https://bsky.app/profile/bookishbeck.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/bookishbeck.bsky.social/post/3mi54jmdlnc2eNot sure why, but my 2016 review of The Essex Serpent seems to have gone 'viral' on Goodreads, picking up an additional 120 likes over the past couple of weeks. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/152718337928 Mar 2026 17:05 +0000at://did:plc:v4yfty6t7vdxl4bfa7suikw3/app.bsky.feed.post/3mi54jmdlnc2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/bookishbeck.bsky.social/post/3mdl7atkekc2aThese novels by literary lions share themes of ageing, loss, and memory, as well as a wry and gently melancholy tone. (I’ve read 23 books by Julian Barnes, a favourite author of mine since my twenties, whereas Stewart O’Nan was new to me.) Reviewed on my blog today: https://bookishbeck.com/2026/01/29/january-releases-by-julian-barnes-and-stewart-onan/29 Jan 2026 16:25 +0000at://did:plc:v4yfty6t7vdxl4bfa7suikw3/app.bsky.feed.post/3mdl7atkekc2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/bookishbeck.bsky.social/post/3mchmm3fsac2vI finally took the plunge and deactivated my X account. The problem is that I always forget to come here, and when I do I don't find much in the way of community or interaction...15 Jan 2026 12:48 +0000at://did:plc:v4yfty6t7vdxl4bfa7suikw3/app.bsky.feed.post/3mchmm3fsac2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/bookishbeck.bsky.social/post/3m4qocomfak2mHilarious review request via Instagram DM today: "The book (in brief) is a 36 page book that follow a character learning the lessons of a philosophy I created around the concept of honesty from a wise man on a train." 😂 I also liked the greeting: "Hi mate I will get straight to the point."03 Nov 2025 18:41 +0000at://did:plc:v4yfty6t7vdxl4bfa7suikw3/app.bsky.feed.post/3m4qocomfak2mhttps://bsky.app/profile/bookishbeck.bsky.social/post/3m3fpnb3tos2uAnnoyed with everyone/everything atm, so it was lovely to get this: "just wanted to say how delighted all at the Press were ... That line about 'Poles of loss and abundance' is so perfect. So grateful for the time and attention that you all gave to the book!" https://www.shelf-awareness.com/sar-issue.html?issue=1307#m2662617 Oct 2025 16:41 +0000at://did:plc:v4yfty6t7vdxl4bfa7suikw3/app.bsky.feed.post/3m3fpnb3tos2uhttps://bsky.app/profile/bookishbeck.bsky.social/post/3m25dqcb4es2nMany thanks to @commapress.bsky.social for the review copy of The BBC National Short Story Award 2025 anthology. I managed to read it before last night's awards announcement and thoroughly enjoyed it (even though my prediction was far wrong!) https://bookishbeck.com/2025/09/30/the-bbc-national-short-story-award-2025-anthology/01 Oct 2025 15:21 +0000at://did:plc:v4yfty6t7vdxl4bfa7suikw3/app.bsky.feed.post/3m25dqcb4es2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/bookishbeck.bsky.social/post/3lxd2m7ufkk2kNext month we're off to Berlin (and Lübeck) for the first time. I'm sure many of you will have been to the city and loved it, so do share your ideas for what we must see, do and eat!26 Aug 2025 17:38 +0000at://did:plc:v4yfty6t7vdxl4bfa7suikw3/app.bsky.feed.post/3lxd2m7ufkk2khttps://bsky.app/profile/bookishbeck.bsky.social/post/3lwmfggj74k2pUK readers: Buy ANY book 15-17 August, and you could win a £250 Bookshop.org digital gift card! Every sale supports independent bookshops: https://uk.bookshop.org/lists/win-a-250-bookshop-org-gift-card17 Aug 2025 17:21 +0000at://did:plc:v4yfty6t7vdxl4bfa7suikw3/app.bsky.feed.post/3lwmfggj74k2phttps://bsky.app/profile/bookishbeck.bsky.social/post/3lqwrecni3k2sAmazing to see Peggy Seeger on her farewell tour yesterday. She's one of my heroes, still sharp as a tack at 89. Traditionals, classics ("I'm Gonna Be an Engineer"), and lots from her last album. Also a bawdy anti-Trump ditty! Her new version of "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" had me in tears.06 Jun 2025 11:50 +0000at://did:plc:v4yfty6t7vdxl4bfa7suikw3/app.bsky.feed.post/3lqwrecni3k2shttps://bsky.app/profile/bookishbeck.bsky.social/post/3lq3e4du3k22lPost-it note left as a place-marker at p. 38 in a copy of White Teeth donated to the Little Free Library: "Morning gorgeous :) Gone out for a walk -- should be around 40 mins. I love you very much, Ellie ❤️❤️ xxxxxxxxxx" I love these little glimpses into other lives!26 May 2025 14:11 +0000at://did:plc:v4yfty6t7vdxl4bfa7suikw3/app.bsky.feed.post/3lq3e4du3k22lhttps://bsky.app/profile/bookishbeck.bsky.social/post/3lpqtzc4ifk2oIt's been such a joy being part of the judging process for the McKitterick Prize over the past four years. Check out our amazing 2025 shortlist! 