M.A.Orthofer
@maorthofer.bsky.social
π€ 694
π₯ 272
π 1193
The Complete Review and its Literary Saloon. [
https://www.complete-review.com/main/main.html]
New review: Eduardo Halfon's ππππππ‘π’ππ
www.complete-review.com/reviews/guat...
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Tarantula - Eduardo Halfon
A review, and links to other information about and reviews of Tarantula by Eduardo Halfon.
https://www.complete-review.com/reviews/guatemala/halfone2.htm
about 15 hours ago
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Pleased to see Shahrnush Parsipur's excellent πππππ πππ‘βππ’π‘ πππ (
www.complete-review.com/reviews/iran...
) longlisted for Int'l Booker Prize, and presumably the Feminist Press ed. never 'came out' in the UK, hence eligible, but isn't it a 2012 (Β©2011) translation ?
feministpress.org/products/978...
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Women Without Men
From an outspoken Iranian author comes a βcharming, powerful novellaβ that is banned in Iran for its depiction of female freedom (Publishers Weekly).βParsipur is a courageous, talented woman, and abov...
https://feministpress.org/products/9781558617537-women-without-men
about 16 hours ago
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New review: Nobel laureate HalldΓ³r Laxness' π΄ πππππ β πΆβπππππππ
www.complete-review.com/reviews/hall...
(US ed. just out; UK ed. coming 7/2026)
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A Parish Chronicle - HalldΓ³r Laxness
A review, and links to other information about and reviews of A Parish Chronicle by HalldΓ³r Laxness.
https://www.complete-review.com/reviews/halldor/parish_chronicle.htm
3 days ago
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Today's
@nytimes.com
Book Review table of contents sure suggests they have a lot of questions:
3 days ago
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In the mail: "A History of Classical China, from Confucius to the First Emperor" by Andrew Seth Meyer, ππ π π’ππ π΄ππ π’ππππ π»πππ£ππ
global.oup.com/academic/pro...
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https://global.oup.com/academic/product/to-rule-all-under-heaven-9780197667484
4 days ago
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"Bestselling Women Writers in Japan Defy ClichΓ©" reports
@publisherswkly.bsky.social
www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/...
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Bestselling Women Writers in Japan Defy ClichΓ©
Mieko Kawakami, Asako Yuzuki, and other novelists offer fewer cats and cafΓ©s, more cultural critique.
https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/international/international-book-news/article/99736-bestselling-women-writers-in-japan-defy-clich.html
4 days ago
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New review: Choi Jin-young's π»π’ππππ
www.complete-review.com/reviews/kore...
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Hunger - Choi Jin-young
A review, and links to other information about and reviews of Hunger by Choi Jin-young.
https://www.complete-review.com/reviews/korea/choi_jin_young2.htm
5 days ago
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"Written between 1995 and 2018, each novel is written in paragraph-free stream-of-consciousness prose consisting of long-running sentences (the longest stretching to about 150 pages) broken up mainly by commas."
www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/arti...
Have to admit, mostly struggled some with these.
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Soifs, the monumental literary project by Marie-Claire Blais, now fully translated into English
With its paragraph-free prose and absence of a traditional plot, the Soifs cycle has been challenging French readers for years
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/article-soifs-the-monumental-literary-project-by-marie-claire-blais-now-fully/
5 days ago
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Cees Nooteboom obit
@nytimes.com
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/19/b...
Noting also: "Only a fraction of his complete works has appeared in English", *sigh*.
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Cees Nooteboom, Voyaging Author of Enigmatic Novels, Dies at 92
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/19/books/cees-nooteboom-dead.html
5 days ago
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In the mail: most exciting arrival of the day, however, definitely the three-volume set of Yoshikawa Eiji's ππ’π ππ βπ, "translated for the first time in its entirety" (!), from Tuttle.
tuttlepublishing.com/japan/musash...
5 days ago
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In the mail: a duo from Dedalus β the latest 'Take Six'-collection
www.dedalusbooks.com/our-books/bo...
and Anna Albinus' π ππ£πππ£ππ πΆβπππ π‘π
www.dedalusbooks.com/our-books/bo...
β and yet more Antoine Volodine, πβπ ππππππ πΊππππ , from
@archipelagobooks.bsky.social
archipelagobooks.org/book/the-mon...
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The Monroe Girls - Archipelago Books
For readers of Thomas Pynchon, a conspiratorial adventure through a bleak future where the dead (and their political factions) never really die, from one of Franceβs most visionary writers Breton has ...
https://archipelagobooks.org/book/the-monroe-girls/
5 days ago
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Alberto Manguel reviews "An allegory of a declining empire" by GonΓ§alo M. Tavares, π πΉππ πππ πΈπ π‘ππππ ππππππ ππ π΄ππΜππππ,
@thetls.bsky.social
www.the-tls.com/literature/f...
