So sad to learn today that Slavenka Drakulic has died. I learnt so much about women in The Balkans from her essays-I’m going to seek out her fiction now. Thank you Slavenka.

Back in Berlin, I was unleashed in Dussmann Friedrichstraße for several hours unattended 📚📚📚

I really enjoyed The Gypsy Goddess liked the comment by @john-self.bsky.social that you may need a lie-down after reading peakreads.wordpress.com/2026/06/22/t...

Wonderful news that The Nights are Quiet in Tehran has been shortlisted for the 2026 International Booker Prize! It's an illuminating read about Iran. Warmest congratulations to Shida Bazyar, Ruth Martin @dances-with-voles.bsky.social and #ScribePublications. peakreads.wordpress.com/2025/08/08/t...

If you're planning a trip to Iceland, this book by Sarah Moss is a great place to start: peakreads.wordpress.com/2026/03/31/n...

I loved this collection of short stories by Rhys Davies read for #ReadingWales26. He's truly a master of the form. peakreads.wordpress.com/2026/03/11/r...

I enjoyed Alice Zeniter's latest novel, set in la Nouvelle Caledonie, a Pacific archipelago and French overseas territory, exploring questions of identity and belonging. peakreads.wordpress.com/2026/03/07/r...

So pleased Shida Bazyar's novel about Iran translated by Ruth Martin @dances-with-voles.bsky.social is longlisted for the International Booker prize 2026. It couldn't be more timely. peakreads.wordpress.com/2025/08/08/t...

Find out all about the gorgeous vanilla plant in this fascinating book from @bullaunpress.bsky.social #readindies peakreads.wordpress.com/2026/02/24/t...

On this, the 4th anniversary of Russia’s full scale invasion of Ukraine, I’m recommending this book by Tanja Maljartschuk @bullaunpress.bsky.social peakreads.wordpress.com/2024/03/22/f...

I read this book for #readindies in fabulous translation by @bskaret.bsky.social peakreads.wordpress.com/2026/02/21/r...

I read this for #readindies month and felt rather overwhelmed by the food : peakreads.wordpress.com/2026/02/16/t...

This is a compelling account of a relationship between two woman, not to mention a beautifully observed portrait of their beloved dog Viola peakreads.wordpress.com/2026/02/12/t...

I loved this wide-ranging collection of essays by Zadie Smith -the clarity of her thought and writing, peakreads.wordpress.com/2026/02/05/d...

I learned so much about Donbas and Ukraine’s eastern regions from this wonderful book, thank you @victoriadonovan.bsky.social peakreads.wordpress.com/2026/01/09/l...

I am so thrilled to be reading Life in Spite of Everything @victoriadonovan.bsky.social and to be learning again about Mariupol and the Azovstal steelworks, first encountered in the work of Natascha Wodin www.asymptotejournal.com/fiction/the-...

This wonderful memoir is definitely one of my top books of 2025: peakreads.wordpress.com/2025/12/20/m...

It's week 4 of #GermanLitMonth2025 peakreads.wordpress.com/2025/11/24/g...

Week 3 of #GermanLitMonth and I'm reading Volker Weidermann on Thomas Mann: peakreads.wordpress.com/2025/11/20/m...

It's Thomas Mann week in #germanlitmonth and I've read Norman Ohler's book on 'The Magic Mountain' peakreads.wordpress.com/2025/11/17/g...

I loved this book about gardens and so much more : peakreads.wordpress.com/2025/11/10/t...

In week 2 of #germanlitmonth it's all about The City. I've read this beautiful novella set in Rome by FCDelius translated by Jamie Bulloch : peakreads.wordpress.com/2025/11/10/g...

My first book for #germanlitmonth. I've not followed the suggested schedule as this was calling me from the bookcase and I'm so pleased to have read it: peakreads.wordpress.com/2025/11/03/g...

I've just read the latest unsettling collection from Samanta Schweblin: peakreads.wordpress.com/2025/10/20/g...

I can't remember what put me onto this novel but having read it I'm a dedicated Alice Zeniter fan and eagerly waiting for more work of hers to be translated @terribleman.com peakreads.wordpress.com/2025/10/16/l...

'Endling' by Maria Reva is about snails and brides and how to write about war. It's a great and a sobering read : peakreads.wordpress.com/2025/09/28/e...

