Since 2022, Ezioma Kalu, popularly known as Bookish Ezioma, releases her annual reads whenever the year is coming to an end. To some, this tradition might seem ordinary, uninteresting even but to others it isn’t as the comments and think pieces about the number of books she reads increases every year the infamous post is released.
2024 was the biggest yet and while she was praised by a host of online users, there were other comments that wanted to get a glimpse of how she finds the time to read, or does she have a part-time or full-time job? Why is she rushing through books? How many things can she remember from reading all the books on her list? what exactly does she gain?
Bookish Ezioma held her own and refused to back down. She is a book enthusiast encouraging others to reignite their love for reading and also an inspiration helping other book lovers like herself nurture their love for literature. Here, she speaks to Black Boy Review about her love for reading, books, writing, and related things.
Hi Bookish Ezioma! It’s great to have you here. Could you tell us a bit about yourself?
My name is Ezioma Kalu. I am a writer and a book influencer. I studied Public Administration at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
What kind of books did you read growing up?
Growing up, my dad bought a lot of children books for us. Especially lantern books. I also read a lot of Nani Boi books and books like Chike and the river, Eze goes to school and comprehension passages in English textbooks. Then, I moved on to serious books my brothers used for their WASSCE like Dizzy Angel, The Tempest, etc. I loved reading and I basically read any book I could get my hands on.
As you grew older, what genre did you gravitate towards the most?
After discovering Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie through Purple Hibiscus in secondary school, I gravitated towards African books we used for our literature texts like Women of Owu, The Blinkards because I felt I could relate to the stories. Purple Hibiscus was set in Enugu and because I live in Enugu, the book intrigued me. I loved the way CNA described Nsukka and I told myself I was going to UNN. I found out that people like me have stories and if people could tell stories of ordinary children like me living in Enugu, I would love to read more stories like that. African literature has always been that for me. I didn’t read a lot of foreign books growing up.
In what ways has reading shaped your life?
Reading has greatly shaped my mentality. Looking back now at some of the things 20-year old Ezioma did and some decisions she took, I’d just cringe and laugh. But I made those mistakes because I didn’t know better.
For instance, in Americanah by CNA. Even though a lot of people criticized Ifemelu on social media, I see myself in her. I had her habit of ghosting people, a trait I didn’t know was toxic before reading the book. But reading about this part of me through Ifemelu’s character and seeing how deep it hurt Obinze being at the receiving end of her actions, I had to look inwards and I started working on myself.
It has also made more empathetic. Reading about other people’s stories even though I’m not experiencing what they’re going through has enabled me to show more kindness.
How do you think reading can be encouraged in children and adults in this era of short attention span and so many social media platforms?
As readers, we have to pick up the responsibility of showing the world how cool it is to read books. Some people think reading is meant for the nerdy ones who wear glasses and bury their noses in books all the time or is preserved for people with no social life. Reading has been painted to be an intellectual chore but if we can make reading cool like taking cute pictures of books, posting about your reading goals and journey, just as myself and other people in the bookish community are doing, it would influence people to pick up books.
For children, I think parents should buy their kids’ story books and children’s literature. If you buy your kids’ books and instruct them to read, they will. I started reading because my dad loved to read and he bought me books. In this day and age, there are so many distractions and the onus lies on parents to make conscious effort to put reading in their lifestyle. They should read with and to their kids.
You also write as most readers do. What inspires you to write?
My environment and experiences inspire me to write. Conversations and everyday lifestyle of the people around me serve as a source of inspiration. I also draw inspiration from the books I read, the movies I watch and the songs I listen to.
What is the most difficult part of your writing process?
Starting. Sometimes I’m energetic and I open my laptop to write but I just end up staring at it thinking about what exactly to write. But, once I’ve written the first few words, I’m no longer in charge of the writing process, the story starts telling itself and I’m just a vessel. I also tend to procrastinate because it isn’t fun sitting down and thinking of ideas and things to write.
In your opinion, what do you think makes a good book?
First of all, art is subjective and what makes a book good for me might be different from the next person. I like when a book is relatable. It doesn’t have to be all of it, parts of it is okay. I like reading books containing simple language, engaging storytelling, intriguing plot, fun dialogue and characters. Even if the author is writing about a dark topic, I appreciate a bit of humour in everything I read.
Has any book or author greatly influenced your outlook on life?
