when there are all these gorgeous photos??!? I have bookish neeeeeds now. And OH! Playing around with themes is good fun! I used to take all my photos outside, but then kind of figured out my theme was bright and messy. I LOVE IT SO MUCH.
(And omg I know right? There is no way I can separate my two loves of cake and books. MY PRECIOUS CHILDREN. <3)
I still don’t have all the colors in hardcover spines for a pretty rainbow. Hear me weep.
I like book tags on bookstagram because it is such an easy way to get everyone involved in the community. And you can totally repeat all tags. Bookstagram is not good for my wallet though. Cries.
I HEAR YOU WEEP. ME NEITHER. I have exactly zero pink books.😭😂 Which is okay because I don’t really like pink hahah, but I keep buying these dark stabby YA books because they are my favourite aaaand…they all have black spines. GARGHG. I need more orange and green and yellow!😂
Obviously due to lack of money it is not possible for me to buy hardcovers. Why are they so expensive??😭😥 I love seeing other people’s bookstagrams (although I do not have an account. Ahem) But all the bookish photos I take I use them in my posts so is that progress for me? (Pfft. Of course it is)
I HEAR YOU. IT IS SO SAD HOW EXPENSIVE THEY ARE.😭 And I’ll just bribe you with cake to start your own instagram account someday. 😉 That’ll work right?!? *quietly slides chocolate cake towards you* 🍰🍰
It’s a beautiful day (despite the clouds outside) when I’m reading a new post from you!! Needless to say that is perfect.
At the beginning I was thinking that you’re not gonna even mention food but I was so very wrong. (another reaosn that I like your posts) Back to the main topic of this comment. You say so many things about bookstagram taht are completely true. I also like @myfriendsarefiction .. It’s beautiful. I’m always asking myself how people get so creative and why I can’t make even one photo like that (Probably because my creativity decades to takes too long naps that can last months).
I like that all of the lists today have one thing in common – the community. It really makes me happy to see that so many people found something like a family on here thanks to the books. 🙂 My TTT
AWW, THIS COMMENT OFFICIALLY MAKES MY DAY.😂😊😊 *gives you cake* And omg have I ever written a post where I don’t mention food?! I’m beginning to think it’s impossible. ehheh.
And I think the creativity comes with practise! I mean, you see my first ever bookstagram photo up there. IT’S HORRENDOUS.🙈🙊 And I even look back just a few months and think “Woah I’ve improved.” So it’s definitely a “practise helps” thing, I reckon.
AND SO MUCH YAY FOR NICE COMMUNITY LOVE. We’re all here to flail over beautiful and wonderfully written books and that’s so encouraging. *sniffles happily*
Cool list Cait! #obviously
I love your pics and am (now) following you on this beast known as bookstagram. However….. I only really have an account for following other people. My books are mostly electronic these days (the travelling!) and I just like perving over #shelfies. Yours are fantastic BTW.
Sorry to hear about the Internet issues! I didn’t even know you were having anything horrid going on. 🙁 Hope everything improves and you close out 2016 on happier notes!
Aww, thanks, Di! YOU ARE SO KIND. ALL THE CAKE FOR YOU. And also omg I hear you with the struggle with ebooks!! Honestly I do love reading ebooks but for bookstagrams sake…I neeeed all the physical books now. 😂
And omg thankyou! I appreciate that! I try not to like add more drama to the fire already, you know? I feel like reacting loudly probably just fuels the haters. But sometimes I have a moment to whinge.😂😂
I love bookstagram! I don’t actually have an account (although I’m thinking of making one…) but I follow a bunch on my personal IG and the photos are JUST SO BEAUTIFUL!
I’m actually (kind of) getting photography lessons and learning about aperture. Etc. from my mum because she’s a professional photographer so #bonus for if I do decide to start my own account.
Also, such brilliant photos in this post!! Especially getting to see all of your photos and and then when you showed a few from other bookstagram accounts. I think it’s cool how everyone has a different style and yet they’re all still magnificent and aesthetically pleasing.
Oh oh you totally should try bookstagram someday!! It’s totally addictive and totally worth it, hehe. 😉 😂 AND OMG YOU’RE GETTING PHOTOGRAPHY LESSONS?! THAT’S SO COOL. You’re way ahead of me.😂 I can’t figure out anything except automatic and it actually drives me crazy. My sister is a really good photographer but she has 3 little kids…and she can’t get a babysitter and then have time to teach me because I AM HER BABYSITTER.😂 So yes. I shall be stuck on automatic forever most likely.
And AGREED. Seeing different styles is amazing and just goes to prove that everyone needs to take photos how they want, because we love and need the variety!!
I actually have a list of things to comment – because we are thankful for lists 😉
#1. Pictures of cake AND books obviously. Sheer perfection
#2. I have no bookshelves wordy of that name, so, no #shelfies for me. I am the sad. Major goal for 2017 is to have bookshelves. Second is to fill it will all my favorites. Third is probably selling organs to be able to afford one and two.
#3. Agreed. I have my share of fangirling about cover reveal posts. I don’t have that many yet, so every single one counts.
#4. So true. Have you seen Ash & Quill’s bookcover? IT’S DARN BEAUTIFUL!!!! That trilogy is on top of the list of hardcovers to buy in 2017.
#5. Great. I have a reading challenge problem. Add more addictions to the pot sounds like a good idea.
#6. *googles deckled pages*
oooooohhhh
One of these days I’ll have pretty props and life will never be the same again.
#7. Buying a decent camera is also on the 2017 bucket list.
#8. *adds the ones missing to the to stalk list*
#9. Well… I have a problem here. Yes, I love hardcover books. But, there is this magical book size that I simply cannot live without and those are paperback only. So, every single time I buy a book it’s a inner struggle between loving the pretty hardcovers or having the pergect size to hold and hug and..and… (the later usually wins because heart is powerful and wallet also agrees with him)
#10. I’m new to #bookstagram, but I feel loved everytime I post a picture (not that common since my lack of space, props, and imagination is still ruling).
