Claire
@thechesilbeach.bsky.social
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. ⬆️
⬆️And yes, this is my Backlisted bookshelf. ⬆️
Copies available in Heron Books in Clifton for any Bristolians who want to read it, or give it as a present. I bloody loved it, and would definitely recommend it!
December 18, 2025 at 8:51 AM
Copies available in Heron Books in Clifton for any Bristolians who want to read it, or give it as a present. I bloody loved it, and would definitely recommend it!
Any small publishers who follow me should look at this. Tom’s writing is wonderful, and I’d love to read this new collection of short stories.
I have been made very aware that perhaps the least commercially sensible move an author can make in this day and age - particularly a writer unpaid by his ex-publisher - is to write a collection of short stories so this year I've been devoting my time to writing a collection of short stories.
December 15, 2025 at 12:35 PM
Any small publishers who follow me should look at this. Tom’s writing is wonderful, and I’d love to read this new collection of short stories.
Took my goddaughter book shopping for her Christmas presents this morning. Here’s what she chose from @maxminervas.bsky.social, Heron Books and @gloucesterroadbks.bsky.social
December 13, 2025 at 2:54 PM
Took my goddaughter book shopping for her Christmas presents this morning. Here’s what she chose from @maxminervas.bsky.social, Heron Books and @gloucesterroadbks.bsky.social
Lovely Christmas EP by Samara Joy, for fans of Ella Fitzgerald and Nat King Cole style of Christmas songs, and a lovely soulful live version of The Christmas Song with Antonio McLendon
December 3, 2025 at 12:55 PM
Lovely Christmas EP by Samara Joy, for fans of Ella Fitzgerald and Nat King Cole style of Christmas songs, and a lovely soulful live version of The Christmas Song with Antonio McLendon
Heron Books in Bristol are running an advent calendar in the shop where the first person to buy a book each day up to Christmas gets to pick a mystery proof from a lucky dip. They knew I wasn’t getting a book advent calendar myself this year …
I won’t be getting Backlisted books in my advent calendar this year as we have too many we haven’t read already, and we don’t have the shelf space! Maybe next year, I’ll have had chance to catch up a bit, there will be more authors featured that we want to collect and it will make a return.
December 2, 2025 at 6:23 AM
Heron Books in Bristol are running an advent calendar in the shop where the first person to buy a book each day up to Christmas gets to pick a mystery proof from a lucky dip. They knew I wasn’t getting a book advent calendar myself this year …
I won’t be getting Backlisted books in my advent calendar this year as we have too many we haven’t read already, and we don’t have the shelf space! Maybe next year, I’ll have had chance to catch up a bit, there will be more authors featured that we want to collect and it will make a return.
November 30, 2025 at 3:28 PM
I won’t be getting Backlisted books in my advent calendar this year as we have too many we haven’t read already, and we don’t have the shelf space! Maybe next year, I’ll have had chance to catch up a bit, there will be more authors featured that we want to collect and it will make a return.
I finished this last week, and I’m still thinking and chuckling about it now. I think few books make you laugh out loud, but chuckling aloud is a pretty good indicator of a humour. A bookseller by accident having lost his work as a journalist to online media, and attempting to revive …
I’m reading Service by John Tottenham at the moment. About a hundred pages in and it’s so good. It’s funny enough that I’ve chuckled out loud a few times, and the occasional footnotes are gems. Enjoying it enormously
November 26, 2025 at 12:57 PM
I finished this last week, and I’m still thinking and chuckling about it now. I think few books make you laugh out loud, but chuckling aloud is a pretty good indicator of a humour. A bookseller by accident having lost his work as a journalist to online media, and attempting to revive …
Cinema trip today to see Wicked For Good (good, but supposed highest quality “Epic” screen at Vue looked like you were watching it projected onto water that had an oily film on top) and The Running Man (very good but didn’t have anything that made it feel specifically like an Edgar Wright film).
November 25, 2025 at 6:43 PM
Cinema trip today to see Wicked For Good (good, but supposed highest quality “Epic” screen at Vue looked like you were watching it projected onto water that had an oily film on top) and The Running Man (very good but didn’t have anything that made it feel specifically like an Edgar Wright film).
Going to the bookshop annual party this week, and they’ve asked everyone to come as book cover or in a costume inspired by a book. I’m not really a dress up person, so I’m going lowkey with a prop to make a favourite book cover. Can you guess what it is?
November 24, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Going to the bookshop annual party this week, and they’ve asked everyone to come as book cover or in a costume inspired by a book. I’m not really a dress up person, so I’m going lowkey with a prop to make a favourite book cover. Can you guess what it is?
Listened to the new @backlisted.bsky.social episode on Patreon this morning and it’s another excellent, interesting discussion. I went into the bookshop to order the book and H asked me what it was about. I tried to remember Una’s blurb and failed miserably. Advised him to just listen to Backlisted!
November 24, 2025 at 12:51 PM
Listened to the new @backlisted.bsky.social episode on Patreon this morning and it’s another excellent, interesting discussion. I went into the bookshop to order the book and H asked me what it was about. I tried to remember Una’s blurb and failed miserably. Advised him to just listen to Backlisted!
