Reading. Cycling. Education. https://substack.com/@dan1997690?r=4hxm6&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=profilehttps://bsky.app/profile/dantjenks.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/dantjenks.bsky.social/post/3mkx7kb5zac2sRecent reading. As always thanks to all the writers, publishers, @backlisted.bsky.social @judecook.bsky.social @drjamesbailey.bsky.social @grantabooks.bsky.social @stuhennigan.bsky.social @fitzcarraldoeds.bsky.social @omnibuspress.bsky.social @serpents-tail.bsky.social @bhousepress.bsky.social etc03 May 2026 12:58 +0000at://did:plc:hex5q3xilgf7drow4ksngdef/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkx7kb5zac2shttps://bsky.app/profile/dantjenks.bsky.social/post/3mkq33gj46s2rThis Bowie project: BowieOdyssey by Simon Goddard pub @omnibuspress.bsky.social is a work of art. We’ve reached 1976 and almost all other work on Bowie seems flat and dull and plain by comparison.30 Apr 2026 16:50 +0000at://did:plc:hex5q3xilgf7drow4ksngdef/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkq33gj46s2rhttps://bsky.app/profile/dantjenks.bsky.social/post/3mkoxzsnqgc2rMaÏa Hruska’s Kafkaesque (expertly translated by Sam Taylor pub @wmcollinsbooks.bsky.social ) is a must read for not just for Kafka fans but for anyone interested in language, identity, loss and translation itself. In many ways it’s a history of the twentieth century- genuinely moving work.30 Apr 2026 06:23 +0000at://did:plc:hex5q3xilgf7drow4ksngdef/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkoxzsnqgc2rhttps://bsky.app/profile/dantjenks.bsky.social/post/3mkladxrp2s2yIf only all writers could be served as well as Muriel Spark has been by @drjamesbailey.bsky.social Like a Cat Loves a Bird. Clear eyed analysis, some lovely close reading, fair on the faults as well as the triumphs. There won’t be many better books on a writer this year.28 Apr 2026 18:41 +0000at://did:plc:hex5q3xilgf7drow4ksngdef/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkladxrp2s2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/dantjenks.bsky.social/post/3mkaxwkzmec27Any email that begins ‘I appreciate…’ clearly doesn’t appreciate24 Apr 2026 16:44 +0000at://did:plc:hex5q3xilgf7drow4ksngdef/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkaxwkzmec27https://bsky.app/profile/dantjenks.bsky.social/post/3mj3qt47rws2iLovely event to launch Maïa Hruska’s Kafkaesque from William Collins Books on Kafka and translations.09 Apr 2026 21:28 +0000at://did:plc:hex5q3xilgf7drow4ksngdef/app.bsky.feed.post/3mj3qt47rws2ihttps://bsky.app/profile/dantjenks.bsky.social/post/3mj2mgnd6ss25The cafe on the tenth floor of the new tower at Tate Modern is like some middle class tastefully dressed enclave high above London directly out of a JG Ballard gated community novel.09 Apr 2026 10:37 +0000at://did:plc:hex5q3xilgf7drow4ksngdef/app.bsky.feed.post/3mj2mgnd6ss25https://bsky.app/profile/dantjenks.bsky.social/post/3mj2jghtvvk2iThis looks easy. It’s not. After work, if I wanted to think about the future, I might have a drink in one of those dark-wood, etched-glass Victorian pubs near Pimlico, sitting on a wobbling stool by the wall. The Palm House - Gwendoline Riley.09 Apr 2026 09:43 +0000at://did:plc:hex5q3xilgf7drow4ksngdef/app.bsky.feed.post/3mj2jghtvvk2ihttps://bsky.app/profile/dantjenks.bsky.social/post/3mivp27uh6c23The postman always rings twice - when he forgets he’s got a second parcel for me - this just in from @reversediorama.bsky.social eagerly awaited indeed.07 Apr 2026 11:40 +0000at://did:plc:hex5q3xilgf7drow4ksngdef/app.bsky.feed.post/3mivp27uh6c23https://bsky.app/profile/dantjenks.bsky.social/post/3mivovvuphk23Been looking forward to this from @drjamesbailey.bsky.social what a beautiful thing it is too complete with my very own badge.07 Apr 2026 11:38 +0000at://did:plc:hex5q3xilgf7drow4ksngdef/app.bsky.feed.post/3mivovvuphk23https://bsky.app/profile/dantjenks.bsky.social/post/3mils55sawc2dWriters and book designers, how can you encourage me to buy your book? Maps. The answer is always maps. Look at this beauty from Jane Rogoyska - Exile Hotel pub by Allen Lane03 Apr 2026 13:09 +0000at://did:plc:hex5q3xilgf7drow4ksngdef/app.bsky.feed.post/3mils55sawc2dhttps://bsky.app/profile/dantjenks.bsky.social/post/3migyxsvqsk2xMany years ago I did a History of Art A level as an adult. The first old painting that I really connected with was a Masaccio. Today I got to stand in a gantry less than a metre from it. It sounds daft but I had tears in my eyes.01 Apr 2026 15:28 +0000at://did:plc:hex5q3xilgf7drow4ksngdef/app.bsky.feed.post/3migyxsvqsk2xhttps://bsky.app/profile/dantjenks.bsky.social/post/3mi7lshz5xs2hJust