Spent a lot of today in bookshops browsing new books, which we've not had the chance to do in too long. They sure are getting good at tag lines and blurbs, aren't they? Sometimes they're almost *too* strong for me, like I'd rather have a plot unfold than be smacked about the face with it?
There is some good stuff out there XD And I love the voices and narration of the books, they really tell themselves, those stories, and everyone is absolutely their own main character, mad chaos clashing up against itself. But still funny!
SO fun, I couldn't enjoy his style of writing more if I tried, either. I wonder if it's that the TV series has been enough for younger people, or, idk. If ever a series of novels was primed for fandom...and yet it's all largely the show (no complaints, just surprise).
I had no idea his demographic skewed so!
Highly enjoyable time at Toppings' Mick Herron Q&A for the paperback launch of Clown School this evening - super confused that Crow and I were (give or take) the youngest there by about a decade or two, but great questions, much insight, and avoided spoilers for the book which is always appreciated!
Late to the party today but must mention that we've finally taken the advice of every single person we mentioned seeing the film to, and are listening to the Project Hall Mary audiobook, and it has been a very pleasant afternoon indeed.
The time has come: voting is now open for this year's British Fantasy Awards! Here's what you need to know before opening up the form...
britishfantasysociety.org/voting-opens...
#britishfantasyawards #fantasycommunity #horrorcommunity #scificommunity #booksky
It's BFA juror callouts time! You don't need to be a British Fantasy Society member (although I recommend that too!) and you can choose the categories you're most interested in judging: I've done this for many years and it's always a lot of fun, and always introduces me to something new! 💙📚
Still on Wuthering Heights, still absolutely transformed in my approach as a result of the latest film (extreme positive)...
No spoilers, but I must tell you that this month's #patcbox envelope is my favourite in a while, considering putting the featured picture very big on the wall XD
A drawing, by Ursula K. Le Guin, of a loafed-up black cat as seen from behind. The cat's tail curls around the podcast title IN YOUR SPARE TIME. Ursula K. Le Guin's name is at the top of the image, which has a teal background.
Introducing In Your Spare Time: A Podcast of the Blog of Ursula K. Le Guin!
inyoursparetime.libsyn.com
I just think, unless you have been explicitly told otherwise by the author themselves, that conflating an author with their characters (particularly main/POV characters) is a terrible thing to do.
Excellent news for readers! 💙📚
Mohamed @MohamedSkandari ... Reading books is so profound because it denies you the ability to speak when confronted with an idea. You must listen. It isn't a conversation. Sometimes it shouldn't be a conversation. Sometimes we should just listen. & st listen.
All this. Yes.
(there are over 6,000 books in #patchq - moving is very very fun)
It's been a wild start to the year, not least because #patchq has moved (and so have we!). It's not far, but it has been rather tumultuous, aided by our travelling a fair bit during the process. But! It's time to unpack the books, and put Prudence in her place, and thus the March #patcbox is go ❤️
!!!
just saying here that while it should not make a difference, diane was incredibly kind to me as a little 19 year old idiot at a convention and i have never forgotten. please help her out if you can
This! I've been reading to Crow every night for coming up eight years, and even if it's been the hardest day, a few paragraphs are still a little moment of shared peace.
and how! Thank you so kindly 😍❤️
It’s so common to come across the assertion that books were luxury objects exclusively for the elite in the Middle Ages that I want to guest curate a massive exhibition called “Meh-nuscripts: Books for the Many,” which features just workaday or unremarkable objects.
A copy of the film tie-in edition of Wuthering Heights open on a white duvet and red blanket
Oh, go on then (I have at least five copies of this, including my grandmother's beautiful little 1930's one, but I figured I could read this one in the bath...) 💙📚
One of my most transformative reading experiences was picking up Jane Eyre at the age of 30 having found it too dull to even start at 13, and to be so gripped two pages in that I didn't put it down until it was done. Incredibly cheering to find how much I can change as a reader.
About ten years' ago Crow did a Wuthering Heights envelope for the #patcbox and there's a shot in the film that was absolutely that etching, a joy to see. We both LOVED the film, incidentally, much to my surprise.
Given that Wuthering Heights has, since the very start of our #patcbox been the most divisive book amongst our subscribers (equally favourite and least-favourite in questionnaires), it only seems fair that any film adaptation should spark the same strong feelings...
In today's interior decor this woman bought books by colour to shelve "as an accent" and she doesn't even know what they are and all relationships with books are valid of course but
I just don't think generally that you should take books into the sauna?
Both just cheered loudly at the sight of @mrbsemporium.bsky.social on last night's Apprentice, best of bookshops 💙📚
Such a forever favourite - revisited with the extremely well-read audiobooks a couple of years' ago and might do so again, there's so much to them. I remember reading them when I was little, and thinking so many thoughts: I have just as many now. Still never got to the TV series, though I do own it
My essay 'Should Galadriel have taken the Ring?' has been nominated for the #BSFA Award for Best Short Non Fiction and @speculativeinsight.bsky.social have very kindly made it free to read for the voting period. So please read to find out about the significance of #Galadriel being the Fairy Queen.