#Bonus: Soooo… I have to ask… where is the layer tutorial you promised us common mortals? Living in tiny Portugal means no physical arcs and few options on english written books at bookstores. Meaning either ebooks or long waiting times. Ebooks = lousy #bookstagram pictures. I needz help.
YES WE ARE THANKFUL FOR LISTS. I LOVE ALL THE LISTS. *nods* 😂
Yes I thoroughly agree that books + cake = the best photo to ever be taken obviously. And yes totally sell off a few organs to live your shelfie dreams. WHAT COULD GO WRONG. I have one bookshelf and then I stole two small ones from my sister (I’m so nice) but omg I still need more.😂 And no I haven’t seen Ash and Quill’s cover!! I’ll look it up!
OMG I’M SO SORRY ABOUT THAT LAYER TUTORIAL BUT I SWEAR I’M GETTING ONTO IT!! I’ll try to have it up next week.
YAY BOOKSTAGRAM! I had my Instagram account for a while, but I was pretty bored with it. I mean, I never knew what to put on it. Pictures of me? Let’s not. Pictures of my food? Eh. Pictures of landscapes? Maybe. I didn’t really have a big interest in Instagram. But THEN! I discovered bookstagram and found out I do like looking at pictures of books! I even started taking them myself (very lowkey) and discovered I also love taking pictures of books! Instagram is now my best friends. Though I still use it mostly to look at other people’s bookstagrams 🙂 And of course I’m already following you Cait 😉
And yes, bookstagram has made me more aware of nice-looking books. I still buy paperbacks because of the cost, but I do try to get hardcovers if I can because they just look so much nicer! And I can’t stay away from pretty covers either. But I also love bookstagram because of all the bookrecommendations and fangirling going on <3
oh I totally get that too!! My sister was all onto me to start an instagram and I was just like “BUT WHY” and then I heard about bookstagram and now I’m thoroughly addicted.😂 And no regrets!! hehe. And it’s actually really relaxing and satisfying to take pictures of books, I think. hehe. Although I confess I can spend HOURS taking photos when I should probably be doing something more productive but hehee.
And omg the cost for hardcovers is the BIG downside. *weeps* But I have so many books to read these days I can kind of justify to myself buying 1 hardcover when I could’ve bought 2 paperbacks…if that makes sense?!😂 PROBABLY NOT. BUT GAH THAT TBR IS FOREVER GROWING!!
I love your posts (and obviously I’m following you on bookstagram bc you are the most awesome Empress!!)
I have totally bought books solely for the idea that I can use them to take pics of, even if I don’t like the book 😊
I’m dreams_in_blue on there.
Have an awesome day Cait!!
WELL THIS MAKES ME VERY HAPPY, STEPHANIE, THANKYOU!! *flails for eternity* 😊😊 And it’s just too hard to resist cover-buys now, right?!? Bookstagram calls and we must obey.😂
Such a unique post!! Yes Bookstagram is an amazing thing!! I love waking up and immediately poring over the lastest bookstragram pictures 🙂 They really brighten up my day 😀 I joined instagram only recently and so my photography skills are yet not that good but i still love sharing the pictures 🙂 And I know about the internet being a scary place. I left Goodreads when I was younger because someone hacked my account and used it to send weird messages! :/ It took a long time for me to come back.. ‘m sorry people attacked you over a review Cait! *sending cake your way* People need to understand that reviews are personal opinions! But yes Bookstagram is a lovely place to be 🙂 😀 Here’s mine btw – @books.bags.burgers
Omg that’s awful that your goodreads account was hacked. 🙁 Nothing like that has happened to me …fingers crossed I get to avoid that kind of thing.😖 The trolls are awful, but also dumb, and I’m learning to just laugh at them and move one! It ASTOUNDS me how people don’t understand that not everyone is going to love the same book?!
AND YES!! Bookstagram is so fun to scroll through in the mornings. :’)
I’m not on Bookstagram, but I love all the photos in this post, especially your rainbow shelves. My shelves are organized by color, too. It’s easier for me to remember a color of a book than the title/author, so it’s the best organizational system.
Aww, thanks, AJ!! *flails happily* I love rainbow shelves so much. Basically rainbows EVERYWHERE…and my love of them is probably easy to tell from this post alone.😂 And that’s me too! I remember colour so easily. People always ask how I know where everything is….but I think I’d be totally befuddled if they were ordered any other way.
Cait, I have to say that I really love following your blog and your posts are thoughtful, insightful, and fun. I don’t personally bookstagram but do go on there to look to see what I can find. I’ve found new books that I want to read there. I really would love to reorganize my office / library in 2017 and this might give me some ideas how I want to go. I am trying to be a blogger for the second time and am enjoying exploring all the book universe has to offer. Happy Thanksgiving!
Aww, thanks, Bill!! That means a lot to me and I appreciate it!! *FLAILS VERY HAPPILY* And omg looking at people’s library/office photos on instagram always makes me want to do something epic with mine. GOALS FOR ONE DAY. And yay for blogging again!! I hope you have tons of fun with it. 🙂
I love looking at Bookstagram pictures but I don’t have a phone, so I don’t have an account. But bookstagram is super cool and I lvoe your pictures. I do like taking pictures of my books, though, so that’s good. Yay for thankfulness!
I only use my iPod touch, actually, because phones….*shudders* NO THANKS. But I actually have no idea why instagram doesn’t have the option to use it on the computer?!?? Like what year is this omg. Get updated, Instagram.😂 And YES. Taking photos of books is just so fun!
Ooh, i follow a lot of those people you follow! They’re super cool. Xenatine is one of my faves, her pictures are just so cool and imaginative!
And of course I love your pictures. They’re just so eye catching and beautiful!
My user is littleknownlover.
