Friday's grid was unfortunately delayed due to snow and me forgetting what it was. But better late than never. On the plus side we are back to a standard 4x4 grid, and an easy one at that.

After a successful Zoop campaign, Holmes:Undead is now coming to kickstarter! www.kickstarter.com/projects/cas...

ROUND THE WORLD IN 65(ISH) NOVELS 98: When the Cranes Fly South by Lisa Ridzén (translated by Alice Menzies) - Sweden A simple of beautiful story about the end of one man's life #booksky #bookreview #sweden #readingtheworld

‪ROUND THE WORLD IN 65(ISH) NOVELS 97: Troll: A Love Story by Johanna Sinisalo (translated by Herbert Lomas) - Finland A very interesting take on nordic folk lore. #booksky #bookreview #finland #readingtheworld

ROUND THE WORLD IN 65(ISH) NOVELS 96: The Blizzard by Vladimir Sorokin (translated by Jamey Gambrell) - Russia A strange, beautiful but slightly unsatisfying novel. #booksky #bookreview #russia #readingtheworld

ROUND THE WORLD IN 65(ISH) NOVELS 95: Lucky Breaks by Yevgenia Belorusets (translated by Eugene Ostashevsky) - Ukraine A fragmentary novel about life in war-torn Kyiv. #booksky #bookreview #ukraine #readingtheworld

Apparently, yesterday was Friday. Who knew? In consequence, this week's word wall will be a Saturday creation. As it's New Year and anything is possibly we have six groups of six for you to find. Normal service will resume next week.

Merry New Year, Y'all. I'm leased with my reading this year. I upped my book count quite a bit (though it's less impressive than it looks as the average length is so short) but more importantly I read some awesome titles.

I have a guest blogger on my blog today, my daughter, Isabelle (age 7). She gives her thoughts on Basil of Baker Street. theworldisabookblog.blogspot.com/2025/12/basi... #booksky #bookreview

ROUND THE WORLD IN 65(ISH) NOVELS 94: Satantango by László Krasznahorkai (Translated by George Szirtes) - Hungary A very highly regarded book, but I just couldn't get into it. #booksky #bookreview #hungary #readingtheworld

I think this is the first Christmas Word Wall I have done on Bluesky, but I will carry on the tradition I had over on the cesspool that is Facebook of doing a 5x5 grid. Just the same as the regular 4x4 grid except there are five groups of five. #WQuers #puzzle #onlyconnect #wordpuzzle

You might need your reading glasses for this one. Pictures rather than words this week, but the same principal applies: split the 16 pictures into four groups of fur, with a link for each. #WQuers #puzzle #onlyconnect #wordpuzzle

ROUND THE WORLD IN 65(ISH) NOVELS 93: Life Begins of Friday by Ioana Pârvulescu (translated by Alistair Ian Blyth) - Romania All very nice, but not that interesting. #booksky #bookreview #romania #readingtheworld

ROUND THE WORLD IN 65(ISH) NOVELS 92: Time Shelter by Georgi Gospodinov (translated by Angela Rodel) - Bulgaria I struggled to into this one. #booksky #bookreview #bulgaria #readingtheworld

ROUND THE WORLD IN 65(ISH) NOVELS 91: The Murderess by Ismail Kadare (translated by Peter Levi) - Greece Pretty dry and grim, but very interesting #booksky #bookreview #greece #readingtheworld

Why 'tis Friday once again? Ay. And here be yer wordpuzzle. Have it an' be grateful. Arrange the 16 words/phrases below into groups of four, with a link for each group. #WQuers #puzzle #onlyconnect #wordpuzzle

ROUND THE WORLD IN 65(ISH) NOVELS 88: The File on H by Ismail Kadare - Albania A fun book, but with some deep messages. Highly recommneded. #booksky #bookreview #albania #readingtheworld

ROUND THE WORLD IN 65(ISH) NOVELS 87: Cazzarola!: Anarchy, Romani, Love, Italy by Norman Nawrocki - Italy (again) A family and political saga which spans the 20th century. #booksky #bookreview #italy #readingtheworld

ROUND THE WORLD IN 65(ISH) NOVELS 86: Verdigris by Michele Mari (translated by Brian Robert Moore) - Italy An incredible book from @andotherstories.bsky.social I strongly suggest you read it now #booksky #bookreview #italy #readingtheworld

ROUND THE WORLD IN 65(ISH) NOVELS 85: Great Fear on the Mountain by Charles Ferdinand Ramuz (translated by Bill Johnston) - Switzerland An interesting take on the man vs nature debate #booksky #bookreview #switzerland #readingtheworld

ROUND THE WORLD IN 65(ISH) NOVELS 84: Gargoyles by Thomas Bernhard (translated by Richard and Clara Winston) - Austria Unquestionably the worst book of the challenge so far #booksky #bookreview #austria #readingtheworld

ROUND THE WORLD IN 65(ISH) NOVELS 83: In the Name of the Father by Balla (translated by Julia and Peter Sherwood) - Slovakia I found this a bit dull #booksky #bookreview #slovakia #readingtheworld

ROUND THE WORLD IN 65(ISH) NOVELS 82: Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead by Olga Tokarczuk (translated by Antonia Lloyd-Jones) - Poland I loved this novel, if you like dark and bleak literary ficton check it out. #booksky #bookreview #poland #readingtheworld

Instead of a Friday grid, we have a Monday grid today. I apologise for any inconvenience, normal service will resume this Friday. #WQuers #puzzle #onlyconnect #wordpuzzle

My first comic is now available to reorder! Holmes: Undead was a lot of fun to write, check it out zoop.gg/c/holmesunde...

