Not sure why, but my 2016 review of The Essex Serpent seems to have gone 'viral' on Goodreads, picking up an additional 120 likes over the past couple of weeks. www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

It's been a wet Shiny Tuesday, cheer yourself up with @bookishbeck.bsky.social reviewing Rachel Joyce's latest, now in paperback. shinynewbooks.co.uk/the-homemade...

These novels by literary lions share themes of ageing, loss, and memory, as well as a wry and gently melancholy tone. (I’ve read 23 books by Julian Barnes, a favourite author of mine since my twenties, whereas Stewart O’Nan was new to me.) Reviewed on my blog today: bookishbeck.com/2026/01/29/j...

Poor urban foxes, always being vilified by the press

I finally took the plunge and deactivated my X account. The problem is that I always forget to come here, and when I do I don't find much in the way of community or interaction...

On this day in 1963, The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath was first published. Today we are delighted to share a new cover look for this iconic novel, referencing its original Faber cover by Shirley Tucker (pictured in black and white). Design by Sophie Harris, Faber Design.

Hilarious review request via Instagram DM today: "The book (in brief) is a 36 page book that follow a character learning the lessons of a philosophy I created around the concept of honesty from a wise man on a train." 😂 I also liked the greeting: "Hi mate I will get straight to the point."

Annoyed with everyone/everything atm, so it was lovely to get this: "just wanted to say how delighted all at the Press were ... That line about 'Poles of loss and abundance' is so perfect. So grateful for the time and attention that you all gave to the book!" www.shelf-awareness.com/sar-issue.ht...

Many thanks to @commapress.bsky.social for the review copy of The BBC National Short Story Award 2025 anthology. I managed to read it before last night's awards announcement and thoroughly enjoyed it (even though my prediction was far wrong!) bookishbeck.com/2025/09/30/t...

Next month we're off to Berlin (and Lübeck) for the first time. I'm sure many of you will have been to the city and loved it, so do share your ideas for what we must see, do and eat!

UK readers: Buy ANY book 15-17 August, and you could win a £250 Bookshop.org digital gift card! Every sale supports independent bookshops: uk.bookshop.org/lists/win-a-...

Amazing to see Peggy Seeger on her farewell tour yesterday. She's one of my heroes, still sharp as a tack at 89. Traditionals, classics ("I'm Gonna Be an Engineer"), and lots from her last album. Also a bawdy anti-Trump ditty! Her new version of "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" had me in tears.

Post-it note left as a place-marker at p. 38 in a copy of White Teeth donated to the Little Free Library: "Morning gorgeous :) Gone out for a walk -- should be around 40 mins. I love you very much, Ellie ❤️❤️ xxxxxxxxxx" I love these little glimpses into other lives!

It's been such a joy being part of the judging process for the McKitterick Prize over the past four years. Check out our amazing 2025 shortlist! 👇

What a novelty to get caught in the rain on my afternoon walk! I wasn't expecting to get soaked, however 😆

Looking forward to this one already!

@chrisfoster.bsky.social Benny wishes this was him!

It's been an honour and a pleasure to be involved in judging the McKitterick Prize again this year!

A terrific #bookpost day! Thank you to @canongate.co.uk for a finished copy of NATURE'S GENIUS by David Farrier (out on 8 May), whose Footprints was one of my top reads of 2020. Plus my Bookshop order of STAG DANCE by Torrey Peters @serpents-tail.bsky.social arrived -- solidarity with trans women!

Many thanks to @eandtbooks.bsky.social for a finished copy of CHINESE PARENTS DON'T SAY I LOVE YOU by Candice Chung, coming out on 24 April. I can't resist a food memoir (or "foodoir")! #bookpost

Thank you to @sceptrebooks.bsky.social for a proof copy of Dream State by Eric Puchner. I've been hearing great things about this one since its U.S. release (it's an Oprah's Book Club selection!). It's published in the UK on 8 May. #bookpost

Thank you to @faberbooks.bsky.social for a copy of That Broke into Shining Crystals by Richard Scott. I loved his earlier poetry collection, Soho. This is out on 22 April and I'm looking forward to reading it soon! #bookpost

