How would you describe the flavour of your bookstagram account?

Diverse. I don’t read any specific genre or style all the time so I never really know what’s coming and my next book can vary wildly from my last. I do have a penchant for Canadian books and my favourites are often those that are described as quirky or weird.

Can you list a few of your most recent favourite reads (and why they were favourites)?

Lately, I’ve been really drawn to female characters who act outside of how we expect them to or who go against social or societal norms. I’ve also been really interested in reflections on women and aging. Vladmir by Julia May Jonas and Mrs. March by Viriginia Feito were two recent reads that satisfied those criteria. This year, I’ve also really enjoyed Next Year, For Sure by Zoey Leigh Peterson, The Pisces by Melissa Broder and Intimacies by Katie Kitamura. I recently read Little Foxes Took Up Matches by Katy Kazbek and Like Animals by Eve Lemieux and both were gritty coming of age stories with vivid settings, in 1990’s Moscow and modern-day Montreal, respectively. Two highly anticipated books that did not disappoint were Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel and When We Lost Our Heads by Heather O’Neill.

How much do awards/print reviews/Goodreads reviews factor in when you’re deciding what to read or what not to read?

I am an impossible mood reader so it’s really hard to anticipate what I’ll read next. Sometimes, it’s just what I can get my hands on. Sometimes, it’s what needs to be returned to the library. I think the thing about any recommendation source is that you need to know which ones work for you. Everyone gives good book recommendations, but not all book recommendations are for everyone. Some of my friends have the same preferences as I do. If they read a book and love it, I know that I might, too. I have other friends who hate what I love in a book. Often if I hear from them that they didn’t finish I book, I’ll know that book might be one for me. I don’t generally read public reviews until after I’ve read a book. I don’t want to risk my opinion being coloured by ideas that belong to some random. For the same reason, I don’t put much stock into an overall rating or any collective opinion. Book prizes really excite me, though. I don’t always agree with the outcome, but I love looking through selections and longlists. They do a real service for readers by identifying a group of really great, relatively recent books. It’s up to the reader to discern from there. I’ve done a #carlyreadsthegillers series over the last three Giller Prize seasons and I find that’s a really great time to enjoy books because of the heightened attention they are getting and because everyone wants to talk about the same books. Right now, I’m really excited about several of the books on the BC and Yukon Book Prizes finalists lists that were just announced and many of them are books I might not have found without the work they do year round to promote local books. With any recommendation, I think you really just need to consider the source and decide for yourself whether it’s one you trust. There are so many book prizes out there, there’s got to be one for everyone.

Describe your favourite reading scenario.

I like reading anywhere, really. I’m pickier about my outdoor reading experiences than I am my indoor ones. At home, I like reading in bed, but sometimes the couch will do. I can rarely replicate the same level of comfort in other places. I do harbour fantasies about reading vacations where I (and perhaps others, perhaps not) go someplace beautiful and get to read without interruption while basking in some picturesque scenery, but I can be equally satisfied reading on my phone if I find myself with time to spare and no book on hand.

What got you into reading initially, and what does reading do for you now?

I’m a word lover at heart and I love to observe the art of crafting words together. I’ve always been a reader and I think that the way reading expands our worlds is the real appeal to me. There’s nothing like discovering that you weren’t alone in thinking whatever thing it was you thought was way out there. And, unless you read the same thing over and over, every reader must be equipped with a strong sense of curiousity to learn more about the world outside of our personal experience of it.

Do you have any opinions on independently published books (i.e., do you unconsciously judge them as being not well-written enough to be worthy of a huge publishing contract or do you think ooh, great, this is something that’s going to take more risks than a mainstream book would, etc.)?

I don’t think I have a strong opinion either way. I certainly don’t attach any negative or critical opinions of independently published books. In fact, I can think of some really fantastic books that were put out by small publishing houses and they are books that might have pushed the boundaries a little or were somewhat edgier than is common with bigger, more conservative publishers. I imagine that there are additional challenges for books and authours who go this route, but I’m thankful that everyone involved is willing to do the work because I think it really enriches our overall selection. I find independent publishers sometimes adopt a very specific style as well. So, if you can find a small publisher that appeals to your reading style, you never need to look far to find another book you’d like to read.

Who are some of your favourite bookstagrammers?
Can I include you? Your posts always make me smile and I think you give fantastic book recommendations. There are a few other authors whose Instagram presences I really enjoy as well. I would include: @megzycole, @kerryreads, @zoe_whittall, @emilyraustinauthor, and @brandonlgtaylor on that list. When it comes to readers, these are a few of my favourites, but, like recommendations, I think you need to find your people who may not be everyone else’s cup of tea. Listed in alphabetical order, here are five great bookstagram follows:

@capitalcityreader - Bri and I always seem to be reading the same books at around the same time. I credit her with turning me on to the Aspen Words Literary Prize, which always includes an interesting group of finalists.

@danathebooklady - Dana owns a used bookstore in Ontario and she is an avid reader. She reads a lot of Canadian literature and has given me some great recommendations for nature and science-based non-fiction books. If there is a book I’m looking for, she is often the person I turn to first.

@dessayo - Dessa and I just have the same kind of taste in, well, everything, but especially in books. She is fun and thoughtful and doesn’t hesitate to share her opinion in full force.

@greigsbooks - Greig is what I would call an expert in CanLit and literature in general. He is incredibly well read and so knowledgeable when it comes to books. His account is an ongoing peek into what he is reading and his ever expanding library.

@time4reading - Carina is a very thoughtful reader who loves big books. She has a great love for nature and takes a strong interest in climate change, especially as reflected in literature. She’s who I turn to for Giller talk all year round.