Yes. But it’s fun to compare, and disagreement may lead to reassessment. Or not. ;)

Cleopatra as English prof is too funny. Yup, The Tempest should be higher. I love Love’s Labors Lost but maybe it’s too high given the competition. I’d put Titus A much lower. And so on.

To see or not to see? Every single Shakespeare play – ranked! Antony and Cleopatra? Exhausting. Lear? Magnificent but flawed. Hamlet? Limitless. For Shakespeare’s birthday, the Guardian’s former theatre critic ranks all the plays

Some very idiosyncratic choices here! www.theguardian.com/stage/ng-int...

Going through some old files, I found this 2022 book list from a talk I gave at an AAUW meeting here in Seattle; I was reminded of how much pleasure I’d gotten when I first read each of these books. I highly recommend each one.

Calling all Elizabeth Bowen fans! This will be available to view online. #BookSky 💙📚

Episode 130: Opening Movements: Entering the World of a Book In this episode, we begin a three-part series on the movements of a novel, starting with the opening.

I love the promise of a new book, but the opening movement is often the hardest for me. It’s so nice when an authors voice or the plot or something helps me know I’m in good hands. In this week’s episode @bibliopaul.bsky.social and I talk about the opening movement. substack.com/@mookse/note...

Margaret Lockwood, The Lady Vanishes
Jessie Royce Landis, To Catch a Thief
Claude Rains, Notorious
Tallulah Bankhead, Lifeboat
Joan Fontaine, Rebecca
Peter Lorre, Man Who Knew
George Sanders, Foreign Correspondent
Barbara Bel Geddes, Vertigo
Cary Grant, North by Northwest
Vera Miles, Revenge

But maybe like me he’s a fan of murder mysteries and she is an obvious suspect…

I’d forgotten how obsessed Hamlet is with his mother’s behavior. I don’t think there’s any evidence she was involved in the murder or involved with Claudio before her husband’s death. 1/2

McNally Editions make me book greedy. I want them all. Plus that Ex-Wife tote bag. But what I want most right now is to hear what your favorites are. Trying to choose just one for a future episode of @onebrightbook.bsky.social. @mcnallyeditions.com

1961 Films - a watchlist for the #1961Club A list of 22 films compiled on Letterboxd, including La Notte (1961), Il Posto (1961), Victim (1961), Viridiana (1961) and Léon Morin, Priest (1961).

As an adjunct to the bookish #1961Club, which officially starts tomorrow, I'm planning to watch some films released that year.

Here's my watchlist of potential choices, too many to see in one week. But feel free to join me if the mood takes you! #FilmSky #BookSky 💙📚

letterboxd.com/jacquiwine/l...

📚 BOOK CHALLENGE 📚

Choose 20 Epic Books that have stayed with you or influenced you. One book per day for 20 days, in no particular order. No explanations, no reviews, just covers.

#BookSky #Books #BookChallenge #20DayBookChallenge

(1/20)

New episode of @onebrightbook.bsky.social is up now. We discuss The Women of Brewster Place by Gloria Naylor - Rebecca’s pick inspired by a recent listen to an episode of the Windham Campbell Prizes podcast that featured Hanif Abdurraqib sharing love for the book. onebrightbook.com/2026/04/10/e...

Our conversation about Gloria Naylor's terrific THE WOMEN OF BREWSTER PLACE is live!
onebrightbook.com/2026/04/10/e...

Something that really unnerves me about these bad historical narratives is that you can almost be certain they’re creeping into LLMs and a couple of people in positions of relative influence can do real damage.

Colourful film poster for THE BAD SLEEP WELL.

THE BAD SLEEP WELL (Akira Kurosawa, 1960, rewatch). Corporate corruption and embezzlement aplenty in this noirish film loosely based on HAMLET. Mifune is terrific as his intentions and complexities are gradually revealed.

Thanks @princecharlescinema.com for a great screening on 35mm! #FilmSky

I couldn't breathe because I was laughing so hard. That bird's an asshole! 😂😂😂😂😂
Best with volume up.

And Alistair MacLeod short stories and his novel, “No Great Mischief”

Michael Ondaatje’s fiction also (Anil’s Ghost). Margaret Atwood’s poetry. Robertson Davies’ fiction and essays. Alice Munro, of course

The Unknown Ajax by Georgette Heyer The Unknown Ajax by Georgette Heyer published 1959   One of my favourites of Georgette Heyer’s Regency books is The Unknown Ajax , whi...

If you think it's just another Regency romance, you're wrong: The Unknown Ajax is possibly Georgette Heyer's finest moment. there's a fabulous hero, a smuggling plot, and one of the greatest finales in any book.... clothesinbooks.blogspot.com/2026/04/the-...

Advice Polonius didn’t give to his son…

You guys find the most interesting topics. Looking forward to listening

Episode 129: Reading with a Plan: The Joys and Complications of Reading Projects This week, we’re joined by Luis Panini to talk about reading projects.

Happy Thursday. @bibliopaul.bsky.social and I were delighted to talk to @luispanini.bsky.social about reading projects in our latest episode. I myself love sitting down and making a reading project! Carrying through is much harder, but I’m getting better at it! open.substack.com/pub/mookse/p...

Trump Administration To Reverse Chaco Canyon Protections The Trump administration just launched a 7-day fire sale on one of the most sacred landscapes in the country. And they're counting on you not to notice.

For years, Pueblos, Mescalero Apache, archaeologists, Utah and New Mexico politicos, conservation groups, recreation, water and timber interests fought over the land around Chaco Canyon. The Biden ppl finally got a settlement all could live with. Now a few disgruntleds have got Trump to undo it.

Wonderful opportunity!

Scott Fitzgerald sent a “full conjugation” of the verb “to cocktail” to Blanche Knopf in 1928 after hearing from Mencken that she was drinking far more than she was eating. A unique display of concern.

Well, Pilgrimage fans, one dream is coming true. Naxos audiobooks has just released the first of four volumes of Dorothy Richardson's Pilgrimage, read by Lucy Scott (an ideal reader, IMHO). No word on when the next three are coming, but this is a wonderful start!
www.naxos.com/CatalogueDet...

#BookSky people!

Anyone can join in with the #1961Club. Just read a book first published in 1961 and post about it on here. (Other social media platforms are available.)

I’ve got a couple of choices lined up, and maybe some 1961 films too! #FilmSky

@nytimes.com

I don't like Amazon recommending books to me based on what I've already read. I don't like them trying to "customise" my reading. I don't like any platform which does that. I like the serendipitous, the surprises, the exciting finds I come accross by looking for myself, be that bookshops or online.