In the few months since revamping her Instagram account to focus on books and reading, Telbong has found a welcoming, supportive community.
This week we learn more about Telbong whose namesake IG page is a wonderful mix of stories from home and beyond.
Name? Telbong is my Palauan name, used mostly by my family or close friends. Cherie is my westernized name used mostly in work or professional settings, lol.
Bookstagram handle: @telbong
Why did you start an IG for your books or reading? Who or what inspired you?
I've actually been a bookstagram stalker for the longest time! The way bookstagrammers take photos of books is so awe-inspiring and the reading recommendations are always fantastic. I am fairly new to the bookstagram community having only started December of last year. My Instagram, up until that point, was a random collage of nothing, really.
Joining bookstagram was my way of making my social media activities more productive and intentional. Plus, sharing books is a better use of my stories than the usual work rants I used to post up. I've always been a reader. My favorite genres are fantasy and science fiction. Yes, I am part of the Harry Potter Generation, lol.
What has it been like to join the Bookstagram community?
Revamping my Instagram to a bookstagram was one of the best changes: the bookish community is really a very supportive community that is open to trying different things and hearing different opinions (maybe it's a trait common among avid readers). You could have two folks who might not wholly agree on what political ideas to follow but they will bond over shared fandoms or favorite books. That's actually one of my favorite things about books: it's connected me to some amazing friends and we've kept in touch because of our mutual love for stories.
I've also connected with other readers from the Pacific through bookstagram and it has been the best experience of my life building up my Oceania book collection.
Before this, I didn't even know which Pasifika writer to check out or what kind of books have been published. Now, I've added 10 more Pasifika reads to my shelves. Follow #PasifikaReadathonChallenge for some great book recommendations.
This is pretty specific lol but what other Micronesians/Pacific Islander bibliophile accounts or websites do you recommend that people should follow?
I'm going to take this opportunity to shout-out all the amazing people involved in the #PasifikaReadathonChallenge so please do follow them, if you're on Instagram:@aglassofread@book.kanaky@corinarichards@taotaotaitai@haunani.plans@janina_rmv@thefijianreader@polynesianreader@kamakakealani@novelisticnotions@bookandsunscreen@thisislanderreads@bibliophilebynight@backtobacklist@ourlibros@readswithrosa@redqw33nbooks@shai.reads@tihoireads@ns510reads@tales_with_thomas@talielovesbooks@talking.story@aloha.andme@mksreads
Do you have a favorite Pacific Islander author?
Julian Aguon! One of my (if not my) favorite Micronesian writer. He writes about very serious & urgent matters but he does so with poetic tones in his words. You can tell he appreciates writing as an art and I'm a big fan of his telling a story rather than telling me how or what I should think.
His new book is a great collection of his pieces. My favorite will always be his commencement speech, "My Mother's Bamboo Bracelets."
What's your favorite part about having an Instagram account just for your books/things you're reading? Connecting with other readers and sharing Oceania books with the bookish community. I am a Pacific Islander and didn't realize how rich our literatures were until I joined bookstagram. Discovering these stories and being able to share them with others is the best part of it all.
What book do you recommend people READ RIGHT NOW?
In support of the #PasifikaReadathonChallenge I highly recommend "Indigenous Literatures from Micronesia." It's such a great collection of words from people of our region and it hits you different having lived parts of the experiences being shared. This book has become one of my favorite rereads
And now for some links🔗
Blue Prosperity Micronesia shared this short story competition on Indigenous Ingenuity and Creativity on Facebook.
Anne Wen wrote this sweet feature on artists with Guam ties uniting the diaspora with stickers and other merch with Guam vibes. Also, she spoke with Saidee Ulloa Garcia who created a new “The Legend of Sirena” book.
Everyone’s been sharing this National Geographic story about Hawai’i not being the multicultural paradise some say it is, featuring Carol Ann Carol, a Micronesian storyteller. Story by Imani Altemus-Williams and Marie Eriel Hobro.
In case you missed it, this month on The Husk it’s all about authors and bookstagrammers and making a Little Free Library in line with May being Get Caught Reading Month. Let’s read and let’s especially read Pasifika authors to support the #PasifikaReadathonChallenge.
Check out the last bookstagrammer Q & A with Mara, from Fiji and Yap who is behind @thisislanderreads.
And if you feel so inclined, subscribe!
Thank you for reading. HAVE A FANTASTIC WEEKEND!!!!
Cheers,
Jasmine