[Β£] A 900 pp. "epopeia, satΓrica e distΓ³pica" !
www.relogiodagua.pt/produto/o-fi...
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O FIM DOS ESTADOS UNIDOS DA AMΓRICA - RelΓ³gio D'Γgua
Depois de βUma Viagem Γ Γndiaβ, βO Fim dos Estados Unidos da AmΓ©ricaβ Γ© a nova EPOPEIA de GonΓ§alo M. Tavares.
https://www.relogiodagua.pt/produto/o-fim-dos-estados-unidos-da-america/
6 days ago
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Package was zipping along through the system β Iowa to Jersey City in little more than 24 hours β but those last fifty miles have taken ten days (and counting ....).
7 days ago
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New review: Ian McEwan's latest, πβππ‘ ππ πΆππ πΎπππ€
www.complete-review.com/reviews/mcew...
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What We Can Know - Ian McEwan
A review, and links to other information about and reviews of What We Can Know by Ian McEwan.
https://www.complete-review.com/reviews/mcewani/what.htm
8 days ago
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Longlist for
@dublinlitaward.bsky.social
announced
dublinliteraryaward.ie/features/new...
Twenty novels !
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2026 Dublin Literary Award Longlist is Revealed - Dublin Literary Award
https://dublinliteraryaward.ie/features/news/2026-dublin-literary-award-longlist-is-revealed/
8 days ago
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reposted by
M.A.Orthofer
Daniel Milkovits
9 days ago
Am 20. Oktober 2026 wird Elfriede
#Jelinek
80 Jahre alt. Aus diesem Anlass findet an der
@univie.ac.at
schon am 12. MΓ€rz eine Auftaktveranstaltung unter dem Motto WELT.AUTORIN.JELINEK statt. Eintritt frei!
#LitWiss
ifvjelinek.at/veranstaltun...
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reposted by
M.A.Orthofer
John Williams
9 days ago
The awfulness of the first sentence here is obvious. As for the second sentence, I don't think they do and I don't think they do.
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In the mail: more Tove Ditlevsen ! ARC of πππβπππ'π π πππ, coming from
@fsgbooks.bsky.social
5/2026
us.macmillan.com/books/978037...
(Yes, this already came out in the UK last fall:
www.penguin.co.uk/books/455368...
)
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Vilhelm's Room
A searing final novel about the collapse of a marriage and its aftermath, by the author of the modern classic Copenhagen Trilogy. I want to write a book ab...
https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374613495/vilhelmsroom/
10 days ago
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reposted by
M.A.Orthofer
Daniel Kennedy
11 days ago
as good an excuse as any to show some Wakefield Press appreciation. Post your Wakefields!
add a skeleton here at some point
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New review: Sacha Bronwasser's πΏππ π‘ππ
www.complete-review.com/reviews/nied...
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Listen - Sacha Bronwasser
A review, and links to other information about and reviews of Listen by Sacha Bronwasser.
https://www.complete-review.com/reviews/niederld/bronwasser.htm
12 days ago
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reposted by
M.A.Orthofer
Daniel Syrovy
12 days ago
Schattenfroh (Johannes Mario Simmel)
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Not sure this is a good dare.
en.ara.cat/culture/albe...
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Albert SΓ‘nchez PiΓ±ol dares to continue 'Moby Dick'
'After the Shipwreck' will be the first book he publishes with Univers, an imprint of Abacus Futur, after 25 years with La Campana.
https://en.ara.cat/culture/albert-sanchez-pinol-dares-to-continue-moby-dick_1_5645415.html
13 days ago
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www.koninklijkhuis.nl/actueel/nieu...
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Reactie van Koning Willem-Alexander, Koningin MΓ‘xima en Prinses Beatrix op het overlijden van Cees Nooteboom
βMet groot respect gedenken wij Cees Nooteboom, een van onze meest prominente auteurs. Hij wist culturen te verbinden en mensen te raken met zijn fijnzinnige pen. Nederland verliest een literaire groo...
https://www.koninklijkhuis.nl/actueel/nieuws/2026/02/11/reactie-van-koning-willem-alexander-koningin-maxima-en-prinses-beatrix-op-het-overlijden-van-cees-nooteboom
13 days ago
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reposted by
M.A.Orthofer
Dan Sinykin
13 days ago
Cool new essay that analyzes data from
@post45data.bsky.social
to argue for the rise of literary nationalism in parallel with political nationalism
substack.com/home/post/p-...
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Literary Nationalism
Why don't Americans read more European fiction? Why don't Europeans?
https://substack.com/home/post/p-187673370
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Great to hear a new edition/translation of this coming out. (Andrew Bromfield's translation came out from much-missed Glas in 1991
web.archive.org/web/20120512...
