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bookanista

@wearebookanista.bsky.social

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Literary blog packed with author interviews, short stories, film & TV adaptations, extracts, features, and discussion about books from around the world 💙📚 https://bookanista.com/ What will you read next?

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Scribe UK @scribeuk.bsky.social · Sep 11

'We know the planet can be saved from unspeakable horror. We’ve done it before.' Beautiful extract from HUMAN NATURE by @drkatemarvel.bsky.social, published today, in @theguardian.com Long Reads today www.theguardian.com/news/2025/se...

‘We’ve done it before’: how not to lose hope in the fight against ecological disaster

Some days it can feel as if climate catastrophe is inevitable. But history is full of cases – such as the banning of whaling and CFCs – that show humanity can come together to avert disaster

www.theguardian.com

bookanista @wearebookanista.bsky.social · Sep 9

Claire Foy in H is for Hawk, Benedict Cumberbatch in The Thing with Feathers, Andy Serkis' Animal Farm and much more. Read our round-up of book-to-screen adaptations not to be missed at the BFI London Film Festival, 8 to 19 October 2025 📚💙🎬
#BFI #LFF #LFF2025
bookanista.com/bfi-london-f...

Bookmarking the BFI London Film Festival

A round-up of eye-catching adaptations to look out for at LFF 2025, from Frankenstein and The Stranger to The Thing with Feathers and H is for Hawk.

bookanista @wearebookanista.bsky.social · Sep 8

We interviewed author Patrick Ryan, whose ambitious (and rather wonderful) novel BUCKEYE chronicles the lives of two couples across five decades in the fictional town of Bonhomie, Ohio. What will you read next?
💙📚📖 #booksky #bookblogger #litmags #debut #skybrarian
bookanista.com/patrick-ryan...

Patrick Ryan: Connecting lives

Short story master Patrick Ryan’s debut novel BUCKEYE is a sweeping tale of love, war, secrets and desire in a small-town American community.

bookanista @wearebookanista.bsky.social · Sep 4

With her husband unable to hold down a job, Pakistani housewife Tara takes a drastic step to become a breadwinner. Read an explosive extract from A Splintering by Dur e Aziz Amna
bookanista.com/breaking-point
@duckworthbooks.bsky.social
💙📚📖 #booksky #bookblogger #litmags #reading

With her husband unable to hold down a job and provide for the family, Pakistani housewife Tara takes a drastic step to become a breadwinner. From A Splintering

bookanista @wearebookanista.bsky.social · Sep 3

The simple task of hanging a reproduction painting causes escalating friction between a tetchy couple. A delightful portrait of domestic bickering from #fabiomorábito's brilliant story collection #TheShadowoftheMammoth. Out now from #otherpress, tr. #curtisbauer
bookanista.com/the-nail-in-the-wall/

The Nail in the Wall by Fabio Morábito

The simple task of hanging a reproduction painting causes escalating friction between a tetchy couple. From the collection The Shadow of the Mammoth

bookanista @wearebookanista.bsky.social · Aug 11

Allison King's Tips for Writers No. 7 – adopt a cat
One who will lie down on your notebook so you can take cute photos. But also get nice cat toys to lure her away so you can actually write @4thestatebooks.bsky.social
bookanista.com/all-about-th...
💙📚📖 #booksky #bookblogger #catsky 🐈 #reading

All about the cliffhanger

Allison King talks pencils and pets, community, continuity and suspense as she delves into her writing habits for tips for fellow writers.

bookanista @wearebookanista.bsky.social · Jul 10

"It was a glass-shattering moment. I was not, as I had always thought, separate from women. I was one of them.”
Marie O'Hare's #writerspath to her joyful and daring debut novel #IKnowWhereYouBuriedYourHusband. Out now from @bantambooksuk.bsky.social bookanista.com/embracing-th...

