Children queuing to enter new library

After closing during Covid, Sherwood’s new library opens at last. Going in!

Poem reads 'How lucky am I to have fallen into this moment in time, to thrive on all discoveries that came before?' Bridie Squires.

Three years late but worth the wait, it's a lovely, airy space with flowing shelves and an outside terrace. Tardis-like, it does seem bigger on the inside. Great to meet so many old friends there. Here's a poem by Bridie Squires that you'll find on the staircase when you check it out for yourselves.

Children queuing to enter new library

After closing during Covid, Sherwood’s new library opens at last. Going in!

Youth is probably his worst film. Anything with Toni Servillo in (including the latest, La Grazia) is terrific. Maybe start with his most Felliniesque movie, The Great Beauty.

It's been really error prone for a while, not just me but obviously not everyone then - be interested to know if anyone has found a fix.

This is all very well (and I almost always do it) but if you use an iPad and click on the alt text or expand an image, you're thrust back to the top of your feed, so I hardly ever click do. It's by far @bluesky's biggest flaw. Keep losing my place after forgetting not to open something interesting.

Bob Dylan and the Beatles: When the Fab Four Became the Fab Five

Bob Dylan and the Beatles: When the Fab Four Became the Fab Five. Francine Prose on a new book which evidently traces every connection between his Bobness & The Beatles. Gift link. www.nytimes.com/2026/04/14/b...

What is truth, said jesting Pilate Who knows any more, we all say

When should you reply to inaccurate criticism? Bitter but good writing from Laura Thompson.

open.substack.com/pub/lauratho...

Afterword The furnished room in All Saints Terrace draws me to this day like a mother image: the mother for better or worse of all my future books. The end of the Nottingham chapter in Greene’s original types

Afterword. Some reflections on writing a serialised novel about Graham Greene's four months in Nottingham a hundred years ago. open.substack.com/pub/davidbel...

Probably out of stock forever but why would they spend time checking? It is a silly way of doing things.

It’s to keep the listing when they’re out of stock. The price goes back down when it’s back in stock.

Fair review but don't think it should be mentioned in the same breath as Local Hero. And Tim Key is just so irritating...

Pepsi have withdrawn sponsorship according to The Guardian. Not a surprise.

Soul to Soul In 1971, a group of leading African American soul, jazz, and gospel artists embarked on a journey that would change the lives of everyone involved. Artists such as Ike & Tina Turner, Wilson Pickett, S...

Saw Soul to Soul @broadwaycinema.bsky.social 3 extra showings have been added today. Unmissable treat for soul fans. Tremendous Ghana footage. A troupe of stars play a huge show on their first visit to Africa. Ike & Tina Turner + The Staple Singers are incredible. www.broadway.org.uk/whats-on/sou...

I saw the first live performance of "Where Are You Tonight? (Journey Through Dark Heat)" at the Blackbushe Aerodrome in 1978. Bob would perform it 33 times that year. Also, the day Jerry Lee Lewis died, I saw him play a one off encore of "I Can't Seem To Say Goodbye" in Nottingham. Both were great.

Does Colored Vinyl Sound Worse Than Black Vinyl? Learn the major differences between black and color vinyl.

Black or Coloured? I do still buy vinyl, albeit in single figures most years due to space issues. However it's become harder to avoid having to pick garish coloured LPs that, historically, have always sounded worse. No more, it seems, though I still prefer mine black. www.discogs.com/digs/collect...

Had mine for 35 years. (Self employed author). Saves a lot of stress and, even more crucially, always seems to find me refunds I didn't know I was entitled to. Pays for itself and then some.

I thought his much hyped Corfu novel was ok if a bit convoluted. After reading this news obviously I do wonder about what instructions might have been given to produce such a novel. I doubt very much he used AI on it - but it's always going to be a thing from now on, isn't it? What a waste of water.

Me too. Pretty damn good so far.

‘Extremely rare’ Bob Dylan draft lyrics discovered inside Allen Ginsberg book A torn page bearing Dylan’s lyrics for the 1967 song I’m Not There is set to go under the hammer in April when it could fetch £40,000

I'm Not There. A draft lyric of Bob Dylan's best unfinished song falls out of a book by Ginsberg. Being auctioned, obvs. Follow the link to see if you can expand it and figure out for yourself how much is new. www.theguardian.com/music/2026/m...

Two years ago yesterday I saw Jon Dee Graham, RIP, for the 2nd & last time. He was in a chair but in great spirits (we chatted after). Here's my video of Something Wonderful, the song of his I first fell for, in his spiritual home, Austin's Continental Club, where he had a record breaking residency.

Jon Dee Graham died today, following many years of serious health issues. Here's a thing I wrote after I was lucky enough to see him twice at SXSW two years ago. I fell hard for his wonderful music. And him. A sweet, gruff guy. Condolences to his family & friends. www.davidbelbin.com/blog/2024/06...

RIP Chip, who has left us aged 86, and who I was lucky enough to see play a great gig in a converted barn near Southwell not long ago, accompanied by John Platania. Love this cover and so many of Chip's own songs. There was a lot more to him than just writing "Angel of the Morning" and "Wild Thing".

Aye and I've lost the beard, which can throw people... no worries!

Enjoyed that, thanks.

No Capital in Nottingham either so dunno.

TBF they're spot on with all The Clash love. Saw them in Derby early 78 & it was one of the gigs of my life. I'd forgotten who Martin Webster was and it's pretty safe to say that most readers considered it a poll about music. Lots of us found TB irritating while loving much of the music he extolled.

About to do the same. Everything crossed 😶

Yeah, she does a pretty good range of Dylan covers.