Max Porter’s ‘Shy’ is such a brilliant book. Add a fantastic actor and yes ‘dynamite’ sounds right. Can’t wait!

I love the little section in this article about Woolf’s book on Walter Sickert. I have an original copy of this from 1934. The cover design is by Vanessa Bell.

Delighted to see Ali Smith’s “So the Spruce Forest” on this stack. Such a wonderful celebration of the paintings of Munch, and beautifully illustrated

WRITERS!! Is this a thing now? Do we need a little sticker on the front of our work to say “Human Written”? FFS

'Oarsmen,' (1877) reveals both Gustave Caillebotte's artistic credentials and his love of rowing which he did regularly near his family's estate at Yerres. The sharp cropping of the picture plane reveals his interest in photography.

How does an artist hint at a private world of desires and emotions? Vermeer achieved this in his works by depicting the most private of all cultural acts: reading. Harold Harvey's 'A New Book,' (1920) depicts his wife Gertrude at their home Maen Cottage, Newlyn in Cornwall.

Books I read in August included these two superb titles by Scottish author Douglas Bruton. Both short, easy to read and utterly compelling (especially if you love the combination of art and literature) . #booksky Short 🧵

I’ve read the first two volumes of this and can’t wait for volumes III & IV. They are published on 18th November… and I’ve just realised that is the day in which the main character, Tara, has been stuck for the last two years. #booksky

Interesting insights for those of us who write.

There are hundreds of lekythoi in the National Archaeological Museum so it took me ages to find this one in particular. Have been in love with the beauty of this lady since I was a young man, so how wonderful to see the whole vase. c450BC by the Achilles Painter.

People looking at art today. National Archaeological Museum, Athens. #art

This elk antler was carved in the mid-1000s. Interesting observation about the detail 🧵

People not looking at art - Rijksmuseum

People looking at art - Rijks Museum Amsterdam

Old Swedish barn - seen better days, but still in use. #Sweden

Pursued by snakes is obviously not a new problem in Sweden. This carving was made in the Bronze Age - at Vitlycke near Tarnum.

Lake swimming in Sweden this morning. While we were out there a snake casually swam past us. Never seen four people leave the water so fast. Thanks to Mr Google we now know it was a harmless grass snake (snok in Swedish).

My wife sent me picture from her home town of Fjallbacka in Sweden last night. It hardly looks real. This was at 11:08pm last night. #sweden

Leaving New Zealand for Europe this weekend. Just over 30 hours of flying plus a bit of waiting in airports. Hopefully I have enough books to keep me going… #booksky

Bought myself a little treat - this wonderfully titled book is full of hundreds of paintings of women reading (plus a few photos). The carving of Eleanor of Aquitaine on her tomb (c 1204) has her reading a book. One two favourites follow… #booksky

Spent my weekend enjoying this new collection of verse. A wonderful combination of simplicity and complexity. Being published by Auckland University Press in New Zealand and @ninearchespress.bsky.social in the UK.

Siegfried’s Long Call from Twilight of the Garage (Gäragerdämmerung)

Book of the Week: An Englishman, an Irishman and a Welshman walk into a pā newsroom.co.nz/2025/06/26/b... Great review of Tina Makereti’s book of essays and non-fiction. About to start reading my copy.

Rather lovely little charity shop find today. A first edition from 1967. #booksky

Listen up New Zealand. This is what the Regulatory Standards Bill will do to us. A way to protect big business but not individuals, minorities or the greater good. It will ruin our health service forever.

Well, this is a bit lavish. #bookpost

Love the inference that there is also a beginner level…

Today’s #bookpost has everything I love most - books and art. Something new by Ali Smith is always an event to celebrate. But this is also full of paintings by Munch. Let me share some with you.

For someone who is happy to confess considerable ignorance of American Literature, these look like the perfect solution. $9 well spent in a charity shop. 😎

This has always been my favourite of Rogier’s work. The Magdalene Reading in the National Gallery in London. A small section from a now lost altarpiece. So peaceful.

This arrived last week and I started reading it yesterday. What a brilliant first chapter. Only six pages and you are hooked and gripped by the rising tension.

It’s only when you get really close to a real Van Gogh that you can appreciate the technique, the boldness of the daubs of paint.

Everyone in New Zealand should read this to see exactly what is wrong with the proposed Regulatory Standards Bill.

Enjoying my collection of Faber Editions. Love the covers. Still have the four most recent to read. But it made me wonder how many original Faber Editions covers I have in the house…🧵

Thanks @galleybeggars.bsky.social My copy of Waterblack arrived today, a little over four months after it was posted. Is there a prize for the most delayed? Do I win?

People Looking at art Especially for @poingu.bsky.social Gems from the Toledo Museum of Art, Ohio have come on tour to Auckland New Zealand.

Well it is certainly winter here in New Zealand, so time to curl up with this gem. I adored ‘Night Boat to Tangier’ so looking forward to this.

Well this is the best book of the year so far. Dark but with bursts of humour, great plot and characters.

For all those who have ever read any books by Kirsty Gunn, here are her words and together with some stunning images and music.

How that comes alive when it is spoken. Beautifully done.

I started reading Virginia Woolf in the 1980s and ‘90s. But I’ve just realised that her books are now reaching their centenary. Mrs Dalloway was first published in May 1925. That gives me a great reason to start re-reading everything. 🧵

Wonderful #bookpost to come home to. Before @fitzcarraldoeds.bsky.social started publishing Annie Ernaux, I had never read any of her books. Now I’ve read them all, each as soon as they arrive, like an excited child on their birthday. All absolutely brilliant.

I confess I’m a little scared. This was such a good book, but it wasn’t American and it didn’t feel American. It was set in France, so it didn’t have the vibe of ‘Christina’s World’ by Wyeth, no open prairie feel of Montana but the woods and small fields of Europe.

Well that article did its job - I’ve only read one of these and now I want to read the other five!

Agree…fantastic title.

Great to see Ragnarok by A S Byatt featured here. A very underrated book, and one that resonated for me because she also had a childhood in Sheffield.

Love the A4 ring binder full of experimental paragraphs…

Always excited for a new Ernaux…

Love those gas lamps reflecting in the Thames…

So much happening with the sword and the faces you could almost miss the head in the basket…