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Bookman 📚

@bookman.bsky.social

1.6K followers 930 following 2K posts

Formerly bookfella on Twitter. Book reviewer (Booklist, the Winnipeg Free Press, others). Former radio playwright. Bookseller. Amateur smart-ass, hoping to turn pro. Bridgewater, Nova Scotia. Website: reviewsbybookfella.wordpress.com.

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Bookman 📚 @bookman.bsky.social · Nov 13

This post is close-captioned for the herring-impaired.

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Bookman 📚 @bookman.bsky.social · 6h

And now this episode of Leverage is directed by Frank Oz, who directed The Score (2001), one of the very best heist movies.

Bookman 📚 @bookman.bsky.social · 6h

Turning Point USA: a hateful organization founded by hateful people.

RutgersAAUP-AFT @ruaaup-aft.bsky.social · 9h

This week, our colleague Dr. Mark Bray came under attack by Turning Point USA’s Rutgers chapter for his public scholarship. Rutgers AAUP-AFT and the Rutgers Adjunct Faculty Union condemn this campaign and stand in solidarity with our colleagues. Read our full statement here: https://loom.ly/BDXasRY

Bookman 📚 @bookman.bsky.social · 6h

Back in my serial-killer days, I once killed a guy using a small tool normally used for punching holes in leather.

Fun was had by awl.

Bookman 📚 @bookman.bsky.social · 8h

My @ala-booklist.bsky.social review of Final Orbit, the new novel by Chris Hadfield.

@cmdr-hadfield.bsky.social

Hadfield follows up 2023’s The Defector, the earthbound sequel to 2021’s The Apollo Murders, with another high-flying (literally) adventure. It’s 1975, and the Apollo-Soyuz mission, which would see American and Russian space crews working together for the first time, is worldwide news. When tragedy strikes, NASA flight controller Kaz Zemeckis scrambles to keep his astronauts alive. But unknown to anyone in the West, China has secretly put their own spacecraft into Earth’s orbit. Hadfield once again draws from his personal experience as an astronaut to give the story a highly realistic feel. The dialogue, technical terms, and descriptions of the effects of spaceflight on the astronauts’ bodies all feel completely genuine. Just as he did in the two previous Kaz Zemeckis novels, Hadfield also works real people and events into the story to ground the reader in a vividly realized historical period. Hadfield is a terrific storyteller, and his blending of the real and the made-up is seamless. Another terrific thriller from a writer who is uniquely qualified to write it.

— David Pitt

Bookman 📚 @bookman.bsky.social · 8h

My @ala-booklist.bsky.social review of Lou Berney's masterful Crooks.

Lou Berney has had a hell of a ride. His debut, Gutshot Straight (2010), instantly put him on the crime-fiction map; each book since has showcased his gift for creating unique stories and characters. With Crooks, he steps into Mario Puzo territory with the saga of a crime family, the Mercurios, whose members’ attempts to leave their criminal pasts behind are met with varying degrees of success (or lack thereof). Berney is a wonderful writer: his descriptions of people and places are vivid, but there is not a single extraneous word; his dialogue is natural, but also stripped down to the bare essentials; and the story is big and sprawling, but it frequently zooms in on the characters, allowing readers to get to know these fascinating people intimately (they’re so compelling, and so well detailed, that they could each headline their own novels). Structurally, this is probably the author’s most ambitious book, but he’s such a talented storyteller that he makes this epic story feel effortless. A remarkable, memorable novel from a master of crime fiction.

Bookman 📚 @bookman.bsky.social · 9h

In this episode of Leverage, Timothy Hutton is cosplaying Ellery Queen, a character played by his father, Jim Hutton, in the 1975-'76 series. A very nice tribute.

Timothy Hutton in costume as Ellery Queen in an episode of Leverage.

Jim Hutton in character as Ellery Queen in the 1970s series

Bookman 📚 @bookman.bsky.social · 17h

There are several comments to their final post asking why they aren't paying their writers. Could be they're not checking their page.

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Bookman 📚 @bookman.bsky.social · 17h

Not before others see it, I hope.

Bookman 📚 @bookman.bsky.social · 17h

I just posted this to Down and Out's FB page. I don't normally go on FB, so I won't see their response, but then again I'm not expecting one.

Hey guys. I've been hearing rumors you've stopped paying your writers what they're owed. Any truth to that?

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Bookman 📚 @bookman.bsky.social · 19h

I read this story and I wondered: how is it the mother believed Qur'stylle should be pronounced as "Chrystal"? "Kur-style," more like.

Mike Friedman @mfriedmannola.bsky.social · 1d

I just read this today. 18 year old threatened with being cut off by her batshit mother who named her Qur'stylle. She changed the spelling at 18 to Chrystal.

I say the Mom would be doing her a favor by cutting her off.

www.comicsands.com/daughter-cut...

