Review: Man Up The relationship of misogyny to various forms of violent extremism, the strategies men use to control women, and what can be done.

Question of the Day: What is a fictional place in a book you wish you could visit? #booksky

Matt Haig returns with another life-affirming novel, this one about a man on a magical train that helps him revisit key moments of his life. www.nytimes.com/2026/05/26/b...

Naomi Kanakia Argues in Favor of a DIY Literary and Philosophical Education lithub.com/we-should-al...

Featured Book. My father was part of "the greatest generation." He was proud of his service, as are we. But it was also before we understood PTSD. I've wondered how his war experience affected him. @penguinpress.bsky.social

"To come is easy and takes hours; to go is different—and may take centuries." -Robert W. Chambers, born this day,1865

#NewIllustrationOfTheDay by author-illustrator-lyricist Trace Balla, combining photography & pen drawings in Treeshape, a young adult/crossover graphic novel/journal of growing up as an activist for nature and a protector of sacred land in Australia. Allen & Unwin 21 May. @allenandunwin.bsky.social

Review: It’s A Battlefield The private "battles" of those connected with Jim Drover, a bus driver convicted of murder for killing a policeman.

Question of the Day: What is your favorite book that was written more than 100 years ago? #booksky

“I don't believe that my first name is Leo or that my last name is Tolstoy. I'm a storyteller.” Robert Ludlum, born this day, 1927

Featured Book. Love the idea of this, kind of a modern day version of Luther's Table Talks. @ivpacademic.bsky.social

#NewIllustrationOfTheDay by Tom Schamp from his picturebook What if? whose busy, graphic pages offer lots of imaginative detail to prompt stories and spark conversations, including, on this spread, animals playing instruments. Magic Cat 28 May. @magiccatpublishing.bsky.social @tomschamp.bsky.social

Review: The Mother’s Smile A philosophical discussion of how philosophically formative is a mother's smile and the delighted regard of others.

"A child’s own story is a dream, but a good story is a dream that is true for more than one child." -Margaret Wise Brown, Born this Day, 1910

#NewIllustrationOfTheDay by Steve Antony. Deliberately upside-down panda and text in Super Mr. Panda, after the hero has saved the bake sale by squirting a pile of doughnuts with icing. Enjoying the cape with doughnut pattern and the drippy icing like paint. Hodder 7 May. @hodderbooks.bsky.social

The Weekly Wrap: May 17-23 James Daunt, summer reading bucket list, AI wins a lit prize?, AI and education, alien life, Stephen Colbert

"Mediocrity knows nothing higher than itself, but talent instantly recognizes genius." -Arthur Conan Doyle, born this day, 1859

Featured Book. Read a secular account of effective altruism several years back. Interested to see of this just adds a Christian veneer or truly attempts to think Christianly about effective altruism. @eerdmansbooks.bsky.social

#NewIllustrationOfTheDay. Harbour scene by Kate Hindley from a board book with moving parts: The Big Fish, a Nell and Beany Adventure written by Camilla Reid. Drawing with a fine, crisp line, strong colour, and detail including minor comic characters. Macmillan 21 May. @macmillankidsuk.bsky.social

Review: In Guns We Trust Why white evangelicals are among the most resistant to even reasonable restrictions on firearms and its impact.

So pleased to receive the latest from Tish Harrison Warren. Have always appreciated the thoughtfulness of her writing and look forward to what she has to say about resilience, what we used to call "staying power." @penguinrandomhouse.bsky.social

"To be angry is to revenge the faults of others on ourselves." Alexander Pope, born this day, 1688.

Observation: book bans are book-specific based on content rather than authorship (i.e. non-human authorship). In addition, Daunt is silent about theft of intellectual property or displacement of human authors. Thoughts? #booksky www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/...

#NewIllustrationOfTheDay by Slovakian David Pogran from The Fisherman and the Mermaids, a beautiful picturebook written by Diana Marciano. Post Wave 21 May. Delicious colour and glowing light, in a story about the value of memory, hope & dreams. (The mermaids are unseen.) @postwavebooks.bsky.social

Review: Wyrd Sisters Three witches living in Lancre hide the king's heir when the king's assassinated by Duke Felmet, and work to set things right.

