@penguinrandomhouse.bsky.social

Dr Charles Alavoine, after conviction, writes a letter explaining how everything which went before led to his crime. It’s utterly fascinating and being Simenon, it’s superbly written. Obssession, control and selfishness are at the centre of Alavoine’s actions and in his letter he attempts to excuse and justify them. Toxic masculinity at it’s worst with some unpleasant “Incel” traits on display, it’s not always a comfortable read, whilst never graphic there is must allusion, but well worth it. Letter to my Judge is one of Simenon’s psychological noirs/romans durs (including Maigret he wrote 75 novels) and if Penguin wish to send me any more I shall be very happy to read them! It is part of Penguin’s Modern Classics series.

Having read and reviewed Simenon’s The Cat, Penguin sent me this copy of Letter to my Judge; also I was granted a digital copy via NetGalley, so thank you to both, especially as this book is so riveting.

My brief thoughts are in the photo’s alt text.

Not a very active day (Sunday) but nice neat numbers 🙂

Having reviewed Georges Simenon’s The Cat, which I loved, thank you to @penguinrandomhouse.bsky.social for now sending me this lovely new edition of Georges Simenon’s Letter to my Judge. T’is rather fine!

Tesco with my mother. 'Nuff said.

I have just looked up a lyric which has baffled me for decades. Apparently it's "Make natty shook"

Not sure if I've been pranked...

I’ve always used the Classic editing format. Tried Blocks when it was first introduced but couldn’t get on with it. I wonder if I should try again. When I upgraded to paid a few years ago it was because I thought Classic could be set as the default. Pffft!

I use Wordpress for my blog and website. I haven’t used it for a good while. Logged in yesterday. What the heck? It was fine as it was. Now it’s a pain to use. It’s so clunky I’m considering using a different platform. Ugh!

#wordpress

Picture shows a lawn full of daisies and dandelions

My favourite type of lawn. #daisies #dandelions

An ok plot and story, (although it’s no “4 3 2 1”) and an easy read. Not a complete waste of thevday but not the best way to spend it either.

People looking at me see a woman in her sixties. I’m looking out as a woman in her twenties. This aging lark is weird.

#age #aging

@lrb.co.uk I was channel hopping and witnessed this wonderful exchange!

Becky: “You know what I don’t get?”
Roy: “The London Review of Books?”

Wordle 1,739 4/6

🟩🟩🟩⬜⬜
🟩🟩🟩⬜⬜
🟩🟩🟩⬜🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

I thought today was the day…

Thank you so much @nigelstewartbooks.bsky.social

I shall be diving in later 🙂

#dogsofbluesky

We lost this best boy three and a half years ago. He was almost seventeen, partially deaf, arthritic, occasional sleep seizures, and dementia. Today is his birthday. I miss him every minute of every day 😢

ZZ Top - La Grange YouTube video by Michael Baker

This…always this

m.youtube.com/watch?v=Vppb...

Donate to Help Ark Wildlife Park Give Rescued Animals a Forever home, organized by Jamie Mintram For the past 10 years, Ark Wildlife Park has b… Jamie Mintram needs your support for Help Ark Wildlife Park Give Rescued Animals a Forever home

gofund.me/4cde8fb07

The 2026 edition of Colouring In is published. After all the effort that feels amazing.

Some giveaways soon, so stay tuned: and also a 🧵 about the book for good measure. If you feel like sharing, perhaps because you’ve read previous editions, please don’t be shy. #books #writing #noteworthybooks

Pets at Home leaving room to grow

Picture shows dog lying down to eat

He eats breakfast like he hasn’t slept all night #dogs

Picture shows a spoon in a bag of flour

Ha! The missing spoon 🙂

You need to share this new found knowledge, please.

🚨WOW! The Petition calling for by-elections to be called automatically when MPs defect to another party now has almost 75,000 signatures! Let’s get it to the 100,000 needed! petition.parliament.uk/petitions/73...

Ship ahoying?

Old school cooking 🙂

Congratulations to @ronanhession.bsky.social

Leonard and Hungry Paul is the first Bluemoose book to be selected as a national set text in secondary schools.

September this year it will be on the Irish Junior Certificate for English alongside Hemingway, Austen, Blackman.

Marvelous.

I’m keen to increase use and engagement on Instagram as I ramp up book news over there. If you feel like joining me over there I’ll follow back. Link in my profile but also 👇

www.instagram.com/booksbynigel...

Wordle 1,662 5/6

⬜🟨⬜⬜⬜
⬜⬜⬜⬜🟩
⬜🟩🟨⬜🟩
⬜🟩⬜⬜🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

The first collection of each bin after Christmas our chaps will take any extras placed beside it. They also always wave at my dog in the window. It’s the hilight of his week.