Just completed Booker shortlisted 'The Rest of Our Lives' by Ben Markovits. Another US novel in which the protagonist drives away from his life, life Updike's 'Rabbit, Run'. Got great reviews but I was never really involved. My full review: bit.ly/44TV0o0 #Booksky 💙📚 #Books 📚 #Literaturesky

Happy New Year! Kicking 2026 with a review of a book of Japanese Fairy Tales. Some things are universal, some things are culturally specific. Entertaining and fascinating. Published by @renardpress.com #Booksky 💙📚 #Books 📚 #Literaturesky bit.ly/4b9Gqws

So, here are my favourite books of 2025. It was pretty close with some books (nearly picked 2 by Penelope Lively). Typically, most books are backlisted titles. I think I may have only read one book published in 2025 anyway. Full list with publication year for context in alt text.💙📚

I've just finished the beautiful 'This is Happiness' by Niall Williams, a lyrical novel set in a vanished corner of Ireland. I MUST read more by this talented writer. #Booksky 💙📚 #Books 📚 #Literaturesky bit.ly/4q01Dxz

Merry Xmas. Hope you all had wonderful presents, especially books.

Merry Xmas to all

At Christmas, a good gothic read is always welcome, but this prequel to The Turn of the Screw fell short of my expectations. My review: bit.ly/4avTkof #Booksky 💙📚 #Books 📚 #Literaturesky

In 1932, John Galsworthy won the Nobel Prize for Literature over, inter alia, H G Wells; the committee cited "his distinguished art of narration which takes its highest form in The Forsyte Saga". My review of the 2nd in the series, 'In Chancery' bit.ly/4s5uA #Booksky 💙📚 #Books 📚 #Literaturesky

Inspired (if that's the right word) by the hugely-adapted TV series, I have started to re-read the Forsyte Saga. Here's my review of the first novel: A Man of Property: bit.ly/4s8Q5th #Booksky 💙📚 #Books 📚 #Literaturesky

I'm a subscriber and I always enjoy my monthly book from Renard who offer a fascinating range of novels and poetry and more.

Just read William Golding's The Paper Men published after his Nobel Prize. I was disappointed. Too many books about drink-sodden ageing novelists. My full review: bit.ly/3MDQfsd #Books 📚 #Booksky 💙📚 #Literaturesky

Just completed a Sophie Hannah Poirot continuation murder mystery: 'The Killings at Kingfisher Hill'. My review: bit.ly/4iJKXHC #Booksky 💙📚 #Books 📚

I've finished by 2025 A-Z of novelists challenge with Stefan Zweig's 'Beware of Pity', an intoxicating read. My full review: bit.ly/3KfLk04 #Booksky 💙📚 #Books 📚 #Literaturesky

Gertrude Stein was a writer with a fascinating (unique?) style. My review of her 'Three Lives': bit.ly/44FctjJ #Booksky 💙📚 #Books 📚 #Literaturesky @renardpress.com

In my 2025 A-Z of novelists challenge, I've finished Y for Yourcenar, Marguerite 'Memoirs of Hadrian'. Here's my review: bit.ly/3Ka8swE Next up: Z for Zweig, Stefan: 'Beware of Pity' #Books 📚 #Booksky 💙📚 #Literaturesky

Shepherd's warning over Eastbourne

Just finished 'Hawker and the King's Jewel' by Ethan Bale. A historical thriller typical of its genre set in the aftermath of the Battle of Bosworth. Well plotted and paced, delivering a regular fight. My full review: bit.ly/44hEIVv #Booksky 💙📚 #Books 📚

Gordon Carr's history of 'The Angry Brigade' reminded me of when the Vietnam war was raging, Spain and Portugal were ruled by fascist dictators and Greece by the military, and Germany, Italy and the UK had urban guerrillas. #Booksky 💙📚 #Books 📚 #Literaturesky bit.ly/4pgnSyt

I was told that Mary Webb's 'Precious Bane' was the book spoofed by Stella Gibbons in 'Cold Comfort Farm' but I really enjoyed reading PB. It may be melodrama but it's energetically done. My review: bit.ly/4qXij9L #Booksky 💙📚 #Books 📚 #Literaturesky

There are some Rose Tremain books that I adore but Lily, despite the wonderful verisimilitude, left me cold. My full review: bit.ly/49DIv2S #Booksky 💙📚 #Books 📚 #Literaturesky

Definitely scheduling 'Three Lives' for later in this month.

@renardpress.com Well that was an interesting experience! Losing my Gertrude Stein virginity to 'Blood on the Dining Room Floor'. Not quite sure what to make of it. bit.ly/47sGgOI #Booksky 💙📚 #Books 📚 #Literaturesky

Best ever day on Dave's Book Blog: over 20,000 views in one day. 1,844 books reviewed so far. davesbookblog-daja.blogspot.com #Booksky 💙📚 #Books 📚 #Literaturesky

October has been the best-ever month for Dave's Book Blog (davesbookblog-daja.blogspot.com) which has had over 100,000 views in just 31 days! #Booksky 💙📚 #Books 📚

Wow! 'Zazie in the Metro' written at the tail end of the 1950s by Raymond Queneau and superbly translated by Barbara Wright is very different. A teenage girl let loose in seedy Paris. Brilliant word-play! My full review: bit.ly/4nsRTtH #Booksky 💙📚 #Books 📚 #Literaturesky

