Author | Lightnews

Hermione Jane Middleton

@cloverandquill.bsky.social

45 followers 23 following 39 posts

Part-time librarian’s assistant, full-time bookworm 📚🐾 Lover of cats, coffee, and classic novels. When I’m not in the stacks, I’m in my allotment, coaxing veggies to grow (with mixed success). 🌱📖💭 #BookishLife”

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Hermione Jane Middleton @cloverandquill.bsky.social · Apr 5

Easter holiday goals: read lots 📚, show library restraint 😅, knitting and sewing.
TBR: Middlemarch, Didion, Plath, O’Brien.
Plus trips to Cromford Mills, Buxton & bookshops!
#SpringReads #CurrentlyReading #Bibliophile #AllotmentLife

This photograph shows four books arranged on a peachy-orange fabric with black polka dots. The books are placed in a casual arrangement on the slightly wrinkled fabric.

On the left side, two books are standing vertically next to each other: "Country Girls" by Edna O'Brien in a mint green spine with yellow lettering, and "The Journals of Sylvia Plath" edited by Karen V. Kukil in a teal blue spine.

To the right are two books laying flat: "Play It As It Lays" by Joan Didion with a black and white photograph on its cover showing a woman and man at what appears to be a laboratory table, and below it is a dusty pink edition of "Middlemarch" by George Eliot with decorative oval cameo portraits on the cover.

All books except the Middlemarch edition have library identification labels on their spines. The collection features notable female authors spanning different literary periods. The polka dot background provides a warm contrast to the book covers.

Hermione Jane Middleton @cloverandquill.bsky.social · Mar 29

I’ve never heard this quote before. Just lovely.

Hermione Jane Middleton @cloverandquill.bsky.social · Mar 29

I love this memoir- so wonderful.
I’m currently reading Play it As It Lays. I’ve never read her fiction before, so it will be interesting to see what it is like.
(Edited 18:58 via @skeetsapp.com)

Hermione Jane Middleton @cloverandquill.bsky.social · Mar 29

I didn’t think Intermezzo was as good as her other novels. I felt like you it was a bit bloated.

Hermione Jane Middleton @cloverandquill.bsky.social · Mar 29

James Baldwin is really good. I’ve read Dark Days and it’s fantastic.

Hermione Jane Middleton @cloverandquill.bsky.social · Mar 29

I much preferred it. I don’t think protagonists of a novel have to be likeable but I find it more enjoyable reading experience when the characters are.

Hermione Jane Middleton @cloverandquill.bsky.social · Mar 28

Love the one of the cat sat in the sink. 💕 🐈‍⬛

Hermione Jane Middleton @cloverandquill.bsky.social · Mar 28

I’m feeling rather upbeat at the moment with spring in the air, so it’ll be lovely to have a nice relaxing day curled up with this book.

It will be interesting reading something from when she was a younger woman.

Ive ordered Notes to John but feel conflicted about reading it.

Hermione Jane Middleton @cloverandquill.bsky.social · Mar 26

Book purchase of the month: Play It As It Lays.

Joan Didion’s confessional style is unmatched. The Year of Magical Thinking is my favorite—precise and deeply moving. Excited to explore her fiction!

Where should I start?

#JoanDidion #PlayItAsItLays #LiteraryFiction #WomenWriters #CurrentlyReading

A cup of milky tea in a glass mug with a gold handle sits on a white marble surface. Next to it, a vintage floral plate holds a slice of cake topped with whipped cream and two round biscuits with an embossed design. Beside the plate is a copy of Play It As It Lays by Joan Didion, featuring a black-and-white cover image of two people playing chess.

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Hermione Jane Middleton @cloverandquill.bsky.social · Mar 11

I found the characters far more likeable in Conversations With Friends

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Hermione Jane Middleton @cloverandquill.bsky.social · Mar 10

I much preferred it to Conversations with Friends. 😊

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Hermione Jane Middleton @cloverandquill.bsky.social · Mar 8

This is Pleasure – Mary Gaitskill

A sharp, unsettling look at consent, power & perception. Quinn, a publisher, is accused of harassment; Margot, his friend, reflects on his behavior. Gaitskill’s unsentimental style makes this a thought provoking read. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#MaryGaitskill #ThisIsPleasure #LitFic

This image shows a cozy café setting with a round wooden table bathed in warm sunlight. On the table, there’s a copy of This Is Pleasure by Mary Gaitskill, its minimalist cream-colored cover featuring abstract line drawings of faces and lips in black and pink. The book is placed near the top left of the table.

Beside the book, to the right, is a cup of matcha latte in a ceramic mug, topped with delicate heart-shaped latte art. Below the book and latte, a golden-brown croissant is placed on a plate lined with branded parchment paper reading “Sonder.” The croissant is topped with vibrant green pistachio cream and crushed pistachios, giving it a textured appearance. A silver fork rests on the plate.

