Article contributed by Johanna H
With 42.1k followers on Instagram @estherhfung really knows how to inspire us to read! 25-year-old Esther is the person behind the account. Born in Taiwan, but is living in the US with her husband, who she married this summer in a small 18-people ceremony (which looked beautiful and you can see on her feed). The feed also features her cute dogs, Juneau, who loves napping and sunbathing, and Tofu, who loves bothering Juneau while she naps and sunbathes. You’ll also find great recommendations, lovely photos, and a good mix of book genres. I would say there is something for everyone.
Firstly, we love how visual appealing your feed is. How did you find your style?
Thank you! That’s really sweet of you. I spent a lot of time interacting with friends on bookstagram, and I found myself drawn again and again to certain styles. There’s something about light and slightly warm edits that make me relax my shoulders and smile. I work hard to emulate that and provoke that same reaction in everyone who sees my photos.
Why did you start your book Instagram?
When I first saw bookstagram photos on Tumblr a few years prior to the launch of my own account in 2016, I was amazed at this new way of interacting and honouring books we love. I was also intrigued by this way of escaping the dullness and mundanity of everyday life. For a brief while, I got to live in those beautiful aesthetics. Soon, I wanted to create those images as well. My first photo featured Anna Karenina by Tolstoy and some of my mom’s flowers.
If someone out there is thinking about creating a bookstagram, what advice would you give them?
You don’t need to have the most beautiful book covers or the best equipment or a thorough knowledge of how lightroom works. Yes, they’re great. But a big part of what I love about bookstagram is making beauty of what we already have. To this day, I still take photos with my phone and regularly feature library books on my feed.
You seem to read quite a few different genres of books. Which genre would you say is your favourite?
I don’t have a favourite genre, but I love books with generational tension, magic realism, and/or a strong female lead. I also appreciate books with nonlinear storytelling. In addition, I am currently very into graphic novels.
When you aren’t reading, what do you spend your time with?
I am usually lesson planning, teaching, or grading. I teach 6th grade English, which is a very time-consuming job. Additionally, I enjoy biking, playing Animal Crossing, and rewatching favourite shows on Netflix.
Which three books do you think everyone should read?
This isn’t the most satisfactory answer, but I don’t think there’s a book that everyone “should” read. Everyone has different experiences after all. But I encourage everyone to read books by authors very different from them and set in places very different from the ones that they know.
And lastly, do you have any goals for your reading 2021?
I am looking forward to reading more Asian American authors. I have a huge list of titles recommended to me by friends I met through bookstagram, and I cannot wait to read through it!
Don’t miss out on Esther’s beautiful and inspiring bookstagram at @estherhfung!