Just finished 'The Enchanted April' by Elizabeth von Armin which was delightfully ... enchanting. My full review: bit.ly/436tkeJ #Booksky 💙📚 #Books 📚 #Literaturesky

So many books. Who has time to reread? But I am glad I went through 'Life of Pi' by Yann Martel again. Twenty years ago I didn't realise how good it was. My review: bit.ly/4nqSpYW #Booksky 💙📚 #Books 📚 #Literaturesky

Just completed my X in the 2025 A-Z of novelists challenge. Sulayam X wrote 'Bilal's Bread'. My review: bit.ly/3JumXes #Booksky 💙📚 #Books 📚 #Literaturesky NB: It's not really about bread but Kurdish immigrants in America, homosexuality, Islam and sexual and physical domestic abuse.

Just finished 'The Gay Decameron' by Christopher Whyte. A group of gay men meet in Edinburgh for a posh dinner party and reminisce. My full review: bit.ly/3JsP2mm #Booksky 💙📚 #Literaturesky #Books 📚

And just like that… 🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈 It’s official! Five years of Renard Press! 🦊 📚 165 books published 🌲 2,500 trees planted 😳 650 writers published or anthologised 📚 renardpress.com/books/

I've just finished another Nevil Shute book: 'Ruined City' about the redemptive power of capitalism in the hands of a dodgy merchant banker. My full review: bit.ly/43awAFK #Booksky 💙📚 #Books 📚 #Literaturesky

Just completed V for Vaught, Anna in my 2025 A-Z of novelists challenge. My review: bit.ly/43cA0b0 #Booksky 💙📚 #Books 📚 #Literaturesky @renardpress.com

@creativewritinguk.bsky.social Pencils sharpened and tucked into top pocket of new blazer. Looking forward to freshers' week! (Is that a mixed metaphor?)

“On the Saturday Thompson died, in the bright afternoon, while the cricket-match was going on as usual on the big-side ground.” bit.ly/4nBkUEd #Booksky 💙📚 #Books 📚 #Literaturesky #Victober

Just completed Tom Brown's Schooldays (in some ways frighteningly like my own, even with a gap of 130 years). My review: bit.ly/4nBkUEd #Booksky #Books #Literaturesky #Victober

I completed U for Updike, John (Rabbit is Rich) in my 2025 A-Z of novelists challenge. Next up will be a book by Jules Verne. My review of R is R: bit.ly/42oYcqt #Booksky 💙📚 #Literaturesky #Books 📚

Yesterday my book review blog passed 1 million views!! davesbookblog-daja.blogspot.com

I've just finished the fascinating but flawed biography of Peter of Savoy, the man who built the Savoy Palace on the Strand and served King Henry III. My review: bit.ly/482jnSN

Patriotism: "I went on musing about why it was thought better and higher to love one's country than one's county, or town, or village, or house. Perhaps because it was larger. But then it would be still better to love one's continent, and best of all to love one's planet." bit.ly/2atFrpw

My review of 'Another Country' by Caroline Lucas: bit.ly/42c1NrI

I've reread 'To The Lighthouse' by Virginia Woolf and had a great discussion about it with my reading group so I've updated my review: bit.ly/1KW3P3M #Booksky 💙📚 #Books 📚 #Literaturesky

Just finished 'Never Laura' by Evgeniya Lyras, a boldly original work of speculative fiction. My full review: bit.ly/46kof4x @renardpress.com #Booksky 💙📚 #Books 📚 #Literaturesky

Wow! Zadie Smiths 'On Beauty' might have started as 'Howard's End' rewritten but it ended up as utterly wonderful in its own right. My review: bit.ly/4ps373A #Booksky 💙📚 #Books 📚 #Literaturesky

I've just finished 'Autobiography of Red' by Anne Carson, an 'epic poem' rewriting the myth of the tenth labour of Hercules. As usual with modern retellings of myth, the roles of hero and monster are reversed. My full review: bit.ly/4md5nsW #Booksky 💙📚 #Books 📚 #Literaturesky

“There is no need to look smug and knowing - like the Mona Lisa - or - or a lavatory-attendant.” A View of the Harbour by Elizabeth Taylor My review: bit.ly/4gkO7k0 #Booksky 💙📚 #Books 📚 #Literaturesky

Here is my review of T for Taylor, Elizabeth 'A View of the Harbour' in my 2025 A-Z of novelists challenge. bit.ly/4gkO7k0 Next up is U for Updike, John 'Rabbit is Rich' #Booksky 💙📚 #Books 📚 #Literaturesky

“Anybody can be happy - there is no skill in that. what is important is to become a someone.” Still Lives by Reshma Ruia My review: bit.ly/46gy8Qq #Booksky 💙📚 #Books 📚 #Literaturesky

Madame Bovary in Manchester? I've just finished 'Still Lives' by Reshma Ruia. It's refreshing to read a book so rooted in everyday life. My review: bit.ly/46gy8Qq #Booksky💙📚 #Books 📚 #Literaturesky

I've just finished the epic winner of the 2015 Booker: A Brief History of Seven Killings by Marlon James. It isn't brief and there are many more than 7 murders. My full review: bit.ly/4p19URC #booksky 💙📚 #literaturesky #books 📚