)
add a skeleton here at some point
14 days ago
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In the mail: great to see more Γngel Bonomini coming: ARC of ππππ€ πΈπππβπππ‘π ππ πππππ (
@transitbooks.bsky.social
8/2026)
www.transitbooks.org/books/slowel...
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Transit Books β Slow Elephants of Milan
ΓNGEL BONOMINI translated by Jordan Landsman Enigmatic fictions from a lost master of Argentine literature. A man and woman on a road trip make an unplanned detour to Laar, an empty city o...
https://www.transitbooks.org/books/slowelephantsofmilan
14 days ago
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New review: Karl Ove Knausgaard's πβπ ππβπππ ππ πππβπ‘
www.complete-review.com/reviews/norg...
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The School of Night - Karl Ove Knausgaard
A review, and links to other information about and reviews of The School of Night by Karl Ove Knausgaard.
https://www.complete-review.com/reviews/norge/knausgk_MS_4.htm
16 days ago
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Ah, the deep, hard questions I forget to ask myself when reading: "Can literature be tasted ?" Almost have to admire this level of nonsense
www.fashion-headline.com/en/article/4...
Almost. ("Freely inspired by Yukio Mishimaβs βStrawberryβ" ! (But: "not officially affiliated with any rights holder"))
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When Literature Turns to Chocolate: thΓ©omurataβs Note de Coeur and the Aftertaste of Storytelling | GOURMET | FASHION HEADLINE
thΓ©omurata presents Note de Coeur, a Valentine & White Day limited chocolate collection inspired by Yukio
https://www.fashion-headline.com/en/article/487428
17 days ago
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In the mail: very pleased to see a very nice-looking stack of four William Golding-novels, from
@penguinclassicsusa.bsky.social
!
19 days ago
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New review: Alessandro Robecchi's (multiple-)mystery novel, π΅πππππ πππ’π‘βπ
www.complete-review.com/reviews/trcr...
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Broken Truths - Alessandro Robecchi
A review, and links to other information about and reviews of Broken Truths by Alessandro Robecchi.
https://www.complete-review.com/reviews/trcrime/robecchia.htm
20 days ago
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Books page
@washingtonpost.com
still up
www.washingtonpost.com/entertainmen...
, for now; fitting lead/top review-title
20 days ago
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reposted by
M.A.Orthofer
Sam Sacks
21 days ago
This is horrible. The WaPo's Books section has a brilliant band of critics and editors and has developed a genuine identity in the book world. I'm heartbroken for a staff that has done such consistently great and dedicated work.
add a skeleton here at some point
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reposted by
M.A.Orthofer
Daniel Kennedy
21 days ago
pretty cool (albeit Paris-centric) sounding literary prize here were the winner gets one free drink every night for a year
add a skeleton here at some point
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So apparently when they announced the longlist for this year's prix JΓ©sus Paradis yesterday they didn't have a finished display copy for one of the titles, so somebody drew the cover. Not quite the Γditions de Minuit colophon but, hey, B+ for effort
www.livreshebdo.fr/sites/defaul...
21 days ago
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In the mail: more Can Xue ! πβπ πΈππβπππ‘πππ πΏππ£ππ ππ ππ‘βπππ , from
@yalepress.bsky.social
yalebooks.yale.edu/book/9780300...
Over 400 pp, so just to make sure they try to reΓ€ssure readers by promising: "This is the most accessible work yet from the celebrated writer" βΊοΈ
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The Enchanting Lives of Others
A celebration of the beguiling power of literature, from one of the worldβs greatest storytellersAt the Pigeon Book Club, a circle of readers gathers for e...
https://yalebooks.yale.edu/book/9780300281651/the-enchanting-lives-of-others/
21 days ago
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Good to see this getting some early *buzz*/attention.
add a skeleton here at some point
21 days ago
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New review: Viktor Domontovych's 1928 novel πβπ πΊπππ π€ππ‘β π‘βπ πππππ¦ π΅πππ
www.complete-review.com/reviews/ukra...
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The Girl with the Teddy Bear - Viktor Domontovych
A review, and links to other information about and reviews of The Girl with the Teddy Bear by Viktor Domontovych.
https://www.complete-review.com/reviews/ukraine/domontovychv.htm
22 days ago
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Pamela Paul on Lionel Shriver is quite the combination
www.wsj.com/arts-culture...
[$ ?] Still, can't really disagree that: "The only real limitations sheβs experienced, she said, are those of her own talent." Either one.
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Lionel Shriver Infuriates the Literary World. Thatβs Fine By Her.
The authorβs new novel, about a progressive Brooklyn family that embraces open borders, is landing at a fevered moment.
https://www.wsj.com/arts-culture/books/lionel-shriver-infuriates-the-literary-world-thats-fine-by-her-09448e53
22 days ago
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The world we live in now: not really surprised by this
www.chosun.com/english/trav...
and the small-print note at the end is perfect: "This article has been translated by Upstage Solar AI."
