What do you do when you meet someone who puts your thoughts in their words in a way that you think they know how to read minds from afar? When they are so level-headed and fearless as they talk about issues that it makes you fall in awe of them? When they are so good at doing what they do that you just want to go over and give them a hug of appreciation?
Krutika Puranik is one such person and I’ve not yet figured out a way of telling her that I admire her work in an eloquent manner. All I say all the time is: That was so good! And I’m supposed to be a writer here. Wow.
But Krutika here is one of the few people on Bookstagram who I admire so much as much for their bookish posts as for their non-bookish ones. Her sanity in this insane world is something that makes me believe that the world is a good place. And I’m so glad to have met her. I don’t think it would be presumptuous of me to say that I can call her a friend now. Hah! 😀
So I thought, what better a way to show my appreciation of her than to do an interview with her on her. 🙂 I obviously had quite a few questions to ask her and here’s what she had to say.
(MB: Melodramatic Bookworm; KP: Krutika Puranik)
MB: When did you start reading? Take us through your love for books.
KP: It all began when my father used to bring home copies of Tinkle and Magic Pot when I was a child. As I grew up, my interest in books increased tremendously. I started demanding books for birthday presents and after that there was no looking back.
MB: How do you choose your reads? Is it impulse, is it careful consideration after reading the blurb, or do you cover buy? Or is it a combination of all three?
KP: Couple of years ago, I realized how reading good books changed me as a person. In the initial years of my reading, I rarely paid attention to the kind of books that I used to read but it all changed soon after. It would be a lie to say that I do not get tempted by beautiful covers but I don’t often fall for it consciously. I read the summary first before taking up any new books. No more impulse buys for me 🙂
MB: What are three books that you think everyone must read, irrespective of whether or not they will like them?
KP: Has anyone told you how tough of a question this is? 😛
But for me, it’s always been kind of an easy choice. To Kill a Mockingbird for teaching morals, The Kite Runner for the friendship between Amir and Hassan, We Should All Be Feminists for Chimamanda’s blunt honesty.
MB: Your writing inspires so many people, including me. What or who inspires you?
KP: Most of the things that I write are inspired by people around me. My mother being the biggest one of all. It also comes from the books that I read. Women authors, especially. There’s Chimamanda who fights for women, Jesmyn Ward who focuses on black people etc,. I watch what they do and draw inspiration from them.
MB: What are some topics, books about which you will pick up without a second thought?
KP: Feminism, without a doubt. I am a strong feminist so I do not even have to check the gist before picking it up.
MB: What’s your reading mantra, if any? One that you follow religiously?
KP: It’s really simple actually. Explore. Do not stick to one genre because there are millions of books out there waiting to be read.
MB: What are your thoughts on the direction the world is taking? What are the issues that, according to you, need to be addressed if we want the world to become a better place?
KP: With the recent devastating incident of Amazon fires and countries being flooded, it’s about time to reset the Earth’s topography. Also, being kind to each other and animals should be our number one priority.
MB: If there’s one bookish and one non-bookish thing you could tell your younger self, what would it be?
KP: To never apologize for being honest. To fight for what you feel is right and do not give up until you make people listen to what you have to say. To read. Read as much as possible so that your life is no longer monochrome.
MB: Two tips you’d like to give readers who are struggling to find time to read?
KP: There’s no such thing as no time to read. Make a habit of reading one hour per day. Be it while you are commuting or before you go to bed. You do it continuously for 90 days and psychologists say that it becomes wired to your brain.
MB: Your favorite authors, and why?
KP: Khaled Hosseini for bringing into light the lives of Afghanis and those who are displaced. For teaching us to never lose hope. Chimamanda for writing stories that makes small girls dream big.
Thinking of questions is never easy, but for Krutika, I knew exactly what I wanted to ask her. And everything fell into place so smoothly that my past self is staring at me, slack-jawed. 😀
I hope you enjoyed reading Krutika’s amazing answers too. If you did, then please do head over to Instagram and follow her at @askthebookbug. Her posts are an absolute delight to read. 🙂
I’ll be back with a new blog post soon and NOT disappear for months on end. I promise! 😀
Until next time, keep reading, keep loving, and add melodrama to your life!
The Melodramatic Bookworm 