Another Sunday, another #CoffeeWithFay. Today we have Tarunpreet, one of my favorites people on bookstagram. Her reviews are elaborate and quick to get through, and she gives the best recommendations. Let’s meet her! 

1. Tell me a little about yourself. 

I’m from New Delhi, India. Reading became a passion when I was quite young. And a turning point came in my reading-world when I pursued my graduation in English literature. I got to read diverse books & authors, and that enriched my reading experience immensely. All thanks to the fabulous course of literature at Delhi university, I read writers like- Charlotte Brontë, Dickens, Jean Genet, Chinua Achebe, Eugene Ionesco, Homer, Euripides, Tagore, Ngugi wa Thiong’o, Dario Fo, Samuel Beckett, Henrik Ibsen, Nadine Gordimer… ah, I can go on & on. The present situation is that- I belong to legal profession, but the love of literature is still there, and it’ll remain intact forever.

2. What are you currently reading? 

I’m currently reading ‘Collected Stories’ by Gabriel Garcia Marquez.

3. What is your favorite genre, and why? 

My favourite genre is classics (victorian classics particularly) and historical fiction. I started reading classics at a very young age (Dickens’ ‘Oliver Twist’ was my first classic ever) & I found myself mesmerised by them. I wouldn’t be able to word a particular reason- it’s just that something pulls you towards itself, that is thing with me with respect to classics. And historical fiction, well, I love to read & know about history. 

4. What do you think about the reading culture in India? 

Reading culture in India… I have seen people here who are ardent readers & also those, who consider book-readers anti-social & introverts???? I think it’s with every place, no?! Anyhow, I’ve observed that not much people read classics here & the regional-vernacular Indian works do not enjoy much of readership either- I would really appreciate a change in this scenario.

5. Name 3 reading habits you have. 

a) I read physical books only. And I don’t think there would ever come a time when I would find myself reading an e-book. The joy of holding a book in your hands, the smell of pages- old & new, underlining the quotes while reading… how could you have these pleasures with an e-book. Sounds old-school? well, that’s how I am.

b) I prefer to read in bed. Get cosy with a cup of coffee & a warm blanket, and curl up with a book.

c) I always carry a book along with me. Never leave home without a book.

6. What is the one book you recommend to people? 

There are too many to recommend just one or a few. It also depends upon the fact as to whom I’m recommending. If a person likes to read fast-paced books, it would be futile to recommend a classic to them.

7. Where can we find you? 

 Find me on my instagram/ bookstagram handle tarunpreets_bookishclickdiary & twitter handle- tarunpreet18