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Max Liu
@maxjliu.bsky.social
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The nine most controversial Booker winners ever
From joint-winners Margaret Atwood and Bernardine Evaristo to Paul Beatty winning for The Sellout, these victors caused most of a stir
inews.co.uk
After David Szalay's uncontroversial Booker win, I looked at some controversial moments from the prize's history feat. Berger, Kelman, Swift et al inews.co.uk/culture/book...
Reposted by Max Liu
I’m a past winner of the Orwell Prize & won partly because I exposed Vote Leave’s unlawful activities.
Michael Gove was its co-convener & refused to answer a single q. He’s now a judge of the prize & our world is truly one that Orwell would recognise
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/25/m...
Michael Gove was its co-convener & refused to answer a single q. He’s now a judge of the prize & our world is truly one that Orwell would recognise
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/25/m...
Michael Gove Made Orwell Prize Judge Despite Record of Attacking Journalists and Dodging Scrutiny
Critics say "Orwell would have enjoyed the irony" of the former Conservative minister's appointment
bylinetimes.com
November 25, 2025 at 5:53 PM
I’m a past winner of the Orwell Prize & won partly because I exposed Vote Leave’s unlawful activities.
Michael Gove was its co-convener & refused to answer a single q. He’s now a judge of the prize & our world is truly one that Orwell would recognise
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/25/m...
Michael Gove was its co-convener & refused to answer a single q. He’s now a judge of the prize & our world is truly one that Orwell would recognise
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/25/m...
Reposted by Max Liu
A Life in Letters by John Updike — a personality revealed vividly on.ft.com/4p6UPxO
A Life in Letters by John Updike — a personality revealed vividly
This collection of the late writer’s correspondence is pure gold, shining with insights about literature and life
on.ft.com
November 24, 2025 at 3:03 PM
A Life in Letters by John Updike — a personality revealed vividly on.ft.com/4p6UPxO
Reposted by Max Liu
It’s here! Our annual, bumper FT round-up of the best reads of the year - from economics and food to history and fiction and so much more - as selected by our critics and editors.
Lots to inspire the mind, lift the spirits and make you smile.
on.ft.com/4nYjkeU The best books of the year 2025
Lots to inspire the mind, lift the spirits and make you smile.
on.ft.com/4nYjkeU The best books of the year 2025
The best books of the year 2025
From economics, politics and history to science, art, food and, of course, fiction — our annual round-up brings you top titles picked by FT writers and critics
on.ft.com
November 21, 2025 at 8:22 AM
It’s here! Our annual, bumper FT round-up of the best reads of the year - from economics and food to history and fiction and so much more - as selected by our critics and editors.
Lots to inspire the mind, lift the spirits and make you smile.
on.ft.com/4nYjkeU The best books of the year 2025
Lots to inspire the mind, lift the spirits and make you smile.
on.ft.com/4nYjkeU The best books of the year 2025
"Cowley decided, somewhat unwisely, that the most direct path to influence was freelance book reviewing." Haha. I need to read this biography - reviewed by Kevin Lozano
www.newyorker.com/books/under-...
www.newyorker.com/books/under-...
The Man Who Helped Make the American Literary Canon
At the beginning of the twentieth century, the country’s literature was widely considered provincial. Then Malcolm Cowley set about championing writers like Kerouac and Faulkner as uniquely American.
www.newyorker.com
November 20, 2025 at 11:19 PM
"Cowley decided, somewhat unwisely, that the most direct path to influence was freelance book reviewing." Haha. I need to read this biography - reviewed by Kevin Lozano
www.newyorker.com/books/under-...
www.newyorker.com/books/under-...
Reposted by Max Liu
In honour of the eighteenth of November, here's my recent @irishtimes.com interview with Solvej Balle about seven books on the subject of being stuck in today's date.
www.irishtimes.com/culture/book...
www.irishtimes.com/culture/book...
Solvej Balle: ‘I thought that if I started to write this, I would spoil it’
Solvej Balle’s near-40-year project, On the Calculation of Volume, seems both outside time and yet immediately relevant
www.irishtimes.com
November 18, 2025 at 9:28 AM
In honour of the eighteenth of November, here's my recent @irishtimes.com interview with Solvej Balle about seven books on the subject of being stuck in today's date.
www.irishtimes.com/culture/book...
www.irishtimes.com/culture/book...
