Between Pages and Piles of Laundry

Before I started my Bookstagram page, I was anxious. I spent over two years just thinking about how to make it look “aesthetic,” what kind of content to share, and how to stand out or atleast have it going. I always assumed it was just about reading and writing. That by itself is a task on its own. But as I browsed more pages, I realized there’s so much subtle effort behind each one – curating visuals, creating a mood, telling a story even through a photograph.

Naturally, I began questioning myself. Could I be someone who creates content like that? That was never really the intention, but let’s be honest – validation is nice. It keeps you going. So I followed several bookstagrammers and noticed a common theme: beautiful book photos alongside window views, indoor plants, rainy weather, a fresh mug of matcha, a cozy café corner, flickering candles or a warm cup of coffee.

At first, I didn’t fully understand the link between books and these aesthetic settings. But over time, it started to make sense. Reading can be immersive, transportive – it’s something we do to feel good, to feel held. Much like a spa day, a warm meal, or a quiet walk, reading becomes an act of self-care (pretty much everything is except for work sometimes :P). And yes, sometimes I do feel like dressing up the experience – lighting a candle, pouring a hot drink, curling up by the window with a good book or pulling myself in a warm night suit with fuzzy socks (only on cozy rainy days, I live in Chennai so it’s a rare occurence). It adds to the mood.

But also – most days, I don’t. I read late at night, in bed, with a dim light and no background music (I can’t focus on two things at once either way). I read on the sofa in odd angles, in old pajamas, hair unwashed. I read during auto rides, on my study desk between tasks, even in the bathroom (because why not?). I make it a point these days to leave behind my phone and instead carry a book into the can. But i also stay longer than what’s actually required which is not suggested. It’s not always beautiful. Often, it’s just real.

So now, I see it this way: aesthetics can be a lovely part of the reading experience – but they aren’t the experience itself. They’re an add-on, not the requirement. Most of my reading happens at home, in quiet, familiar corners with laundry unfolded, coffee cups unwashed and kept in the sink, the throws in sofa not placed at the right angle or the flowers slowly losing it’s freshness. The rest? A vacation here, a café visit there, or a moment of intentional pause with fresh flowers and a softly-scented candle.

There’s no right way to enjoy a book. You don’t need a perfect setting or a polished picture to call yourself a reader. If curating a vibe brings you joy, lean into it. And if your reality looks a bit messier, that’s okay too. Reading belongs to everyone, everywhere.

At the end of the day, do what feels true to you. Let your reading life be shaped by comfort, not comparison.

However you do it, let reading be yours even if it’s unfiltered, imperfect, and entirely personal.