(eventually) Embracing the sisterhood

Marie O’Hare reflects on the lightbulb moment when she saw she had to concentrate on creating rounded female characters that reflect her own experiences.

bookanista @wearebookanista.bsky.social · Jul 3

Waiting in line for eternity can be a colossal bore. Read 'Present Perfect', a hilarious take on protocols and shifting time in the afterlife, from Etgar Keret's new collection #Autocorrect. Out now from @grantabooks.bsky.social bookanista.com/present-perf...

Present perfect

Standing in line to enter the next world, a recently deceased hedge-fund analyst queries the protocol of the afterlife. From Autocorrect by Etgar Keret.

Reposted by bookanista

Extra Teeth @extrateethmag.bsky.social · Jun 1

And we are OPEN for submissions for Issue Ten!

Submissions will be open from JUNE 1st - JUNE 14th.

We are accepting fiction and non-fiction between 800-4000 words.

bookanista @wearebookanista.bsky.social · Jun 1

Odd title but the right title! All the emotions in a gorgeously written love story like no other. If you’re a fan of the film Past Lives, it will resonate deeply. It’s a book of the year contender! Heart the Lover by Lily King coming soon @canongate.co.uk
💙📚📖 #booksky #bookblogger #litmags #reading

bookanista @wearebookanista.bsky.social · May 29

Marriage Material is a new comedy drama now on @lyrichammersmith.bsky.social, loosely adapted from Sathnam Sanghera’s rather good novel about family, sisterly bonds and the Sikh immigrant experience. It lacks the wit of the novel, but still fun
#TheatreSky #LondonTheatre
💙📚📖 #booksky #bookblogger

bookanista @wearebookanista.bsky.social · May 25

Standing ovation for Jack (Slow Horses) Lowden and Martin Freeman. From the first words it’s evident you’re in for a darkly hilarious, disturbing experience. Stunning performances. Dialogue subversive and eye-boggling. Just WOW!
The Fifth Step is on now!
sohoplace.org/shows/the-fi...
🎭📖💙📚 #theatre

bookanista @wearebookanista.bsky.social · May 24

Congrats @darialavelleauthor.bsky.social on your thrilling (and mesmerising) supernatural romantic thriller! Highly recommend to #booksky.
Find out more in our bookanista interview: bookanista.com/daria-lavell...
@bloomsburybooksuk.bsky.social @simonandschuster.bsky.social 💙📚 📖 #bookblogger

Daria Lavelle: Savouring the beyond

The author of Aftertaste tells Farhana Gani about melding food and ghosts with romance and menace in her sensuous novel about connecting with the afterlife.

bookanista @wearebookanista.bsky.social · May 8

"No, she had no regrets. On the contrary. If all the French had been on the right side, Germany would have won the war."
Read an extract from Cécile Desprairies' unflinching debut novel #ThePropagandist Out now from @swiftpress.bsky.social translated by Natasha Lehrer
bookanista.com/my-mothers-w...

My mother’s war

An extract from Vichy France historian Cécile Desprairies’ novel The Propagandist, drawing on her family’s sympathies and collaboration with the Nazi occupiers.

bookanista @wearebookanista.bsky.social · May 3

We chat with Liann Zhang about her debut thriller Julie Chan Is Dead, a hilariously sinister satire on influencer culture
bookanista.com/the-dark-side-of-the-mirror/
@ravenbooks.bsky.social @bloomsburybooksuk.bsky.social
💙📚📖 #booksky #bookblogger #reading #litmags

The dark side of the mirror

Liann Zhang introduces her satirical debut thriller Julie Chan Is Dead, and lets us inside her writing rituals and litearry influences.