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AI Triumphs Over Human Translators in Korean Literature Translation Test
AI Triumphs Over Human Translators in Korean Literature Translation Test In a blind test of Joseon-era poet Jang Yus work, 12 English literature professors favored ChatGPTs translation for cultural nu...
https://www.chosun.com/english/travel-food-en/2026/02/02/TTXCFMS2MJEINIZANZ5WVZB54Q/
23 days ago
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New review: Philip Owens' 1936 novel of a modern-day 'Will Shakespere', ππππ‘π’ππ ππ ππππππ¦
www.complete-review.com/reviews/gb19...
, a neat little rediscovery coming from
@mcnallyeditions.com
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Picture of Nobody - Philip Owens
A review, and links to other information about and reviews of Picture of Nobody by Philip Owens.
https://www.complete-review.com/reviews/gb190045/owensp.htm
24 days ago
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In the mail: very nice end-of-week trio, incl. the eagerly anticipated early Soviet-era (1928) Ukrainian novel πβπ πΊπππ π€ππ‘β π‘βπ πππππ¦ π΅πππ by Viktor Domontovych from Dedalus
www.dedalusbooks.com/our-books/bo...
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The Girl with the Teddy Bear by Viktor Domontovych : Our Books :: Dedalus Books, Publishers of Literary Fiction
Dedalus is an alternative, independent publisher, founded in England in 1983. The films on our page are all related to the books we publish. Our list includes contemporary English language fiction, tr...
https://www.dedalusbooks.com/our-books/book.php?id=00000407
26 days ago
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BΓ©la Tarr country: readings from Krasznahorkai's works: "have been condensed by the organisers into a seven-hour film"
hlo.hu/news/seven-h...
Condensed π!
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Seven-Hour Film Made about the Journey of the Nobel Mobile 2025 | hlo.hu - Hungarian Literature Online
The Nobel Mobile 2025 set off on December 10, the day of the Nobel Prize ceremony. Recordings from its route, featuring readings from Krasznahorkai's works, have been condensed by the organisers into ...
https://hlo.hu/news/seven-hour-film-made-about-the-journey-of-the-nobel-mobile-2025.html
26 days ago
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The Dukaj (
www.complete-review.com/reviews/pols...
) is now the third novel with this title under review at the CR; I think that's a first at the site. (They're all about the cold kind; don't think I'll be getting to any books about the currently-more-in-the-news kind .....)
28 days ago
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New review: Jacek Dukaj's colossal slab of πΌππ
www.complete-review.com/reviews/pols...
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Ice - Jacek Dukaj
A review, and links to other information about and reviews of Ice by Jacek Dukaj.
https://www.complete-review.com/reviews/polska/dukajj.htm
28 days ago
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reposted by
M.A.Orthofer
Daniel Kennedy
29 days ago
now I see why American books are often floppier
add a skeleton here at some point
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reposted by
M.A.Orthofer
Tim Groenland
29 days ago
This is from a great new essay by
@emmettstinson.bsky.social
www.erudit.org/en/journals/...
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Gerald Murnaneβs Transnational Reception β MΓ©moires du livre / Studies in Book Culture
An article from MΓ©moires du livre / Studies in Book Culture, on Γrudit.
https://www.erudit.org/en/journals/memoires/2025-v16-n2-memoires010471/1122229ar/
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Good to see more reviews of this rolling in.
add a skeleton here at some point
30 days ago
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Google ever-helpful in dishing up unasked for additional suggestions to queries (that leave me wondering: who on earth asked π‘βππ‘). (However, *either* way, that is definitely Schneefall outside my window right now.)
about 1 month ago
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reposted by
M.A.Orthofer
Jonathan Gibbs
about 1 month ago
Bookshop βbrowsingβ is an intricate, multi-dimensional activity that engages with covers, spines, βbookseller notesβ, table layouts, opening the books and reading bits, recalling long-buried reviews/mentions. All your previous reading experience pours into the process of selecting your next book!
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In the mail: very pleased to see ARC of Birgitta Trotzig's ππ’πππ (
@archipelagobooks.bsky.social
2/2026)
archipelagobooks.org/book/queen/
as well as Richard Hell's πΊππππππ from
@nyrb-imprints.bsky.social
www.nyrb.com/products/god...
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Queen - Archipelago Books
Long-awaited rediscovery of visionary Swedish writer Birgitta Trotzig and her mythic, modernist classic, Queen Birgitta Trotzigβs 1964 novella is the story of a girl named Judit who is stubborn and si...
https://archipelagobooks.org/book/queen/
about 1 month ago
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