Isabella Eklöf's Holiday is deeply uncomfortable and disturbing viewing but, for me, does not have sufficient depth of storytelling, or even context, to make it work as a cohesive movie. Lots of strong scenes and performances that don't quite hang together. (Some unpleasant stuff in the trailer.)

I recently came across my original application form to become a question writer for a TV quiz show, which involved creating ten general knowledge questions, so I wrote a thing about it. And, yes, you can have a go at answering the questions.

I recently came across my original application form to become a question writer for a TV quiz show, which involved creating ten general knowledge questions, so I wrote a thing about it. And, yes, you can have a go at answering the questions.

I am currently adding loads of stuff to eBay including a bunch of old blue Pelican paperbacks and some random vinyl. www.ebay.co.uk/usr/meandmyb...

Films of the decade, you say? OK, then... Aftersun Scrapper Perfect Days Close What Do We See When We Look at the Sky? The Worst Person in the World After Yang Paradise is Burning Broker Dear Jassi

Paul & Paulette Take a Bath presents itself as a quirky rom-com, with some added road trip action, but it visits a few dark places, occasionally literally, and I ended up liking it a lot. Both leads, and the director, are ones to follow.

New music from Wodwo, aka novelist Ray Robinson. His stuff is often my reading soundtrack of choice.

I enjoyed Anaïs in Love, which manages to be pretty much as French as a French movie could be.

Any of my bookworld friends – agents, authors, freelancers – having problems getting paid by @canelobooks.bsky.social? I'm supposed to get a small commission payment off them every six months, but they are over a year late and not acknowledging or replying to emails.

Be careful how you celebrate National Poetry Day. #NationalPoetryDay

Any of my bookworld friends – agents, authors, freelancers – having problems getting paid by @canelobooks.bsky.social? I'm supposed to get a small commission payment off them every six months, but they are over a year late and not acknowledging or replying to emails.

As far as I am concerned, the song of the year has dropped. And even if you don't share that view, I'm sure you'll agree this is the best thing to come out of Luxembourg for quite some time.

I need to knuckle under and write my half of the follow-up to this book, so I'll be switching off social media for a few months. You are all delightful, of course, but you are also a distraction. Think of me while I immerse myself in books about dogs, narrated by dogs, featuring dogs etc.

I live in the middle of a Victorian terrace. The gardens in my street back onto the gardens of the next street. Two of the male neighbours in that street have very loud and fucking annoying voices. One of them is moving out today. We must celebrate life's small victories.

For me looking good on the shelves means a consistency of spine design, not necessarily front/back covers. Think nineties Picador, for example; plain white spine with consistent typography and the Picador logo at the base, but a huge variety in overall jacket design. Please can we have both?

Charlie Redmayne used to recount how disappointed the teenage daughters of dinner party hosts were when he turned up and looked nothing like his (half) brother.

An excellent point here, and some great follow-up discussion in the replies. When I was head of buying at Waterstones, and subsequently as a consultant for some independent publishers, I always argued against the basic uniform cover approach. I had reasons...

Well, this certainly has a cast.

Recognise the Palestinian state now, you snivelling shitbag.

"Antony, where's Araminta?" "Oh, she's here."

What you might want to use a VPN for, now that age verification rules have kicked in, is your business [TAPS SIDE OF NOSE]. I mainly use mine for streaming services from other countries, including Criterion Channel. Here's a referral link for NordVPN. refer-nordvpn.com/RFdgiLMtdYE

I enjoyed approximately ten seconds of that match.

Seems like we now need a version of this for Labour.

Full marks to the staff of the Windsor branch of Cotswold Outdoor who today had this sign in their window: WE SELL UMBRELLAS IT IS DUE TO RAIN AT 13:15 Which, indeed, it did. A lot.

I received a handwritten note through my letterbox from the Jehovah's Witnesses today. Is that some sort of new strategy?

Just heard from one of my author clients that she's been signed to a three-book deal with Gollancz. I did a developmental edit and a couple of assessments on earlier versions of books in the series. It was obvious they had potential back then. Always delighted when this happens.

Not a single one of the tracks I voted for made it into the Triple J list of best Australian songs, although a couple of the bands did. Nice to know I am somewhat out of touch in more than one hemisphere.

Exciting day today. Going to sort out the tea drawer.

I have a bunch of satsumas that we're just not getting through fast enough, so I'm going to attempt this recipe tonight, even though I am not entirely convinced it is real seeing as it involves boiling whole satsumas for an hour and then blitzing them.

Somewhat niche, I grant you, but I am selling a small collection of Frank Muir books on eBay. [adjusts pink bow tie and offers a cheeky smile]

Last night I went to see the most romantic film ever made to wish it a happy birthday.

Just putting this out there. Viji Alles and Kader Nouni team up to record an album of duets for Christmas. Someone needs to make this happen.

Technically, every series of Masterchef is an unseen series for me.

As a freelance editor, I work on lots of manuscripts, and it's probably no surprise that I see certain mistakes or habits/tendencies that occur across a variety of manuscripts from a range of authors. Some of these are very specific...

We have such a shit national anthem. Asking a non-existent deity to protect a multi-millionaire tax dodger.

This afternoon I wondered what had happened to the Swedish band Francis that I listened to a lot back in the day. Turns out they have recently released their first new material in seven years.

A vending machine in Australia that dispenses indie zines.

I will often bang on about the fact that The Cardigans are one of the finest bands of the past few decades. Their last couple of albums, in particular, are right up there. Love Nina's solo projects too, and she always gives good interview. This one is no exception.

I will often bang on about the fact that The Cardigans are one of the finest bands of the past few decades. Their last couple of albums, in particular, are right up there. Love Nina's solo projects too, and she always gives good interview. This one is no exception.

I am reading The Islander, Halldór Guðmundsson's biography of Halldór Laxness, Iceland's Nobel Prize winning writer, and have learned that in the 1910s and 20s, Icelandic newspapers would sometimes devote their entire front page to a poem.

Some new music, albeit a remix, from Yasmine Hamdan. Have bought my ticket to see her in London in Feb. New album September.

Went to see Katie Malco, downstairs in the Green Room at 21Soho last night. I didn't take any pics or videos, it was way too snug and intimate for that, so here's a video of her in action because she's amazing and more people should listen to her stuff. She is also very funny.

If, like me, you enjoyed The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House on Netflix then, also like me, you might be up for watching this woman bake cakes and muffins for her cafe in Osaka.

Have you read any retellings of Greek myths? Could you help our @stirlingpublishing.bsky.social student Konna with her dissertation research by taking 5-10 minutes to complete a survey, please? (Please share!) app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/stirling/g...

Laure Calamy is always great, in my experience, and that is certainly the case in Her Way. Would make for a neat, if stressful, double-bill with Full Time or, more thematically, with Anora. The English title seems an odd translation of the original, Une femme du monde, but there you go.

Just had a memory of my mother giving me dry Sugar Puffs to eat from a mug as a special treat.

Happy HOW ON EARTH IS STEPHEN NOLAN EVEN ON THIS LIST? Day for all those who celebrate.

Be warned, Super Happy Forever might get you in the feels. First half, grieving husband returns to the hotel where he met his wife, who has recently died. Second half, we get to see that meeting. Plus a bittersweet coda. Subtle, charming and more than a little bit heartbreaking.

Here's a fun game you can play to spice up your day*. When you receive a one-time password or code sent to your phone, see if you get one with no repeated numbers. They nearly always have them. I received one with no repeats today, and it was my first in nine months. *Or not

Former Wales manager seems delighted to be on the ITV panel this evening. Joy exuding from every pore.