American Library Association poster for National Library Workers Day with the slogan "Libraries Work Because We Do." 4.21.26
Don't forget to appreciate library workers today and every day #NationalLibraryWeek #NationalLibraryWorkersDay
Orcastra Makassy #whalesuoergroups
Thames RN
The bell of Liverpool Town Hall chimes 97 times for each of the Liverpool fans unlawfully killed in the Hillsborough Disaster, 37-years-ago today
Out today - four new titles in our Essential John Berger series!
This week only - buy any of the new titles from the Essential John Berger series and save 30% on all books in the series.
😱
Members of Congress are gaining access to ICE facilities and surprise, surprise, the conditions are inhumane.
Honoured that my 2012 novella Dicky Star and the Garden Rule is among literary works discussed in depth in a new critical monograph “Chernobyl Trauma and Gothic” by Stuart Lindsay on @anthempress.bsky.social — Sample quote: “frantic, Gothic intertextuality”!🙃🫡🙏✊
anthempress.com/books/cherno...
Then…
(Thames in SW London around 6:20 pm today…)
Just me and one of Brion Gysin’s Dream Machines at the Tate Modern ELECTRIC DREAMS show in 2024. I’d love to see the Gysin show that just opened in Paris… Also reminded of Gysin and Burroughs’ The Third Mind, a book I first read 40(?) yrs ago. A rarity now in print perhaps but online ICYMI🫡
Port Meadow, Oxford, the other evening…
Easter reads made a dent in the TBR ⬆️: M John Harrison, Ian Rankin, Mark Billingham, and Thomas Pynchon (halfway through the Pynchon RN, sample quote: “‘Just so long as you ain’t one of these metaphysical detectives.’”)🫡🙏👏
Where’s a ‘bowler hat’ emoji when you need it!
A sign in French forbids use of the piano it rests on
Where am I? Wrong answers only…
And PS although The Fountain in the Forest is out of print right now, there’s a new paperback edition coming out 3 December on No Exit Press
Delighted to learn that @thelondonarchives.bsky.social have chosen my novel The Fountain in the Forest as their book group read this month! Their mission? To enjoy London literature with an archives twist. What's not to like?
More info www.thelondonarchives.org/join-in/book...
Tomorrow, tune in for the first two songs from the opening night of the Springsteen & E Street Land of Hopes & Dreams American Tour, live from Minneapolis, MN. The livestream will be free on YouTube, as well as for subscribers in the nugs app.
Bright Bethnal Green Road the other day week month year decade century
TUNDE’S FILM (1973) really should be better known — it’s a gritty, authentic portrayal of East End life in the early ’70s created by 18-year-old actor, writer and co-director Tunde Ikoli.
There’s much to love about it, not least this scene showing Tunde’s friends’ glorious dancing to Prince Buster!
R.A.I.N.C.O.A.T.S.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=QufD...
Yes don't forget to register your works with @britishlibrary.bsky.social to receive your PLR monies as well
www.bl.uk/services/plr
Every year I forget about this, and every year it's a nice Spring surprise — thank you ALCS for this and everything else you do.
Do sign up if you're eligible.
www.alcs.co.uk/join-alcs/
Not yet but looking forward to it
Author PSA – if you haven't already, don't forget to register your books with @alcs.co.uk and with PLR!
Thank you ALCS – much appreciated🙏👏🫡✊
Haha — yes indeed. Happy days!
So good to see No Exit still firing - used to see Ion Mills, their founder, when I was the paperback buyer for a London bookshop in the late 80s. Ion was founder, publisher, editor and sales rep back then. Top individual and he did such great work with that list
Good to hear this background Simon! (There's a conversation for another time about late-80s London bookshops – I worked at @foylesforbooks.bsky.social in ’89!)
Thanks, Simon! Yes they've done a lovely job 👍
