Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

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Rose Ruane @regretteruane.bsky.social · 1d

New Puffin Post acquisition. What can I say, I am powerless before the incredible art of Jill McDonald.
I have a personal Puffin pusher and everything now, one who knows my proclivities, my weaknesses, my unappeasable appetite for 20th century illustration

Cover of a 1968 puffin post magazines with two carton puffins in wizard robes and hats patterned with stars, on the left red, on the right bright blue, standing over a cauldron filled with bubbling yellow and orange liquid over a fierce burning fire emitting grey curls of smoke from which are emerging sparkly clouds filled with cartoonish characters - the three little pigs, a witch, a lion, a dog, a puffin and some musical instruments with faces.
To the top right, puffin post is written in curly black letters inside a zig zag shape in pink

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JacquiWine @jacquiwine.bsky.social · 1d

New on the blog today, I've written about A PRIVATE VIEW by Anita Brookner.

A superb novel in which a dull, respectable middle-aged man is tempted to jettison his highly ordered life for a volatile, vampish young woman. I loved it! #BookSky 💙📚

jacquiwine.wordpress.com/2025/10/07/a...

A Private View by Anita Brookner

I’ve been making my way through Anita Brookner’s exquisitely written novels slowly but steadily over the past eight years. As a long-term reading project, I’m finding it fascinating to see how Broo…

jacquiwine.wordpress.com

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David @bluebookballoon.bsky.social · 1d

Happy publication day to
@writtenbythea.bsky.social for #romance The Second Chance Cinema, from @harpercollins.bsky.social. A #magic midnight cinema? A couple with unacknowledged second thoughts? A chance to make it all right? A beautiful read? Yes! bluebookballoon.blogspot.com/2025/10/revi...

Review - The Second Chance Cinema by Thea Weiss

The Second Chance Cinema Thea Weiss HarperCollins, 7 October 2025 Available as: PB, 320pp, audio, e Source: Advance copy ISBN(PB): 978000876...

bluebookballoon.blogspot.com

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Backlisted Podcast @backlisted.bsky.social · 2d

And here is that episode, on Imogen by Jilly Cooper, with guests Daisy Buchanan and Ian Patterson. In Jilly’s own words, “it was all such terrific fun”. RIP. www.backlisted.fm/episodes/84-...

Andy Miller @iammilliam.bsky.social · 2d

RIP lovely Jilly Cooper, the only subject of a @backlisted.bsky.social episode to write us all thank you letters afterwards. ❤️

The Guardian @theguardian.com · 2d

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

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Radz Pandit @radzpandit.bsky.social · 2d

My new blog post on Russell Hoban’s wonderfully unusual novel, TURTLE DIARY, about two lonely protagonists who partner up to rescue a trio of sea turtles from the zoo. Loved it and it's sure to feature in my year-end highlights.
readersretreat2017.wordpress.com/2025/10/06/t...

Turtle Diary – Russell Hoban

Even if it’s October, Turtle Diary by Russell Hoban is my entry for #SpinsterSeptember, and I’m so glad to have discovered this novel thanks to the lovely Nora (@pear_jelly on Insta and Bluesky), w…

readersretreat2017.wordpress.com

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Helen Day @lbflyawayhome.bsky.social · 4d

Brands
1976
Artist: Harry Wingfield
(And the tin says ‘Cocoa’!)

Two children are playing‘shop’. On the table for Jane, the customer, are a series of very recognisable products including Marmite and Birds custard powder

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Sarah Matthews @sarahmatthews.bsky.social · 9d

Here’s my review of My Husband by Maud Ventura, 2021, tr. Emma Ramadan, a novel with a deliciously unhinged character who was brilliantly brought to life in the audiobook 💙📚 #BookSky #BookReview #audiobook
https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/876a656c-45a2-46a7-9943-310f08fdb872

Review by sarahmatthews - My Husband

My Husband by Maud Ventura Read on audio Translated from French by Emma Ramadan Narrator: K...

app.thestorygraph.com

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One Bright Book @onebrightbook.bsky.social · 5d

Episode 39 is live, and it might be one of our best!
We discuss Leonora Carrington's singular THE STONE DOOR--and never has our love for each other been more tested!
onebrightbook.com/2025/10/03/e...

Episode 39: The Stone Door

Welcome to One Bright Book! Join our hosts Frances, Dorian, and Rebecca as they discuss THE STONE DOOR by Leonora Carrington, and chat about their current reading. For our next episode, we wil…

onebrightbook.com

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Disability Arts Online @disabilityarts.bsky.social · 5d

In her keenly awaited new collection, Zadie Smith brings her skills as an essayist to bear on subjects including Stormzy, governments and ‘the commons’.

When - 02 Nov
Where - London
Cost - From £20

disabilityarts.online/events/zadie...

A woman photographed against a white wall

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Sarah Matthews @sarahmatthews.bsky.social · 5d

Just finished a rather bleak book for my book club so as a contrast I’m starting something more light-hearted, Happy All the time by Laurie Colwin, 1978 💙📚 #BookSky

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Five Books - Expert Book Recommendations @fivebooks.com · 5d

“Each of these ‘forgotten’ classics are wonderfully written and have stood the test of time and place”
fivebooks.com/best-books/f...

Forgotten 20th-Century Classic Books

Five forgotten classic books that are ripe for rediscovery, as recommended by Rebeka Russell of Manderley Press.

fivebooks.com

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Radz Pandit @radzpandit.bsky.social · 7d

Loved this unique, wonderful novella. My thoughts here:
readersretreat2017.wordpress.com/2025/10/01/b...

