Joseph Schreiber
@roughghosts.bsky.social
Reader, writer, editor, lonely wanderer. Based in Calgary, Canada. Write about books at www.roughghosts.com Essays Editor at Minor Literature[s].
After my so-called "book club" meeting this morning, I popped into a bookstore to pick up a birthday gift for my son and I thought I'd check the bargain basement... Götz and Meyer is almost impossible to find, and a stack of nyrb published/distributed books.
January 5, 2026 at 2:19 AM
After my so-called "book club" meeting this morning, I popped into a bookstore to pick up a birthday gift for my son and I thought I'd check the bargain basement... Götz and Meyer is almost impossible to find, and a stack of nyrb published/distributed books.
My reading for November and December 2025. Nothing like a car accident, concussion and whiplash to derail one's intentions, but slowly I am getting back on track. Two reviews and a year end wrap up to come soon.
January 1, 2026 at 9:22 PM
My reading for November and December 2025. Nothing like a car accident, concussion and whiplash to derail one's intentions, but slowly I am getting back on track. Two reviews and a year end wrap up to come soon.
First post-Christmas purchases.
December 30, 2025 at 6:28 AM
First post-Christmas purchases.
Arrived late last week, this iconic work of Czech literature, The Grandmother by Božena Němcová. Originally published in 1855, now out in Susan Reynolds' translation from @jantarbooks.bsky.social
December 23, 2025 at 9:02 AM
Arrived late last week, this iconic work of Czech literature, The Grandmother by Božena Němcová. Originally published in 1855, now out in Susan Reynolds' translation from @jantarbooks.bsky.social
Canadian-born architect Frank Ghery has died. My only encounter with his surreal designs was the UTS Business School in Sydney, Australia. Known as the "paper bag" building it demanded I capture it with a fish eye lens!
RIP.
RIP.
December 5, 2025 at 9:18 PM
Canadian-born architect Frank Ghery has died. My only encounter with his surreal designs was the UTS Business School in Sydney, Australia. Known as the "paper bag" building it demanded I capture it with a fish eye lens!
RIP.
RIP.
Recent book arrivals. Advent, a classic Icelandic novella written in Danish, seemed like nice light holiday fare. Anomaly, knowing Nikolaidis, is likely a more demanding read, but set on New Year's Eve on the last day of the last year of human existence it's still seasonal, no?
December 4, 2025 at 2:24 AM
Recent book arrivals. Advent, a classic Icelandic novella written in Danish, seemed like nice light holiday fare. Anomaly, knowing Nikolaidis, is likely a more demanding read, but set on New Year's Eve on the last day of the last year of human existence it's still seasonal, no?
In my current post-car accident fog, a beam of light shines through. And, by the way, all books should come with a coordinated bookmark. @tracepress.bsky.social
November 28, 2025 at 5:37 AM
In my current post-car accident fog, a beam of light shines through. And, by the way, all books should come with a coordinated bookmark. @tracepress.bsky.social
Asmi Kartikeya on a Marxist poet, the Indian New Wave, biography, space, time and the ghosts of knowledge.
November 25, 2025 at 9:08 AM
Asmi Kartikeya on a Marxist poet, the Indian New Wave, biography, space, time and the ghosts of knowledge.
I'm finding it almost impossible to engage with social media these days. But a couple of recent releases have arrived over the past week or so courtesy of @archipelagobooks.bsky.social
November 22, 2025 at 3:47 AM
I'm finding it almost impossible to engage with social media these days. But a couple of recent releases have arrived over the past week or so courtesy of @archipelagobooks.bsky.social
No books to show off; it's been a tough reading month so far, but I did get a new pair of trail runners. Saucony Peregrine Goretex—I was waiting for a sale and snapped them up as soon as I saw them. Nothing like new shoes to lift the spirits.
November 16, 2025 at 2:08 AM
No books to show off; it's been a tough reading month so far, but I did get a new pair of trail runners. Saucony Peregrine Goretex—I was waiting for a sale and snapped them up as soon as I saw them. Nothing like new shoes to lift the spirits.
Books finished in October.
November 3, 2025 at 1:02 AM
Books finished in October.
The balance of the order I made with the gift card my daughter gave me for my birthday. Poetry and prose.
October 27, 2025 at 12:27 AM
The balance of the order I made with the gift card my daughter gave me for my birthday. Poetry and prose.
