My review of Death in Her Hands by Ottessa Moshfegh is up at Conspicuous Consumption
afterblockhead.blogspot.com/2026/01/deat...
#books #reading #bookstodon
afterblockhead.blogspot.com/2026/01/deat...
#books #reading #bookstodon
Death in Her Hands by Ottessa Moshfegh
At the beginning of Death in Her Hands by Ottessa Moshfegh, the protagonist, Vesta, finds a note in the woods behind her house asserting ...
afterblockhead.blogspot.com
January 5, 2026 at 3:01 AM
My review of Death in Her Hands by Ottessa Moshfegh is up at Conspicuous Consumption
afterblockhead.blogspot.com/2026/01/deat...
#books #reading #bookstodon
afterblockhead.blogspot.com/2026/01/deat...
#books #reading #bookstodon
I don’t live in a place where there are little free libraries, so tonight was a first for me. I left a book in a Pasadena LFL, Ottessa Mosfegh’s Death in her Hands, for some lucky punter to find.
January 3, 2026 at 5:23 AM
I don’t live in a place where there are little free libraries, so tonight was a first for me. I left a book in a Pasadena LFL, Ottessa Mosfegh’s Death in her Hands, for some lucky punter to find.
My review of the last book I finished in 2025, Virginia Woolf’s first novel, The Voyage Out, is up at Conspicuous Consumption.
afterblockhead.blogspot.com/2026/01/the-...
afterblockhead.blogspot.com/2026/01/the-...
The Voyage Out by Virginia Woolf
Virginia Woolf’s first novel, which takes place mostly on board a ship and in South America, is clearly apprentice work. The young person’s ...
afterblockhead.blogspot.com
January 1, 2026 at 8:18 PM
My review of the last book I finished in 2025, Virginia Woolf’s first novel, The Voyage Out, is up at Conspicuous Consumption.
afterblockhead.blogspot.com/2026/01/the-...
afterblockhead.blogspot.com/2026/01/the-...
Reposted
I'm listening to the If Books Could Kill @ifbookspod.bsky.social about this book and it sounds INSANELY DISHONEST holy shit political science professors. Stupid and morally rancid.
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/i...
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/i...
December 27, 2025 at 8:44 PM
I'm listening to the If Books Could Kill @ifbookspod.bsky.social about this book and it sounds INSANELY DISHONEST holy shit political science professors. Stupid and morally rancid.
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/i...
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/i...
I always like starting a new book at the same time I begin a trip. On the train to the airport i embarked on Virginia Woolf’s The Voyage Out.
Seems like an appropriate title.
Seems like an appropriate title.
December 24, 2025 at 7:44 AM
I always like starting a new book at the same time I begin a trip. On the train to the airport i embarked on Virginia Woolf’s The Voyage Out.
Seems like an appropriate title.
Seems like an appropriate title.
My review of Chekhov: The Major Plays is up at Conspicuous Consumption.
afterblockhead.blogspot.com/2025/12/majo...
afterblockhead.blogspot.com/2025/12/majo...
Major Plays: Ivanov; The Sea Gull; Uncle Vanya; The Three Sisters; The Cherry Orchard, by Anton Chekhov.Translated by Ann Dunnigan
I've just read five Chekhov plays in rapid succession. That may not be the best way to do it. Surely it would be wise to allow time betwee...
afterblockhead.blogspot.com
December 23, 2025 at 8:52 AM
My review of Chekhov: The Major Plays is up at Conspicuous Consumption.
afterblockhead.blogspot.com/2025/12/majo...
afterblockhead.blogspot.com/2025/12/majo...
Apology is a great podcast. It’s interviews with a variety of interesting people about their reading lives, and always begins with the question, “What are you reading?”
podcasts.apple.com/jp/podcast/a...
podcasts.apple.com/jp/podcast/a...
Apology
ブックポッドキャスト · Sprawling interviews that are mainly about books and reading.
podcasts.apple.com
December 22, 2025 at 9:50 AM
Apology is a great podcast. It’s interviews with a variety of interesting people about their reading lives, and always begins with the question, “What are you reading?”
podcasts.apple.com/jp/podcast/a...
podcasts.apple.com/jp/podcast/a...
Reposted
1776: Frost, rain, rain, bright.
December 20, 2025 at 7:00 AM
1776: Frost, rain, rain, bright.
Reposted
Doth he still rage?
[Exit Bigot.]
[Exit Bigot.]