Radz Pandit @radzpandit.bsky.social · 10d

Reading Constantia Soteriou's BRANDY SOUR while stuffing myself with liqueur chocolates.

Loving its dreamy, vignette-style storytelling centred on the Ledra Palace Hotel and its varied inhabitants, each chapter linked to a drink while capturing Cyprus's tumultuous history. Tr. by Lina Protopapa.

BRANDY SOUR by Constantia Soteriou. Translated by Lina Protopapa. Foundry Editions.

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Accessibility Awareness @a11yawareness.bsky.social · 8d

A transcript is the only way to make video or audio content accessible to someone who is both deaf and blind. Transcripts can be converted into braille, to be read on a refreshable braille output device.

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Sarah Matthews @sarahmatthews.bsky.social · 8d

Totally agree with this - I use a foot brace to help me walk and had to buy 2 different size trainers to make it work… Just do it: Why I'm challenging Nike, Puma and Adidas over single shoes - BBC News https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cewnje717rqo

Just do it: Why I'm challenging Nike, Puma and Adidas over single shoes

Former Para-athletic world champion Stef Reid says footwear companies are failing amputees.

www.bbc.co.uk

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Sarah Matthews @sarahmatthews.bsky.social · 9d

Yeah, it’s a memorable one!

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Sarah Matthews @sarahmatthews.bsky.social · 9d

Here’s my review of My Husband by Maud Ventura, 2021, tr. Emma Ramadan, a novel with a deliciously unhinged character who was brilliantly brought to life in the audiobook 💙📚 #BookSky #BookReview #audiobook
https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/876a656c-45a2-46a7-9943-310f08fdb872

Review by sarahmatthews - My Husband

My Husband by Maud Ventura Read on audio Translated from French by Emma Ramadan Narrator: K...

app.thestorygraph.com

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Tom Gauld @tomgauld.bsky.social · 10d

My cartoon for this week’s @theguardian.com books

Title: Why do you want the book to be banned?

A cartoon with ten panels showing people answering:

1. I read the book and hated it.

2. I didn't read the book, but I still hate it.

3. I hate books!

4. I love banning things!

5. I could not relate to the characters.

6. I'm not sure, but better safe than sorry?

7. My copy arrived damaged.

8. It could fall into the hands of a child.

9. It could fall on to the head of a child.

10. I didn't understand the ending.

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Simon Thomas @stuckinabook.bsky.social · 10d

Can we like characters who make stupid decisions? Plus Celia Dale and Bernice Rubens - ep142 of Tea or Books? on Spotify or wherever you get podcasts!

#142: Can We Like A Character Who Makes Stupid Decisions? and Other People vs A Five Year Sentence

open.spotify.com

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Anne Billson @annebillson.bsky.social · 10d

Stephen King on Daphne du Maurier.

‘She wrote the best first line – and the most chilling stories’: Stephen King on the dark brilliance of Daphne du Maurier

From Rebecca to The Birds and scores of creepy short stories, Du Maurier was queen of the uncanny, writes the US horror maestro

www.theguardian.com

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Uncle Duke @uncleduke1969.bsky.social · 12d

chair up fella

A large, worn stuffed purple office chair. Two buttons and several creases give it the appearance of having a distraught face.

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alifeinbooks @alifeinbooks.bsky.social · 11d

Paperbacks to Look Out For in October 2025 alifeinbooks.co.uk/2025/09/pape...

Paperbacks to Look Out For in October 2025 - A life in books

Book reviews, snippets of book news, and alerts about books outside the glare of the publicity spotlight.

alifeinbooks.co.uk

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Sarah Matthews @sarahmatthews.bsky.social · 11d

Discovered the other day that birding by Rose Ruane is now on audible, and I’ve so enjoyed it this week! Full of wit and wisdom it captures the painful process of growing up and examines issues around consent, identity, parenthood, friendship and trauma #BookSky #WomensPrize 💙📚

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The Booker Prizes @thebookerprizes.com · 15d

Here's everything you need to know about the six remarkable books on the shortlist and the stories behind them.

thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-l...

Everything you need to know about the Booker Prize 2025 shortlist | The Booker Prizes

As the Booker Prize 2025 shortlist is announced, we’ve picked out the most interesting facts, trends and themes that have emerged in this year’s selection

thebookerprizes.com

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Sarah Matthews @sarahmatthews.bsky.social · 18d

Here are a few thoughts on Stamboul Train, 1932, by Graham Greene, an early novel set on the Orient Express 💙📚 #BookSky #BookReview #Braille
https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/85c568b6-642e-4087-bd2e-9c9eb71579ed

Review by sarahmatthews - Stamboul Train

Stamboul Train by Graham Greene Read in BraillePenguin ClassicsPub. 1932, 216pp___I didn’t qu...

app.thestorygraph.com

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Sarah Matthews @sarahmatthews.bsky.social · 15d

“The Accessible Transport Archive is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players, we have been able to document the history of the Disabled community’s long battle to “boldly go where everyone else has gone before” 👏
#Disability #archive #travel #UK

Transport for All @transportforall.org.uk · 16d

We’re excited to announce the launch of the Accessible Transport Archive, celebrating over 40 years of campaigners, protests, and successes.
Our thanks to the National Lottery Heritage Fund for making this possible! 🧡
archive.transportforall.org.uk

Home - Accessible Transport Archive

The Accessible Transport Archive. Transport has always been one of the greatest barriers to participating in society for Disabled people.

archive.transportforall.org.uk

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