Reposted by Max Liu
Where’s Dickens when you need him?
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Asylum seekers’ jewellery could be seized to pay for processing costs, says Home Office minister
Idea borrowed from Denmark is latest attempt to reduce number of people seeking asylum in UK
www.theguardian.com
November 17, 2025 at 10:16 AM
Where’s Dickens when you need him?
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Finally saw the Springsteen anti-biopic. Disappointed it wasn't, as Id expected, about the fraught soul-searching and creative breakthrough that went into making Radio Nowhere on Magic... Nah I Iiked it. Both Jeremys were great. I agree with this intelligent piece. pitchfork.com/thepitch/spr...
Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere Review: A Curveball Music Biopic
Director Scott Cooper takes a left turn and frames a smaller portrait of a rock’n’roll star, featuring Jeremy Allen White as the Boss searching for inspiration while writing the spare and dark 1982 al...
pitchfork.com
November 15, 2025 at 10:10 PM
Finally saw the Springsteen anti-biopic. Disappointed it wasn't, as Id expected, about the fraught soul-searching and creative breakthrough that went into making Radio Nowhere on Magic... Nah I Iiked it. Both Jeremys were great. I agree with this intelligent piece. pitchfork.com/thepitch/spr...
Reposted by Max Liu
Final spin for my Booker controversies. One last thought - for somebody who is against prizes (competition is the antithesis of art) I spend a lot of time talking about them inews.co.uk/culture/book...
The nine most controversial Booker winners ever
From prize-sharing Margaret Atwood and Bernardine Evaristo, to Paul Beatty winning for The Sellout, these are the victors who caused most of a stir
inews.co.uk
November 13, 2025 at 10:15 AM
Final spin for my Booker controversies. One last thought - for somebody who is against prizes (competition is the antithesis of art) I spend a lot of time talking about them inews.co.uk/culture/book...
Proof if ever needed that high importance emails are the domain of psychopaths
Michael Wolff, Steve Bannon and Jeffrey Epstein taking time out of their day covering up the world's most famous pedophile ring to complain about Ta-Nehesi Coates.
![From: Steve Bannon I
Sent: 4/23/2019 4:06:36 PM
To: Michael Wolff _________________________________1
CC: Jeffrey Epstein [jeevacation@gmail.com]
Subject: Re: Announcing the 2019 Hillman Prize winners
Importance: High
Fix always in
On Apr 23, 2019, at 9:06 AM, Michael Wolff <
> wrote:
Look at the judges on this thing: the right-thinking establishment to a tee (to a Ta-Nihisi).
On Tue, Apr 23, 2019 at 2:57 PM Steve Bannon < wrote:
Pile on](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:x4qyokjtdzgl7gmqhsw4ajqj/bafkreicowtp72c5t277drs3dolmxwnxoa5fks2u4znpvsyoq4kbtt22i4i@jpeg)
November 13, 2025 at 4:33 PM
Proof if ever needed that high importance emails are the domain of psychopaths
Final spin for my Booker controversies. One last thought - for somebody who is against prizes (competition is the antithesis of art) I spend a lot of time talking about them inews.co.uk/culture/book...
The nine most controversial Booker winners ever
From prize-sharing Margaret Atwood and Bernardine Evaristo, to Paul Beatty winning for The Sellout, these are the victors who caused most of a stir
inews.co.uk
November 13, 2025 at 10:15 AM
Final spin for my Booker controversies. One last thought - for somebody who is against prizes (competition is the antithesis of art) I spend a lot of time talking about them inews.co.uk/culture/book...
Couldn't remember why I was in a good mood when I woke up. Then I remembered... A song that hits first time but one I know I will hear more and more in over the next weeks, months, years... www.youtube.com/watch?v=viti...
Robyn - Dopamine (Official Music Video)
YouTube video by Robyn
www.youtube.com
November 13, 2025 at 9:14 AM
Couldn't remember why I was in a good mood when I woke up. Then I remembered... A song that hits first time but one I know I will hear more and more in over the next weeks, months, years... www.youtube.com/watch?v=viti...
