Last parents' evening was a disaster as it's online and kept cutting out.
Have just found out that older child got younger child to turn off the router.

They don't know I know🧐

And in publishing, despite its feted 'initiatives', I'd say it's no better.

Dill - the devil's weed.

I've never read - or seen - 'The Cherry Orchard' before. Which translation should I buy, folks?

Couldn't agree more. DauntBooksPublishing wonderfully curated list, beautifully published.

'Democracy is an ongoing process ... should we never have another general election?'
Perfectly put

Sometimes you just can't help feeling sorry for audiobook readers:
'He speaks with a French accent, which he disguises with a Bronx drawl.' 🤣
Or maybe a mischievous writer is smirking to themself, making them jump through hoops.

I discovered one of the most beautiful memoirs I've read, 'The Colour of Water', back in the late nineties, but then never heard much about James McBride for years. So glad to see the accolades this wonderful writer is at last receiving.

Last year, after seeing the Sackler name still carved at the RA, within a month I'd read Empire of Pain, watched Nan Goldin's incredible documentary, plus Dopesick and Painkiller.
Maybe it was in readiness for Kingsolver's Demon Copperhead - I think it's going to break my heart.

I am in thrall to Mavis Gallant and now need to read everything she ever wrote. Out in July from DauntBooksPublishing , this is a beaut & I couldn't recommend it more.

Thank you Marigold Atkey for the introduction- I'm looking forward to getting to know her better.

Wow!

(I wonder if this will be used on flash fiction courses, alongside: 'For sale: Baby shoes, never worn.')

Realised that most of the books I've read this year have been by Irish writers- Claire Keegan, Marian Keyes, Pauls Murray & Lynch, Anne Enright. Bangers all. They're doing something right over there!

Happy St Patrick's Day! ☘️

After mainlining Marian Keyes & Tara Flynn's podcast, I'm now deep into the Walsh family books. Am bloody loving every second. The plots, the character development, the foreshadowing, the unreliable narrators. Yes, I'm late to the party, but who cares? The woman's a genius.

In tropical SE London, it's stopped raining at last! 🙂

Jonathan Glazer was so brave last night.
We all witnessed how hard it was for him - we saw his hands tremble and his voice shake.
It's just awful to see so many people twisting his words & pretending that he disowned his Jewishness.
He just stood up for humanity.

I wrote for The Observer about why fear of antisemitism should not be used as a pretext for banning protest.
And why I would like to see more British Jews speaking out against Israel.
I don’t want our sense of vulnerability used to dehumanise others. theguardian.com/commentisfree/…

My youngest (yr 7) said he felt sad today seeing all the primary school kids in costumes on #WorldBookDay . I thought at secondary school they might not do costumes, but they'd mark the occasion in some joyous booky way. But it seems, sadly, nowt 😔

Completely magical - a new collection from Joan Aiken. And Kiran Millwood Hargrave FRSL **UPDATES ONLY** is an inspired choice for introducer. Looking forward to getting my hands on a copy! 😍