Sean is a miserable misanthropic bookseller living in LA and trying to write a novel. By turns annoying and hilarious, every time I began to lose patience he would hit me with a biting & funny observation. Themes of gentrification, self-loathing & the frustrations of customer service. #books 💙📚🖋️

There’s a lot of really great journalism on this shortlist.

It’s really interesting that this prize includes different genres, including novels, poetry and memoir. I’ve only read Han Kang’s We Do Not Part so far, which is an excellent book. I most want to read Désirée Congo next (if I can find it). 💙📚🖋️

Well that’s the first year in ages that I haven’t read the full Booker Prize shortlist, and of course the only one I’m missing is the winner! Not sure how it passed me by. I think my lesson is not to judge a book by its title. I’m off to the bookshop in the morning.

The #BookerPrize2025 winner will be announced this evening. I’ve read five of the six shortlisted books (I was not tempted by Flesh). My favourite is Flashlight by Susan Choi. I was immersed in this brilliant novel from the very beginning. I very much hope she wins the prize. 💙📚🖋️ 🧵1/3

I loved this epic literary novel from the very first pages. A well-written, immersive narrative which informs about geopolitical issues through characters I really cared about. From post-WW2 Koreans in Japan, through the late C20th US immigrant experience, to today. #BookerPrize2025 #books 💙📚🖋️

An engaging and sometimes humorous nonfiction book about looking for a father figure. The 31-year-old author, who never had a dad, looks for candidates for that role by placing “dadverts” in various publications. An interesting premise, well told, with an original voice. #books 💙📚💡

A very American literary novel, shortlisted for the #BookerPrize2025 Tom is having a midlife crisis, and health problems. Like a male All Fours, except with sport instead of sex, and he actually goes on the road trip. Similarly annoying privileged characters. Didn’t love it, sorry. #books 💙📚🖋️

Set in 1970s Italy in the world of film-making, this literary novel fictionalises real events around the life and death of Pasolini. A queer love story with an air of menace. Themes of power, artifice and the underlying threat of fascism. I’m glad I read her essay (Guardian 1/11) first #books 💙📚🖋️

A queer, gothic, Latin American vampire tale. Two women in Buenos Aires, one in the 1860s & one in the present day, are linked when the one who’s a vampire is awakened by the other. Well-written and atmospheric, with themes of desire, loneliness, grief and mortality. #books 💙📚🖋️📚🩸

An enjoyable and engrossing historical crime thriller. Set in Calcutta towards the end of British Empire rule, with plenty of atmospheric detail and political awareness. Banerjee and Wyndham are reunited when Suren’s cousin disappears and Sam investigates a murder. pub.13 Nov #books 💙📚⚡️ 1/2…

A literary horror thriller; a compelling mystery spanning countries & decades. When strangers Jake and Mariko meet in an airport, they discover a gruesome coincidence of lost loved ones. Horror is not a genre I prefer, but I enjoyed this because of its engaging plot and pacy writing. #books 💙📚🩸

A powerful takedown of the “Western Civilisation” brand by a knowledgeable science historian/museum curator. She includes some personal memoir along with well-researched information. Particularly strong on ‘race science’ and its impact historically. Accessible and relevant. #books 💙📚💡

I loved this fascinating piece of speculative fiction, somewhere between a novel and a collection of linked stories. In the distant future, there are few humans left on Earth. Themes of cloning, AI, evolution, community and the nature of humanity. Meditative, sometimes unsettling #books 💙📚🪐

Fun NYT Connections puzzle this morning! Finally, the respect due to Only Connect and @vcorenmitchell.bsky.social

A richly detailed literary epic. Set in late 20th century India, New York and beyond. Sonia and Sunny are separately trying to find their way in the world. I felt a fundamental sadness, frustration and dissatisfaction within all the characters. It’s very long. #BookerPrize2025 #books 💙📚🖋️

This is definitely worth exploring! 💙📚🖋️

This is a great idea, I think. Especially having both children and adults as judges.