👇 [contains quote post or other embedded content]22 May 2025 09:56 +0000at://did:plc:v4yfty6t7vdxl4bfa7suikw3/app.bsky.feed.post/3lpqtzc4ifk2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/bookishbeck.bsky.social/post/3lpouzd6ysk2jWhat a novelty to get caught in the rain on my afternoon walk! I wasn't expecting to get soaked, however 😆21 May 2025 15:08 +0000at://did:plc:v4yfty6t7vdxl4bfa7suikw3/app.bsky.feed.post/3lpouzd6ysk2jhttps://bsky.app/profile/bookishbeck.bsky.social/post/3lpjimd6sck2oLooking forward to this one already! [contains quote post or other embedded content]19 May 2025 11:43 +0000at://did:plc:v4yfty6t7vdxl4bfa7suikw3/app.bsky.feed.post/3lpjimd6sck2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/bookishbeck.bsky.social/post/3loot2wvkjs2g@chrisfoster.bsky.social Benny wishes this was him! [contains quote post or other embedded content]08 May 2025 21:08 +0000at://did:plc:v4yfty6t7vdxl4bfa7suikw3/app.bsky.feed.post/3loot2wvkjs2ghttps://bsky.app/profile/bookishbeck.bsky.social/post/3lo25cyxpqs2jIt's been an honour and a pleasure to be involved in judging the McKitterick Prize again this year! [contains quote post or other embedded content]30 Apr 2025 15:46 +0000at://did:plc:v4yfty6t7vdxl4bfa7suikw3/app.bsky.feed.post/3lo25cyxpqs2jhttps://bsky.app/profile/bookishbeck.bsky.social/post/3lnftsdnv3k2eA terrific #bookpost day! Thank you to @canongate.co.uk for a finished copy of NATURE'S GENIUS by David Farrier (out on 8 May), whose Footprints was one of my top reads of 2020. Plus my Bookshop order of STAG DANCE by Torrey Peters @serpents-tail.bsky.social arrived -- solidarity with trans women!22 Apr 2025 14:02 +0000at://did:plc:v4yfty6t7vdxl4bfa7suikw3/app.bsky.feed.post/3lnftsdnv3k2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/bookishbeck.bsky.social/post/3llc3ago4fc2yMany thanks to @eandtbooks.bsky.social for a finished copy of CHINESE PARENTS DON'T SAY I LOVE YOU by Candice Chung, coming out on 24 April. I can't resist a food memoir (or "foodoir")! #bookpost26 Mar 2025 15:14 +0000at://did:plc:v4yfty6t7vdxl4bfa7suikw3/app.bsky.feed.post/3llc3ago4fc2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/bookishbeck.bsky.social/post/3lkgtffm6ss2bThank you to @sceptrebooks.bsky.social for a proof copy of Dream State by Eric Puchner. I've been hearing great things about this one since its U.S. release (it's an Oprah's Book Club selection!). It's published in the UK on 8 May. #bookpost15 Mar 2025 19:12 +0000at://did:plc:v4yfty6t7vdxl4bfa7suikw3/app.bsky.feed.post/3lkgtffm6ss2bhttps://bsky.app/profile/bookishbeck.bsky.social/post/3lkgt7mf2ts2bThank you to @faberbooks.bsky.social for a copy of That Broke into Shining Crystals by Richard Scott. I loved his earlier poetry collection, Soho. This is out on 22 April and I'm looking forward to reading it soon! #bookpost15 Mar 2025 19:09 +0000at://did:plc:v4yfty6t7vdxl4bfa7suikw3/app.bsky.feed.post/3lkgt7mf2ts2bhttps://bsky.app/profile/bookishbeck.bsky.social/post/3lkb665mehc2sThank you to @yalebooks.bsky.social for a review copy of Museum Visits by Éric Chevillard (translated by Daniel Levin Becker). I'm looking forward to catching up on this intriguing collection of micro-essays. #bookpost13 Mar 2025 13:09 +0000at://did:plc:v4yfty6t7vdxl4bfa7suikw3/app.bsky.feed.post/3lkb665mehc2shttps://bsky.app/profile/bookishbeck.bsky.social/post/3lkb5ze2gec2sMany thanks to @atlanticbooks.bsky.social for a copy of Find Me As the Creature I Am by Emily Jungmin Yoon. I've been hearing great things about this poetry collection (released in the USA last year) and I look forward to reviewing it at its 3 April publication date. #bookpost13 Mar 2025 13:06 +0000at://did:plc:v4yfty6t7vdxl4bfa7suikw3/app.bsky.feed.post/3lkb5ze2gec2shttps://bsky.app/profile/bookishbeck.bsky.social/post/3liuiwnxgos2aExcellent #bookpost yesterday from @eandtbooks.bsky.social! Mother Animal by @helenjukes.bsky.social is out on the 27th and I am already stuck in for #readindies. Lifelines by @julianhoffman.bsky.social comes out on 15 May. Both were on my Most Anticipated list for the first half of the year.23 Feb 2025 18:52 +0000at://did:plc:v4yfty6t7vdxl4bfa7suikw3/app.bsky.feed.post/3liuiwnxgos2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/bookishbeck.bsky.social/post/3lhjhk6ht5k2iMany thanks to Kate Green at @picadorbooks.bsky.social for a proof copy of Emma Donoghue's new novel, coming out on 20 March. THE PARIS EXPRESS is based on the true story of an 1895 train disaster. #bookpost06 Feb 2025 16:02 +0000at://did:plc:v4yfty6t7vdxl4bfa7suikw3/app.bsky.feed.post/3lhjhk6ht5k2ihttps://bsky.app/profile/bookishbeck.bsky.social/post/3lgxd2cqlws2xBest spam e-mail I've received through my blog in a long time, advertising "the purple peel exploit — a revolutionary way to boost your body’s calorie-burning power." I can't begin to imagine what it could be, but I'm not going to watch the linked video!30 Jan 2025 10:54 +0000at://did:plc:v4yfty6t7vdxl4bfa7suikw3/app.bsky.feed.post/3lgxd2cqlws2x