Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

John @ Tales from Absurdia @talesfromabsurdia.bsky.social · Jul 12

You are so welcome! 📚🫶

Reposted by John @ Tales from Absurdia

Orla Owen @orlaowenwriting.bsky.social · Jul 12

LOVE this photo. Thank you SO much @talesfromabsurdia.bsky.social for recommending #ChristOnABike to your book club & sending such a great photo. Weekend made!! 📚💙👏👏💙📚

#books #booksky #BookClub
@ofmooseandmen.bsky.social

A book club holding copies of Christ On A Bike.

1 3 10

Reposted by John @ Tales from Absurdia

The Broken Spine @thebrokenspine.co.uk · Jul 7

Gatsby built his dream with bootleg gin and borrowed time.
Our poets sift through the ruins to find the silenced voices beneath.
This is no tribute. This is excavation.
🔗 thebrokenspine.co.uk/2025/07/07/b...
#PoetryWithPurpose #GatsbyReimagined #FeministPoetry

Beautiful Little Fools: A Century On, the Silences End - The Broken Spine

At The Broken Spine, we’ve always been more than a poetry press, we’re cultural commentators. From literature and film to music, gaming, professional

thebrokenspine.co.uk

2 3

John @ Tales from Absurdia @talesfromabsurdia.bsky.social · Jun 29

I'm back on the road in Bradford today, covering @bradfordlitfest.bsky.social.

Early impressions are very good. Extraordinarily well organised festival, with a truly excellent programme of events.

Some amazing stuff for kids and adults alike. Big fan.

#BookFestival #LitFest #BookSky #Bookish

1 5

John @ Tales from Absurdia @talesfromabsurdia.bsky.social · Jun 29

Waterstones Bradford is wild.

What a BEAUTIFUL building! 📚 @waterstones.bsky.social

#BookSky #BeautifulBookshops #Bookshops #Bookish

6

Reposted by John @ Tales from Absurdia

Moonflower Books @moonflowerbooks.bsky.social · Jun 23

Oooh a new one to us, exciting!

1 1

John @ Tales from Absurdia @talesfromabsurdia.bsky.social · Jun 23

Shout out to @faberbooks.bsky.social for sending me a copy too.

John @ Tales from Absurdia @talesfromabsurdia.bsky.social · Jun 23

So, I've just finished Ginseng Roots and I have many thoughts.

Review to come shortly, but here are some initial takeaways:

✍️ The artwork is really special. Glorious use of red.

🫚 Family is complicated.

❤️ Full of heart. The last few pages will stay with me.

#graphicnovel #memoir

Ginseng Roots by Craig Thompson, a graphic novel memoir of life as a ginseng farmer in the Midwest.

1 1

John @ Tales from Absurdia @talesfromabsurdia.bsky.social · Jun 23

Leonard and Hungry Paul by @ronanhession.bsky.social @ofmooseandmen.bsky.social

Delightful book.

2 1 2

John @ Tales from Absurdia @talesfromabsurdia.bsky.social · Jun 23

Where is my #UK #BookCommunity at?

Would love to connect with you all again – espesh as I seek to find my tribe post-Tw*tter!

#BookSky #ReadingCommunity

1 2

John @ Tales from Absurdia @talesfromabsurdia.bsky.social · Jun 23

I just finished #GinsengRoots by Craig Thompson and have been writing the review over my lunch break.

@faberbooks.bsky.social was kind enough to send me a copy.

Review to come shortly. Excellent graphic novel 👌

1 1

Reposted by John @ Tales from Absurdia

Faber Books @faberbooks.bsky.social · Jun 23

Margaret McDonald, author of Glasgow Boys, has been named the youngest ever winner of the Carnegie medal for her 'superb' debut.

www.theguardian.com/books/2025/j...

Carnegie medal for writing: Margaret McDonald named youngest ever winner

The 27-year-old’s prizewinning debut, Glasgow Boys, is a coming-of-age novel about the friendship between two boys who have grown up in the care system

www.theguardian.com

1 1 10

John @ Tales from Absurdia @talesfromabsurdia.bsky.social · Jun 23

This is fantastic news! It's on my TBR – just need to shift it up a couple of spots! 📚

John @ Tales from Absurdia @talesfromabsurdia.bsky.social · Jun 20

I'm good thanks. Busy (baby number 3 imminent) and lots on, but all good!

