Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Valarie Smith

@valarie.bsky.social

900 followers 150 following 5.6K posts

Welcome, book lovers! 💙📚 Probably rereading Woolf’s The Waves or listening to the Backlisted podcast. Also a fan of Sam Shepard, Kerouac, Dickens, Steinbeck, Willy Vlautin, Donna Tartt, film noir, Twin Peaks, Elliott Smith, Grimm & folklore. Portland, OR

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Valarie Smith @valarie.bsky.social · 2m

This is not the day to eat funnel cake … or is it?!

Valarie Smith @valarie.bsky.social · 6m

Thinking of sweet Lois - and her parents. ❤️

Valarie Smith @valarie.bsky.social · 1h

Okay Donna Tartt, time’s up. Close your laptop and turn in whatever manuscript you’ve been working on. Your readers need you!

Valarie Smith @valarie.bsky.social · 11h

Good lord, that’s terrible.

Valarie Smith @valarie.bsky.social · 12h

😭 That sound is horrendous.

Valarie Smith @valarie.bsky.social · 14h

Looks like a fine place to set up a hot dog cart.

Valarie Smith @valarie.bsky.social · 14h

What an amazing find. Glad you're having a great time!

Valarie Smith @valarie.bsky.social · 14h

Oh my! That looks gorgeous. If I understand the pricing right, it's not even that outrageous, all things considered. It looks extraordinary!

Valarie Smith @valarie.bsky.social · 14h

What has your best meal been? Inquiring minds want to know!

Valarie Smith @valarie.bsky.social · 14h

I feel like I’m in a Louise Penny book now! 😂

Valarie Smith @valarie.bsky.social · 14h

Gasp!

Valarie Smith @valarie.bsky.social · 16h

Hey Travel Portland, we’ve got you some free copy!

Valarie Smith @valarie.bsky.social · 16h

Omg, I didn’t know her story but just looked her up. My goodness.

Valarie Smith @valarie.bsky.social · 17h

It did, ha!

Reposted by Valarie Smith

Tyler @electriceden92.bsky.social · 17h

I finally remembered the best one - PG Wodehouse learning of Jack Kerouac's recent death during a 1969 interview with the Paris Review and having a perfectly Bertie Wooster-ish reaction: 'those chaps sure do go quickly, don't they'

rax ‘levon honkers’ king @raxkingisdead.bsky.social · 19h

you ever think about those real weird overlaps. like tennessee williams might have listened to the ramones

Valarie Smith @valarie.bsky.social · 17h

Coming back to claim it’s soaking wet donut 😂

A crow sitting at the edge of a bird bath that is filthy with soggy pieces of donut

Valarie Smith @valarie.bsky.social · 17h

Meanwhile, in Portland today ...

Alex Zielinski @alexzee.bsky.social · 21h

Apropos of nothing, Sec. Kristi Noem is currently praying over Burgerville with Portland ICE officials.

A screenshot of a video of Noem praying at a conference table with other people wearing suits. Fast food bags and water bottles sit on the table.

Valarie Smith @valarie.bsky.social · 18h

Lorikeets! Omg. We need to trade lives for a few hours to experience the other's bird life!

Valarie Smith @valarie.bsky.social · 18h

I've heard some good things about that. Thank you!

Valarie Smith @valarie.bsky.social · 18h

It didn't come quickly to me either. Persevere!

Valarie Smith @valarie.bsky.social · 18h

I haven't read anything other than The Vet's Daughter, and The Juniper Tree sounds right up my alley. Thanks for the great recommendation and for sharing your findings from the rabbit hole!

Valarie Smith @valarie.bsky.social · 18h

Excellent thread. Here's the Backlisted episode on Comyns as well: www.backlisted.fm/episodes/14-...

Valarie Smith @valarie.bsky.social · 19h

National Book Awards finalists have been announced. Has anyone read any of the books? Anything you'd recommend?

2025 National Book Awards Finalists Announced

Twenty-five Finalists to contend for National Book Awards in the categories of Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, Translated Literature, and Young People’s Literature

www.nationalbook.org

Valarie Smith @valarie.bsky.social · 19h

I laughed aloud at this! If I'm outside, a family of 4 will appear. When I go in to get them nuts, one marches over our garage roof to where he can see through our kitchen window to ensure I'm getting their snacks. I love those rascals, even if it feels like I'm getting mugged every time I go out!

Valarie Smith @valarie.bsky.social · 19h

It was! I went out there afterwards to clean up the donuty mess and a crow stood on the fence over the bird bath, as though presiding. So I said, right, I'll come back later. I know who's the boss of me.