Reader Spotlight: Theomora
- Lauren Hope
- Feb 8
- 5 min read
A Passion for Chills and Stars
Welcome to our February Reader Spotlight!
Today, we’re getting to know Theomora, 28, has been an avid reader since childhood, a love she shared with her grandmother Marylin. Initially drawn to fantasy with The Lord of the Rings and Graceling Realm Series, her tastes have since shifted toward darker genres like thrillers, sci-fi, and horror. Some of her favorite authors include Stephen King, James S. A. Corey, and Ben Farthing, with a particular fondness for The Expanse.
For her, a great book is all about strong character development and immersive storytelling. She picks her reads based on her mood, either selecting from her ever-growing TBR or following recommendations from social media. To enhance the experience, she often reads with lo-fi playlists or the sound of thunderstorms in the background. If she could live in a book’s universe, it would be The Expanse, where she sees herself as Naomi Nagata, a symbol of strength and resilience.
Now, let’s dive into her interview!
"The more I learn, the more I realize how much I don't know."
Albert Einstein
Welcome to Mindandthriller! Thank you for being part of the Readers Spotlight adventure. Could you introduce yourself to our readers?
Hello! I am Theomora. I am 28 and I've been an avid reader for as long as I can remember. I grew up as an only child, so instead of having siblings to play with, I spent most of my time reading. It was a hobby my Grandma Marylin and I really bonded over, and now that she has passed, it's another way I can still feel connected to her. Along with reading, I also have varying hobbies that include crochet, embroidery, and painting!
What was your first memorable reading experience?
My first memorable reading experience was picking up the series "Warriors" by Erin Hunter in elementary school. I picked up the first book and had become obsessed with the entire series. I even spent hours writing fanfiction of it, without knowing what fanfiction was. Like I said, I was utterly obsessed.
How would you describe yourself as a reader? Have you always been drawn to a specific genre, or have your tastes evolved over time?
As a reader, my tastes have greatly changed. When I was younger, I was strictly into fantasy. I read "The Lord of the Rings", "Inkworld Trilogy", and " Graceling Realm Series". As a reader now, I read more sci-fi, horror, mystery, and thrillers. My tastes have definitely evolved into darker books.
Who are your must-read authors and your favorite books?
My must-read authors are Stephen King, James S. A. Corey, and, newly added to my list, Ben Farthing. It's so hard to choose favorite books, I've read so many great ones. I will have to say, "The Expanse" series by James S. A. Corey as a whole makes up a lot of my favorite books. The entire series absolutely captured my attention.
If you had to pick one book that deeply impacted you, which one would it be and why?
A book that deeply impacted me might have to be... "All the Sinners Bleed" - S. A. Cosby. The crimes in the book were dark, but also the experiences the MC had to grow through. He experienced racism, exclusion from the Black community because he chose to become sheriff, and also a hard family life. After I had finished reading it, I just sat there for a while.
Is there a book you truly disliked or that left you with a bad impression?
I wouldn't say I've yet to read a book I've truly disliked based on the actual story. I've only DNF'd three books so far, and it was more about the writing style than anything.
In your opinion, what makes a great book?
What makes a book great is the development of characters and having a diverse cast. I love books where the MC changed throughout the story, while also having a deep connection with the side characters. When having a book with more than one POV and being able to tell the difference between the characters just by the writing alone is such an amazing feat, and it's something that can really enrapture me.
How do you choose what to read next? Do you rely on recommendations or let an eye-catching cover guide you?
Usually when choosing the next book to read, I either pick from my extensive TBR, and just see what calls out to me, or I have recently come across a recommendation from social media. If nothing calls out to me, I will always default to Stephen King's backlog.
Have you ever felt really disappointed by a book? If so, what didn’t work for you?
N/A
If you had to describe your literary universe, how would you present it?
I feel like my literary universe would be nothing short of an extreme nightmare. I've read some books that have truly shook me ("The Troop" - Nick Cutter, "I Found Puppets Living in My Apartment Walls' - Ben Farthing, "Object X" - Daniel Dean), and to even fathom a universe where even just these three books collide would be an absolute living nightmare...which I would gladly be apart of!
Are you more of a planned reader, or do you follow your current mood when choosing books?
I definitely follow my mood when choosing out the books to read. Sometimes it'll be horror, sometimes sci-fi, and sometimes I just want a good mystery. My next book is always whatever calls out to me the most.
A favorite literary quote you’d like to share?
"The development of our personalities doesn't take place in isolation, but in relationship with others---we are shaped and completed by unseen, unremembered forces." The Silent Patient - Alex Michaelides
What’s your ideal reading playlist?
The playlists I listen to tend to either be lo-fi, or honestly, Thunderstorms. When reading horror, having thunderstorm sounds really adds to my atmosphere
Finally, if you could be a character from a novel, who would you be and why?
Man, if I could be a character from a novel....another hard question given my favorite genres. I will say, I would love to be in The Expanse universe as a whole, and while it also has some darker tones, I would more than likely love to be Naomi. She's such a strong character and is heavily tied with her heritage as a Belter. Through the faces of turmoil, she usually stayed calm and chose logic over her actions.
Thank you to Theomora for her kindness and for sharing her literary world with us. You can find her on social media to discover more of her passions.
Threads: https://threads.com/Suburbianreads
Goodreads: https://goodreads.com/theogabrielli
See you in March for a new Reader Portrait, which I promise will be just as fascinating. Until then, stay tuned and keep exploring the wonderful world of books with us!
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