I prefer paperbacks for their lighter weight and they’re usually a pretty standard size (i recently bought Heartless and it’s so tall omg.) But i really like hardcovers, especially if they have a pretty cover underneath the dust jacket!
I like the bookstagram community; i haven’t been here very long so i haven’t dealt with any hate yet.
And i totally have. I usually won’t in full price stores; but if it’s at a second hand store i definitely will.
Omg Xenatine is SO AMAZING. I don’t even know how she builds all those structures with books but afjdkasld IT’S SO MUCH TALENT. And thank you!! I’m super glad you like my photos too!!💕
Oh and I totally get the pain of those mammoth hardcovers. I wanted Heartless in hardcover SO BAD but I also didn’t want it to be the size of like…a house.😭 So I ended up going for the paperback haha.
I so admire your instagram account Cait, obviously. I’m horrible at bookstagram and keeping up with it. XDD BUT your pictures are gorgeous.
Also, so sorry people were mean to you like that. 🙁 Shall I go sharpen my pitchfork and light my torch??
AWWW, THANKS, BEE!! YOU’RE SO KIND!! *tackle hugs* And hehe, yes please come poke the mean mortals in the face with a pitchfork.😂 that’d be very helpful.
I’m probably the poster child for how to fail at bookstagram (it’s like YT vidding for me, so precious to appreciate but a total fail to actually DO) but I am super duper jealous of all the flawless pretty images. And now I’m going to go rock in a corner..
Aww, noooo, DON’T ROCK IN A CORNER. COME OUT AND I’LL FEED YOU CAKE. 🍰🍰 I honestly think it just takes practise!! I mean, look at my first photo there. It’s so bad it’s actually hilarious.😂
I am such a fan of bookstagram!My account is (bringing.paperback) and how could anyone not follow you! I love the aesthetics of hardcovers, but large floppy paperbacks are really nice to read from As you mentioned the bookstagram community is SO NICE (it’s almost crazy) ahaha Idk if I should admit this but yes I do buy books bc of its cover….
I shall go visit your account after I finish this comment!! *flails* And yes omg I do agree that paperbacks can be nicer. Plus if you drop them it’s no big deal, whereas if you drop a hardcover, you’re likely to BREAK A LIMB OR A SMALL CONTINENT. Which is awkward most likely.
CAIT! I know I said become a comedian or a restaurant-story-adaptor but I AM YOUR JOB MANAGER and I think that you should now become a photographer! You just have too many TALENTS including eating books and writing awesome blog posts and also obsessing over cake and… I should stop there.
I don’t have #bookstagram but I adore people who do. I just CAN’T take photos. My pictures come out worse than your first picture. I don’t know ANYTHING! I will probably just bring shame to the #bookstagram community…
SO I SHOULD JUST DO ALL THE THINGS, RIGHT???? Totally plausible. And since you, my job manager, are confident I can handle them all IT SHALL BE DONE. I CAN ALWAYS GET SOME CLONES. (And I misread that and thought you said my talents included eating. Like period. I missed the “books” on the end of that…and I was like “Darn, she KNOWS ME. I’m so good at eating.”😂😂😂)
YES! Your clones will have to do, I mean who wouldn’t more amazing CAITS? Well, you are OBVIOUSLY good at eating and READING BOOKS! I mean you are like the QUEEN OF FOOD!
Actually Bookstagram is what made me read YA in the first place. When I discovered bookstagram I said to myself “Oh wow so thise people take pictures of books and talk about them all the time. That’s cool” and rhis my friend how I discovered thus beautiful community and how I started blogging and now I’m obsessed 😂.
Hardcovers for bookstagram priorities but I prefer paperpacks (just because they’re much cheaper and available here. 😂😂😂)
OMG THAT’S SO AWESOME BOOKSTAGRAM GOT YOU INTO YA!! *flails* And honestly blogging/bookstagramming/Ya books is the best thing to be obsessed with. HI FIVE FOR OUR GOOD TASTE, FRIEND.
I love your bookstagram photos! They are always bright and cheery and make me happy!
Aww, this makes me VERY HAPPY THANK YOU.💕
For me, bookstagramming is harder than blogging. So much creativity and I’m too lazy to buy props half the time! I didn’t see that you had a bookstagram tutorial! I’ll have to peruse those for inspiration!
Hehe, I get that!!😂 It’s not for everyone *nods* Although I do spend a lot of time taking photos so I suppose it’s not too fast? But still faster than blogging for me hehe.
I COULD SPEND HOURS SCROLLING THROUGH BOOKSTAGRAM. I honestly love how bright your photos are. Though I’m curious, where did you get those fake flowers (I’m assuming they’re fake because if not they have a lifespan of a TimeLord)?
I noticed you said that people use your head as an armrest. ARE YOU SHORT, TOO? I love finding people who are short, as well, because then we can band together in a group of compact rage and years of sarcastic comments from others and TAKE OVER THE WORLD. Or, you know, go out to coffee and chat about the struggles of being vertically challenged. Whichever is easiest for the support group…
MY FLOWERS HAVE THE LIFE OF A TIMELORD OF COURSE! (Ahem, I mean, yes they’re fake.😂 I bought some of ebay for quite cheap which was great. But the bulk of them my mum actually found at a garage sale and they were falling apart a bit so the seller gave them for free!! I’M REALLY LUCKY.)
YES. Omg I am short. I’m 5’1. And I have a 6ft brother. So you can imagine how inconvenient that was. And I like this term of “compact rage” because that’s very accurate. Plus we can stand on each other’s shoulders as we take over the world and they’ll BE SORRY THEY EVER MADE FUN OF US FOR BEING SHORT. AVAST YE!
