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Claire

Claire

@thechesilbeach.bsky.social

610 followers 300 following 1.8K posts

Love visiting Chesil Beach and reading books. In fact, I’ve probably got my head in a book while you’re reading this. ⬆️And yes, this is my Backlisted bookshelf. ⬆️

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Claire @thechesilbeach.bsky.social · 1d

There’s definitely something about the proportions, (I don’t know the technical term) the grey terrace houses seem wider than normal and the lime/sandstone around the bay windows are just distinctively Bristol

Claire @thechesilbeach.bsky.social · 1d

It is very strange. Thinking about it, when we watched the Dirk Gently adaptation a few years ago, it was one of the pedestrian bridges that gave it away to me. Even they feel distinctly Bristolian.

Claire @thechesilbeach.bsky.social · 1d

I snuck in a Christmas film last week, then had to backtrack to Halloween for reading and Strictly, but I’m full on Christmas now!

Claire @thechesilbeach.bsky.social · 1d

It makes me wonder if people from other places have the same thing, or if it’s just a Bristolian phenomenon?

Claire @thechesilbeach.bsky.social · 1d

I’m exactly the same. There’s a lot filmed in Bristol now, and it can be really distracting because once you’ve seen it, you can’t ignore it! It’s the Victorian terraces that are usually the give away to me. They just don’t look the same anywhere else, but I can’t tell you why.

Claire @thechesilbeach.bsky.social · 3d

I won’t look it up, but I vaguely also remember The Crow Man had another hideous scarecrow, I think it had a beetroot head? Nightmares for years. Still can bear to even see a photo of Jon Pertwee

Claire @thechesilbeach.bsky.social · 3d

Ooh, that’ll be another edition to add to our collection …

Ten paperback editions of A Month in the Country by JL Carr, including a signed Quince Tree Press edition, and two translations, one in French and one in Spanish

Claire @thechesilbeach.bsky.social · 3d

Likewise Worzel Gummidge which still terrifies me to this day - it was the changing heads that freaked me out as a child.

Claire @thechesilbeach.bsky.social · 3d

Thank you so much!!! I’ve also spotted some more foreign language editions we don’t have in German, Danish, Czech and Korean. I have a tiny little bit of German, but I have no chance of reading the others! 😂

Claire @thechesilbeach.bsky.social · 4d

Agree to all this, but ban all food!!! The cinema we go to now has started selling huge packets of crisps which you have to put your whole arm in to reach the bottom, and they are NOT quiet. And don’t get out your phone either - had to ask the woman in front of me to put her phone away this week🤬

Claire @thechesilbeach.bsky.social · 8d

OMG NO!!!

Reposted by Claire

Joel Morris @gralefrit.bsky.social · 8d

I’ve pitched a project I really want to do and had zero interest so far: celebrating the history of books that aren’t “real books”. Rather than the usual “children’s canon”. Because those were my favourites growing up. And I suspect I’m not alone. My love of reading comes entirely from those.

Claire @thechesilbeach.bsky.social · 8d

I’ve just read your thread of posts, and I want to read or watch whatever form the project takes. I’ve still got a shelf full of annuals, Beano, Blue Peter, Wombles, Charlie’s Angels, Jackie, Brownies, Smash Hits, Famous Five, the list goes on! Christmas presents that I loved forever.

Claire @thechesilbeach.bsky.social · 10d

I went back to the hairdressers once after the pandemic but just get my partner to chop some off the bottom now. It feels like such a waste when I don’t care much what I look like and a one length cut is fine. No small talk, no sitting in a chair doing nothing for 45 mins, and extra money for books!

Claire @thechesilbeach.bsky.social · 11d

Don’t encourage him! He already spends most of the year preparing for Christmas 😂

Claire @thechesilbeach.bsky.social · 11d

It’s so good! Hope you enjoy it.

Claire @thechesilbeach.bsky.social · 11d

Time to start Hallowe’en reading. I’ve picked a collection of Robert Aickman stories, Dark Entries. I’ve been listening to all the previous @backlisted.bsky.social Hallowe’en episodes this week, and @andrewmale.bsky.social’s fist pick was Aickman’s Cold Hand in Mine, so Dark Entries is calling!

Paperback edition of Dark Entries by Robert Aickman

Claire @thechesilbeach.bsky.social · 11d

I will miss Claudia so much on #Strictly. My favourite memories are mostly from It Takes Two days. Here’s one I found as a reminder youtu.be/TTxPWVqrW58?...

Len's Masterclass

YouTube video by Grace

Claire @thechesilbeach.bsky.social · 12d

Thank you, Rose xx

Claire @thechesilbeach.bsky.social · 12d

And finally, a slightly battered Virago Modern Classics edition of A Touch of Mistletoe by Barbara Comyns, yet another @backlisted.bsky.social inspired choice.

Virago Modern Classics edition of A Touch of Mistletoe by Barbara Comyns

Claire @thechesilbeach.bsky.social · 12d

Next, I’d been looking to replace a horrible print on demand edition of An Unsuitable Attachment by my beloved Barbara Pym, and I might have welled up a bit when I saw the quote by lovely Jilly on the cover.

Paperback edition of An Unsuitable Attachment by Barbara Pym with a quote from Jilly Cooper saying “My favourite writer” ❤️

Claire @thechesilbeach.bsky.social · 12d

My latest book order arrived today with a few beauties! First up, I found another Joan Barfoot book from The Women's Press in great condition. Another @backlisted.bsky.social
influenced purchase, and I’m holding @regretteruane.bsky.social responsible.

Women’s Press edition of Dancing in the Dark by Joan Barfoot

Claire @thechesilbeach.bsky.social · 20d

Thanks, Laura!

Claire @thechesilbeach.bsky.social · 20d

Just a bit of fun.

Claire @thechesilbeach.bsky.social · 20d

The anticipation is palpable … what book will be joining my @backlisted.bsky.social Hallowe’en shrine this year?

A collection of the Backlisted books featured on previous Hallowe’en episodes:
Cold Hand in Mine by Robert Aickman
We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson
Ghost Stories by Edith Wharton
The Breaking Point by Daphne du Maurier
Beowulf
Something in Disguise by Elizabeth Jane Howard
The Altar of the Dead by Henry James
Ghost Stories of an Antiquary by M. R. James
Round the Fire Stories by Arthur Conan Doyle

All the books are arranged on a dark green background and are surrounded by Hallowe’en decorations including a black cat, some tombstones, candles, spiders and cobwebs, pumpkins and coffins.