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Mary Novakovich

@marynovakovich.bsky.social

6.5K followers 1.3K following 1.6K posts

Travel writer, journalist, author of award-winning My Family and Other Enemies: Life and Travels in Croatia's Hinterland. Words in Guardian, Times, Telegraph, Independent, i, CNN Travel, etc. Agent: https://cullandco.com/ https://linktr.ee/marynovakovich

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James McConnachie @jamesmcconnachie.bsky.social · 1d

One of the many benefits of my English degree (a degree in language and critical thinking, really) is that I can immediately see how narrow, short-sighted and stupid a policy this is.

Martin Paul Eve @eve.gd · 1d

This makes me so angry. These people view all life as training for lifelong servitude/work. There's no room for interest, enjoyment, and culture in their bleak vision of education. At least she'll never be in power to see it through. Though Reform are probably worse.

Badenoch: Curb students taking "rip-off" degrees such as English. The performing arts, sociology and anthropology are among the subjects the Conservatives would like to cut

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Sam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · 2d

JFC the man has not one ounce of shame in him.

He went to private school and Cambridge. He owns three homes and rents a fourth!

James Austin @jamesdaustin.bsky.social · 2d

I know plenty of politicians 'working classify' their backgrounds, but this from Jenrick is taking the piss.

His father's linked in is here: uk.linkedin.com/in/bill-jenr...

He was a managing accountant who ended up as the Managing Director of Cannon Industries

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Mary Novakovich @marynovakovich.bsky.social · 2d

Cheers, Geoff!

Mary Novakovich @marynovakovich.bsky.social · 2d

Seriously chuffed to be a finalist in the @travwriters.bsky.social BGTW Members' Excellence Awards. My @theguardian.com feature on food and wine in Samoëns made the shortlist for best specialist feature. I'm up against stiff competition, but it's wonderful to be shortlisted.

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Mary Novakovich @marynovakovich.bsky.social · 2d

This is wonderful. I need to rectify the fact that I've never read any of her books. How could have I deprived myself of so much fun and joy over the years?

Mary Novakovich @marynovakovich.bsky.social · 3d

You're not making it up. Radio 3 did a tribute to her by playing Wagner, and citing that very thing.

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Rosie Holt @rosieisaholt.bsky.social · 3d

I loved loved loved Jilly Cooper, i got to meet her last year and burbled at her about how her novels had often got me through hard times and she was so kind. RIP xx www.theguardian.com/books/2025/o...

Jilly Cooper, author of Rivals and Riders, dies aged 88

The author of 18 ‘bonkbuster’ novels including Riders, Rivals and Bella has died following a fall

www.theguardian.com

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Mary Novakovich @marynovakovich.bsky.social · 3d

I was there too in 1995. I was the one who reminded him he had a set to play, and to get him on the stage pronto.

Mary Novakovich @marynovakovich.bsky.social · 3d

Time for my monthly @the-independent.com column rounding up some lovely holiday ideas, including a couple for those who seriously want to splash out. @101holidays.bsky.social @travwriters.bsky.social
www.independent.co.uk/travel/inspi...

The best holidays to book for November 2025

There’s still time for a getaway before winter rolls in, whether it’s sunshine in Seville, a Norfolk staycation or a safari in Botswana that takes your fancy

www.independent.co.uk

Mary Novakovich @marynovakovich.bsky.social · 3d

Aye.

Toby Earle 🇺🇦 @tobyontv.bsky.social · 3d

rubbish news abounds but this was a bright spot

That nerk off the apprentice being voted off strictly

Mary Novakovich @marynovakovich.bsky.social · 4d

Pity the photo looks like AI. There's nothing on Lastovo that resembles this.

Mary Novakovich @marynovakovich.bsky.social · 4d

But people like Amy.

Mary Novakovich @marynovakovich.bsky.social · 4d

I can’t unsee that. Hope he makes a swift exit.

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Mary Novakovich @marynovakovich.bsky.social · 5d

Very considered, thoughtful piece by @jonathanfreedland.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

In a time of hate and rancour, two Jews sought to pray – and were killed. Let Manchester be a turning point | Jonathan Freedland

This was a horror but with so much intolerance and antisemitism, no one can say it was a surprise. There are lessons to learn, and that must start now, says Guardian columnist Jonathan Freedland

www.theguardian.com

Mary Novakovich @marynovakovich.bsky.social · 5d

What a time to be alive.

Mary Novakovich @marynovakovich.bsky.social · 6d

Amazon is already awash with AI guidebooks spouting absolute drivel, so I wouldn't be surprised if fake places turn up too. So depressing.

Mary Novakovich @marynovakovich.bsky.social · 6d

Using AI to plan your travels? You might want to think again.
www.bbc.co.uk/travel/artic...

The perils of letting AI plan your next trip

An imagined town in Peru, an Eiffel tower in Beijing: travellers are increasingly using tools like ChatGPT for itinerary ideas – and being sent to destinations that don't exist.

www.bbc.co.uk

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James Fitzgerald @jamesfitzjourno.bsky.social · 6d

Jeez.

Adam Goldstone @adamgoldstone.co.uk · 6d

Click through to the article and you even get her husband's name first

Woman named as new Archbishop of Canterbury in historic first

The 63-year-old archbishop-designate is married to Eamonn Mullally, with whom she has two children. Originally from Woking in Surrey, she was the UK's chief nursing officer from 1999 to 2004.

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Sarcophagus Gibbs @sararoseg.bsky.social · 7d

You don’t actually have to both sides this. The Jewish community in the UK is not the Israeli government. You can just condemn the murder of two British Jews killed in their place of worship and you don’t have to say a single other thing.

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Mary Novakovich @marynovakovich.bsky.social · 8d

Here's a timeline cleanse for you: my feature on the Croatian island of Lošinj in @theguardian.com.
www.theguardian.com/travel/2025/...

Savouring delicious food and autumn sun in Croatia

Kvarner is a European Region of Gastronomy for 2026, and the laid-back islands of Lošinj and Cres are great places to explore its cuisine

www.theguardian.com

Mary Novakovich @marynovakovich.bsky.social · 9d

Hero.

Matthew Hay Brown @matthewhaybrown.bsky.social · 9d

Elvis Costello’s walk-on music tonight in D.C.: Heaven 17’s (We Don’t Need This) Fascist Groove Thang

Mary Novakovich @marynovakovich.bsky.social · 10d

Currently reading My Name is Stramer by Mikolaj Lozinski after seeing @john-self.bsky.social's Times review, and I'm glad I picked up a copy. Very enjoyable so far.

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Mary Novakovich @marynovakovich.bsky.social · 10d

"What happened here didn’t invent the tone of American life so much as reflect what’s been an incremental breakdown in public behavior." Very good commentary in @theguardian.com
www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/s...

US fan ugliness at the Ryder Cup was merely a reflection of Trump’s all-caps America | Bryan Armen Graham

European players were subjected to slurs and crude insults about their families. They were no surprise as public discourse in America has broken down

www.theguardian.com

Mary Novakovich @marynovakovich.bsky.social · 10d

Sounds remarkably like the world of freelance journalism.

Mary Novakovich @marynovakovich.bsky.social · 10d

After watching the shameful behaviour of US spectators at the Ryder Cup, I can imagine how much sports fans are looking forward to travelling there for next year's World Cup. Or perhaps not...

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