I love bookstagram, although I’m a baaaad bookstagrammer. It’s been a while since I’ve been on there, mostly because of work. But I do love it. And I noticed the improvement in my photography skills as well, but it’s something that I have to keep doing constantly, otherwise I kind of lose whatever skill I gained otherwise. I’m slowly discovering the magic that is a hardcover. I was mostly a paperback kind of girl until a few months ago, when I gave in and got one and now I’m slowly being converted hahaha. Yes, I buy books on cover art alone. Sometimes without even reading what the book is about, because the prettiness of the cover is too much to resist. But that doesn’t happen often. And of course I follow you! My bookstagram is @rubys.books
I’m glad I’m not alone in my cover-buying addiction.😂 I mean, I DO care about what’s on the inside of course!! And I’m really careful with my purchases but afdjkslad it’s the covers that always win me over in the end.
I really like hardcovers too, but the other day I dropped my hardcover science book on my foot and I still have the bruise to prove it. Ouch.
By the way, I was reading The Best Christmas Pageant Ever and it made me laugh out loud. I remember you asking for recommendations for LOL types of books.
Okay, true true. Hardcovers are like WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION. Although that will come in handy when the zombies come for us, right???
AND OMG I LOVE THAT BOOK SO MUCH!! I read it growing up and I remember one year reading it twice…like I literally finished it and started it again without even a break because I loved it so much.😂
My opinion is very split when it comes to hardbacks and paperbacks. I LOVE hardbacks because they’re just beautiful on your bookshelf but then I also love the flexibility of paperbacks, and sometimes hardbacks are annoying when you have to lug them around. And the little paper covers they have on sometimes can get annoying too, but otherwise they’re GORGEOUS!!
Simi
I totally get that!! Like I almost prefer t oread paperbacks because they’re comfier, but then hardcovers look nicer and … they stay nicer for longer. I haate breaking paperback spines.😭 LIFE IS SO HARD FOR WE BOOKWORMS.😂
I don’t have an account because I am *ahem* devoid of phone. That’s right: I live in 2016 without a cell phone of any kind. It’s not that I wouldn’t like one. It’s just that there’s really nobody I need to call urgently, and I don’t see the point in spending $$$ for what would essentially be a fancy camera (smart phone service in Canada is ridiculously expensive; I don’t know what all these people do that they can shell out $80 a month for their phone and their kids’ phones and still be able to pay the rent/mortgage and, you know, eat food…). So, anyway, no Instagram or Bookstagram for me. It’s fun to look at other people’s, though!
I like hardcovers more. Some paperbacks are okay, but I really dislike the cheap ones (where the paper smells funny after a few months and the spines get all wrinkly just from being opened). Don’t get me started on deckle edges, though (I hate ’em, whether they’re on a hardcover or a paperback).
OMG I AM WITH YOU ABSOLUTELY.😂 I don’t have a phone either!!! *hi fives* Although I do have an iPod touch and that’s what I use. But I take all photos on my dslr and then edit them on my computer and then email them to my ipod. It would be so much freakishly easier if instagram just had the option to use it on a laptop too??!? Like WHY DOESN’T IT?!?? Gah. And dude, agh, I hear you with those expensive phones. I’d rather spend the money on books.😂 If I even HAD that sort of money to spend, which I doooon’t. *falls into a puddle*
And yes definitely agree about those cheap paperbacks. And how they look like they’ve been beaten and reread a zillion times but you’ve barely cracked it open once? Not fun.
HOW CAN YOU HATE DECKLED EDGES, YOU DECKLED EDGES GRINCH.😂😂(just kidding!! *gives you cake anyway*)
Ohh, I am so sorry to hear that you’ve been having online catastrophes!!! :/ It makes me so sad when people can’t seem to treat each other well either in real life or on the internet. Well, I’ve been pretty lucky in that I’ve never experienced any truly nasty bolognas. But there were a few that were borderline, and I was very glad that they simply quietly went away. Here’s to Instagram remaining a haven for good taste and manners!
Agh, I know right?!? And I do know I get a lot of attacks because I’m a bigger blogger and so I think generally jealousy comes into play with it too. Gahhh. I’m the same as everyone else!! Number shouldn’t even matter!! And everyone deserves respect. *nods* I HOPE YOUR BLOGGING EXPERIENCE IS ALWAYS LOVELY!!
I started on bookstagram and completely agree with all these reasons. Cait, your posts make me smile on even the worst of days. My account is @FishThatReads and of course I follow you and your gorgeous photos. I love hardbacks all the way, I find the community to be the best, and my TTT post will be up within the hour on fishthatreads.wordpress.com
Omggg, it makes you smile?! OMG MY DAY IS INFINITELY BETTER NOW TOO. THANK YOU, DORY. *gives you all the cake of happiness* And the community is just so welcoming and positive and fun and ajfdkslad this is what the book community should be about! Adoring and loving books!
now you got me craving cake~ off to the kitchen i go. Adoring and loving books is what the book community it, all the other communities be jealous over how amazing it is.
Bookstagram is one of the best things ever, and joining was porbably one of my best decisions. Unlike a lot of people, I actually started on bookstagram before I started blogging, so I’m super grateful for bookstagram leading me to do this. Challenges are my favorite, normally because I normally run out of ideas of what to post. I’d tried them so many times before when I first started but never could stick with them, but now I’ve started doing two a month and I love it! I used to read all paperbacks too but now I’m like a hardcore hardcover lover. I feel like they’re so much easier to read and there’s no cracked spines or front covers getting creased, or even worse, ripped. 🙁
Oh that is awesome that bookstagram lead you to blogging!! I love how they both sort of totally compliment each other. <3 Blogging is handy for saying longer things, and you can also use your bookstagram photos on posts. IT'S SO MUCH WIN. I'M GLAD I DO BOTH TOO. 🙂 And YES challenges save me having no idea what to say in captions.😂 Captions are so hard, haha.
And YES to the hardcovers. Plus they're just so much easier to line up without playing dominoes all the time.😂
I love bookstagram!! And yours is my #1 favourite. xD All the pretty colours~ I would 100% be a bookstagrammer if I had a nice camera. Someday.
