This is utterly jaw-dropping.
A school that bans Atwood, Zadie Smith, Terry effing Pratchett and *literal George Orwell* is actively harming its pupils.
www.indexoncensorship.org/2026/03/scho...
Absolutely agree x
A sailing boat sales on a calm sea at dusk. The sunset reflects in the water with an orangey glow and mountains are dark in the background.
Today is Candlemas - which is a beautiful name. A chance to celebrate 'the return of light'
Artist: Roger Hall
Just for today, my novel, “Introducing Mrs Collins”, about Charlotte Lucas, is 99p on Kindle!! Grab it while you can!!
A few book tour gigs coming up!
London: temperatures have dropped.
For anyone sleeping rough, this can be fatal.
Contact thestreetlink.org.uk if you see anyone sleeping rough who might be in need of support, and we'll get them out of the cold.
How the hell did he get that gig?
I just think it’s so much cooler and more interesting to try to be the best audio show rather than the shittiest television show
4 years ago today this came out on @subexotic.bsky.social
armaturesmusic.bandcamp.com/album/mirror...
Still proud of how this one turned out.
ffo reverb
Ever feel like AI is trying to gaslight you?
“There is no such book, Rachel. It never existed. No, no don’t look down, don’t look at the search results just listen to me. YOU NEVER WROTE A BOOK AND ALSO YOU WERE IN THE MIGHTY BOOSH”
“I often racially abuse people, but never in a hurtful or insulting way”
I’m in PETWORTH tonight chatting about Jane Austen and my book. If you live nearby, come!
Went to see @marcusbrig.bsky.social last night. He’s still knocking it out of the park. Thought provoking, top class comedy.
Trump stands like a complete dufus while people behind him tend to one of his toadies who has passed out during a press conference.
Empathy levels zero
If you want kids to read:
-Reopen the closed libraries
-Give them free books
-Sponsor author visits in schools with high % pupil premium or FSM students
-Work on adult literacy
Then Y8s will have a chance of passing this test
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
The assumption appears to be that ordinary voters will be cowed, obsequious, and unwilling to challenge autocracy, just like the billionaires, business leaders, media executives, and other leading institutions of civil society, which have decided that fighting back is “not worth the hassle.”
He could have commented on the dangers of a president vowing to punish an entire city because he doesn’t like the democratically-elected Mayor, or asked Mamdani to do so. Instead, he took these threats for granted and asked whether voters should decide to be swayed by the rhetoric of an autocrat.
Coooper: Recently, you heard President Trump suggest he is going to withhold federal funding and possibly send in National Guard troops if you’re elected. Andrew Cuomo kind of amplified that. What do you have to say to New Yorkers who say, is this worth the hassle of losing perhaps a lot of money in federal funding if you become the mayor?
In the 1st question of his brief interview with Mamdani. Anderson Cooper reports Trump’s strongman threats to punish NYC if the Mayoral candidate is elected, as if he gets to select where funding goes according to his whims, & then asks whether voters will find it “worth the hassle” to vote for him.
Book cover of 'Introducing Mrs Collins' by Rachel Parris, in green and pink, laid upon a pile of early 19th-century books
Sex scene with Mr Collins, anyone?
It's the perfect time for some Austen-inspired fiction & I hugely enjoyed this heartfelt, romantic & v. funny imagining of the life of Charlotte Lucas from @rachelparris.bsky.social
(Honestly, don’t let the sex thing put you off, it’s lovely)
Out 6 Nov 📚 🌟
See what people are saying about Introducing Mrs Collins… and then order it!! Signed and dedicated, if you like! Perfect Christmas present for the book-lover in your life! backstory.london/products/int...
This month I announced that London has met legal limits for nitrogen dioxide for the first time ever.
When I became Mayor, we were told it would take 193 years. We did it 184 years earlier than predicted.
Not long until my novel, Introducing Mrs Collins, is out! Nov 6th, but you can pre-order now via link in my bio. It’s all about what happens to Charlotte Lucas in P&P, after her engagement to Mr Collins, and whether perhaps she might find herself to be romantic after all…
Ah thank you so much! I appreciate it! Adding to playlist now…
Hello! I love audio drama, but I feel like I often can’t find good stuff; do you have any recommendations?
Nazis ban comedians shock.. NYT, 4 Feb 1939
In London, hate will never win.
This afternoon, in addition to Charlie Kirk, there was a school shooting. Bullets don't know and don't care if you are a Republican or Democrat. It is time for Republicans and Democrats to find a way to work together to reduce gun violence.
www.wcpo.com/us-news/crim...
The Glass Virgin by Catherine Cookson x
A Twitter DM from June 2022 reads: Hi Mollie, I hope you're well. Just sending a message to say thanks. Early this year you tweeted a Guardian Blind Date, where the guy dragged the girl a little bit. After seeing a couple of people saying some pretty shit things about her on Twitter, I DM'd her to balance it out a bit - just say I thought she came across as really funny and fuck the haters etc (but with no other real intention other than that). Well we hit it off, talked every day for a month (I was working out of the UK at the time) and agreed to meet as soon as I returned. I ended up coming home early and we've been dating ever since. It might sound a bit over the top but l've never felt like this about anyone else before, and I'm pretty sure she feels the same way. I've honestly had some of the best months of my life with her around, and I want to say thanks
A Twitter DM from tonight reads: Hey Mollie, I hope you don't mind an update on the above. I asked her if she'd marry me, she said yes! She's my world. I'm so incredibly thankful for you tweeting that thing that led me and meet - I'm eternally in your debt. Thanks!
In 2022 I received the wholesome DM in the image on the left on the Other Site, tonight I received the one on the right 🥹🥹🥹🥹
Sorry to sound like DFS but this offer ends tomorrow night!!
(And unlike DFS there won’t be another starting immediately afterwards)