To the right of the latte, a textured, round, earth-toned object with a hollow opening sits on the table, possibly a decorative lamp or sculpture. In the bottom left corner of the image, part of a yellow gingham fabric—likely a skirt or dress—is visible, adding a soft contrast to the warm wooden tones of the table. The overall aesthetic is warm, inviting, and thoughtfully arranged.

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Hermione Jane Middleton @cloverandquill.bsky.social · Feb 24

They say you find the right book when you need it. I’ve finally read James Baldwin’s No Name in the Streets—his insight, empathy, and righteous anger are unmatched. His words make me believe things can get better—somehow. #JamesBaldwin #NoNameInTheStreets #Literature #Books #Hope

Hermione Jane Middleton @cloverandquill.bsky.social · Feb 22

Wrapped tulips bringing spring while waiting for our allotment blooms 🌷

Perfect pairing with @porterhilltea's Earl of Colne Valley (that afternoon slump savior) and diving into Norah Lofts' Lady Living Alone📚

Support your local tea merchants, friends! ✨

#TeaAndBooks #ShopLocal

Hermione Jane Middleton @cloverandquill.bsky.social · Feb 22

Feels like the first morning of spring. The warmth of the sunlight on my skin streaming through the living room window and I’m nursing a lovely cup of coffee.

#butfirstcoffee #morningslikethese #lightandshade #coffeeandbooks

Hermione Jane Middleton @cloverandquill.bsky.social · Feb 20

When you have 36 hours to your book club and have 130 pages to read.

#bookclubproblems #panicreading

a woman is crying while holding a piece of paper and making a funny face .

ALT: a woman is crying while holding a piece of paper and making a funny face .

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Hermione Jane Middleton @cloverandquill.bsky.social · Feb 14

After a busy term, I’m recharging this week! Plans include reading (Moon Tiger, White Teeth, The Night Watch & more), my first book club (pencils & post-its ready!), knitting a pixie balaclava for the allotment, visiting the Miffy exhibition & prepping for spring! 🌱📚🧶 #BookishLife #SpringVibes

Hermione Jane Middleton @cloverandquill.bsky.social · Feb 13

A big thank you to @bbcradio4.bsky.social for this week’s deeply nauseating sewage storyline in The Archers, perfectly timed for supper. Truly, a public service. #TheArchers #RadioDrama #SewageWithYourSupper

a man with glasses says that makes me want to throw up in a car

ALT: a man with glasses says that makes me want to throw up in a car

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Hermione Jane Middleton @cloverandquill.bsky.social · Feb 12

New book club reads have arrived! Time to dive into some literary brilliance (and probably some strong opinions at the next meeting). Let the page-turning commence! 📚✨ #BookClub #NewReads

A warm, bookish flat lay on a wooden table. Two paperback books are placed diagonally—I, Claudius by Samuel Richardson, featuring a classical painting of a reclining woman on the cover, and Moon Tiger by Penelope Lively, with a moody, shadowed image of a woman lying down. A small bundle of dried flowers with soft beige and orange hues rests nearby. To the right, a box of Yorkshire shortbread biscuits with a decorative, vintage-inspired design adds a cozy touch. At the bottom, a glass mug filled with creamy tea or coffee completes the inviting scene.

Hermione Jane Middleton @cloverandquill.bsky.social · Feb 10

I haven’t, the book has been on my list to read for a while 📚

Hermione Jane Middleton @cloverandquill.bsky.social · Feb 9

Had a wonderful time seeing Wuthering Heights by Andrea Arnold at National Science and Media Museum. She captures the novel’s raw cruelty. Loved the shots of the landscape and wildlife. Seeing it on 35mm was a real treat. #WutheringHeights #AndreaArnold #Filmadaptation

Hermione Jane Middleton @cloverandquill.bsky.social · Feb 8

As an avid reader I always have an interior monologue in my head saying I feel so like X character at the moment or this reminds of the part in Y book. Cue a smug grin on my face and air of intellectual superiority . Bonus points if the novel is published in Penguin Classics.

a brown and white dog is sitting on a couch looking at the camera .

ALT: a brown and white dog is sitting on a couch looking at the camera .

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Hermione Jane Middleton @cloverandquill.bsky.social · Feb 2

I’d highly recommend it. 📚

Hermione Jane Middleton @cloverandquill.bsky.social · Feb 2

I love this book, the chapter on stone was so interesting. Beautiful cover too. Have you read Peter Ross’ other book ‘A Tomb With A View’? I listened to it on radio 4 and it was great

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Hermione Jane Middleton @cloverandquill.bsky.social · Feb 2

Cat seems happy kitty to me. The man would be scratched to smithereens if not.