Another grid to bash your noggin against (metaphorically, please) Arrange the 16 words/phrases below into four groups of four, with a link for each. #WQuers #puzzle #onlyconnect #wordpuzzle

ROUND THE WORLD IN 65(ISH) NOVELS 81: Money to Burn by Asta Olivia Nordenhoff (translated by Caroline Waight) - Denmark An intriguing novel that works far better than it should #booksky #bookreview #denmark #readingtheworld

I've been AWOL for a few weeks (as far as these grids are concerned), but back on the parade ground now. Arrange the 16 words/phrases below into four groups of four, with a link for each. #WQuers #puzzle #onlyconnect #wordpuzzle

ROUND THE WORLD IN 65(ISH) NOVELS 80: Kairos by Jenny Erpenbeck (translated by Michael Hofmann) - Germany Unless you like terminally dull books about unlikable people, I'd give this one a miss #booksky #bookreview #germany #readingtheworld

ROUND THE WORLD IN 65(ISH) NOVELS 80: The Edges by Angelo Tijssens (translated by Michele Hutchison) - Belgium I'm waaaay behind on writing these up, but the challenge continue apace. A very good novel, just a bit short #booksky #bookreview #belgium #readingtheworld

Any Sherlock Holmes fans on here? I am the writer on Holmes: Undead, a comic that takes the great detective to into a dark world. The first issue is finished and will be available on Zoop soon sign up now to get notified when it launches zoop.gg/c/holmesundead

How much impact does telly have on children? I have just realised my adult personality is pretty much determined by my favourite programmes as a child.

Hot take: most of the Bond themes are actually pretty awful...

For those of you that use Facebook, there's a group over there for a project I am writer on, Holmes:Undead www.facebook.com/groups/14830...

A lunchtime grid today, and a beginner friendly one. Arrange the 16 words/phrases below into four groups of four, with a link for each. #WQuers #puzzle #onlyconnect #wordpuzzle

ROUND THE WORLD IN 65(ISH) NOVELS 79: My Life as Edgar by Dominique Fabre (translated by Anna Lehmann) - France (again) I have got behind with my reviews, but the project is still underway. This book was a bit dull. #booksky #bookreview #france #readingtheworld

Slight variation this week, but the same principle still applies. Group the 16 quotes below into four groups of four, with a link for each. #WQuers #puzzle #onlyconnect #wordpuzzle

Nothing says autumn quite like dew-soaked cobwebs and jewell bright purple sloes

Gorrilas in the mist? Nope, these are cattle. I'm not a trained farmer for nothing.

This is a welcoming account. 🏳️‍🌈 #LGBTQ+

Watchya word watchers. Another grid, you know the score. #WQuers #puzzle #onlyconnect #wordpuzzle

In the Age of Vikings roleplaying game, you are transported to medieval Iceland—a vibrant land on the edge of the known world, where Vikings seek honor and fame through adventure. www.chaosium.com/age-of-vikin...

We have a beginners level grid this week. Arrange the 16 words/phrases below into four groups of four, with a link for each (just look at last week's answers for an idea). #WQuers #puzzle #onlyconnect #wordpuzzle

What's everyone's work stations looking like today? I find mine very quickly fills up with books

This chart shows the most democratic countries, but it could be the countries with the best literature. Coincidence..?

I was going to do something special for my 200th word grid. But then I didn't. (Story of my life). Arrange the 16 words/phrases below into four groups of four, with a link for each group. #WQuers #puzzle #onlyconnect #wordpuzzle

Sorcerers Take The Reins #ttrpg #dnd

ROUND THE WORLD IN 65(ISH) NOVELS 78: Vernon Subutex 1 by Virginie Despentes (translated by Frank Wynne) - France A no-holds-barred social epic, looking at the seedy side of Parisian life #booksky #bookreview #france #readingtheworld

ROUND THE WORLD IN 65(ISH) NOVELS 77: Faces on the Tip of My Tongue by Emmanuelle Pagano (translated by Jennifer Higgins and Sophie Lewis) - France An intriguing and poetic fragmentary novel #booksky #bookreview #france #readingtheworld

ROUND THE WORLD IN 65(ISH) NOVELS 76: When I Sing, Mountains Dance by Irene Solà (translated by Mara Faye Lethem) - Spain (yet again) An amazing novel which slowly pulls a story out of the mountains. #booksky #bookreview #catalonia #spain