bookanista @wearebookanista.bsky.social · Apr 23

Pretty excited that we’ll meet your beauty in person in some fine city soon. North London is a playground for pups (just saying)

bookanista @wearebookanista.bsky.social · Apr 16

If you’re a fan of Edna O’Brien’s writing, this jaw-dropping documentary is a feast! An entertaining portrait of a life of extremes - funny, staggering, disturbing, alarming, dazzling, intriguing. Brilliantly written and directed by Sinéad O’Shea.
Go! Go! Go!
💙📚📘 #bookblogger 🎬 #film #litmag

bookanista @wearebookanista.bsky.social · Apr 3

This week’s book post includes these three standouts! Coming soon, and available to pre-order. What will you read next?
🙏 @4thestatebooks.bsky.social @ravenbooks.bsky.social @doubledayuk.bsky.social
💙📚📘🔥 #booksky #bookblogger

bookanista @wearebookanista.bsky.social · Apr 2

Congrats to Nussaibah!
Her brilliant debut, Fundamentally, a sharp political satire, is on the 6-spot shortlist for the coveted Women's Prize @womensprize.bsky.social @nussaibah.bsky.social @orionbooks.bsky.social
Read the 1st chapter ⬇️
💙📚📘🔥 #booksky #bookblogger
bookanista.com/brouhaha-in-...

Brouhaha in Baghdad

Farhana Gani relishes Nussaibah Younis’ radically funny debut novel Fundamentally, about a misguided attempt to repatriate ISIS brides from Baghdad.

bookanista @wearebookanista.bsky.social · Apr 1

READING’S A WASTE OF TIME, the dental hygienist said, hands in blue rubber gloves, blue rubber gloves in my mouth...
A laugh-out-loud essay about physical and intellectual entrapment from Unsavory Thoughts by Thomas Walton
@saggingmeniscus.bsky.social 💙📚
bookanista.com/from-a-dental-chair/

From a dental chair

When your dental hygienist critiques book reading over real-life documentaries, and you are powerless to interject… From Unsavory Thoughts by Thomas Walton.

bookanista @wearebookanista.bsky.social · Mar 28

WE’RE GOD’S BEAUTIFUL CREATURES, the vampire said, something like joy leaking into its voice for the first time since it crawled under this house... An eerie read from Nathan Bellingrud's North American Lake Monsters 💙📚@deadinkbooks.bsky.social @influxpress.bsky.social
bookanista.com/sunbleached/

15-year-old Joshua makes a pact with the vampire that has taken residence in the crawlspace beneath his house. From the collection North American Lake Monsters.

bookanista @wearebookanista.bsky.social · Mar 26

"The acts of ‘woolvish’ women were so shocking because they defied their understanding of the laws of God and nature. We moderns likewise have a fascination with women who kill..." Read an extract from Blessin Adams' Thou Savage Woman @wmcollinsbooks.bsky.social bookanista.com/she-devils-a...

She-devils and evil monsters

How historical cases of murderous female rebellion continue to reverberate in the present day. Extract from Thou Savage Woman by Blessin Adams.

bookanista @wearebookanista.bsky.social · Mar 25

Believe the hype
A vivid, disturbing and cleverly written insight into the shape of things to come in an AI driven authoritarian near future

“The Dream Hotel” by @lailalalami.com is riveting, original and daring

@bloomsburybooksuk.bsky.social
💙📚 #bookblogger #booksky #recommendedread

bookanista @wearebookanista.bsky.social · Mar 10

"Shatila is her name. One of the oldest refugee camps on earth. In Arabic the word means ‘justice’ and ‘insight’. She runs the best whorehouse in town…” Read an uncompromising extract from Meike Ziervogel's new novel Shams. Out now from @saltpublishing.com bookanista.com/stink-seduct...

Stink, seduction and surrender

An extract from Meike Ziervogel’s novel SHAMS presents an uncompromising and enduring portrait of Shatila refugee camp in southern Beirut.

bookanista @wearebookanista.bsky.social · Mar 7

What's the worst that could happen to a group of teenage millennials on a supervised school cruise to the Greek islands?
Ease into the weekend with a story from @marniapple.bsky.social's scintillating debut collection. Out now from The Indigo Press 💙📚😱
bookanista.com/under-the-ci...

Under the circumstances

A drink-fuelled school cruise out of Athens leads to unwanted liaisons and recriminations. From Marni Appleton’s debut story collection I Hope You’re Happy.