The world of 1348 is not as far away as you might think: peakreads.wordpress.com/2025/09/16/t...

I've just read this moving account of Didier Eribon's mother in old age-her time in a nursing home, their relationship, his appreciation of what she did for him: peakreads.wordpress.com/2025/09/05/t...

Sorry-just one day late for August's #Womenintranslation25 month- Natalia Ginzburg's last novel: peakreads.wordpress.com/2025/09/01/t...

I enjoyed this translation from Welsh of Kate Roberts’ Feet in Chains read for #WITMonth2025 peakreads.wordpress.com/2025/08/28/f...

Katja Hoyer visits Guben in East Germany to see if differences still persist between East and West http//:www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002hkw3?partner=uk.co.bbc

I've just read this moving novel for #WITMonth in stunning translation by Sam Taylor: peakreads.wordpress.com/2025/08/24/t...

I visited Hay last week and just had to stock up on Welsh writing.

Still loving Natalia Ginzburg, read for #Womenintranslation Month2025 peakreads.wordpress.com/2025/08/13/v...

This was my first book read for #WomeninTranslation month 2025-an excellent, moving, family novel set in Iran and Germany, told in different voices: peakreads.wordpress.com/2025/08/08/t...

So great to hear @frankcottrellboyce.bsky.social on @bbcradio4.bsky.social talk about Norman Lewis’ book Naples 44 as the book he would gift. Such a powerful shattering book about that great city at the end of the war.

Before I start on my #WomeninTranslation month books I had to read this- it’s a worthy winner of the #2025 Women’s Prize peakreads.wordpress.com/2025/08/01/t...

So this is my reading pile for #WomeninTranslation month 2025. Aiming high.

This account of meeting an unknown sister got right under my skin: peakreads.wordpress.com/2025/07/29/d...

Katja Hoyer's engaging history of East Germany filled in many gaps for me and has a place on the shelf of every historian, Germanist, or indeed general reader: peakreads.wordpress.com/2025/07/23/b...

“We are modernising our approach to international development” claims Govt. No, you’re eviscerating it, with your own impact assessment showing most vulnerable communities hit hardest, increasing suffering & driving global insecurity. Ministers should hang their heads in shame @oxfamgb.bsky.social

Excellent to hear BBC Radio 4'sToday programme focusing on the difficulties faced by care leavers and others in providing landlords with a guarantor. Thanks to Leeds MP Alex Sobel and the charity Become @becomecharity.org.uk‬ @katharinesj.bsky.social for highlighting this issue.

The Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention calls on world leaders to step in immediately with measures that ensure food and water gets into Gaza right now. No more discussions, meetings, reports, sessions, summits. “GET FOOD AND WATER INTO GAZA NOW. IF YOU HAVE THE POWER, YOU MUST USE IT.”

🚨BREAKING: The last journalists working for AFP in Gaza have said they can no longer work for the news agency. They are out of energy and they are starving to death. I have never seen a statement from a news organisation like it. 🧵

I've just read Ralf Rothmann's latest short story collection- there's a range of voices here, from ageing labourers to six year old children. He's a master of characterisation and of the form: peakreads.wordpress.com/2025/07/17/m...

I'm really enjoying Katja Hoyer's Beyond the Wall, a compelling history of East Germany, and a sort of underlay for Brigitte Reiman's novel Siblings @lucy-jones-books.bsky.social which keeps coming to mind as I'm reading. peakreads.wordpress.com/2023/03/08/s...

In October 45 African nations met in Manchester, for the Fifth Pan- African Congress. Their hopes, ambitions and rivalries are explored with wit, feeling and panache in the fabulous new play Liberation by Ntombizodwa Nyoni at Manchester’s Royal Exchange Theatre @rxtheatre.bsky.social. Do see it!

I'm thrilled that Victoria Amelina's book Looking at Women Looking at War has won the Orwell Prize for Political Writing, such a powerful account of women's courageous acts in the face of war: peakreads.wordpress.com/2025/04/10/l...

This is an indispensable book for those interested in history, politics and international law, many thanks @philippesands.bsky.social peakreads.wordpress.com/2025/06/22/3...

Such brilliant writing and translation- the precision of the description, yet conveying a hollowness at the centre of it all. @fitzcarraldoeds.bsky.social