Heron Books in Clifton, Bristol going all out with the window display for On the Calculation of Volume (love the calendars where every day is 18th Nov!)
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November 19, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Heron Books in Clifton, Bristol going all out with the window display for On the Calculation of Volume (love the calendars where every day is 18th Nov!)
www.instagram.com/p/DRPNAtMjCU...
www.instagram.com/p/DRPNAtMjCU...
Here we go again …
November 18, 2025 at 8:50 AM
Here we go again …
I listened to the audiobook of Outline today. Unlike when I tried to read it for a book group a while back, I did make it to the end this time. I’m still bemused by the book, despite an excellent Backlisted episode discussion. Part of the problem with the audiobook is that KST does a Greek accent …
New episode up now. Transit by Rachel Cusk, and the Outline trilogy as a whole, discussed by Andy, Una and Nicky. @iammilliam.bsky.social @unamccormack.bsky.social @birchos.bsky.social open.spotify.com/episode/1c43...
Transit and the Outline Trilogy by Rachel Cusk
open.spotify.com
November 16, 2025 at 3:48 PM
I listened to the audiobook of Outline today. Unlike when I tried to read it for a book group a while back, I did make it to the end this time. I’m still bemused by the book, despite an excellent Backlisted episode discussion. Part of the problem with the audiobook is that KST does a Greek accent …
I’m reading Service by John Tottenham at the moment. About a hundred pages in and it’s so good. It’s funny enough that I’ve chuckled out loud a few times, and the occasional footnotes are gems. Enjoying it enormously
November 15, 2025 at 2:45 PM
I’m reading Service by John Tottenham at the moment. About a hundred pages in and it’s so good. It’s funny enough that I’ve chuckled out loud a few times, and the occasional footnotes are gems. Enjoying it enormously
It’s here! On the Calculation of Volume III has arrived. I’ve taken the day off on Tuesday to read it. Also Outline and Transit by Rachel Cusk because, you know, Backlisted (although I have actually bought the audiobook of Transit this morning to see if KST can help me make it to the end this time.
November 15, 2025 at 2:37 PM
It’s here! On the Calculation of Volume III has arrived. I’ve taken the day off on Tuesday to read it. Also Outline and Transit by Rachel Cusk because, you know, Backlisted (although I have actually bought the audiobook of Transit this morning to see if KST can help me make it to the end this time.
Clifton Oxfam always has the creepiest dolls on display in the window.
November 8, 2025 at 12:03 PM
Clifton Oxfam always has the creepiest dolls on display in the window.
It’s #LetterboxdFriday, and here are my #LastFourWatched.
I guess I’m fully in Christmas film mode now!
I guess I’m fully in Christmas film mode now!
November 7, 2025 at 5:20 PM
It’s #LetterboxdFriday, and here are my #LastFourWatched.
I guess I’m fully in Christmas film mode now!
I guess I’m fully in Christmas film mode now!
Thank you so much for recommending Remember the Night @mariephillips.bsky.social. I’ve just watched it and it was fantastic. I will be adding it to my Christmas viewing list from now on. Barbara Stanwyck was absolutely brilliant, and I loved the ending. Thank you again!
November 4, 2025 at 6:31 PM
Thank you so much for recommending Remember the Night @mariephillips.bsky.social. I’ve just watched it and it was fantastic. I will be adding it to my Christmas viewing list from now on. Barbara Stanwyck was absolutely brilliant, and I loved the ending. Thank you again!
Reposted by Claire
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.
October 26, 2025 at 7:18 AM
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.
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!
October 23, 2025 at 4:04 PM
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!
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
youtu.be
October 23, 2025 at 2:36 PM
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?...
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.
influenced purchase, and I’m holding @regretteruane.bsky.social responsible.
October 22, 2025 at 5:29 PM
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.
influenced purchase, and I’m holding @regretteruane.bsky.social responsible.
The anticipation is palpable … what book will be joining my @backlisted.bsky.social Hallowe’en shrine this year?
October 14, 2025 at 4:12 PM
The anticipation is palpable … what book will be joining my @backlisted.bsky.social Hallowe’en shrine this year?
This always fascinates me. I read a book this week and really enjoyed it, but only found out afterwards it was meant to be funny. I had no idea, but an event with the author the day after I finished reading it, confirmed that it was a comic novel.
When you write a book, you actually write several books. There's the one you know you wrote. Then there's the one your readers bring their experiences to. Suddenly your book becomes lots of different books, all equally valid.
But the book someone part-reads or presumes you wrote? That can fuck off.
But the book someone part-reads or presumes you wrote? That can fuck off.
October 12, 2025 at 11:15 AM
This always fascinates me. I read a book this week and really enjoyed it, but only found out afterwards it was meant to be funny. I had no idea, but an event with the author the day after I finished reading it, confirmed that it was a comic novel.
Haven’t done a #FridayReads in ages but I’ve started Everything Will Swallow You by Tom Cox (@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social) this afternoon and I love it already, so just thought I’d share the news.
October 10, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Haven’t done a #FridayReads in ages but I’ve started Everything Will Swallow You by Tom Cox (@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social) this afternoon and I love it already, so just thought I’d share the news.