After David Szalay's uncontroversial Booker win, I looked at some controversial moments from the prize's history feat. Berger, Kelman, Swift et al inews.co.uk/culture/book...
The nine most controversial Booker winners ever
From joint-winners Margaret Atwood and Bernardine Evaristo to Paul Beatty winning for The Sellout, these victors caused most of a stir
inews.co.uk
November 12, 2025 at 9:37 AM
After David Szalay's uncontroversial Booker win, I looked at some controversial moments from the prize's history feat. Berger, Kelman, Swift et al inews.co.uk/culture/book...
Reposted by Max Liu
Read Palestine Week is coming up on 29 November-December 5.
A great way to support Palestinian writers is to read their work. Also, it's good to read it because of its quality.
Why not take part and perhaps discover a talented writer you haven't read before.
A great way to support Palestinian writers is to read their work. Also, it's good to read it because of its quality.
Why not take part and perhaps discover a talented writer you haven't read before.
Join READ PALESTINE WEEK November 29-December 5. This year, with a special focus on raising funds for Palestinian writers in Gaza.
publishersforpalestine.org/2025/11/11/j...
publishersforpalestine.org/2025/11/11/j...
Join READ PALESTINE WEEK 2025
Join us for this year’s READ PALESTINE WEEK, coming November 29-December 5.
publishersforpalestine.org
November 11, 2025 at 10:04 AM
Read Palestine Week is coming up on 29 November-December 5.
A great way to support Palestinian writers is to read their work. Also, it's good to read it because of its quality.
Why not take part and perhaps discover a talented writer you haven't read before.
A great way to support Palestinian writers is to read their work. Also, it's good to read it because of its quality.
Why not take part and perhaps discover a talented writer you haven't read before.
Yeah?
‘We had never read anything quite like it. It is, in many ways, a dark book but it is a joy to read’
We're delighted to announce Flesh by David Szalay as the winner of the #BookerPrize2025.
We're delighted to announce Flesh by David Szalay as the winner of the #BookerPrize2025.
November 10, 2025 at 10:39 PM
Yeah?
Flesh by David Szalay wins the @thebookerprizes.com. Heres @keirangoddard.bsky.social's review - the best piece I read on it: www.theguardian.com/books/2025/m...
Flesh by David Szalay review – brilliantly spare portrait of a man
From youthful curiosity to midlife resignation, the protagonist is buffeted by forces beyond his control in this thrilling exploration of what it means to be alive
www.theguardian.com
November 10, 2025 at 10:09 PM
Flesh by David Szalay wins the @thebookerprizes.com. Heres @keirangoddard.bsky.social's review - the best piece I read on it: www.theguardian.com/books/2025/m...
Reposted by Max Liu
From The Conservationist to Milkman... Ahead of tonight's @thebookerprizes.com winner ceremony, I chose my 13 best winners ever for @theipaper.com inews.co.uk/culture/book...
The 13 best Booker-winning novels of all time
Ahead of the 2025 award ceremony tonight, these are the judge's choices from previous years that have best stood the test of time
inews.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 12:35 PM
From The Conservationist to Milkman... Ahead of tonight's @thebookerprizes.com winner ceremony, I chose my 13 best winners ever for @theipaper.com inews.co.uk/culture/book...
From The Conservationist to Milkman... Ahead of tonight's @thebookerprizes.com winner ceremony, I chose my 13 best winners ever for @theipaper.com inews.co.uk/culture/book...
The 13 best Booker-winning novels of all time
Ahead of the 2025 award ceremony tonight, these are the judge's choices from previous years that have best stood the test of time
inews.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 12:35 PM
From The Conservationist to Milkman... Ahead of tonight's @thebookerprizes.com winner ceremony, I chose my 13 best winners ever for @theipaper.com inews.co.uk/culture/book...
Reposted by Max Liu
Reviewed The School of Night by Karl Ove Knausgaard. It made me wonder if he made a Faustian pact, My Struggle was the reward and everything since the price www.ft.com/content/a728...