How are you keeping? 😊

1 1

John @ Tales from Absurdia @talesfromabsurdia.bsky.social · Jun 20

Thank you @bexbookaholic.bsky.social 🫶

Link here if you want to take part (& mebbe win £20 in books!)
forms.gle/QLtLviUEhKG4...

1 2

John @ Tales from Absurdia @talesfromabsurdia.bsky.social · Jun 20

Thanks so much for taking part! I'll be sharing all the results when it closes.

Please do feel free to share it with friends & fam :)

2

John @ Tales from Absurdia @talesfromabsurdia.bsky.social · Jun 20

Thank you so much for sharing mate! 🫶

I really need to post more frequently here. I always enjoy it when I'm back 😂

1 1

John @ Tales from Absurdia @talesfromabsurdia.bsky.social · Jun 20

Part of the reason I'm not is that I legit only think I have enough mental capacity for one platform at the moment.

What with the state of current affairs.

I will make more of an effort to post here though!

John @ Tales from Absurdia @talesfromabsurdia.bsky.social · Jun 20

#BookSky is actually great. I REALLY need to be on here more. #ReadingCommunity

1

Reposted by John @ Tales from Absurdia

Prof Emily but Spoopier Now @professoremily.bsky.social · Jun 20

Happy Friday once again, #WritingCommunity! 😊

Your #PretendPanel prompt for today is...

June 20: If one of your books had the chance to be adapted (in any media), would you go for it? Why/why not?

Bonus question: Which medium (film, TV, game, etc) would you prefer?

#Writers #Authors #Writesky

#Pretendpanel prompt for Friday June 20th: if your book had the chance to be adapted (to film, TV, games, etc), would you go for it? Why/why not?

2 56

John @ Tales from Absurdia @talesfromabsurdia.bsky.social · Jun 20

Hey @samatlounge.bsky.social — great to be on here! Finding friends again after leaving #BookTwitter a couple of years back.

On my blog, I am currently running a book festival survey to find out why people are (or are not) attending book festivals!

Would love a boost 🙏

bsky.app/profile/tale...

John @ Tales from Absurdia @talesfromabsurdia.bsky.social · Jun 20

UK readers — I'm giving away a £20 @bookshop.org voucher as part of my book festival survey! 📚

Whether you've been to one or not, I want to hear from you!

Get involved below and I'll put your name into the prize draw — takes 2 mins! 👇
forms.gle/aNABFC6Xjk13...

#Bookish #BookCommunity #BookSky

Take part in the UK-based Great Big Book Festival survey for a chance to win £20 in bookshop.org vouchers

1 3 2

John @ Tales from Absurdia @talesfromabsurdia.bsky.social · Jun 20

UK readers — I'm giving away a £20 @bookshop.org voucher as part of my book festival survey! 📚

Whether you've been to one or not, I want to hear from you!

Get involved below and I'll put your name into the prize draw — takes 2 mins! 👇
forms.gle/aNABFC6Xjk13...

#Bookish #BookCommunity #BookSky

1 3

John @ Tales from Absurdia @talesfromabsurdia.bsky.social · Mar 29

Second event of the day was Festival Debuts: Fundamentally, with Nussaibah Younis and @jonathancoe.bsky.social.

Hilarious and really thought-provoking event, and I'll certainly be picking up their books after this.

#Fundamentally #TheProofOfInnocence #OxfordLiteraryFestival

John @ Tales from Absurdia @talesfromabsurdia.bsky.social · Mar 29

First panel event at Oxford Literary Festival is on Compassion in Farming with @deborahmeaden.bsky.social, Andy Cato, Philip Lymberry, and Kate Humble.

Lots of discussion around #factoryfarming , #regenerativefarmingm and the govt's role in promoting ethical choices.

#oxfordliteraryfestival

1

Reposted by John @ Tales from Absurdia

Salena Godden @salenagodden.bsky.social · Jan 22

Never underestimate the importance of every individual voice and the power of your peaceful protest, your campaigns and petitions, your love, grief and fury, your righteous anger, fear and empathy. Hope is an energy. Hope is a group project. And we have so much work to do.

12 22