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Welcome to Reading Around the Globe, a series here on Reader Voracious Blog geared at fostering a culture of understanding in the bookish community about access to books in various countries around the world. Each post in the series highlights a full interview with one international reader. You can read more about this series here on the series master post.
An Interview with Justine
- What is your name? My name is Justine. Hi!
- Blog URL? bookishwisps.wordpress.com (The blog is deactivated as of 2021.)
- Twitter handle? @bookishwisps (The account is deactivated as of 2021.)
- Where do you live? I currently am residing in the Philippines.
- Do you find that there is a culture of reading where you live? If not, tell us a bit how you came to be one! From where I came from, generally my family, no there was no one who reads like I do now. But they have been supportive of me despite the costly price of a book. And in school I was a late bloomer when it came to reading. My classmates had already been fangirling over books while I sit and watch. Until one day by some miracle, I gave that book they were gushing on about a try. And fell in love with reading. From my family and school I say I have been fortunate enough to have a supportive community.
- What kinds of books do you enjoy reading? Almost everything, I love trying to read every bit of anything. Any genre, hyped ones and indie reads are great! I bounce back in between fantasies, contemporaries, thriller-mysteries, historical fiction, etc. just whenever I feel like (or sometimes obligated to for blog tours).
- Have you always been a reader? No, I was not. I got into reading when I was in 6th grade. Back then my other classmates had been talking about books. I would never forget, I was in 4th grade then, they already were kind of established in reading~a lot (if you’re curious they were gushing over Nancy Drew books, mentioned in question no. 5)
- Do you also read books published in your native language/published locally to you? If so, tell us a bit about what kinds of books are published in your country! Yes, I enjoyed reading book recommendation from my cousins. They’re Wattpad and PSICOM books, I have read both in pure Filipino and in Taglish (Tagalog-English) books. There are a lot to choose from nowaways. Since the booming of the ‘from books to movie adaptations’, I think. There are also the school mandated books to read by Filipino authors, I read them too for school of course. Haha There are published books of poetry, mythologies, ghost stories, and literary ones.
- Are there libraries where you live? If so, what kinds of books can you find there? Are you able to get the books that you want? Where I live, NO. I am from a province and has to travel hours long to be in the Metro. And I do travel in the Metro I may find some. Public libraries more focused on text book, school books, thesis research books, reference books. There are novel books in different schools and universities but I have to sign a form to be allowed in the institution. Or be a student in that particular uni to have an access for it I believe.
- How prevalent are English published books where you live in bookstores? (For example, books printed by HarperCollins.) There are books from HarperCollins, Feiwel and Friends, Square fish, Balzer + Bray, Simon and Schuster etc. But the titles are not that of variety. But I do notice that the Philippines is now being recognized more. There are quiet improvements in the selection of titles in bookstores (National Bookstores and Fullybooked) outlets near Manila. But provincial outlets still suffer.And the rarity of books appearing in book sales are noted too. You have to wait up for a certain day. And you’ll observe that the arrival of the books are on a schedule. I have to watch out for that.
- Do you use NetGalley or Edelweiss to request electronic galleys for review? If so, what kind of success rate would you estimate for you personally? I do, both NetGalley and Edelweiss. I do have a difficulty with NetGalley, I think the “not available in your region” appeared on my account once. I felt sad and disappointed. Assuming that it was already an electronic copy and much suited for international readers.
- Do you experience hurdles or barriers to access for the kinds of books that you read? Please explain if so. Yes, shipping. It costs thrice than the actual book. Or that a certain retail that has that copy doesn’t ship to my country.
- If you could make one change to the publishing landscape, what would you do? Of course the fair and square execution of the term international, but we can’t change it overnight, every day will always be a battle against it. I think what I can do is support fellow international readers and call on out and try to educate people who doesn’t understand much of why international readers are way too enthusiastic about books.