Mom Threatens To Cut Daughter Off After Finding Out She Legally Changed The Complicated Spelling Of Her Name

A woman takes to Reddit to rage about family drama over her changing the unnecessarily complicated spelling of her name.

www.comicsands.com

Bookman 📚 @bookman.bsky.social · 19h

Asking plagiarists to ask permission before they plagiarize would kill the plagiarism industry.

The Verge @theverge.com · May 26

Nick Clegg says asking artists for use permission would ‘kill’ the AI industry

Paul McCartne, Elton John and others signed an open letter.

buff.ly

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Bookman 📚 @bookman.bsky.social · 1d

That is almost certainly a factor.

Bookman 📚 @bookman.bsky.social · 1d

And news websites wonder why people don't use them more...this is ridiculous.

News website jammed with ads and whatnot.

Bookman 📚 @bookman.bsky.social · 1d

So many people in the U.S. saying they didn't vote for this makes me think voters should be required to demonstrate some sort of awareness of the issues before they're permitted to cast their votes. Maybe, I dunno, they should be required to summarize the platforms of all the candidates.

George Takei @georgetakei.bsky.social · 1d

Actually this is exactly what you voted for and enabled, but better late than never to the opposition I guess.

A screenshot of an X.com post by @RollingStone
, Rolling Stone, posted 13 hours ago, stating, "I voted for none of this. Prominent influencers, including Theo Von, Joe Rogan, and Andrew Schulz, are starting to distance themselves from the president they helped propel to the White House," with a link to a story on rollingstone.com/politics/politics. The post includes a "REWIND" section with a headline "MANOSPHERE INFLUENCERS WHO BOOSTED TRUMP ARE NOW COOLING ON HIM" by Nikki McCann Ramirez, dated October 6, 2025, and a photo of Theo Von making a peace sign at an event in Nashville, Tennessee, on March 9, 2025.

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Bookman 📚 @bookman.bsky.social · 1d

Yup

Dave @davelikesmovies.bsky.social · 1d

If this place goes under, it's been nice knowing you all, but I'll be done with social. Not starting over again.

Bookman 📚 @bookman.bsky.social · 1d

Greta Purrbo.

Reposted by Bookman 📚

David Moody @davidmoody.bsky.social · 1d

The first book in the original Autumn series is now available as an audiobook narrated by Aubrey Parsons. Here's the prologue.

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Bookman 📚 @bookman.bsky.social · 1d

I just sent this email to some people who keep sending me daily emails despite my repeatedly unsubscribing. Think they'll get the point?

I have been clicking the "unsubscribe" link on your emails for several days. You keep sending me the emails.

STOP SENDING THE EMAILS NOW. RIGHT NOW. DO NOT SEND ANY MORE EMAILS. STOP. DO NOT SEND ME ANY FURTHER EMAILS. I DO NOT WANT TO RECEIVE YOUR EMAILS. UNSUBSCRIBE ME. STOP SENDING. STOP.

Is that clear enough for you?

Bookman 📚 @bookman.bsky.social · 1d

Awwwwwwwwwww

Bookman 📚 @bookman.bsky.social · 2d

I am sick as a dog. This dog, as a matter of fact.

Bookman 📚 @bookman.bsky.social · 2d

He was in a first-season episode of Leverage I watched the other day. It's always nice to see him. He's had a more productive post-Emergency career than the more spectacularly named Randolph Mantooth.

Bookman 📚 @bookman.bsky.social · 3d

I think virtually any movie you care to name is a better movie than Forrest Gump.

Jeremy Ghost Shipp @jeremycshipp.bsky.social · 3d

I think Troll 2 is a better movie than Forrest Gump.

Bookman 📚 @bookman.bsky.social · 3d

So cute.

Megan O’Connor 🍁 @meganoconnorart.ca · Aug 4

Finished! “Tree Fort”. Coloured pencil on cotton paper. With thanks to the raccoon who sat so nicely for me 🙏
#SciArt #WildlifeArt

Coloured pencil drawing of a raccoon resting in the crook of a tree.

Bookman 📚 @bookman.bsky.social · 3d

Also, what Patrick said is almost incomprehensible. Can't she speak in clear sentences?

George Takei @georgetakei.bsky.social · 3d

Bad Bunny’s got them hopping mad!

The image shows two X posts. The first, by Alex Cole (@acnewstics
) from 1 day ago, states: "This country eats tacos, drinks tequila, and dances to reggaeton, but god forbid we hear Spanish for 15 minutes at halftime?" The second, by Pop Crave (@PopCrave
) from 1 day ago, states: "Former racecar driver Danica Patrick slams Bad Bunny as the Super Bowl 2026 halftime headliner: 'No songs in English should not be allowed at one of America's highest rated television events of the year... not just for sports.'" The post includes photos of Danica Patrick and Bad Bunny.

Bookman 📚 @bookman.bsky.social · 3d

Great film from a great novel.