Did You Know #Bookstagram Has Been Used 42.1 Million Times?

By Emeric Brard
on 3 April 2021

Easter is the perfect time for us book lovers. So if you want some good tips follow Hashtag #bookstagram on your Insta account….. the hashtag is so popular it has been used a staggering 42.1 million times.

Women Love Tech interviewed some popular book worms on Instagram to find out what their favourite books are, if they have any favourite quotes, and tips for book clubs.

reading

@halfdesertedstreets | Danielle | Brisbane

What are your favourite books? And why?

When I think of favourite books, the ones that stand out for me are stories that are beautifully-written with rich, authentic characters. I can even handle a bad plot if the characters come alive to me in the best ways. Some of my favourites that manage to get it right all the way from top to bottom, though, are:

  • Peace Like A River by Leif Enger
  • Greenwood by Michael Christie
  • Room For A Stranger by Melanie Cheng
  • Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
  • And the upcoming children’s novel, The Year the Maps Changed, by Danielle Binks

Tips for book clubs

My best tip for building a book club is to find a friend or two who is as committed to books — and to friendship — as you are. That way, your book club will survive through poor book choices, absences due to flu season, life’s upsets, and busy times, and you’ll still always be able to find something excellent to discuss. Let’s face it, sometimes the books everyone hated make the best discussions! And if you’re looking for a good starter list for selecting book club reads, literary award shortlists make an excellent guide. The annual Stella Prize, for a book written by an Australian female author, is a great place to start.

Favourite apps

My two favourite apps for engaging with the book world are Goodreads and, of course, instagram. The #bookstagram community has introduced me to so many wonderful, thoughtful, creative readers around the world, and I’m so thankful for that!

‘The Hill We Climb: An Inaugural Poem for the Country’ by Amanda Gorman, published by Viking Books for Young Readers
‘The Hill We Climb: An Inaugural Poem for the Country’ by Amanda Gorman, published by Viking Books for Young Readers

@babblingbooks | Tamsien | Melbourne

What are your favourite books? And why?

Neil Gaiman’s Neverwhere. It seamlessly blends fantasy and reality, as a hapless guy who hates his job and is a bit rubbish at romance finds himself swept into another London right below his feet. It’s equal parts funny and enthralling.

 Tips for book clubs

Decide early on if you will be discussing spoilers for the books or not. It will shape your discussions but also mean people who haven’t finished (or started) might still come along to participate. Either way is fine, just establish it at the start so no one is blindsided by a spoiler!

Favourite quote from Popular Aussie Instagram book accounts

“The world always seems brighter when you’ve made something that wasn’t there before” – Neil Gaiman

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