Thank you to @yalebooks.bsky.social for a review copy of Museum Visits by Éric Chevillard (translated by Daniel Levin Becker). I'm looking forward to catching up on this intriguing collection of micro-essays. #bookpost

Many thanks to @atlanticbooks.bsky.social for a copy of Find Me As the Creature I Am by Emily Jungmin Yoon. I've been hearing great things about this poetry collection (released in the USA last year) and I look forward to reviewing it at its 3 April publication date. #bookpost

"Whether in Ludlow or Venice, Spence crystallizes moments from the ongoingness of grief, drawing images from the natural world" 🌊 ~ Rebecca Foster Buy 'Daughter of the Sun' by Rachel Spence: buff.ly/u823krz

Our local Jackdaw roost, quite recently formed on the same island the neighbourhood Magpies use, where 5 Little Egrets also roosted earlier in the winter. With bonus duelling Cetti's warblers.

Excellent #bookpost yesterday from @eandtbooks.bsky.social! Mother Animal by @helenjukes.bsky.social is out on the 27th and I am already stuck in for #readindies. Lifelines by @julianhoffman.bsky.social comes out on 15 May. Both were on my Most Anticipated list for the first half of the year.

Many thanks to Kate Green at @picadorbooks.bsky.social for a proof copy of Emma Donoghue's new novel, coming out on 20 March. THE PARIS EXPRESS is based on the true story of an 1895 train disaster. #bookpost

Best spam e-mail I've received through my blog in a long time, advertising "the purple peel exploit — a revolutionary way to boost your body’s calorie-burning power." I can't begin to imagine what it could be, but I'm not going to watch the linked video!

Weird how niche literary topics pop up multiple times. Looking after a parrot seemed like an original theme in The Vulnerables by Sigrid Nunez (2024), but then I discovered Room for a Stranger by Melanie Cheng (2019) and, even more similar, We Do Not Part by Han Kang (published in Korean in 2021).

Whew, this winter preview by The Millions only added one book to my TBR (Woodworking by Emily St. James). See how lightly you can escape... themillions.com/2025/01/most...

On my blog today, I'm featuring my 25 most anticipated books of the first half of 2025. It happens to work out to 15 fiction and 10 nonfiction, with 4 in translation! And 22 of 25 are by women (all the fiction is). bookishbeck.com/2025/01/10/m...

Maddie Ballard's BOUND "is a graceful, enriching book about a young woman making her way in the world and figuring out what is essential to her sense of home and identity.” ~ Bookish Beck / @bookishbeck.bsky.social Find it here: https://buff.ly/4bReoUb

A peek at the (22!) 2025 books I've read so far, including AERTH by Deborah Tomkins (the joint winner of the inaugural Weatherglass Novella Prize and a memorable interrogation of longing and belonging) from @weatherglassbooks.bsky.social -- thanks for my review copy. bookishbeck.com/2025/01/07/2...

Hello, Please do spread the word about our novella prize, judged by Ali Smith. We're publishing 3 of the first year's shortlist, so odds are better than most prizes. weatherglassbooks.com/novella-priz...

Best Books of 2024: My Top 20! (I'm still finding my way on this site and I'm not following many accounts yet. Forgive me for not tagging every author and publisher!) bookishbeck.com/2024/12/31/b...

My #bookreview of Heather Nolan's pair of novellas (pub by @gooselane.bsky.social) published at Prism International: I still think back to these characters sometimes, a whole year later. The subway and library scenes landed hard too. prismmagazine.ca/2024/11/28/s... #Canlit #booksky

New on my blog today - Books of the Year 2024: Part Three alifeinbooks.co.uk/2024/12/book... 💙 📚 #Booksky

@chrisfoster.bsky.social 😁

Many thanks to @atlanticbooks.bsky.social for today's #bookpost -- excited about these January releases: UNEVEN (23/1), Sam Mills's book on bisexuality by way of group biography, and THE BOOK OF GEORGE (30/1), Kate Greathead's satirical second novel about a modern Everyman. Looking forward to both!

Short, Soul-Soothing Reads for #NovNov24 & #NonfictionNovember. Six mini-reviews, including of the Archbishop of York’s Advent Book 2024 by @revrachelmann.bsky.social: bookishbeck.com/2024/11/24/s...