Today's new arrival. Coming out in North America November 4 from @biblioasis.bsky.social
#IcelandicLit
#IcelandicLit
October 25, 2025 at 12:14 AM
Today's new arrival. Coming out in North America November 4 from @biblioasis.bsky.social
#IcelandicLit
#IcelandicLit
A couple of new @archipelagobooks.bsky.social in the house. One (stay with me) part of my birthday gift card purchase, the other coming in March—new Antoine Volodine.
October 23, 2025 at 3:40 AM
A couple of new @archipelagobooks.bsky.social in the house. One (stay with me) part of my birthday gift card purchase, the other coming in March—new Antoine Volodine.
Book mail. Next month look for an excellent essay about this, Ava Kavan's first collection under her chosen pen name, at @minorliteratures.bsky.social Three pages into reading the submission I had to stop and search out a copy for myself!
October 21, 2025 at 2:29 AM
Book mail. Next month look for an excellent essay about this, Ava Kavan's first collection under her chosen pen name, at @minorliteratures.bsky.social Three pages into reading the submission I had to stop and search out a copy for myself!
Recently someone posted a book w/ narrow margins. Here's another, but I'm fine with it b/c it has one of the most readable fonts I've ever encountered. And it's filled with stories that can only be described as absurd realist set in Slovakia during and after WWII. @karolinumpress.cuni.cz
October 21, 2025 at 1:32 AM
Recently someone posted a book w/ narrow margins. Here's another, but I'm fine with it b/c it has one of the most readable fonts I've ever encountered. And it's filled with stories that can only be described as absurd realist set in Slovakia during and after WWII. @karolinumpress.cuni.cz
New arrival. I'm really looking forward to this one; it will be out in February. @archipelagobooks.bsky.social
October 15, 2025 at 2:52 AM
New arrival. I'm really looking forward to this one; it will be out in February. @archipelagobooks.bsky.social
Today was cold, with a little snow. On this Thanksgiving weekend I am grateful for the seasonal burst of colour—it will be gone too soon.
October 13, 2025 at 2:22 AM
Today was cold, with a little snow. On this Thanksgiving weekend I am grateful for the seasonal burst of colour—it will be gone too soon.
Today's new arrivals—a cool quartet of book from experimental Canadian publisher 1366 Books, an imprint of @guernicaeditions.bsky.social !
October 10, 2025 at 5:07 AM
Today's new arrivals—a cool quartet of book from experimental Canadian publisher 1366 Books, an imprint of @guernicaeditions.bsky.social !
Without postal service I know I have books currently suspended in transit somewhere, but I did welcome a new review copy this weekend—a hefty tome due next June, on Bloomsday even. @saggingmeniscus.bsky.social
October 7, 2025 at 8:23 PM
Without postal service I know I have books currently suspended in transit somewhere, but I did welcome a new review copy this weekend—a hefty tome due next June, on Bloomsday even. @saggingmeniscus.bsky.social
Book post from Prague today. A Slovak novel from @karolinumpress.cuni.cz , and Czech and German lit from @twistedspoon.bsky.social
September 24, 2025 at 2:26 AM
Book post from Prague today. A Slovak novel from @karolinumpress.cuni.cz , and Czech and German lit from @twistedspoon.bsky.social
Marking the autumnal equinox on the Douglas Fir Trail.
September 23, 2025 at 5:00 AM
Marking the autumnal equinox on the Douglas Fir Trail.
New books this week: The first Greek translation from Istros Books due in October, and from Ernst Jünger who appeared in Kluge's War Primer, an allegory of the advent of fascism. Timely, eh? @nyrb-imprints.bsky.social
September 20, 2025 at 4:45 AM
New books this week: The first Greek translation from Istros Books due in October, and from Ernst Jünger who appeared in Kluge's War Primer, an allegory of the advent of fascism. Timely, eh? @nyrb-imprints.bsky.social
I've seen a lot of folk showing off their huge books lately. I just got one myself today. When I picked it up at the post office I panicked thinking I'd somehow agreed to read an review a monster novel. I was most relieved to find this (which I found at a great price).
September 17, 2025 at 12:54 AM
I've seen a lot of folk showing off their huge books lately. I just got one myself today. When I picked it up at the post office I panicked thinking I'd somehow agreed to read an review a monster novel. I was most relieved to find this (which I found at a great price).
I was looking for The Copenhagen Trilogy and found some other items on sale. I don't know anything about Twist, but it's a Basque novel and it's from Archipelago, so I couldn't leave it behind.
September 13, 2025 at 2:53 AM
I was looking for The Copenhagen Trilogy and found some other items on sale. I don't know anything about Twist, but it's a Basque novel and it's from Archipelago, so I couldn't leave it behind.