Instagram story viewer> @niawrites> Posts

Nia ☁️

@niawrites

609

followers

198

following

💌 29 / london / @southbookclub 💌
~ baby philosopher & book lover ~
~ reviews, rants & recommendations ~

POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED

Download All

Spent the evening trying out my new book stamp on a couple of books I got for Christmas, I’m in love with it 🤎

#bookstagram #bookstamp #personallibrary #readersofinstagram #booksbooksbooks #igbooks #hardcover #newbooks #bookhaul #christmas #bookgifts taken in London, United Kingdom by @niawrites

200

20

4 years ago

Poor by Caleb Femi:

(belated world poetry day post)

“𝙉𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙨𝙖𝙞𝙙 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙨 & 𝙝𝙤𝙬 𝙥𝙚𝙤𝙥𝙡𝙚 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙛𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙫𝙤𝙞𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙬𝙝𝙤’𝙨 𝙣𝙤 𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚. 𝘼 𝙘𝙤𝙧𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙤𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙞𝙤𝙩 𝙯𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙖𝙨𝙠𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙣 𝙤𝙡𝙙 𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙞𝙩𝙪𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 & 𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙖𝙞𝙙:

𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚, 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙙𝙚𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙙 𝙥𝙖𝙮𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙙𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙝, & 𝙨𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙙𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚”.

I don’t feel this book of poetry is something I am capable of reviewing in-depth. Mostly because I find it hard to dissect any piece of work that is equal parts memoiristic and archival, as it is the authors truth. What I can say, and most importantly, what I want to say is that Caleb Femi is a rare talent and his poetry a gift.

Tackling a range of topics from police brutality to omnipresent grief, this piece of work is multifarious in nature. The author’s writing felt inherently juxtapositional; stark and unapologetic yet celebratory and soul-stirring. His specific focus on brotherhood and community was refreshing, as space is not often left for unprejudiced depictions of black boys and men in the world of (mainstream) literature.

I would urge you to read this, even if poetry isn’t your thing, even if you live on the other side of the world a million miles away from the Peckham estate that backdrops his words. It’s easy to reach for writing that feels familiar, that feels like home. But stepping into someone else’s world to learn and to see (really see) is a choice I think we should all make more often.

(Although I must admit that in this instance I am a hypocrite, as the sole reason I picked this book up off the shelf is due to the fact that I will always be drawn to South London stories. Because, as the author so fondly states, “I have never loved anything the way I love the endz”.)

#worldpoetryday #calebfemi #bookstagram #readersofinstagram #booksta #poetry #poetrycommunity #southlondon #bookstagramuk #readersofig ☁️ A book titled “Poor” by Caleb Femi sits on a white blanket in the sunlight. Next to it sits a bunch of white tulips. taken in London, United Kingdom by @niawrites

141

15

4 years ago

Spring is coming! 🌷

Today was the first time in months that I got to read in my garden. It’s been so long since I’ve been able to sit in the sun with my books and it made me so happy. I know UK weather isn’t to be trusted and it could snow again next week but these little promises of spring have put a smile on my face.

I can’t wait for hotter weather, longer days, warmer nights, staying out late because time is nothing but a concept in summer, live music, falling asleep in the sunshine, fresh fruit, road trips with my best friends, outdoor swimming, London’s obsession with gin, bright mornings, reading any and everywhere, ice cubes in my drinks!!! ☁️🌷

Books featured:

Welsh (Plural): Essays on the Future of Wales @repeaterbooks
Brick by Brick by the @cradlecommunity

#spring #reading #garden #sunshine #bookstagram #readersofinstagram 🤍 taken in London, United Kingdom by @niawrites

129

9

4 years ago

Hi everyone, I hope you’re all well. 🤍

It’s been a while so I thought I’d jump on here and share some of what I’ve been working on recently.

To kick off Non-Fiction November here is my book spotlight of the month:

Defiance by Janet Alder

“Christopher Alder died at Queen’s Garden Police Station in Kingston upon Hull on the 1st April 1998 after being dragged in unconscious by officers and left face-down on the floor whilst seriously injured. In her new book ‘Defiance’ his sister outlines the horrendous details leading up to and following Christopher’s death, painstakingly outlining the decades long struggle the family have endured whilst seeking justice. The publication also delves deeply into the mental and emotional toll of having to grieve for a loved one whilst fighting for their life and memory to be respected.”

I had the honour of speaking to Janet ahead of her book release last week as well as getting to read a copy of the manuscript. The book is an undoubtedly heart-wrenching read, but an entirely necessary one.