Reading Natalie Haynes’ Greek Myth Celebrity Traitors character list is the most fun I’ve had this week. Please read all the parts; just perfect.

The second volume of the most thought-provoking literary series this year. Tara is still repeating the 18th November. Now she grasps agency, and travels around Europe in pursuit of the seasons. Profound, stunning, brilliant prose. I am obsessed. 1/2… #books 💙📚🖋️

The super new mystery from @janicehallett.bsky.social set in the world of pub quizzes. I love her modern take on the epistolary novel, using text messages, emails, police recordings etc to establish characters and move the plot forward. Lots of twists! Great fun, skilfully done. #books 💙📚⚡️

A revenge thriller set in modern-day New York. Lila, a glamorous movie star, and her partner Kurt are filming an adaptation of Tender Is The Night. Her therapist Jonah is keen on F Scott Fitzgerald. They’re all hiding secrets. #books 💙📚⚡️

A novel with two distinct voices. In 1971, unpleasant actor Klaus Kinski has a shouty breakdown on stage in Germany. 50 years later, ‘The Writer’, enduring the pandemic lockdown in his Yorkshire home, becomes a bit obsessed with him. This part I liked. UK publication 23 October #books 💙📚🖋️

A unique blend of interesting historical and biographical details about 16th & 17th century nuns, mixed with personal anecdotes and pop culture references. Developed from a podcast. The authors have good knowledge and expertise. UK publication 4th November #books 💙📚💡

An existential Polish thriller that I’m delighted to re-read for book club. Janina, an eccentric older woman, narrates. She prefers animals to humans, and has strong interests in William Blake and astrology. When hunters in her rural community are murdered, she gets investigating… #books 💙📚🖋️

A proper, satisfying novel with a perfect balance of character interiority, descriptive setting and insightful observation. In winter 1962, in a village outside Bristol, Rita and Irene are both pregnant. They and their husbands confront the big freeze. Profound & exquisite #BookerPrize2025 💙📚🖋️

A fantastic & fascinating memoir. This stands out from the crowd because it is a rarity: a life that is full and interesting; which speaks to our times; and is also marvellously well written. I have long loved her fiction and political writing, so I enjoyed learning so much more about her. 💙📚💡

A fantastic & fascinating memoir. This stands out from the crowd because it is a rarity: a life that is full and interesting; which speaks to our times; and is also marvellously well written. I have long loved her fiction and political writing, so I enjoyed learning so much more about her. 💙📚💡

A beautifully written coming of age tale. James looks back to his teenage self, 20 years ago in the early 2000s, when he had an all-absorbing obsessive crush on Luke from the farm down the road. Their quiet village is well-described. #books 💙📚🖋️

The story of Lavinia, mentioned in Virgil’s Aeneid, brought to life by Ursula Le Guin. Richly imagined with plenty of detail of pre-Roman life. I preferred the household scenes, nature and rituals to the battles. Interesting approach to dialogue with the poet. #books 💙📚🖋️

I was on the fence about reading this novel, being a fan of Benjamin Myers but feeling averse to spending time with the unpleasant Kinski. But this review has tipped me surely into the positive side. I’m on the lookout for it now! 💙📚

Yes! It’s part of the Storyville documentary strand, broadcasting late on Tuesday night, so I guess it’ll be on the iPlayer shortly after that.

An undemanding whodunnit. At her retirement from the police, Midge is gifted a weekend in a ‘haunted house’. When the group of stock characters is inevitably isolated by snow and slashed tyres, a murder occurs. Is it the ghost of the White Lady? (No.) UK publication 16th October #books 💙📚⚡️

We are delighted to announce the #GoldsmithsPrize2025 shortlist. Congratulations to our six brilliant novelists! Find out more about the shortlist: www.gold.ac.uk/goldsmiths-p...

