The Journey of Bookish

When I think back to my early years, one particular memory stands out vividly: my struggle with reading. In the first grade, I was diagnosed with a learning disorder that made reading a daunting task. Despite this challenge, I was fortunate to be surrounded by a supportive community of family and friends, many of whom were educators.

During two summers, I spent weekdays with Ms. Vanessa, a close family friend who became my tutor. Her dedication and patience helped me overcome my difficulties, and by the time I entered fourth grade, I had not only learned to read but had also developed a deep passion for it. I even received a school award and was featured in the local newspaper for reading the most books in my grade in a year. That experience marked the beginning of my lifelong love affair with books.

Years later, the idea for Bookish was born out of conversations with my family about my childhood habit of always being immersed in a book. Originally conceived as a humorous photo series depicting the various odd reading positions I would adopt, the project evolved into something more profound—a tribute to the books and authors that had shaped my youth and helped me navigate challenging times.

To bring these reading positions to life, I enlisted the help of Made to Move Barbies, allowing me to recreate the poses as accurately as possible. As I posed these dolls in the same positions I once occupied, I realized how many of them were not only eccentric but also uncomfortable. Yet, despite the physical discomfort, what mattered most was the connection I felt to the stories within those pages.

Each photoshoot became an opportunity to create a retreat for the Bookish—a cozy, book-filled space that invites one to lose themselves between the pages for hours on end. Through Bookish, I hope to remind adults like myself to slow down, immerse themselves in a good book, and rediscover the magic of storytelling.