In light of the recent verdict regarding Chris Kaba, we are reminded that black lives are still seen as expendable by the state. The same smear campaigns and intimidation tactics used by the media & police force to suppress and oppress Janet’s family are still ongoing today.

Learning and listening to victims stories is an integral part to paving the way towards state accountability and justice for those we have lost.

It has been 26 years since Christopher Alder’s death, 26 years too long to be waiting for justice. Please support Janet by purchasing her book and reading her & Christopher’s story.

Speak soon,

Nia X

(Thank you to The Voice Newspaper, you can find the link to my full article in my bio.)

#christopheralder #thevoice #thevoicenewspaper #janetalder #blacklivesmatter #nonfiction #nonfictionnovember by @niawrites

3

4

2 years ago

Hi guys, 🤍

It’s been a while so I thought I’d show my face and reintroduce myself. I’m Nia, I’m 27 and I live in South London.

Over the last year I have had a bit of a love/hate relationship with this account as it started to feel a bit like a chore, something I’m sure many of us have experienced on here. 2023 was an exhaustively transformative time for me personally and so it makes sense that this account should also reflect that trajectory of personal growth. Having time away to read and write about a plethora of things made me realise that I’ve felt limited by the space I’d curated on this account. It felt quite rigid in terms of its intentions which ultimately made me rebel and neglect it altogether.

My love for literature, film, art, music and philosophy is what made me want to start this account in the first place. And so, I’d like to open up this account to more of that, I absolutely will continue to post reviews of books that make me feel !something! but I also want to open up the stage to my other passions. I also have a lot of *opinions* as I’m sure some of you may have picked up on, so I do want to make clear that this has always been and will always be a political account - as life itself is inextricably political.

I hope you stick around, and we can connect not only through books but through a whole lot more. I’m looking forward to being able to just talk LOUDLY and at length about all the things that I find interesting. I’m sure I’ll settle into a regular routine of posting at some point but for now I’m just excited to read, listen and learn on a continuum.

Thanks for being here, talk soon.

Nia X by @niawrites

92

29

2 years ago

I visited Amsterdam for the first time back in June and had the best time walking around & searching for different book shops to browse. My favourite thing about going on holiday & being in a different country is getting to explore the bookshops, museums & galleries to my hearts content. 📚

📖 bookstores visited:

~ pantheon bookstore
~ happy bookieman
~ san serriffe
~ architectura & natura

#amsterdam #booktravel #bookstore #travelblogger #readersofinstagram #booklover #booksbooksbooks 🤍 taken in Amsterdam, Netherlands by @niawrites

3

3

3 years ago

Hi guys 🍉🫒🤍

I haven’t posted in a while as I’ve not been reading or writing much outside of the current situation in Palestine.

Looking back at old annotated books has left me feeling nothing but rage and helplessness, as they serve nothing but a grim reminder that there has been zero justice and zero progress.

I am praying every day for the beautiful people of occupied Gaza & the West Bank who continuously leave me in awe of their strength & bravery. As well as for all those throughout the world who are suffering under colonial oppression.

None of us are free til we’re all free.

Speak soon, Nia. X taken in London, United Kingdom by @niawrites

74

1

3 years ago

Spent the weekend in beautiful Pembrokeshire browsing independent and second-hand bookstores. It’s always so beautiful to get to explore different parts of Wales that I’ve never been to before, especially areas where people speak Cymraeg fluently and as their first language. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

I’m on a book-ban until the New Year because my tbr list is piling up to the heavens and I’m running out of storage space but I’ve added a million and one books to my wishlist.

🏷️~ #westwales #travel #bookstore #independentbookstore #secondhandbooks #cymru #bookshop #beach #bookstagram #readersofinstagram #readersofig #bookstagrammer #bookblogger #wales taken in Abergwaun, Pembrokeshire, United Kingdom by @niawrites

46

11

3 years ago

~ LAPVONA REVIEW 🤎 ~

“Don’t worry, death is not the end. You shall rise. What are the birds but angels? You will never have to walk among monsters.”

7/10 rating

Set in medieval Europe, Lapvona tells the tale of a village that has weathered all manners of storms and yet faces an even bleaker future.

We accompany the main protagonist Marek and his abusive father through a series of odd and unfortunate events that occur in this peculiar little town, meeting various other oddball characters along the way.

