2026, no. 1. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Part political satire, part whodunnit, part memoir. Truth like innocence proves very slippery. Conservative think tanks, oxbridge, class and the anger of the right. Enjoyable read, recommended.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Final read from the Booker longlist. Enjoyed this tale of translation and mistranslation. Dentists, psychologists, husbands, and the insecurities of borders. Recommend

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Brilliant short story collection from Sri Lanka’s finest. Sharp observations, at times bitter, at others twisted. Strong recommendation

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Brilliant writing, utterly absorbing story, escaping a bad marriage, homelessness and the psychological damage of structural male violence. A very hard read. “Your husband didn’t hit you? Well that was very fucking nice of him. Make sure you text and say thanks.”

From 1971 Well worth a watch youtu.be/zS1gdn6vAWc?...

4pm Wednesday 26th November, I am presenting at a BSC Historical Criminology seminar on the origins of penal excess. Is it something the British learnt in its empire or something the English had developed before empire? Online - to register and get the zoom link: www.trybooking.com/uk/events/93...

4pm Wednesday 26th November, I am presenting at a BSC Historical Criminology seminar on the origins of penal excess. Is it something the British learnt in its empire or something the English had developed before empire? Online - to register and get the zoom link: www.trybooking.com/uk/events/93...

Read it, it’s brilliant 💕💕

10 minutes to the 2025 Booker prize. Which is the best book? Impossible to say. But this is the list in the order of my enjoyment of them My favourite

Penal reform, succeeding while appearing to fail. jmmoore.org/2021/04/29/w...

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Fiction at its best. 670 pages working together. A joy to read. Glad I saved this till last in my reading of the Booker short list. Definitely my favourite ❤️ ❤️ ❤️

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Snails, sex/marriage tourism, extinction, collapsing 4th wall, Ukraine, Russian invasion, and a resolute grandfather. Worth a read but don’t be too disappointed at the ending (or lack of).

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1960s West Country captured perfectly. Snow, marriage, class and pregnancy. Good story and enjoyable read. Recommend.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2 Set in Japan, USA & Korea, a massively ambitious saga that tells the tale of a family but also manages to cover some bigger issues. An old fashioned novel (in a good way) This is the ninth of the Booker long list I have read and the best so far.

Trinca, seven years ago. The very best dog, companion, gentle and completely trusting.

Fiction pile

We hosted the first seminar of the academic year yesterday evening and it was brilliant! If you want to share your research with a friendly crowd, or perhaps you're a first time presenter, then consider applying to take part in our seminar series! More info below...

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The story of one man’s life, rags to riches attained in a quite detached and passive way. Plot has holes. But somehow it draws you in and becomes engrossing. Weirdly enjoyable.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. The nightmare future which has already arrived. Love a novel with footnotes. Strong recommendation

⭐️⭐️⭐️ Man goes on road trip to escape very ordinary marriage and tries to find himself, but there is not a lot there. Another uninspiring Booker long list read. But not the worse.

📣Calling all new research students in history & historical subjects. Do you want to learn how the IHR can help you during your studies? Join us on the 8 October to find out more. @royalhistsoc.org @ihrhistorylab.bsky.social @historyandpolicy.bsky.social @chppc.bsky.social bit.ly/41UPOyG

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2 The best of the Booker long list so far. Beautifully written story, definite recommend 💕

⭐️ DNF I tried but gave up.

My latest blog post is a detailed invitation to join a research network devoted to critical pedagogies of race and imperialism in law. In it, I outline who its organisers are, the reasons why we have set up the network,and what we hope to achieve in it. Welcome! folukeafrica.com/invitation-t...

Nice work by someone at The Metro. ❤️🙏😁

It’s such an important event in my year. An opportunity to share ideas, solidarity, love and to dance. I leave feeling invigorated and inspired. Thank you comrades, love you xxx

#Eurocrim will continue. Another case of criminology being criminology. #Eurocrim2025 #ESC #BDS #FreePalestine

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ OMG 🤯 what a book. Utterly gripping. The best sex descriptions, achieved by a relentless focus on desire. A must read 💕💕

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Blown away by brilliant historical writing. A really emotional read. (2 of my great aunts were “placed” in institutions) Finished the book on the plane so my tears were public tears. Strong recommendation 💕🙏💕🙏

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Brilliant writing, queer coming of age storyline set in south Malaysia. Definitely worth a read.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Very dated, both because the court system has changed and because of Pat’s orthodox Marxist critique. Nevertheless very good. Is there anything half as good on Magistrates published since?

A message from the early 80s. The struggles continue!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A forensic analysis of British state’s shoot2kill policy in Northern Ireland, how Stalker’s investigation was obstructed, & then discredited by attempts to criminalise his friend & how the assassinations were outsourced to paramilitaries. Comprehensive & persuasive 🙏 🙏@paddyzemia.bsky.social

⭐️⭐️ Media, power, race/class great topics but superficial analysis, undeveloped plot and rushed writing.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ OK But at the end of the day it’s good writing saying nothing particularly important.

What can science fiction tell us about abolitionist futures and the path to utopia? @philcrockettthomas.bsky.social @stirunicriminology.bsky.social @thesccjr.bsky.social on prison abolition activism, collaborative fictioning and the ideas of Ursula K. Le Guin. #OpenAccess buff.ly/xw5UXjJ

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ What a book. Exquisite writing, a brilliant story and a joy to read. I will miss Dave!

Tempting … Actually no abolitionistfutures.com/latest-news/...

From a 2020 book review, highlighting how the growth of far right ideas in the middle class has largely been ignored by a focus on the far smaller growth within the working class. Full review: jmmoore.org/wp-content/u...

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Dipped into this again and ended reading from cover to cover again. Poetry at its very finest.

From a 2020 book review, highlighting how the growth of far right ideas in the middle class has largely been ignored by a focus on the far smaller growth within the working class. Full review: jmmoore.org/wp-content/u...

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Anatomy of a marriage. John is a shit, but it is the structural problems that mean that even “good men” get a good deal when it comes to the work of child rearing and wider domestic life. A hard but important read.

I wrote this in 2017, reflecting on the colonial origins of the Nigerian police & why these origins illustrate the state's continuing commitment to [violent] order rather than [just] justice. Why a thing can never do a thing that the thing was never designed to do. folukeafrica.com/the-colonial...

(If you're a UK based historian, or just History-curious, and don't know about the IHR, you are missing a treat). Over 50 fortnightly seminars (most also available online) during the academic year, and much more. Visit the Institute and its library if you're in London. And it's free. 2/2

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Gripping exploration of the performance of family. Recommend

Really sad to hear this. The best comrade 💕