started reading this, I think.29 Mar 2026 16:43 +0000at://did:plc:hex5q3xilgf7drow4ksngdef/app.bsky.feed.post/3mi7lshz5xs2hhttps://bsky.app/profile/dantjenks.bsky.social/post/3mhtnp2av622xGreat work by @faberbooks.bsky.social getting this translated and published - Trotzig’s Queen. A quite remarkable novel with the family resemblance to Out Stealing Horses in its reticence and harsh emotions. Brilliant and brutal.24 Mar 2026 22:45 +0000at://did:plc:hex5q3xilgf7drow4ksngdef/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhtnp2av622xhttps://bsky.app/profile/dantjenks.bsky.social/post/3mhoiqo3p5s2wSpent the week immersed in this phenomenal book. Kim Ghattas has put together a guide for the uninformed on the fault lines, history, machinations and murderous ambitions behind Middle Eastern politics. It feels even more essential by the day22 Mar 2026 21:34 +0000at://did:plc:hex5q3xilgf7drow4ksngdef/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhoiqo3p5s2whttps://bsky.app/profile/dantjenks.bsky.social/post/3mhnylh2jgs25As a vegetarian can I suggest that restaurants don’t bother trying to replace the meat with some crappy Wellington or nut based abomination in a Sunday roast. Just give us extra roast potatoes, like lots and we’ll be happy.22 Mar 2026 16:44 +0000at://did:plc:hex5q3xilgf7drow4ksngdef/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhnylh2jgs25https://bsky.app/profile/dantjenks.bsky.social/post/3mhnbcw5hf227Auditory is my new highlight of the week This instalment will chime with those of us who were deeply unsettled by the gleeful reporting of Reading 94 in the music press at the time. And anything that is done to reclaim YMG from obscurity is fine by me. Thanks Andy. [contains quote post or other embedded content]22 Mar 2026 09:48 +0000at://did:plc:hex5q3xilgf7drow4ksngdef/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhnbcw5hf227https://bsky.app/profile/dantjenks.bsky.social/post/3mguveyxcak2wI am a rock bottom riser/and I owe it all to you Sometimes all I want to do is listen to Bill Callahan like forever.12 Mar 2026 17:10 +0000at://did:plc:hex5q3xilgf7drow4ksngdef/app.bsky.feed.post/3mguveyxcak2whttps://bsky.app/profile/dantjenks.bsky.social/post/3mgsh57amec2zThis is a fine take on biography. Christofi crafting Dostoyevsky’s life out of Fydor’s own words. Utterly readable and convincing. He’s also on this giving good value with @iammilliam.bsky.social , John and Arifa Akbar https://www.backlisted.fm/episodes/150-fyodor-dostoevsky-notes-from-under-the-floorboards11 Mar 2026 17:50 +0000at://did:plc:hex5q3xilgf7drow4ksngdef/app.bsky.feed.post/3mgsh57amec2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/dantjenks.bsky.social/post/3mgsasj2f3c2zBookpost is the best post. @littletollerbooks.bsky.social continuing to do God’s work with this lovely reissue of Thomas’ The Icknield Way with a gorgeous Spencer Gore cover.11 Mar 2026 15:57 +0000at://did:plc:hex5q3xilgf7drow4ksngdef/app.bsky.feed.post/3mgsasj2f3c2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/dantjenks.bsky.social/post/3mgkll7xq7c2l08 Mar 2026 14:48 +0000at://did:plc:hex5q3xilgf7drow4ksngdef/app.bsky.feed.post/3mgkll7xq7c2lhttps://bsky.app/profile/dantjenks.bsky.social/post/3mgkhm432ss26Sometimes as a teacher you mark something that makes you want to applaud the child for genuinely showing you something you’ve never seen before.08 Mar 2026 13:37 +0000at://did:plc:hex5q3xilgf7drow4ksngdef/app.bsky.feed.post/3mgkhm432ss26https://bsky.app/profile/dantjenks.bsky.social/post/3mgkhd3rvqc26I think I may love @iammilliam.bsky.social Auditory even more than his Inventory. Today I was transported back to 1985 and the Hammersmith Palais where I had my brain shredded by the Cramps with my good friends Jon and Mike. We still talk about that gig. Man, Andy has good taste. Thank you.08 Mar 2026 13:32 +0000at://did:plc:hex5q3xilgf7drow4ksngdef/app.bsky.feed.post/3mgkhd3rvqc26https://bsky.app/profile/dantjenks.bsky.social/post/3mg4akqvtjc2tWhat I’ve read so far this year. Thanks to all the writers, publishers and enthusiasts, including @lesfugitivespress.bsky.social @stuhennigan.bsky.social @iammilliam.bsky.social @conduitbooks.bsky.social @smwwriting.bsky.social @judecook.bsky.social @pippayork.bsky.social @backlisted.bsky.social02 Mar 2026 21:54 +0000at://did:plc:hex5q3xilgf7drow4ksngdef/app.bsky.feed.post/3mg4akqvtjc2thttps://bsky.app/profile/dantjenks.bsky.social/post/3mfhrzwpm3k2dHave faith in wordless knowledge Well, I can tell you about the river Or we could just get in Bill Callahan22 Feb 2026 18:41 +0000at://did:plc:hex5q3xilgf7drow4ksngdef/app.bsky.feed.post/3mfhrzwpm3k2d