The Bookish Gent's 5 Questions

@literary_gents

Five questions answered by the BookshelfTracker community

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1.) Did someone read to you when you were a child (who, what, when, where, why)?
Ah yes, mum was a storytelling champ! One of my earliest memories is of her reading to me by the pool on a family holiday in the Balearics. Anne Franks's Diary was the book - which I loved at the time - and I believe Mum's early reading ritual is what set me on the path of bibliophilia. Cheers mum!

2.) What’s the first book you remember reading that had a lasting effect on you?
Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami was a game-changer! That book struck me like a literary thunderbolt. It turned my reading routine into an adventure, initially leading me down a Murakami rabbit hole I took a year or so to climb out of. He's still one of my favourite authors today.

3.) What genre(s) do you love?
This is tough as I find it's a mood thing. I'll often go through phases of reading one genre if I've enjoyed a book, I'll go right after something similar. I'd say Dystopia for a reality check, sci-fi when I contemplate the cosmos, and magical realism when I want reality with a bit of a twist. Keeps the reading vibes interesting!

4.) Has a book ever changed your life?
I'd say two - firstly, 'How to Make Friends and Influence People' by Dale Carnegie. My biggest takeaway? To be interesting to others, talk about their favorite topic: themselves. And more recently, 'The Chimp Paradox' by Dr. Steve Peters, teaches you how to recognise and manage your mind and emotions. I'd recommend both to anyone interested in personal development.

5.) What attracts you to a book? The cover? Podcast? Recommendation from others?
I have to admit, I do judge a book by its cover, and it's often what first draws me to a book. Of course, there are so many great bookstagram accounts to follow for inspiration, and I regularly purchase books based on their reviews. I'm also lucky to have some awesome bookish friends who are never short of a recommendation if I'm ever in a literary slump.

*BookshelfTracker is an app that lets you organize the books you own, track who you lend them to, and more. Learn more on our website bookshelftracker.com