So as well as a book editor, I also dabble in Bookstagram – Instagram book reviews and photography. And recently, I had the pleasure of collaborating with another bookstagrammer called @bookishkaren for her project I Am A Reader.
It’s a project that aims to showcase readers around the world, bringing cultures together over our love of reading. It was such fun to be part of it and I wanted to share the piece that I contributed – and also, let you know a little bit more about me.
Rebecca is a 25-year-old reader from the UK who loves pasta, a cup of tea and the smell of air after a rain shower. She remembers the Lady Grace Mysteries by Patricia Finney as the books that first sucked her in to the love for reading. They were set in the Elizabethan Court, featuring a young lady in waiting to Elizabeth I. Not only was the young lady a courtier, but she was also a detective. The story teaches about becoming anything you want to be, which Rebecca thinks is one of the most crucial lessons in children’s fiction. She’s also a fool for good thriller, suspense or crime novels. They consist of twist and turns, the addictive process of trying to figure out whodunnit, and the motivations of the characters. Rebecca admits she loves the hook of solving the crime even when it gives her nightmares sometimes. In her opinion, what makes books disappointing are the cliches. She prefers it when an author does something different from what you expect, making you rethink your expectations. She says, “If you didn’t see it coming, that’s perfect. Reading is real-life magic. By reading you are able to summon up alternative worlds; be whoever you want to be. You can escape the humdrum office and explore the furthest reaches of the world – and beyond. Human beings understand the world around them through stories and narrative – it is the only way we can make sense of the world. Plus, it doesn’t hurt that reading is fun too.” ♥
Follow Rebecca on bookstagram at @bring.your.own.book. Right now she’s reading “Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine” by Gail Honeyman. She’s a freelance book editor by trade but outside of that, she loves exploring local areas or far flung destinations; spending time with her boyfriend and family; and failing at cooking. ☺
Rebecca Millar Editorial 