December 18, 2025 at 5:14 AM
Doth he still rage?
[Exit Bigot.]
[Exit Bigot.]
My review of The Emigrants by W.G. Sebald is up at Conspicuous Consumption.
afterblockhead.blogspot.com/2025/12/the-...
afterblockhead.blogspot.com/2025/12/the-...
The Emigrants by W.G. Sebald, translated by Michael Hulse
I read this first soon after the English translation appeared, and, realizing that I was in the presence of genius, I immediately acquire...
afterblockhead.blogspot.com
December 14, 2025 at 8:20 AM
My review of The Emigrants by W.G. Sebald is up at Conspicuous Consumption.
afterblockhead.blogspot.com/2025/12/the-...
afterblockhead.blogspot.com/2025/12/the-...
Reposted
What with worry and whisky nothing very sensible was arranged last summer.
December 10, 2025 at 8:23 PM
What with worry and whisky nothing very sensible was arranged last summer.
Reposted
1776: Rooks repair their nests.
December 10, 2025 at 7:00 AM
1776: Rooks repair their nests.
My review of Strange Pictures by Uketsu, translated by Jim Rion, is up now on Conspicuous Consumption.
afterblockhead.blogspot.com/2025/12/stra...
afterblockhead.blogspot.com/2025/12/stra...
Strange Pictures by Uketsu, translated by Jim Rion
I’m pretty sure this is the first novel I’ve read by an “internet sensation.” The author, who writes under the pseudonym Uketsu and appears...
afterblockhead.blogspot.com
December 10, 2025 at 2:12 AM
My review of Strange Pictures by Uketsu, translated by Jim Rion, is up now on Conspicuous Consumption.
afterblockhead.blogspot.com/2025/12/stra...
afterblockhead.blogspot.com/2025/12/stra...
My review of Binocular Vision by Edith Pearlman is up at Conspicuous Consumption.
afterblockhead.blogspot.com/2025/12/bino...
afterblockhead.blogspot.com/2025/12/bino...
Binocular Vision by Edith Pearlman
Every time I think I’m done with contemporary American literary fiction, especially of the divorce in the suburbs type, I stumble upon work ...
afterblockhead.blogspot.com
December 10, 2025 at 1:29 AM
My review of Binocular Vision by Edith Pearlman is up at Conspicuous Consumption.
afterblockhead.blogspot.com/2025/12/bino...
afterblockhead.blogspot.com/2025/12/bino...
I have decided that 2026 will be my year of reading (and rereading) Virginia Woolf's novels. I just downloaded Night and Day and The Voyage Out. They’re free on Amazon.jp. Probably on Amazon.com, too.
December 9, 2025 at 1:16 AM
I have decided that 2026 will be my year of reading (and rereading) Virginia Woolf's novels. I just downloaded Night and Day and The Voyage Out. They’re free on Amazon.jp. Probably on Amazon.com, too.
Reposted
Reupping for the West Coast crowd: The first-ever Extremely Specific This, Not That Gift Guide is live!
Books (and alternates) for your friend who:
•Has run out of Nero Wolfe stories
•Enjoys reading about people endangering themselves through travel
•Spends too much time on NextDoor
And many more!
Books (and alternates) for your friend who:
•Has run out of Nero Wolfe stories
•Enjoys reading about people endangering themselves through travel
•Spends too much time on NextDoor
And many more!
Issue 8 is out: The Extremely Specific This, Not That Gift Guide!
Looking for a book for
•Your weirdest friend?
•Your friend whose every 3rd text is gossip?
•Your friend you call when the heist goes sour?
•Your friend who won’t stop talking about Moby-Dick?
I’ve got you for those & many more!
Looking for a book for
•Your weirdest friend?
•Your friend whose every 3rd text is gossip?
•Your friend you call when the heist goes sour?
•Your friend who won’t stop talking about Moby-Dick?
I’ve got you for those & many more!
Issue 8: The Extremely Specific This, Not That Gift Guide
Having spent time the past few weeks thinking about your friends and family, every person on your holiday gift list, I present the following, ready to clip and take with you to the shops this weekend....
this-not-that.ghost.io
December 5, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Reupping for the West Coast crowd: The first-ever Extremely Specific This, Not That Gift Guide is live!
Books (and alternates) for your friend who:
•Has run out of Nero Wolfe stories
•Enjoys reading about people endangering themselves through travel
•Spends too much time on NextDoor
And many more!