It’s weird, I like how hardcovers look better, but when I’m reading I prefer the softcover? hmm. maybe because it’s bendy hahahaha..ha
The bookstagram community is awesome. <3
AJFSKDLADF JAIMI YOU COMPLETELY MADE MY DAY JUST NOW. <333 THANK YOU!! And I'm also 100% with you on hardcovers-being-nicer-but-paperbacks-being-better-to-actually-read. Like when we're rich and famous we'll just have both, right? #SolidPlan
bookstagram is so much fun! since I’ve started I’ve realized my deep love for hardcover books! (and they hold up so much better in the long run) Hard cover books are just so pretty! ahh!
I’m a newbie at it but I feel like my photography skills have improved so much already!
loved this post so much! 🙂
Yessss, it is such glorious fun. And so true about hardcovers lasting longer *nods* Although some of my much loved ones are starting to be battered around the edges because I photograph them so much.😂 And YAY for your skills improving too! *HI FIVES*
I love bookstagram, but recently I have been falling in love with artist Instagrams. Last month was Inktober and there were some beautiful art pieces. I love Jacqueline Deleon art and this other artist called Qinni. You should check them out they make beautiful things. I’ll definitely look at some of the bookstagrams you recommended. I am already following you! I like hardcovers and paperbacks equally. I like that you get more aesthetics with hardcovers, but I love that paperbacks don’t have jackets that I have to deal with when reading. I find the bookstagram community positive. I’m sorry your dealing with the plagiarism.
Oh oh yes!! Artists’ instagram accounts are INCREDIBLE. I follow one blogger artist named Hawwa Etc. and afjdsakldfad her photos and are are SO AMAZING AND I JUST WANT TO DEVOUR MY LAPTOP SCREEN, JUST WOW.
And agreed *nods sagely* those hardcover jackets are annoying while reading. I always ditch mine and then have to make sure my dog doesn’t eat them in the meantime.😂 Paperbacks feel easier to read, but hardcovers are nicer to own. IT’S A HARD BOOKWORM LIFE.
You have made me consider getting an instagram account. I always wondered how you came to take such lovely book pictures, and now I know. Practice and bookstagram.
Awesome! 😀
YES! That’s all it takes *nods sagely* Except for, I mean, those dastardly people who are really good at bookstgram after like 3 minutes on it. We’ll just ignore their genius.😂
And I love bookstagram too! You’re right, it is sincerely one of the nicest online communities I’ve ever been a part of. (I’m at @readingandreaming… Shameless self promo) Honestly every other part of Instagram quite scares me because WHY ARE PEOPLE SO MEAN. Gosh. Also, I absolutely loved deckle-edges, I freak out anytime I see that a book I want has them. As for paperbacks and hardbacks, it depends on what mood I’m in. Hardbacks can be quite nice but they can also be fairly pointy, and paperbacks can be awesome but if you’re reading an ongoing series the first few might be paperback and the newest release might be hardback and it that’s just aggravating😂 Great post!!!
Yessss, everyone is SO NICE and it’s just glorious. I think it’s so much more focused on promoted our favourites instead of just picking apart everything like seems to be more popular at the moment. Gah. I HOPE BOOKSTAGRAM STAYS POSITIVE!! And omg yes hardbacks are kind of terrifying because if you drop them while reading you’re likely to poke out your own eye or crush a civilisation. BUT THEY’RE STILL SO GORGEOUS I CAN’T EVEN.
Oh my god, Cait. Why? Why do your photos have to be so beautiful? We like that they’re beautiful and we know that they’re beautiful, but we have a headache so WE CANNOT APPRECIATE AT THIS MOMENT IN TIME!😭
Naturally, the next thing to say/ask is: Are you following us Dragon Queen? Are you?
(You’re so not following us. We checked)
*employ guilt trip. Moves on* 😂
Hardbacks actually really annoy us when taking pictures because we don’t have a lot of them, but be bought a pretty white one with a red jacket….that’s not the right name…help us out? We plan on picturing it very soon. By itself. Like a loner.
#winning
BOOKSTAGRAM is definitely a cheery place, but also annoying because we’re poor and sometimes we stumble upon spoilers in the captions of pictures of books we really, really want, but can in no way afford at the time😮
We’ve definitely been known to buy books simply because of the cover or even the name which has led to a case of mistaken book identity where we ended up so shocked and pleasantly surprised🙌
HOW ARE YOU WONDERFUL!? We haven’t commented in a while because we’ve been away working on assignment deadlines and forgetting about our blog and your blog and all your lovely posts😂 We have a few to read, don’t we?😂
Also, are all the TTT prompt things laid out somewhere because if so we can write them all in advance and simply schedule😊😊
I’D APOLOGISE BUT I’M NOT EVEN SORRY MWAHAHHAAHA. *crowns self queen of evil* But seriously that makes my day, eeeep, thank you. <3 (Although I mean, I probably shouldn't be pleased for giving your eyes a headache from my glory. But. There it is.)
Hahaha. Guilt trip acknowledged.😭😂
Omg bookstagram always has me cursing me very limited book buying budget. I mostly buy books from a store I freelance from so like options can be limited. And I sit there coveting the leather-bound Game of Thrones series A LOT. THE PRECIOUSESSSSS.
And I am very well, thank you!😊 *sends you motivating and encouraging cake for your studies* AND YES! The TTT prompts are written out about a month in advance? Right here.
