Interviews
Meet The Bookstagrammer
May
Meet the bookstagrammer is a bi-weekly feature on the RH blog where we speak with book lovers and bookstagrammers and have them share insights on their reading culture to motivate and encourage book lovers all over the world. But not book lovers alone, this feature also encourages non-book lovers to develop a healthy reading culture.
In this week’s episode, we had the opportunity to speak with Shelah Jegede @shelahthebookworm – an interesting bookstagrammer, and proud lover of anime who often refers to herself as “The Gordon Ramsay” of books.
Written by: Olawoyin Olubukola Tabitha
Tell us who Shelah Jegede is.
I don’t really define myself because people can be different things.
That is such a profound statement. I like it. But, one thing we know for sure is that you are a bookstagrammer with over 4k followers. Bookstagramming isn’t easy and now having 4k followers is impressive. So, how did this whole book journey begin?
It started when I was a child, I have always liked reading and it never stopped. Since I was 6, I read children’s storybooks and graduated to novels (mostly horror and thriller) and I grew older. Bookstagram started two years ago when a friend I used to talk to about books told me to open a bookstagram account because there was a bookish community on IG and I did.
Nice. But reading horrors and thrillers at such a young age is rare to find. Any idea what prompted that?
Nothing, just interest.
Okay. A little bird told me you are an anime lover. Can you tell us a bit about your love for anime?
I love anime, I have always watched Yu-Gi-Oh as a kid at y friend’s place and it got me into anime.
What was your favourite book from your childhood?
I honestly don’t have a favourite book from my childhood but I read a lot of R L Stine and Dean Koontz, they were my favourite authors then.
Besides reading and watching anime, what else can the Gordon Ramsay of books be found doing?
Scrolling through the internet, watching cat videos, watching my favourite series on Netflix, basically, the things that make me relax.
On average, how many books do you read in a year and how many have you read this year?
Hmm, it depends, last year I read 150 books, in 2021, I read 166 books, it just depends on how much I can read. I’ve read 36 books this year already.
Wow. How easy is it for you to achieve your reading goals?
It’s quite easy; I set the goals I can achieve. I’ve set 100 books for this year and I’m reading 8-10 books in a month, since it’s easier to track my goals that way.
So, what was your best read in 2022?
It’s not possible to have just one best read. My top five best reads in 2022 are; She Gets the girl, Things we do not tell people we love, The poppy war, The mindfuck series and Dele weds destiny.
Nice. What is the best book you’ve read in 2023?
My favourite reads so far in 2023 are Cleopatra and Frankenstein, A Spell of Good Things and On Black Bister’s Street.
What is your favourite book right now?
I don’t have one favourite book, I have several. But if I’m to pick one I’d say Six of Crows.
So please tell us what your favourite quote from a book is right now?
It’s not deep or anything but “he’s half of my soul as the poets say” from the Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller.
Lastly, what advice would you give to people who are trying to be consistent readers?
The advice I’ll give is to take it slow. Just because you read one book in a month doesn’t mean you’re not a reader, do what works best for you. If you can read one book a month that’s twelve a year, do it!
That’s awesome advice. Thanks so much for your time.
Olawoyin Olubukola (Content Writer and Editor) is a young female medical undergraduate of the University of Lagos, a multi-faceted person passionate about books, writing and teaching. If she isn’t found reading or writing, she would most likely be found teaching or scrolling on Instagram.