An excellent study of political extremism and violence in the 1960s, 70s & 80s in the Middle East and Europe. @jasonburke2.bsky.social utilises extensive research and deep understanding to portray characters and events in a compelling thriller-like narrative. Lengthy but essential. #books 💙📚💡

I’m about two-thirds of the way through the most excellent history book I’ve read this year. It’s nearly 800 pages long - and not a single paragraph is skippable or skimmable, it’s so engrossing. Anyway, according to my self-imposed rule I only post my review & pic once I’ve finished the book, so…

The new Thursday Murder Club novel. In which our familiar friends have another crime-solving adventure whilst valuing their friendship. If you liked the previous books, you won’t be disappointed. Everybody read this this weekend, right? A nice bit of cosy enjoyment & escapism. #books 💙📚⚡️

A retelling of Oliver Twist from the perspective of Nancy. I think that the idea behind the story is a good one, but unfortunately the writing style did not work for me. #books 💙📚⏳

An interesting exploration of the act of complaining, and the hostile institutional systems that impede and frustrate. With many relatable examples, often from university workplaces, it becomes clear how injustices and inequalities are reproduced and deeply rooted. Infuriating! #books 💙📚💡

I’m looking forward to seeing @saranahmed.bsky.social in conversation with @noreenmasud.bsky.social tomorrow evening in Bristol. I’m not even halfway through her new book, and already it’s essential reading! 💙📚💡 www.thesmallcitybookshop.co.uk/event-detail...

A lyrical novel set in the changing times of 1990s Malaysia, with vivid descriptions. 16-year-old Jay spends a summer on the failing old family farm, where he begins a tentative romance with the son of the farm manager. The first of a projected quartet. Longlisted for #BookerPrize2025 #books 💙📚🖋️

A fascinating memoir/ cultural history exploring the intersection of Deafness and race in the UK. Beautifully written, as you would expect from this accomplished poet, and full of insight. It was a treat to see him in conversation with @nikeshshukla.bsky.social in Bristol this week. #books 💙📚💡

I’ve been in a book club for one whole year now, and I love it! Every month the dozen of us meet to discuss a novel. It’s always fun and interesting; everyone brings perspectives that I wouldn’t have thought of by myself. Here’s what we’ve read so far - such a brilliant selection! #books 📚💙

The new, overhyped Ian McEwan novel in which he contemplates mortality, tediously. In a vain attempt at relevance, the setting is partly a future, climate- and nuclear war-ravaged archipelago of British Isles. Posh English academic types are introspective, have affairs, & do poetry 🙄 #books 💙📚🖋️

Chilli pickling day again!

A relatable, readable and relevant Korean feminist novel. Jiyoung is experiencing some mental ill-health; we learn about the sexism she has endured since childhood, in the family, education, workplace, relationships and motherhood. (And there are footnotes😊) For Wednesday’s book club #books 💙📚🖋️

A fantastic new telling of the myths of Medea and Jason (& Argonauts). I love the clarity and fidelity of @nataliehaynes.bsky.social writing, and the freshness and relevance she brings to these stories. Thrilled to see her perform in Bath yesterday, which enriched my reading pleasure! #books 💙📚🖋️

A tremendously fun modern spy thriller from a writer at the top of his game. Our favourite Slow Horses are back, and old Joes from The Troubles are haunting (blackmailing) First Desk 😱 The acerbic wit of Jackson Lamb is a delightful treat. Relevant, entertaining, intelligent, great! #books 💙📚⚡️

An interesting collection of nine biographical studies of very different people from around the world, all of whom are autistic. I enjoyed this a lot more than I was expecting to; each pen portrait is well-written, respectful and illuminating. (Personally, I related most to Kana.) #books 💙📚💡

I’m having a glance at the new Mick Herron, Clown Town, published in the UK tomorrow. Two spelling mistakes so far, and I’m only on page 7! In a £22 hardback. I love the Slough House series, but seriously, do better Baskerville / John Murray / Hachette. It’s just rude to be so careless. 📚💙