I absolutely love your bookstagram photos. I do, they are always so bright and colourful, and you’re so artisitc. I am not a bookstagrammer, though. I may take photos of books and tag them #bookstagram occasionally, but no-one is going to believe I am a real bookstagrammer. I just don’t have that creative eye. I can’t make them look pretty. And it takes SO GODDAMNED LONG to get a photo that looks good! And then there’s all the editing, and oh my god, I just don’t have the time for something that annoys me so much. If I could just put some books together, take a photo, and BOOM, masterpiece, maybe I’d be taking photos all the time, but that’s just not where my skillset lies. I’m more of a writer than a photographer. SAYING THAT I was SO pleased and proud of how my photo came out for my Retellings Reading Challenge 2017 Graphic! It was inspired by your awesome photos, though it is of course nowhere near as awesome. But it’s not too awful! So I am happy! 🙂 (I gave you credit, you have been mentioned 🙂 )
I don’t follow many bookstagram accounts though. I used to, but there just ended up being too many, as pretty as they are. I want a variety of photos in my feed, and books were everywhere. I think you’re the only bookstagram account I follow. I follow some other book bloggers, but their accounts are not just of books, so. But your photos! So, so pretty! And they obviously take so much work. I’m half convinced you have a time-turner, god knows how else you manage to post a photo each day, what with the arranging until things look just right, the ten thousand photos you have to take to find a good one, and then the editing that’s involved. You have a time turner. There’s no other explanation. That, or you’re just simply epic.
Brilliant post, Cait!
I think if you take bookish photos, then you still entirely count as a bookstagrammer.😊 SO YES YOU ARE! And omg I do know it is hard and takes a lot of effort to put together photos though, haha. Once I spent like 3hrs on a photoshoot.🙈🙊 But it was a weekend and I have so much fuuuuun so I decided not to feel guilty about it (haha, although this is probably why I post less here…OOPS.)😂 I love that photo on your retelling challenge!! SEE YOU TAKE AWESOME PHOTOS.
Oh but, *whispers* I don’t take photos everyday. I do like massive photoshoots. Because getting everything out would be VERY time consuming. And it’s easier to just do slight adjustments on a set up and then space them apart so no one notices. I am Master Of Lazy Shortcuts.😂 *self five*
ANYWAY YOU’RE SO NICE AND THANK YOU. <3
YES COVER-LOVE aLL the WAY!!!! I always get so ticked when books I really want to buy have drop-dead ugly covers. Like, why??? Why are you so cruel???? Why did someone burn these sad books so badly that they need like a 3 year journey to regain their honour?? (Wow spelling “honor” with a “u” is actually Veryyy enjoyable. Who knew???) But yesss I am so glad that you (+192939383 other bookstragram/bloggering peoples) understand this. For instance, I was looking @ the Penguin Deluxe Hardcover Edition of a bunch of classics today and I started shaking and I just felt like someone had lit my heart on fire. And all ur bookstragram is so pretty by the way. I plan to start one when I get to college, even though my social life is already in the negatives. Lolll anyway! Have a lovely day!!!
AGH I HEAR YOU!! I almost always buy books that I want to photograph as well. It’s like my priorities are #1 do I want to read it, and #2 do I want to photograph it?😂😂 AND YES THE PAIN OF UGLY COVERS IS UNDERSTOOD BY ALL US BOOKWORMS!! WE’RE IN THIS TOGETHER!!
I could just get lost looking at these beautiful pictures… 😀
Lauren @ Always Me
SAME. They creativity is so amazing and inspiring!
I adore bookstagram! For me, my favourite thing is how you can multitask – I like to watch TV whilst going through my feed! It’s also a good way to wake me up in the morning – nothing better than pretty photos to get you up and going!
For me, it’s been a bit hard getting into the community – I’ve mostly just seen people I already know from blogging around. But I feel like that’s because I haven’t been doing too many challenges :’)
Oh YES AND YES the being able to multitask while bookstagramming is EPIC. And plus you can literally just spend 5 mins on it at a time and get networking done and enjoy photos and be inspired and afjdksald it’s lovely. Also I think the best idea to get into the community is also just to make your own community. hehe.😂 And comment wildly on people’s photos so they get to know you!
It’s definitely great for inspiration! The things you can do with just a couple of props… ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES!
Thanks for the tips, Cait! <3
Bookstagrammers always post the most gorgeous photos, but it’s not something I have time to do right now. 🙁 Not to mention the fact that most of my books are at home. I rarely buy books on cover love alone, and I NEVER buy a book (unless it’s in a series I’m reading) without reading the blurb…and maybe flicking through to the first page. …Though I admit I did neither of these things with Half Bad before getting it out of the library. 😉
That’s fair!! It does take up a lot of time *nods* I actually spent 3 hours taking photos one day…time kind of just got away on me.😂 And hey libraries are different, right?! Because you don’t have to really take any risks, hehe, because freeeeee. I LOVE LIBRARIES.
I am a major fan of it and pretty much 90% of my instagram is bookstagram, because honestly “real” people annoy me. However, I can’t find the time to keep it up… yet. I admire it greatly though *nods vigorously*.
Bahahh “real people”….😂 Omg you’re hilarious. AND I AGREE?! I mean, why would I want to see someone’s holiday photos when I COULD SEE BOOK PHOTOS. I HAVE PRIORITIES HERE.😂
YES BOOKSTAGRAM IS THE BEST !!!!!!
my user is @wordswolf
because well , books , wolves , what else do i need ?
i have so many books to take pictures of too .
YAYYY SO MANY FLAILS FOR HOW FUN BOOKSTAGRAM IS. *hi fives* I’m off to see your photos!
SO many reasons to love Bookstagram (and books in general, because THIS -> “portable tomes of magical adventures”).
Love how you describe the book worm’s reaction to Instagram. 🙂
As always, this is another hilarious post, and I love seeing you spotlight some IG-ers. Some I follow, others I’ll have to visit! Needless to say Bookstagram is one of THE best places to hang out, and like you, I love that it helps us with a skill we might have wanted to improve on. I always love photography as an idea or when I’d see styled shoots, but I never worked at seeing what I could do with it. Bookstagram is a way I can have fun with that and learn about the behind-the-scenes or technical aspects of photography. 🙂 My next thing is to get a better camera because right now all I have is a basic Nikon.
Thanks, as always, for visiting Finding Wonderland, Cait!