The School of Night by Karl Ove Knausgaard — the author’s struggle continues
The Norwegian novelist continues his ‘Morning Star’ series with a deadpan tale of a self-aggrandising artist
www.ft.com
November 8, 2025 at 9:17 AM
Reviewed The School of Night by Karl Ove Knausgaard. It made me wonder if he made a Faustian pact, My Struggle was the reward and everything since the price www.ft.com/content/a728...
The moment in last night's concert, which veered from sublime to ridiculous, when Laurie Anderson called Gertrude Stein "the mother of ai". Hmm
November 9, 2025 at 11:00 AM
The moment in last night's concert, which veered from sublime to ridiculous, when Laurie Anderson called Gertrude Stein "the mother of ai". Hmm
Reviewed The School of Night by Karl Ove Knausgaard. It made me wonder if he made a Faustian pact, My Struggle was the reward and everything since the price www.ft.com/content/a728...
The School of Night by Karl Ove Knausgaard — the author’s struggle continues
The Norwegian novelist continues his ‘Morning Star’ series with a deadpan tale of a self-aggrandising artist
www.ft.com
November 8, 2025 at 9:17 AM
Reviewed The School of Night by Karl Ove Knausgaard. It made me wonder if he made a Faustian pact, My Struggle was the reward and everything since the price www.ft.com/content/a728...
Reposted by Max Liu
‘For many stately homes and historically significant buildings, ghosts continue to be marketable commodities, even if this sometimes makes things awkward for historians and curators.’
Jon Day on things that go bump in the night.
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
Jon Day on things that go bump in the night.
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
Jon Day · Gloomth: Haunted Houses
Haunted house stories tend to end in one of two ways: either the family flees, or the ghosts are soothed, and everyone...
www.lrb.co.uk
November 5, 2025 at 7:08 PM
‘For many stately homes and historically significant buildings, ghosts continue to be marketable commodities, even if this sometimes makes things awkward for historians and curators.’
Jon Day on things that go bump in the night.
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
Jon Day on things that go bump in the night.
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
Reposted by Max Liu
Congratulations to @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social!
You ignited a grassroots campaign, built on the radical idea that everyone deserves to live in dignity.
This is a seismic victory — not only for the people of New York, but for all those who believe that humanity & hope can prevail.
You ignited a grassroots campaign, built on the radical idea that everyone deserves to live in dignity.
This is a seismic victory — not only for the people of New York, but for all those who believe that humanity & hope can prevail.
November 5, 2025 at 8:38 AM
Congratulations to @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social!
You ignited a grassroots campaign, built on the radical idea that everyone deserves to live in dignity.
This is a seismic victory — not only for the people of New York, but for all those who believe that humanity & hope can prevail.
You ignited a grassroots campaign, built on the radical idea that everyone deserves to live in dignity.
This is a seismic victory — not only for the people of New York, but for all those who believe that humanity & hope can prevail.
Reposted by Max Liu
Mamdani's speech is SO GOOD: respectful, generous, sparkling.
November 5, 2025 at 6:32 AM
Mamdani's speech is SO GOOD: respectful, generous, sparkling.
Thrilled to see Helen Garner’s diaries win 2025 Baillie Gifford prize for nonfiction. So well deserved. And what a result for creative nonfic... My interview with Garner from last year: www.ft.com/content/2f37...
Helen Garner, the greatest Australian writer you’re yet to read
Is one of the country’s finest writers about to get her moment in the sun? As three modern classics are republished in the UK, she talks to the FT
www.ft.com
November 4, 2025 at 10:25 PM
Thrilled to see Helen Garner’s diaries win 2025 Baillie Gifford prize for nonfiction. So well deserved. And what a result for creative nonfic... My interview with Garner from last year: www.ft.com/content/2f37...
I reviewed Salman Rushdie's The Eleventh Hour for today's @theipaper.com and found that the five stories encapsulate the best and worst of him: inews.co.uk/culture/book...
The Eleventh Hour is Salman Rushdie's haunting reckoning with mortality
His collection of short stories concerned with looming endings is a reminder of the writer's best and worst tendencies
inews.co.uk
November 4, 2025 at 9:20 AM
I reviewed Salman Rushdie's The Eleventh Hour for today's @theipaper.com and found that the five stories encapsulate the best and worst of him: inews.co.uk/culture/book...