The books I finished in Jan to Mar 2026. Some old, some new. Some short, some long. Some serious, some not.

#bookstagram #bookpile #amreading #readwomen

The annual smashing is complete.

#gingerbreadhouse

The annual Gingerbread House competition has been completed and judged.

Ritual smashing will take place tomorrow.

It’s fitting to post my #bookpile the same day I attended the wake for Jonathan from @booksellercrow.bsky.social - most books were bought from him, occasionally with a raised eyebrow at what I had committed myself to. I’ll miss his recommendations, knowledge and anecdotes. Read books, fight evil.

Donate to Support Jon's Legacy - Raising Funds for Bookseller Crow, organized by Karen Mcleod Dear all our loyal customers, authors and friends, It is wit… Karen Mcleod needs your support for Support Jon's Legacy - Raising Funds for Bookseller Crow

Since moving to Crystal Palace I’ve bought nearly all my books at the Bookseller Crow. Jon gave me so many great recommendations over the years. gofund.me/dce17ccb6

Crystal Palace is in mourning, he’ll be so missed.

Books I finished between April and June 2025. A bit of a Danish theme due to a trip to Denmark in May.

#bookpile #am-reading #danishliterature

@backlisted.bsky.social Just laughed quite a lot at ‘80s songs are always asking questions’.

I’m sure I will!

Slightly illicit under the counter brown paper bag vibes from today’s post.

#bookpost #alexpheby #waterblack #galleybeggar

Jon Ronson’s Things Fell Apart and Helen Lewis’s The New Gurus are both good on Sounds. And Nighttracks for when you want to try and nap.

Now moved to 20th Feb!! Please note new date if you are coming along!

My pitch won 😃. Endless January is the right time to read dystopian/post apocalyptic books I think.

I’m now reading This Is How You Lose The Time War which I think you might like, it’s quite odd.

Oh my geography is awful, and I have a degree in it. I thought of it more as seeing humanity/earth as one whole with stuff going on.
Although you can check the map it doesn’t matter so much where people are because it’s all on one tiny planet in the end. You can’t see borders from space.

A pile of books

Final bookpile for 2024. I had a couple of weeks in hospital in October which I thought would mean lots of reading time. Turns out I couldn’t read anything at all till I got home.
I think my favourites here were Small Things Like These, Orbital, Bel Canto and Cuddy.

#bookpile #amreading

The ritual smashing of the gingerbread houses

This year the kids have built ‘affordable housing for lathe operators’. The ritual smashing will take place tomorrow.

#gingerbreadhouse #rollingpin

On day 14 we have the wonderful Milly on gigglesadvent.com thanks to @alisonsakai.bsky.social for filming as always.

Brixton book group golden trophy next to a copy of Giovannis Room by James Baldwin

The results are in! Announcing our 2024 Award Winning Best Book Brixton Book Group have read in 2024 winning book: Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin #bookaward #bookprize #booker #brixton #bookgroup #bookclub

Shoppers can be made to feel sorry for single bananas, study finds Researchers say supermarket customers are more likely to buy a piece of fruit labelled as a ‘sad single’

What did I just read?

‘The plight of the single bananas is really relatable’
www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Brb, off to buy a lonely banana.

Ha, I’ve been meaning to message you for this very reason! Happy memories of searching for Divad Nevin. After listening I am regretting not buying them all.

So lovely to hear these songs being played again. They are sounding great.

Brixton book group doodle - in the style of the cover of Butter which we've just read - book for next time is Cuddy by Benjamin Myers and Brighton Rock by Graham Greene - meeting on Thursday 23rd of January in the Effra Social, Brixton

We're reading a double bill for January! Cuddy by Benjamin Myers and Brighton Rock by Graham Greene - meeting on the 23rd of January in the Effra Social Brixton - all the details here: brixtonbookgroup.com/meetings/bri...

It’s also very short 😃

I’ve just read Orbital - it’s very good.

Book news! Voting is now open for the most prestigious book award of the year - better than the Booker, it’s the Brixton Book Group Award for the Best Book we’ve read in 2024 - details are here brixtonbookgroup.com/meetings/chr... 3d printed trophy will be awarded to the winner! (If alive)

Hmm. When I was reading APOGS I got offered a seat on the tube as it was ‘too big to read standing up’ so it is *quite* long.

Ooh one of my favourites by her - it made me slightly French Revolution obsessed for a while.

The Christmas Eve gingerbread houses have been built. Ritual smashing will take place tomorrow.