AWW, THANK YOU, RISSI. YOU ARE SO NICE!! And YES bookstagram is the best place of ever to hang out. I’m just so glad it kind of has stayed in the spirit of flailing-over-all-the-books…and there’s always people saying positive and beautiful things! IT’S ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS.
I fully agree! I love bookstagram and while my pics aren’t the BEST, I have fun with it. I love seeing everyone’s pictures as well and mostly people are chill on there. Unlike….twitter. LOL! Great post and I love your bookstagram account. 🙂
And having fun is the best part!! And flailing. FUN FLAILING.😂 And omg isn’t twitter so stabby at the moment?!? It’s actually kind of terrifying, heh. I prefer to go on instagram these days and just appreciate how lovely books truly are. :’)
Yes, fun is the best part! Twitter is so full of drama sometimes. I’ve been spending more time on IG as well. I’m way too into looking at beautiful book pics. 😂😂😂
I love Bookstagram, I just wish I was better at it *sigh*. I’m not artistic, I just want to take photos of books and for that to be that? I mean I love pretty photos – and yours are THE BEST, but I don’t have that kind of creativity and I keep trying different things and I just fail all the time. For starters I don’t,have a lot of time to take photos, nor is my bedroom bright, nor do I have A PRETTY WHITE SPACE. UGH, man.
However I am going to go look at your Bookstagram posts and see if I can do better.
You’re my favourite account, because you’re just amazing – all the different pictures you post, the ways in which you take the pictures it’s INSANELY GOOD. I bow down to you, always!
Aww, thanks, Leah!! I do think it just takes practise though.😂I mean look at that first photo I took?! IT WAS THE VERY OPPOSITE OF ARTISTIC hahah. And I don’t have pretty white space either, agh. I agonised over that for ages before just deciding to work with what I have. hehe. I did buy a photography-fake-wood-mat off ebay (for like $8) eventually, but tbh I always cover it in flowers anyway so it doesn’t even matter what colour it is.
ANYWAY. YOU’VE OFFICIALLY MADE MY DAY. <3
That was really helpful, thank you! I am new to instagram and didn’t know that this hashtag existed 😀 I feel so old.. I thought hashtags are only for twitter, which I have never used, hahaha. (I am always a bit behind on social media.. discovered snapchat a few months ago.. it’s MAGIC!) Okay, so now I finally know how to find pretty bookish pics, awesome! And someone might even find mine and have a look at them – that’s motivating! 😀
Oh well you’re ahead of me for snapchat! That’s one I haven’t used or even attempted to, haha.😂 BUT YES YES BOOKSTAGRAM IS AMAZINGNESS!! And the hashtags are really handy for finding more people to follow. 😀
I don’t even know where to begin. I always love your posts. This one is extra special because if there is one thing I love as much as reading books, it is looking at pretty book-related pictures. <3 <3 <3
Awww, I appreciate that SO SO MUCH!! Thankyou! 😊 And it’s just glorious how adoration of the prettiness of books can bring us all together, right?! *hi fives*
Oh, dear Cait, I have such a love-hate relationship with #bookstagram. See, I love it in that I LOVE looking at pictures that talented people like you take. (Seriously, I want to live in your room so I can watch you make the magic happen. That isn’t too weird and creepy, right?) But on the other… I pretty much suck on a personal level. It’s okay, I have made my peace with this. But even though I pretend to be okay with it, I still TRY even though I shouldn’t? I mean, sometimes it is fun, but most of the time, it is me, alone in my room at night, yelling at fake flowers and demanding books to stay where I placed them. It’s… not pretty.
But I do agree about the community being more positive- I think because it’s like “oh, hey, pretty picture” and there isn’t maybe as much to disagree about? I am not sure, just guessing. I am sorry that you have lost blogging friends. Their loss- for real.
Also, I am the WORST at challenges! In theory, I LOVE them. But I never ever manage to keep up with them. Maybe one of these days 😉 And I am definitely a sucker for a shelfie. I need shelves that match and are like, next to each other. That is the dream.
I totally get that!! I mean, we can’t all balance ALL the social media sites, right?!? I pretend I like to use tumblr but I really have no idea what the flippity flop I’m doing over there except making a mess.😂 #goodtimes But taking photos at night probably isn’t helping you, btw!! Natural lighting is best! *tries to stuff inner photographer in a hole because is being annoying* I’M SORRY.😂
And so so true *nods* I think the focus is on prettiness. And I guess we tend to photograph books we love, right?? So it’s easier to avoid hating on books/authors/everything-in-general, which is actually really blissful. :’)
(And agh, like if one loses friends over something stupid, then clearly they weren’t very good friends, right?!)
I WANT AN ENTIRE WALL OF SHELVES. MUST GET THE PARENTS ONBOARD FOR THIS.
So pretty! I love how artistic the pictures are. Mine are usually quite simple.;)
Simple is awesome too!! Some of my favourite accounts are pretty minimalistic.😊
Bookstagram is quite amazing, I can’t believe I didn’t join it sooner??? Of course, I barely have time to do it (I barely have time to blog). And I don’t really have any friends yet, but the couple of people I’ve talked to have been super nice and it all around seems pretty awesome.
Yaaaas, I’m so glad you’ve started!! I think it can take a while to get warmed up? Well, I know some people who’ve like gone from zero to thousands in, erm, like weeks. haha. But I took about a year to really get going. 😉 IT’S SO FUN THOUGH.
Oh dear. I’m so sorry to hear about the troubles you’ve been having recently with internet-people. That doesn’t sound cool at all. I would chastise them strongly for you if I could. :-/ I guess it’s hopeless to wish that everyone would just be nice and get along…
An interesting note is last night I was kinda fangirling over your #bookstagram to two of my sisters (even though I’m not on Instagram at all). I even looked your page up online to show it to them. And then, low-in-behold I click on your blog and there was a post all about it! Cool, right? (And yes, my sisters were properly impressed and thought that your pictures were pretty cool.)