- Help other international bloggers out… What resources do you use to obtain the books that you want to read? Reaching out to authors and publishers helps. It may take a long time and may deny you but at least you tried. Mentioned in earlier too NetGalley, Edelweiss, may not be approved or allowed to read but there could be other titles to explore too. And I kind of like Sribd. They offer a free trial and there are a lot of books to choose from! Always on the lookout for sales or even free books on Amazon! I always watchout for this on Amazon and Twitter. Fellow International Readers are so nice to tweet out a warning which titles are on sale and free!
- Do you have any other experiences as a reader around the world that you would like to share? No.
Please note that all experiences reflected in the interviews are personal and are not meant to generalize what reading access is like in each country. If you are interested in participating please DM me on Twitter.
Read More Reading Around the Globe Interviews
Argentina
Consu @ papereyedgirl
Australia
Ellyn @ allonsythornraxxbooks
Greyson @ Use Your Words
Bangladesh
Maria @ mariahossainblog
Belgium
Inge @ Of Wonderland
Wesley @ Outsiders and Misfits
Canada
Catherine @ This One is for the Books (Toronto)
Kristina @ Books and Dachsunds (New-Brunswick)
Shania @ Book Princess Reviews (Quebec)
Chile
Maria @ bookish4life
Denmark
Catherine @ Bees and Books
Silje @ inkedbybooks
England
Clo @ Cuppa Clo
Olly @ Criminolly
France
Emma @ Mengueis De Livres
Marie @ Drizzle and Hurricane Books
Germany
Silvia @ Silvia Reads Books
Hungary
Veronika @ Reading is Dreaming with Open Eyes
Indonesia
Carolina @ fictionologyst
Petrik @ Novel Notions
India
Himani @ Books&Sstuff
Nandini @ Unputdownable Books
Prags @ The Inked In Book Blog
Sumedha @ The Wordy Habitat
Suraj @ Books N Myself
Italy
Angela @ Books of a Shy Girl
Camilla @ Reader Attic
Kuwait
Devyn Jase @ devynjase.com
Mexico
Jossie @ thebookdragoncorner
Mozambique
A Restless Traveler
The Netherlands
Annemieke @ A Dance With Books
Esther @ Bite into Books
Luci @ Lunar Luci Books
Marco @ Barely a Blogger
Michelle @ Michelle Likes Things
Nigeria
Chinelo @ Booked_Unicorn
Norway
Julie @ StrixAlucoBooks
Palestine
Hamad @ thebookprescription
Pakistan
Nargis @ Literary Nerd’s Musings
Philippines
Aimee @ Aimee Always
Alexia @ Bookworm Daydreamer
Gel @ Whimsy Wanders
Justine @ bookishwisps
Kate @ Your Tita Kate
Rain @ Bookdragoninsm
Shealea @ Shut Up, Shealea
Portugal
Marta @ The Book Mermaid
Rita @ Bookish Rita
Romania
Dianthaa @ Dianthaa Dabbles
Puerto Rico
Yani @ Read & Create
Rwanda
Annie @ Sunflower Bookshelf
Singapore
Taasia @ libraepaintspages
Slovenia
Para @ Other Worlds Reviews
South Africa
DB @ DB’s Guide to the Galaxy
Switzerland
Elisa @ bookishexpat
United Arab Emirates
Nicka @ Wander with Nicka
Zimbabwe
Sakhile @ Sakhile Whispers
Please note that all experiences reflected in the interviews are personal and are not meant to generalize what reading access is like in each country. If you are interested in participating please DM me on Twitter or send me a message on Discord.
I love this series and the idea behind it!! Great post!
Ugh, international. I just don’t get how publishers can’t(or won’t)see how much we affect their sales.
I know, or that they just don’t see a viable return on investment (ROI). But it is hard to also grow a customer base when resources aren’t allocated, either. Kind of a catch-22.
That’s true! Although, I’m sure it can be worked on seeing as there’s a good demand for it these days.
I totally agree! I think that their models probably are outdated because I think the demand is there… are a little increased focus would probably increase it too