The main theme that runs throughout the book seems to be humanitys’ relationship to “source”, in whichever way that belief takes shape as.
This story examines the effects of faith on the human psyche and how the depravity of one’s life can result in an unhealthy and warped sense of piety.

The author doesn’t shy away from the themes she wishes to explore or the manner in which she choses to do so. The only way to describe her prose would be ‘assaulting to the senses’, stark and unsavoury yet commendable still. It takes a talented wordsmith to paint a picture so vivid that the reader has no choice but to feel physically immersed within the text.

A highlight was the constant evolution of narratives as it was a unique reading experience for me. Introducing characters in such a careful and calculated way allowed for the storyline to unfurl like a diseased flower. Each new perspective made the world building of this book feel rich and diverse without feeling crowded.

Moshfegh makes it abundantly clear to the reader that this tale will be solely focused on the maladies of mankind rather than any eventual absolution. At no point was I lulled into a false sense of security that these characters would navigate their way towards some miraculous redemption arc, these were both hopeless and helpless sinners, and they were going to continue to sin.

Lapvona begs the question, “what is stopping us from being good? from being better?” and the answer is always Ourselves.

This book is unsettling and intense, sprinkled with a macabre sense of humour. However, if you’re looking for a page turner that fucks with your head a little - I’d give this a try.

*gifted PR copy* Lapvona book by Otessa Moshfegh taken in London, United Kingdom by @niawrites

58

5

3 years ago

Happy Bookshop Day! 📖

“so often, a visit to a bookshop has cheered me, and reminded me that there are good things in the world” - Vincent Van Gogh

I’m glad we have a day to celebrate the importance of bookstores, whether they be beautiful independents, cosy second hand shops, or our big mainstream sellers - these places are such a safe haven and inspire thought, creativity and exploration for so many around the world.

Hope you get to spend some time in a bookstore this weekend (and maybe buy a book or two 👀).

Bookstores photographed:

1. Daunt (Baker Street, London)
2. Seaways (Cardigan, Wales)
3. Shakespeare & Co (Paris, France)
4. Awen Teifi (Cardigan, Wales)
5. Gulp Fiction (Oxford, England)
6. Happy Bookieman (Amsterdam, Netherlands)
7. Abbey Bookshop (Paris, London)
8. Waterstones (Piccadilly, London)
9. The Notting Hill Bookstore (Notting Hill, London)
10. Foyles (Charing Cross, London)

#bookshopday #bookstoreday #readersofinstagram #bookstagram #readmorebooks 🤍 by @niawrites

88

5

3 years ago

good morning, happy tuesday 🤍

here’s a lil photo dump of my september in books, I feel like I spent the entire month with my eyes glued to a page but I’m feeling very thankful to have finally moved past my longest reading slump to date.

here’s some of what I got through: the latest ‘new philosopher’ magazine (my all time favourite publication) on the topic of “conflict”, small things like these by claire keegan, the outsider by albert camus, lapvona by otessa moshfegh, termush by sven holm, making peace with the earth by vadana shiva & steal like an artist by austin kleon.

my october reading list is quite ambitious but I’m enjoying the diversity in genres so far 🍂 taken in London, United Kingdom by @niawrites

3

5

3 years ago

Hey everyone, hope you’re all doing well. I’ve been massively neglecting this page but hoping to be a lot more active as I’ve read waaay too much in the last month & need to talk about it.

Thought I’d do a lil #whatthisweek, have tagged a couple of you & would love to catch up.

Speak soon 🤍

🎞️ - I’ve started rewatching Torchwood and forgot how good it is, I also finished Top Boy and The Witcher recently which were my favourites :(

📖 - I’ve just finished Lapvona and The Outsider (in the midst of writing their reviews), and I’m currently reading Nausea by Jean-Paul Sartre, Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan and The Kamagawa Food Detectives by Hisashi Kashiwai.

🎼 - The albums ‘Where I’m Meant To Be’ by Ezra Collective and ‘Heaven’ by Cleo Sol have been on replay this week, as well as Jasmine Jethwa’s entire discography.

🎭 - Went to go and see The Effect at the National Theatre and it was incredible, I’d definitely recommend. I know NT are giving away free tickets for 16-25 year olds this month if any of you are in that age bracket/live in London.

#bookstagram #readersofinsta #whatthisweek #bookrecommendation #readersofig #bookreview tote bag display, tulips, Polaroid camera & various books on a blanket. taken in London, United Kingdom by @niawrites

81

22

3 years ago