Very nice post, by the way. And totally, 100% bursting with color and excitement for the eyes. Way to go! =)
It does seem a bit hopeless to wish everyone was nice.😂 I had avoided a lot of kerfuffle this year, but apparently it all decided to squish itself into November….AH WELL. JUST SMILE AND WAVE AND MOVE ON, AMIRITE?!
Eeep, I’m reading your mind!! 😉 But aw, I’m so so happy that you like my photos. THIS MAKES ME VERY HAPPY.😊
I AM LAUGHING SO HARD because I know exactly this feeling. Especially #4, because lbr here half of my tbr pile are books that I saw on bookstagram because they were SO PRETTY and people were POSTING THEM EVERYWHERE and I am a sheep so why the heck not buy one for myself?? I mean it’s only logical!
I really wish I could do the challenges but most of my books are in my home country and I miss them..!! ;^; maybe I should bring them back here next time I visit… >D
YES YES IT IS LOGICAL, RIGHT?! I’m certain that’s why I read the Jenny Han series because I saw so many photos of it I just HAD to read it too.😂
I’M SO SORRY YOU’VE HAD TO DEAL WITH TWITTER AND GOODREADS DRAMA AND FALSE FRIENDS. That’s absolutely crappy and I am always here for hugs or hand holding or hot tea or encouraging words or whatever <3
And yes, bookstagram is the best place to hide when Twitter is being too intense. I do it myself quite often. I think I'm actually on instagram more than I am on twitter now? This is strange.
Also, today I just made my mother get me some harry potter books from the library because I don't own them and needed to take photos of HP-themed candles so obviously I need the books in the background. My parents grudgingly and confusedly feed my book photography addiction. My father is absolutely befuddled why I'd want to take photos of BOOKS over and over and over again
(though he does like photography so maybe he'll buy me an actual nice DSLR someday?) My mother doesn't even try to understand and simply smiles and nods and picks up library books for me.
(P.S. Two more months and I'll be back on my blog so I can finally do TTT again woooo)
It is crappy. *wails* It really spoils things at times and makes me not want to be on a lot of social media places…but BAH. I’m not going to let the haters stop me. *flips hair* SO WE’LL JUST HIDE IN BOOKSTAGRAM WHERE EVERYONE STILL REMEMBERS THAT BOOKS ARE WONDERFUL, YES?😂
And omg I love that you borrow library books specifically just for photos too!! ME AS WELL.😂 We have our priorities, right?! *hi fives*
Oh oh I can’t wait till your blogging again. I’VE MISSED YOU.
I actually love shelfies so much. And also, everyone is obsessed with pastel books??? All my pastel photos get SO many more likes than my others. Thank goodness I’m a contemporary person because you don’t see many stabby books with pastel covers.
I recently unfollowed a bunch of people too, because the algorithm was making it difficult to see everyone’s photos. So now my whole feed is just absolutely beauty 🙂 🙂 🙂
Your pastel photos are DIVINE that’s why they get so many likes!!😍😂 (That’s why I always die when I get tagged for pastel book tags…all my books are like black and red and stabby.😂) And omg shelfies are like a guaranteed way to get a ton of likes too hehe.
I only heard of bookstagram recently when I meekly asked the people in a facebook book blogger page I’m on what they were talking about. I’m thinking I’d love to get onto this, it looks so amazing!!!!!!! Thanks for explaining it and will continue to go through your posts to figure out what to do with it too!
It is amazing! AND SO MUCH FUN TOO. Which is the best part. 😀
Honestly, your bookstagram is goals and I’m in love with it
Please come visit me, i’ll pay you to be my bookshelves’ professional photographer!!!
😂😂 I ACCEPT THIS JOB IMMEDIATELY.😂 And aww, thank you! I’m so glad you like my photos!!
I love bookstagram! I can’t say I’m a dedicated contributor. But I do love the creativity and glorious photos that other people post. Everyone is so creative and sometimes I run into a book that I never would’ve heard of otherwise. And bookstagrammers (most of them) are very kind and welcoming and we get to talk about bookish things. 😀
I’m sorry people have tried to plagiarize your blog and have been nasty on goodreads. :/ It’s really awful that people do stuff like that. The rest of us know you ROCK!
I like your photos!! I think you’re very creative! 😊😊 And it’s just so amazing how lovely and nice the bookstagram community is…I think because we’re more focused on promoting books we love, right?! It makes it a great environment. And, aww, thank you! It’s been a mixed-bag of good and bad this year 😝 but YOU NICE PEOPLE MAKE IT WORTH IT. <3 ABSOLUTELY.
This is anotner reason why my son needs to get his old computer fixed for me. There used to be an android “IG app”, in quotations because all you could do was view photos and have a list of your ten favorite accounts. It was for Kindle Fires and called Padgram . You could not follow, like, or comment with it. Then it got worse because I received a prompt that it needed a manual update, so I did, and it DISAPPEARED! I went back to the Amazon app store to redownload, but the app wasn’t listed anymore. *sighs*. Thank goodness most of you also post them on Tumblr.
I did not know you lost some blogging friends. I am really sorry about that. But you have the rest of us, and I think that the very nature of Bookstagram will probably keep it a war free zone. Your photos are my favorites.
Awk that would be awful to have it disappear!! My iPod struggles with the app ALL THE TIME since it’s so old.😂 But so far we’re fighting hard to keep it all going…(omg I’m really going to have to replace that ipod soon haha). But WHY IS THERE NO COMPUTER OPTION!?!? It’s just so annoying for those of us who use dslrs anyway. It’d be more convenient to have it on the computer!
And yes I still have the most WONDERFUL friends here. <3 Thanks, La La!! And if someone can turn around and be horribly acidic, then they're not much of a "friend" anyway, right?!
There is no computer app?????? That is the stupidest thing I have ever heard! You will all have to keep posting your book pictures to Tumblr because I will not be buying a smartphone any time soon. Ha ha. 🙂