Friends, we are back with a very special book post! I have the absolute pleasure of introducing you to my very first ever guest feature: a fellow book enthusiast, a lovely reader and one of my favorite Instagram accounts! It was an absolute delight talking to Tomy about books and I’m thrilled to share some insights from our conversation!
Tomy shares her favorite book recommendations, reading rituals, the rise of #BookTok and of course how we organise our books. Get ready to enjoy all the book recommendations shared and find your next read!
- Hi Tomy, thank you for being a guest on my blog. Kindly introduce yourself to my readers.
Hey, I’m Tomazia Benoliel, a 23-year-old book enthusiast! I am originally from Luanda, Angola, now calling Portland, OR home. My journey as a book lover began with self-help literature, sparking my belief that we can all learn a lot from books as they always offer wisdom and how to self-improve.
Besides books, I love music and dancing! As an Angolan, music runs deep in my soul as its part of our culture. It’s the most joyful part of being Angolan.
- I immediately followed your account as I have seen so many of your book reviews feature some of my favorite books. I also really loved Crying in H-Mart by Michelle Zauner, Americanah by Chimamanda and Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi! What are some other books that you always recommend and why? For me, it’s always My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell!
A book that I always recommend is Open Water by Caleb Nelson! It’s a recent read but I fell in love with Caleb’s writing. As much as I love reading novels, I also love poetry, so this book is a perfect blend of poetry, romance and a portrayal of Black lives in the UK. In 166 pages, Open Water speaks to its readers in a beautiful way, each word a joy to be read!
- I have seen so many positive reviews about Open Water, let me add it to my reading list! I love that you dedicate time to reading, how do you get yourself to read especially when going through a reading slump?
It’s funny—I never liked reading until 2021! I fell into the reading world as an escape from overthinking too much. It became the only “me” time where my mind would shut up. But the truth is that when I don’t feel like reading I simply don’t, and in the beginning I used to feel guilty whenever I wouldn’t have time to read but now I do it when I have time (and that is most of the time) but when I don’t have the time or mental capacity I simply let it be! Reading is a joy to me and I rather do it when I feel like it, the words feel different.
- So true, I feel like reading should be a joy and not a chore! Lets now talk Tiktok! I admit to being thoroughly influenced by the app, especially in discovering romance novels. The rise of #BookTok is responsible for millions of book sales especially for Colleen Hoover, Taylor Jenkins Reed and Emily Henry (all white authors). Has #BookTok ever influenced your reading choices? How else do you get your book recommendations?
#Booktook definitely has influenced me to read some books, especially Colleen Hoover reads. Looking for book recommendations and knowing what I should read next is definitely a fight I get into every month (so many books, it’s hard to choose). But I follow many BIPOC Bookgrams, as well most of my next reads I save over pinterest and goodreads (my favorite app as a book lover because you get to see multiple reviews about books )
- I noticed you enjoy reading Colleen Hoover’s books. I, on the other hand, do not enjoy her work. I would love to hear your reasoning behind your love for Colleen Hoover and her books?
I do like Hoover’s books, mostly her romance writing (I’m drawn more to the author’s writing technique). I think over the years romance books became hard to read, either they were too romantic or they were not romantic enough. I like how she writes to the point that gets your whole attention, as well I’m a lover of authors that blend romance stories with a message related to current society problems. I like to read to learn, even if it’s a romance novel.
- Book to screen adaptations can drive book sales, what’s your favorite screen adaption? I personally loved Gone Girl, My Sister’s Keeper, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire and The Perks of Being a Wallflower. Bonus is Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules.
Oh, what a fantastic question! Omg I so love this question, definitely the book From Scratch by Tembi Locke. It is such a beautiful show and made me cry a lot! There is nothing more exciting than a book that you love being chosen for a screen adaption, other books that I hope to get adapted one day are:
- Crying in the H-Mart by Michelle Zeuner
- Honey and Spice by Bolu Babalola
- You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty by Akwaeke Emezi
- Let’s judge books by their covers. What’s a book you simply purchased or read because of the cover? Did you like it? I have to admit I read Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism by Amanda Montell, Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid, My Last Innocent Year by Daisy Florin Reid and Maame by Jessica George because of the cover.
Okay I feel this many times! For me it’s definitely Happy Hour by Marlowe Granados and Olga Dies Dreaming by Xochitl Gonzalez. They both have awesome covers even though the stories didn’t quite match the visual promise so not for me. They were both too slow and not as exciting to read. For Happy Hour I got half-way and I just couldn’t take it anymore, do you know when you are reading and you are like “ where is this taking me?, I’m lost” yeah that was me!
- I need to also work on giving up on books that don’t interest me! Let’s now talk about book organisation. I used to organise my books by colors but lately I simply stack them by cover (hardcovers or paperbacks) and size? How do you organise your books?
I normally organise books by size, since I have them over the shelf I organise from taller to shorter as it creates a neater and more visually appealing shelf. This is how my current shelf looks like…
- Last question, what are you currently reading or hope to read? I hope to read Pineapple Street by Jenny Jackson and Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin once I get off the waitlist.
Okay, haha! I’m spoilt for choice with my current reading list, it’s a tough one!
Right now, I’m torn between Seven Days in June by Tia Williams or Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins (we love her). Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin is also currently on my list and I wish to read it very soon. I have heard many good things about it from friends.
- You will love Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin. I finally read it and can confirm it’s worth the hype.Thank you so much for your time and answering my questions. Please share your usernames for people to follow you!
Tomythings _ across Pinterest, Instagram and Tiktok
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Luana says
She’s a wonderful woman.
So glad to know her trajectory of readin’ books🫶🏾
tineinquires says
I know! Thanks for reading and be sure to check out all her books recommendations!