Kerril Ote (@koffeeandotherstories)

I asked Kerril three questions to learn more about her and her love for books and this is what she had to say:

What got you into reading and why do you think reading is important?

I’ve always read. I can’t quite remember at what point it became something I enjoyed, but I  was the kid with the story books, the one who spent her free time in a library full of old books. Although I’d like to think my dad had an influence. We’re the only people in my house who love reading. Although lately he’s been trying to ‘bribe’ my sister’s to develop the culture as well.

Reading is important for me because just like compulsory reading in school, it expands your knowledge pool, sharpens your language skills and allows you to experience things or learn some lessons theoretically before you experience them in real life. I’d like to think it’s a tool that prepares you for  the human experience  because  sometimes you meet a character you can relate to, stories that strike home  and you feel less alone in your experience, but can also be a form of escapism when the real world becomes too much.

Your page is very aesthetic, presenting a particular theme with the posted photos. Is this something that you love about your Bookstagram account and when /why did you decide to have a themed page?

Aside from being a part of bookstagram, Koffeeandotherstories is also my personal page and is a reflection of the things I love/enjoy. And one of the things I love is photography and editorials. So it was only natural for me to include my interpretations of the same even as I navigate the Instagram space in the different corners that interest me. Be it style, bookstagram, language learning buddies. I needed it to constantly reflect my ideas and aspirations so a theme was only natural.

And when I first joined bookstagram I was definitely inspired by the elaborate set ups by @empressofbookingham and the photography on @clumsy.word’s  pages

As to when, I think I’ve had a themed page for the last 4 years. But the themes change occasionally when I find something that suits a more grown version of myself, when my interests change or when I settle on my main colors for a particular year.

I’ve noticed that you seem to have reviews of books with strong female leads, is this something you actively look at while choosing books to read?

LOL. I don’t think I’ve actually picked up on that before so it must be a subconscious process on my part. Although if I was to try and pinpoint why, it would be because I am the biggest cheerleader of women being at the forefront be it in workspaces, in the home, during a revolution, in their love lives.  I’m a big proponent on women having a say in what becomes of THEIR lives.