Bethnal Green by Amelie Skoda

Afternoon! I’m reading Bethnal Green by Amelie Skoda and really enjoying it.

Ooh I like this fact a lot

I read this in January and loved it

It's clearly time for them to move

Discovering Frog and Toad when living in the US with small children was a joy… a lot of joy as like all children’s books that work, they are read over and over.

wave of some books that go off in mad tangents, whilst others lose you completely. In this case, it'r the originality, the characters, the writing, the propulsion through their lives. Strongly recommend. Having said that, the unexpected art in the basement will take some getting over. #booksky 💙📚

And I LOVED it in all its craziness. I sped through it - utterly compelled by the Flynn family, the dramas, their oddities, the extremism and their careless disregarding, finding and redefining what love is, familial and otherwise. It really makes you think about why you stay with and surf the

Proof copy of Lost Lambs by Madeline Cash

Right, back to my sharing of books read this year. this was another Jan read, this time a proof courtesy of the Grazia book club. I knew nothing about book or author which I like (blurbs that give away 'twists' or similar frustrate me). This book is completely unhinged

Just read a book written & set in 1980s after reading a recently published book set in 1980s. I found the 80s flavour heavy handed/over-explained in the 2026 book (& even more so in comparison). Because I remember the 80s? Have you read ‘historical’ fiction set during your life? How did you find it?

Just started A Long Game by Elizabeth McCracken. have high hopes as has been recommended by a few different people

Haha - I always used to love this too, I remember laughing at broccoli being proudly labelled as gluten-free, but increasingly aware of how much 'protein' labelling meat and fish have in English supermarkets which is definitely a new thing

Ha - yes, good motivation to read quickly. I would think it will definitely still be on over Easter weekend (said confidently based on no expertise other than I loved it and think it should be)

Having not read the book, I loved the film. Definitely recommend seeing it in the cinema for the full space experience

He was great in it - it reminded me of a film from the 90s (in a good way). Focus on story and characters and connection - just lovely escapism. Enjoy it!

Loved loved loved #ProjectHailMary

Hair spray is your friend!

Ooh imagine it on hot toast

Welcome!

This is an incredible story - so much here, but the impacts of dislocation and connection run through

I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy

Am not always the biggest fan of celeb memoirs, they either have the life curated out of them or the ghost has chucked words at a page. This was different, tightly written, keeping you in her bubble. So much was going on in her early life and no adults stepped up, amazing what was ignored/celebrated

It’s so good isn’t it?

Eurotrash by Christian Kracht - the cover has people sunbathing in their clothes on a snowy mountain with a blue sky in the background

My first read in Jan (snowy cover felt seasonal, although it was more muddy than snowy here). It's the story of a v short 2 day taxi journey and a long journey of the psyche/soul. Dark, with flashes of absurdity and human frailty. Family histories and Nazi pasts. All with an impressively arch tone.

After seeing a message on here from @yearsofreading.bsky.social and realising I'd only listed current reads when I'd caught @bigbeardybooks.bsky.social Monday call outs, I thought I'd post what I've read so far this year over the next few days. If you've read them, would love to know your thoughts

Yes! Multiple books and each so well done

It’s not - from the IMDb overview it’s a totally different story

Ah I’d love to see this on the big screen, I owned the VHS and watched it so many times

Ooh I don’t know - I’m going to look it up!

Yes, it’s a wonderful read

I’m reading Possession by AS Byatt. It’s astonishing.
One of those books I’ve owned for over a decade and have finally plucked off the bookcase

I loved this book - hope you enjoy