Yes. Definitely.
Who is the lucky author or what was the lucky book?
That’d be Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie through Purple Hibiscus. After reading Purple Hibiscus, I was really intrigued and I felt that if CNA can accomplish something this great as someone who grew up in Enugu, I can also dream and do great things from this little city I’m from. She has influenced me a lot.
You read 150 books last year and it caused quite the buzz on social media. Do you set a specific goal each year?
Funnily enough, I don’t. I’m just a curious person who likes to push her limits. In 2021, I read 40 books which seemed like a lot and I was so happy with myself. But then, I came online and I saw that the Crazy Book Lady read a hundred books and I thought, is this really possible? What if I try to read a hundred books in 2022?
After reading 100 books in 2022, I was like, okay, can I increase it by 2 or 3 books in 2023? Then I read 122 books in 2023. It’s just a bet within me to see how far I can go. I don’t really set any goal, I’m that spontaneous.
How do you choose the next book to read? Do you follow a TBR list or just go with the flow?
Right now, there are a lot of books I own which I haven’t even read. I follow a lot of book influencers, book promoters and bookish people who I get recommendations from. I also have the Libby app where I can just go through and add to cart any title that catches my fancy. If I see people discussing about a certain book, I’d make a mental note to search for it.

Some of the comments about the number of books you read last year were mean and hurtful. How do you handle that?
Last year was not my first time going viral for reading books. When I released my annual reads the first time in 2022, some of the comments got to me and I reacted a lot. But after going through the same thing for three consecutive years, I’ve developed a thick skin. What do you want to tell me that someone hasn’t said two or three years ago?
Besides, I don’t see most of the comments because there are too many. And the ones I see, I’d just laugh about it and tell the person to leave me alone. But if I have time and I want to rile the person up, I’d respond with a witty comment. I know that if you’re doing something good in life, people must criticize you. If nobody is criticizing you, you aren’t doing any great stuff. You’re just there. And I don’t know them, they don’t know me. Their opinions about me don’t affect me at all.
Also, I used to be so scared of Twitter because of the bad things I’ve heard about it. But in 2022, with my less than 100 followers, I started tweeting my opinions because I felt nobody would see them and I was scared of being dragged. But now, it’s just something that happens every Eke market day, somebody would come from nowhere and start dragging me. I’ve conquered that fear and I’m scared of no one.
What was the last thing you read that you disagreed with?
I can’t think of anything right now because I only go for the books I like. I don’t expose myself to the pain of reading what I don’t like. There are some genres I don’t like and I don’t bother reading them.
Is there a book you wish more people would read? And why do you think so?
I think more people should read Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie especially Nigerians. It would give us more insight about what happened during the Civil war. History is no longer taught in schools and this war happened to us. It’s our history and more people should read the book and know what happened. Even if you’re not using the knowledge for anything, just have it.
If you could meet any author living or dead currently, who would it be and what would you ask them?
I’d definitely want to meet Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.
You seem to be one of CNA’s biggest fans!
Yesss. Sometimes, I visualize my reaction on the day I finally meet her. I think I’d be too star struck to speak. I’d just tell her I’m one of her biggest fans and ask for her autograph. And a selfie too.
Have you ever had a ‘book hangover’ where a book was so good you couldn’t move to another? If so, which book?
I’ve had that feeling for many books. I’d name a few which include A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini which drained me emotionally, The One by Adesua Nwokedi, when I finished reading it, I told myself I had to read all her books because it was so clear I’ve been missing out. The One was really good. And Americanah which is my favourite CNA book. I read it every year.
What book do you look forward to reading in 2025?
Are you even asking??!! It’s obviously Dream Count by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. I’ve even preordered it. Do you know what that means? We’re getting a book after more than 10 years.
Any reading goal this year? Or specific genres you’re thinking of picking up this year?
I want to explore books set in other countries most especially Asian countries. And other African literature but not West African like East African.
A piece of advice to that young Nigerian book enthusiast.
Please don’t keep quiet about your love for reading. If people can talk about what they love like football, please wear yours on your sleeve. Put it on your forehead if you can. Talk about it. Tell people about it. It is very awesome and cool to read books, love books, buy books and talk about books. Don’t be shy thinking it’s a nerdy thing. Reading is the new cool.
Who do you think we should interview next?
Roving_thinker on Twitter.