I started this feature here at ASR in order to know your fellow bloggers a little better! If you are interested in being featured please fill out the form.
How long have you been blogging? What made you want to start a book blog?
I’ve been blogging for about 4 years now. But I started book blogging only towards the end of last year. And well, most of the credit for that goes to Pooja @ On Books! I met her last year (she was my senior in college) and we kind of bonded over our mutual obsession with books! Once I found out about the existence of book blogs, I was like, ‘OMG, this is GENIUS! I would never have a lack of writing material!’ My personal blog was sort of inactive by then, so it seemed like the perfect thing to turn into a book blog, and hence, ‘I Read, Ergo I Write’ was born! :D
What do you do when you’re not blogging or reading?
Well, I’m a psych student at uni, so that takes up a lot of my time. Oh, and (I’m so sorry, but I cant resist adding this) I just took a seminar on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) this week, and I was SO excited for it, since I’ve read about it in so many books, and it was actually one of the things that pushed me towards Psychology in the first place! It was so much fun preparing for it! Ok, so moving on, I also love art of any kind: movies, paintings, music, books, and I spend a lot of time with all of that. I also play around in Photoshop a lot. It’s like my virtual playground!
What is your favorite part about blogging? Least favorite?
Least favourite? I have a hard time keeping up with everyone else. I seem incapable to scheduling posts, so I often end up doing things at the last moment, which can get a bit stressful sometimes. I sometimes have to remind myself that I’m doing this for the fun factor and it should stay that way. I also tend to get kind of intimidated by the awesome blogs out there that have such interesting content, dedicated readership, and have been around for so long. But I’m working on getting over that now… :)
Where did you come up with the name for your blog?
Seriously, I have no clue. My friend and I had been wracking our heads for a name, but never came up with anything satisfying. I wanted something ambiguous that didn’t brand my blog as a pure book blog (since I also had my old personal posts to consider), but at the same time also suggested at the fact that I love to read and write about books. ‘I Read, Ergo I Write’ just popped into my head (not kidding) one day when I browsing Goodreads, and I’ve always wanted to use the word ‘ergo’, so it seemed perfect.
Do you have any specific book bloggers that inspire you?
What do you look for in a blog when following? What are your pet peeves?
Not much. I don’t like it when people are really derogatory about a book (like, very), because a lot of people rely on reviews to select their books, and when the review’s not respectful and reasoned out, it feels like they’re forcing their opinion on someone. And it’s actually happened to me that in spite of a negative review, I read a book and loved it. Also… design. If it’s too flashy and all over the place, I go slightly crazy (I dont know, I’m just really particular about design and stuff). But if it’s a great blog, then I just ignore the design and stay ;)
What’s your favorite book(s)?
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Harry Potter by J K Rowling (always)
and currently, Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell (have you read it? It’s omg so great!)
Favorite author?
L M Montgomery, who is a bit underrated, if you ask me.
What is the biggest turn off for you when you’re reading a book?
Cliched characters can get on my nerves. Completely irrational and downright idiotic reactions can make me roll my eyes and go ‘Really, now?’ And contractions in narration. In dialogue, they’re fine, but when they’re used in the narration…
What first draws you to a book to make you want to read it?
Cover. Blurb. Reviews. In that order. Sometimes, of course, that order changes, like for Delirium, which I wasn’t going to read at all until I saw the reviews.
Describe yourself in 3 words.
Art-Lover. Dreamer. Shy.
Name a random fact about yourself.
I honestly suck at any and all random facts answers. I had pneumonia 4 times before I was 10. But I’m perfectly healthy, so no worries. Does that count? Also, my birthday coincides with Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday.
Do you have a job? If so, what do you do?
Nope.
What did you want to be when you were little? Has that changed?
For a long, long time I wanted to become a pediatrician, inspired by the wonderful doctors I had in time I spent in the hospital when I was a kid. But that was before I learned about the amount of studying and hard work and the number of years I’d have to put in. Then it was either an environmental engineer or a psychologist. And since I’m studying psychology at the moment, no, it hasn’t changed.
Randomness
Cats or dogs?
Cats! And kittens! But I also like dogs with floppy ears, though I’d probably freak out if they came near me.
Favorite animal?
Tiger. I swear, they behave like they know they’re royalty or something and it’s so awe-inspiring! People find it odd when I say that though, probably because they’re supposed to be scary?
White, dark, or milk chocolate?
Dude, as long as it’s chocolate, I dont care what form it comes in!
Coke or Pepsi?
I hardly ever drink either, so it makes no difference.
Favorite TV show?
It used to be Gossip Girl and One Tree Hill, but now it’s Suits and Sherlock and The Vampire Diaries. I seriously cant choose just one.
Movie?
A Walk to Remember. It makes me cry every time! And I so love the song and the verses about love at the end!
Color?
Blue, Purple. But only sometimes together.
Thanks for being here today, Fahima! It was great getting to know you! :)
Find Fahima:
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Pinterest
Harry Potter is the best! I love your blog name, it’s funky :D
Awesome interview, ladies! <33
I know right! Who doesn’t love Harry Potter?!
Thanks Melanie! :)
Thanks for having me over, Jessi! This was so much fun! :D
Ahh I feel like a black sheep because I didn’t totally Eleanor and Park like some people did D: Haha I totally agree with getting intimidated by awesome blogs! Also with actual life in the way scheduling posts and staying on top of thing sis always so hard!
It was nice meeting you, Fahima! Fantastic interview! <33
Haha I guess not everyone can like the same books :)
Really? You feel that way too? Huh, I thought I was the only one who felt that way.
Thanks, Eileen!