"The more one judges, the less one loves." -Honore de Balzac, born this day, 1799

#NewIllustrationOfTheDay by Maddie Frost, US-based author/illustrator of Cats on Cats on Cats, a funny story about a little girl and her beloved grandmother who overestimate each other’s enthusiasm for cats. Hodder 21 May. Comical drawing with a fine line and flat colour. @hodderbooks.bsky.social

The writer and illustrator William Steig lived several lives before his book about a surly ogre became a Hollywood hit. www.nytimes.com/2026/05/17/b...

Review: Shadow Ticket Private detective Hop McTaggart hunts down a missing cheese heiress, from Milwaukee to Europe, in a series of madcap capers.

The entire essence of America is the hope to first make money -- then make money with money -- then make lots of money with lots of money. -Paul Erdman, born this day, 1932

Featured Book. My first John Green book. Heard so much more about TB as a child, with yearly tests in school. And it comes up in opera, literature, and history.

#NewIllustrationOfTheDay by Daniela Sosa. From Some Days, about all kinds of days, including “days when nothing much happens at all“. From a soothing, retro spread using various techniques & swirly, splattery marks. Simon & Schuster 21 May. @simonandschuster.bsky.social @angliaruskinuni.bsky.social

Review: Art Seeking Understanding A compendium of 23 research project essays studying aesthetic cognitivism funded by the Templeton Religion Trust.

"The world is full of magical things patiently waiting for our wits to grow sharper." -Bertrand Russell, born this day, 1872

Featured Book. During my years in college ministry I was privileged to work alongside a number of gifted women colleagues and under three excellent female supervisors. So I applaud this book. When we are allies in ministry, God's work advances! @ivpacademic.bsky.social

#NewIllustrationOfTheDay by author/illustrator Rong Rong, who lives in the New Forest. Half the opening spread of Jolly Monster Town, setting/title of her new graphic series. First is a sleepover story, The Party Pickle. A map to pore over or draw your own. Nosy Crow 7 May. @nosycrow.bsky.social

Review: The Last Supper On controversial artists of the 1980's, discussing the intersection of sexuality and spirituality in crypto-religious works.

Question of the Day: What's the last book you set aside because it was incomprehensible for you?

"The moment of change is the only poem." -Adrienne Rich, born this day, 1929

#NewIllustrationoftheDay by Catharina Valckx, Amsterdam-based author & illustrator of Edith: The Girl Who Was 100 Years Old, a quirky, stylish chapter book about a newborn put under a fairy's spell never to age beyond 10. Here her father calls on the fairy. Gecko Press 5 May. @geckopress.bsky.social

The Weekly Wrap: May 10-16 Summer reading goals, the Atlantic's 25, Guardian's 100, Ellen Burstyn, book clubs, institutional poverty.

"Character is that quality of mind which makes truth-telling instinctive rather than strange." -Douglas Southall Freeman, born this day, 1886

Featured Book. Not what this first appears but rather a Protestant nun ministering in Harlem! @eerdmansbooks.bsky.social

#NewIllustrationOfTheDay. Freely drawn watercolour by Helen Stephens. From Salty Dog and Pals: The Storm and other stories, by Katie Chappell. A dog, a cat & a duck live in an upside-down boat by the sea & like to sing, dance, knit, paint and sculpt. Walker Books 7 May. @walkerbooksuk.bsky.social

Review: Why I Am Protestant A Protestant theologian addresses the strengths, weaknesses, and contributions of Protestantism.

Question of the Day: How have your reading interests changed in the last ten years?

#NewIllustrationOfTheDay by Steve Teare from Sixteen Games of Hide and Seek (as played with Dad) with reassuring text by Stephen Barr. Teare draws comic strips for US magazines, and this uses a painterly base overlaid with comic strip pen drawing. Neal Porter Books 12 May. @steveteare.bsky.social

Review: The Cup of Coffee Club The stories of eleven baseball players who played just one game in the Major Leagues.

"Writers should be read, but neither seen nor heard." -Daphne du Maurier, born this day, 1907

#NewIllustrationOfTheDay by Christian Robinson from dad, a small picturebook using comparisons with animals to describe good & realistically imperfect fathers. Simple spread made from collage & expressive detail: the red bird, the falling leaf, the tear. Two Hoots 14 May. @twohootsbooks.bsky.social