Have you ever tried to think how your life would look like without books? Imagine a futuristic world, ruled by bitter opponents of everything that for centuries has embodied a gateway to the world of knowledge, everything that for hundreds of years has brought real pleasure to people regardless of their background or education. They commended to eliminate every word written on the old-fashioned pieces of paper. They also called special agents who were sent to rifle houses, schools and other institutions to destroy all existing books, with no exception. The smallest insubordination would mean hostility to the system and severe punishment. For some of you the new orders would mean the end of the world … a kind of apocalypse, while for others this abstract anti-books regime wouldn’t mean anything more than just conforming to the next order placed by the ruling party. Insurgent troops, as well as citizens who didn’t accept these new common orders, went underground and started working on publishing banned books, so that everything that their parents and grandparents believed in wouldn’t be forgotten forever …
Luckily, this story is just an effect of another cup of coffee, which invariably boosts my sluggish and a little bit worn out brain cells. A while ago I promised you a series of interviews devoted to people whose passions may become an inspiration for you, as well as may encourage you to take up new challenges in life. You’ll probably think, a book, great … but what’s so special about that? And you’ll probably be right … I think that those of you who follow my blog regularly will remember one of my previous articles titled ‘A book the key to happiness?’. I wouldn’t like to present here the next hoary old chestnut … that’s why, I invited someone else to talk about books and their influence on people’s lives. My today’s interviewee is Agnieszka, a blogger and the author of a blog Książka od kuchni (The ins and outs of books). I’m delighted to welcome her on the pages of my blog, because we share similar passions, which shaped us as people and authors of articles, which you have the opportunity to read.
Passion Piece: Could you tell my readers a few words about yourself?
Agnieszka: I’m Agnieszka, and I’m the author of the blog Książka od kuchni (The ins and outs of books). Personally I work as a librarian, I love books, films and TV series. Recently, I’ve also got to like board games. I’m a big fan of commas, maybe because of the fact that I used to work as a copy-reader for a few years. I’m an introvert who is always interested in novelties.
Passion Piece: How did you come up with an idea of setting up a blog?
Agnieszka: To be honest by chance. When I was younger blogs were usually treated as the Internet diaries, it would never occur to me that they could also be thematic. I came upon a web page nakanapie.pl and I started adding my own reviews there. After some time, contemporary administrator suggested that I should set up my own blog. It was quite a spontaneous decision, the same as choosing the name for my blog. At first I thought I would present the ins and outs of writing books, which means that I would write about the editorial process, reveal how to write novels and so on. I’ve got a few articles related to this topic on my blog, but most of them are reviews.
Passion Piece: How do you try to enthuse people about books and films?
Agnieszka: I think I don’t do anything by force. I never say that someone is worse because he/she doesn’t read or reads something different from me. I do totally the opposite, I get interested in the reasons why they don’t enjoy reading the same books as me or I check out the books which they recommend to me. With time, the fact that I run a blog has become an impulse for my friends to ask me about titles which I could recommend to them. I always try to pick the ones, which stole my heart, and I must admit that in this way I encouraged some colleagues from my previous work to read books. Now, when I work in the library, it’s much easier. I recommend books to readers and I often appeal to their tastes.
Passion Piece: How do you imagine your life without books?
Agnieszka: Now, I can’t imagine such a scenario at all. I think that books are a good form of relaxation. They also give a great chance to start a conversation with other people, even if they don’t read. Besides this, it’s only one of possible topics – from books you can move to films, TV series, board games, concerts and many, many other things.
Passion Piece: What’s the most difficult for you in running a blog?
Agnieszka: I think it’s regularity. I often have to catch up with things which should have been written or which I wanted to write a long time ago. However, I always try to deal with time management, but you know that things go both ways. The most important is to stay motivated and not to give up.
Passion Piece: Do you have any other passions?
Agnieszka: Besides reading books, I think that the cinema is my biggest passion. I can go to the movies even ten times a month. In the past I loved photography, but now I don’t spend so much time on that hobby.
Passion Piece: How have your interests shaped you as a person?
Agnieszka: Thanks to photography I’ve met lots of people, the same when it comes to books. All these people have taught me many different things, they have also left me with great memories and experiences, which I would never be able to get on my own. Actually, the fact that I read books is related in a way with my current work, which I truly love and I would never change it to anything else. When it comes to my personality, I don’t really think that anything has changed.
Passion Piece: What’s your formula for happiness?
Agnieszka: You should always do things which you like. You should also do them in the way which won’t make you regret anything later on. You should live and be in harmony with yourself. You shouldn’t keep struggling with something which doesn’t make you happy, and makes you feel miserable instead. Sometimes it’s good to let it go, and for sure you should never queen it over anybody, even if you are really good at something. You should be open to other people and come at everything with a smile, but also not let others walk over you. Sometimes it doesn’t work out, but I never give up.
Passion Piece: What are your plans for the near future?
Agnieszka: I hope that my life will be still as good as it is now, I wouldn’t like anything to change. I would love to read and write more, but I think I can’t really plan it. I don’t like planning things, because I think that life is totally unpredictable.
Passion Piece: What motto would you like to share with my readers?
Agnieszka: I don’t think I’d like to share any motto, since I think I’m a weak philosopher. 😉
Passion Piece: Thank you for your honest and meaningful answers. I hope that this interview will encourage my readers to visit your blog regularly.