Books (and alternates) for your friend who:
•Has run out of Nero Wolfe stories
•Enjoys reading about people endangering themselves through travel
•Spends too much time on NextDoor
And many more!
My review of Black Hearts in Battersea is up at Conspicuous Consumption.
afterblockhead.blogspot.com/2025/12/blac...
afterblockhead.blogspot.com/2025/12/blac...
Black Hearts in Battersea by Joan Aiken
I'm on record as saying that I don't like children's literature. This is not because there is anything wrong with children's literature, ...
afterblockhead.blogspot.com
December 5, 2025 at 10:17 AM
My review of Black Hearts in Battersea is up at Conspicuous Consumption.
afterblockhead.blogspot.com/2025/12/blac...
afterblockhead.blogspot.com/2025/12/blac...
In other news, I saw two shooting stars this morning.
December 3, 2025 at 10:24 PM
In other news, I saw two shooting stars this morning.
It was some consolation,
Like Mahler, or riding a bicycle.
—Robert Kelly
Like Mahler, or riding a bicycle.
—Robert Kelly
December 3, 2025 at 12:55 AM
It was some consolation,
Like Mahler, or riding a bicycle.
—Robert Kelly
Like Mahler, or riding a bicycle.
—Robert Kelly
Reposted
Apparently Spielberg asked Tom Stoppard to write the screenplay for Jaws, but Tom said he couldn’t as he was writing a play for the BBC.
"I'm offering you a fortune to collaborate with me on a Hollywood blockbuster, and you turn me down to write a play for BBC TV?"
"No," Tom said, "BBC Radio."
"I'm offering you a fortune to collaborate with me on a Hollywood blockbuster, and you turn me down to write a play for BBC TV?"
"No," Tom said, "BBC Radio."
December 1, 2025 at 11:58 AM
Apparently Spielberg asked Tom Stoppard to write the screenplay for Jaws, but Tom said he couldn’t as he was writing a play for the BBC.
"I'm offering you a fortune to collaborate with me on a Hollywood blockbuster, and you turn me down to write a play for BBC TV?"
"No," Tom said, "BBC Radio."
"I'm offering you a fortune to collaborate with me on a Hollywood blockbuster, and you turn me down to write a play for BBC TV?"
"No," Tom said, "BBC Radio."
I've never seen a Tom Stoppard play, and doubt I will be able to remedy that soon. My question is, do his plays work on the page? If they do, which one should I start with?
December 1, 2025 at 10:01 AM
I've never seen a Tom Stoppard play, and doubt I will be able to remedy that soon. My question is, do his plays work on the page? If they do, which one should I start with?
My review of A Passage to India is up at Conspicuous Consumption.
afterblockhead.blogspot.com/2025/11/a-pa...
afterblockhead.blogspot.com/2025/11/a-pa...
A Passage to India by E.M. Forster
I have concluded my year of reading E.M. Forster with the work that many consider his magnum opus, A Passage to India . It was good in the...
afterblockhead.blogspot.com
November 29, 2025 at 8:33 AM
My review of A Passage to India is up at Conspicuous Consumption.
afterblockhead.blogspot.com/2025/11/a-pa...
afterblockhead.blogspot.com/2025/11/a-pa...
Reposted
When Black Friday comes
I'm gonna dig myself a hole
Gonna lay down in it
'Til I satisfy my soul.
youtu.be/atZ7BlqSPUg?...
I'm gonna dig myself a hole
Gonna lay down in it
'Til I satisfy my soul.
youtu.be/atZ7BlqSPUg?...
Black Friday
YouTube video by Steely Dan - Topic
youtu.be
November 28, 2025 at 7:00 AM
When Black Friday comes
I'm gonna dig myself a hole
Gonna lay down in it
'Til I satisfy my soul.
youtu.be/atZ7BlqSPUg?...
I'm gonna dig myself a hole
Gonna lay down in it
'Til I satisfy my soul.
youtu.be/atZ7BlqSPUg?...
Reposted
Only a genuine idiot or a nasty piece of work could think that making one’s country less welcoming and hospitable so fewer people want to come and live there constitutes an achievement worth bragging about.
November 28, 2025 at 6:43 AM
Only a genuine idiot or a nasty piece of work could think that making one’s country less welcoming and hospitable so fewer people want to come and live there constitutes an achievement worth bragging about.
Reposted
6.30 a.m., a row of egrets flying east toward sunrise
November 25, 2025 at 1:28 AM
6.30 a.m., a row of egrets flying east toward sunrise