No matter what you are passionate about and what makes you really happy … remember, everything can help you develop as a person, that’s why it’s always good to listen to yourself and follow your own path.
See you around!
Yours,
Passion Piece
Link to the blog: http://ksiazka-od-kuchni.blogspot.com/
Photo by Książka od kuchni
Bardzo miły i ciepły wywiad. A przy okazji poznałam nowego Bloga wartego uwagi :)
Dziękuję za miły komentarz i cieszę się, że znalazłaś tutaj coś dla siebie. :)
Niesamowita rozmowa! Chciałabym być fanka przecinków, bo mam z nimi problemy. Chciałabym chodzić do kina 10x w miesiącu i nie walczyć z zasypianiem....;)
Jako bloger nie powinnam się do tego przyznawać, ale mam ogromny problem zarówno z przecinkami, jak i ortografią ... czasami dochodzi to tego, że jeżeli wcześniej nie zapiszę sobie słowa, to muszę czasami pytać się o pisownię uczniów ... dobrze, że są cierpliwi. :)
Najwazniejsze aby robić to, co się lubi <3
Święta prawda. :)
Mimo technologii, w moim życiu książki są ważnym elementem :)
Żadna technologia nie zastąpi dobrej, papierowej książki. :)
Bardzo ciekawy post
Dziękuję ślicznie. :)
I used to read books all of the time and have gotten away from it. I really need to start reading them again! Books are imperative!
I came back to reading books for good a few years ago ... now I can't imagine not reading a book once in a while, since sometimes I simply don't have enough time to follow this passion. :)
I do like reading, but sometimes I find that I am too busy to pick up a book and chill out. I need to get into this more x
Me too, I think that most of us have similar problems. I've still got 7 new books which I'd love to finally read and buy some new ones. ;)
I am not much into books but i do like reading the classic ones. For example, Wuthering Heights, Secret Garden etc.
I also don't read everything, I've got my fav types of books, too. You shouldn't read something if it means a struggle for you. :)
Loved this! Such a great Interview!
Thank you for your kind comment. :)
I love this so much! I can't even begin to imagine a world without books. I was so struck by that thought, honestly. I found myself relating so much to Agnieszka. I love books and TV shows and movies. I just love a good story and I love engaging with others about them! Books have always been my biggest love affair. Books and reading in general. I could never imagine a world without them.
Thanks for your great comment ... it seems we share a similar passion! That's great that people love the same things all around the globe ... you can connect with anyone in the world then. :)
I love books, and usually go to the library at least once a week. I love to learn about many different things, and reading, whether in books, magazines, or blogs satisfies this appetite. :) I would love to meet Agnieszka someday.
I read books mostly, I also used to go to the library when I was a teenager. Now I love buying books, although I don't do it every week, as my flat would be too cluttered at a very fast pace. :)
Loved this interview, I really need to start reading more it's just finding the time!
I've been also having some problems with finding time to read books recently. I started reading 2 books at once, as I want to finish the ones I bought some time ago and buy some new books. :)
Lovely interview! As a book lover, I can never live without books. I always read before bed and the more I read different genres, I get so many creative ideas. When I first started out my blog, I also used it as a diary to express my self and be honest.
Thanks for your kind comment! I think that being a book lover helps in writing your own blog a lot. Wish you every success with your website. :)
In love with this interview. A girl after my own heart too! She definitely captured my love for books and photography as well... I especially loved her answer to your question of what her formula for happiness is. I've been asking for a sign about a decision I had to make and lo and behold , I read this today:"You shouldn’t keep struggling with something which doesn’t make you happy, and makes you feel miserable instead. " There goes my sign :)
I just love your comment! I'm also truly happy that you've found a sign for yourself in my text. It's so great to know that we can inspire others to do some impossible things. :)
This is so lovely! You are a wonderful writer and this was a great interview! Very inspiring.
Thank you for your compliments! It's so great to know that some people enjoy reading my texts. :)
Bardzo spodobał mi się ten wywiad. Moją uwagę przykuło stwierdzenie Agnieszki, ze "nigdy nie mówi, ze jesli ktoś nie czyta, to jest gorszy" - ja czytam duzo, za duzo :D ale strasznie nie podoba mi sie obecna "moda" na popisywanie sie wlasnym czytelnictwem połączone wyśmiewaniem "nieczytania" u innych. Bo ja taka mądra (czytam!) a Ty nie czytasz, więc spadaj! Dla mnie czytanie jest wspaniałym, rozwijającym hobby. Jak wiele innych wspaniałych, rozwijających hobby które mogą mieć inni ludzie (a niekoniecznie ich zainteresowania z róznych powodów muszą pasować mi). Pamiętajcie Kochani - passion PIECE ;-) kazdy ma swoj ulubiony "skrawek" pasji, i to jest piękne :-) Warto mówić, ze czytanie ksiązek jest fajne! NIE, osoby ktore nie czytaja, NIE SA z automatu jakims gorszym typem czlowieka ;-)
Kasiu, dziękuję za ten komentarz. :) Pięknie ujęłaś to, o czym każdy powinien pamiętać ... ile ludzi, tyle pasji ... nikt nie powinien czuć się gorszym, tylko dlatego, że interesuje się czymś innym. :)
There's no way I could imagine my life with no books. I've learned so much from reading.
I also can't imagine my life without books! They always bring lots of happines and I can't wait to buy some new ones. :)