Missing documentary Sledgehammer Revealed (****½)that I saw yesterday at the Watershed yesterday as part of the Cinema Rediscovered film festival, as it’s not listed on Letterboxd (yet?) #LetterboxdFriday #LastFourWatched

Georgette Heyer does have a way with words!

Another week of aircon bliss #LetterboxdFriday #LastFourWatched

Because sometimes only Georgette will do.

I’ve seen ten films in six days. My favourite was A Private Life, closely followed by Minions & Minsters and The Invite. Least favourite was Blue Heron, but I’m still glad I’ve seen it.

How I escaped the heatwave #LetterboxdFriday #LastFourWatched

Love that my @wshed.bsky.social cinema ticket makes a great Pride themed bookmark! Currently enjoying this children’s book.

@sathnam.bsky.social Just wanted to let you know, I absolutely loved Tonight the Music Seems So Loud. I was one of the Wham! fans with the Smash Hits posters on my wall when I was 12. I still love Fantastic today, and loved reading more about George and music. Thank you.

Clearing out the loft and found this. I’m guessing from the late 90s.

I thoroughly enjoyed this mystery, albeit with some eyebrow raises at some of the attitudes of the period, and the slight whiff of a grown up Secret Seven mystery. I’m really loving the books in the Mermaid Collection, and will definitely be adding more of them to my bookshelves!

June reads. Some I loved, some I loathed. I’m not saying which ones though, so don’t ask me.

I read The Girls by John Bowen this week. Originally published in the 1980s, set in the 1970s, it’s the story of Susan and Janet, who live together in a small Cotswold village, and run the local gift shop. The village knows them collectively as The Girls.

Here’s what’s saving me today

I had enough left on my gift card to get Tonight the Music Seems So Loud by @sathnam.bsky.social today. I am looking forward to reading this book so much, but I’ve got a few others I’m in the middle of first. (Although I have already read the Intro and loved it!)

With the cricket rained off and it being a bit grim and wet here too, I’ve spent the afternoon on my latest crochet project, listening to P D James memoir, Time to Be in Earnest, so I can’t complain.

Thoroughly enjoyed Mad Shepherds by L. P. Jacks republished by @littletollerbooks.bsky.social. A slice of social history with lots of colour from Snarley Bob, Mrs Abel (former actress, now Rector’s wife), Tom Hankin (shoemaker and atheist) and Shepherd Toller. A delicious slice of life from history.

Firstly, it was fun to listen back to the discussion, but I also find out it was given to John to read by @benjaminmyers76.bsky.social, whose books I am going to be reading my way through after loving both Cuddy and Rare Singles

P. D. James hitting the nail on the head about publishing today, but from almost 30 years ago. Excerpt from Time To Be In Earnest, published 1999. I’ve never read a P. D. James novel, but I’m enjoying her diary and memoir enormously. (Thanks, as often is the case to @backlisted.bsky.social)

What I read in May (it was a very good reading month!)

Some of the Rosamond Lehmann covers are in a similar vein and I’m always on the lookout for the early Virago editions instead, because the ones I have are too insipid for my liking!

I also read The Tombs of Arian by Ursula K. Le Guin which @frankcottrellboyce.bsky.social chose for @backlisted.bsky.social last September. A second very feminist novel in a row, but from two very different perspectives! I loved this book, and I will continue to read the other books in the series.

Read a couple of @backlisted.bsky.social books while I was away, starting with Esther Waters by George Moore. I really enjoyed this story of a young pregnant servant girl who has to face life as a single mother. Unique in its portrayal of a working class woman’s life when published in 1894.

This book has twisted my brain inside out. It’s the @maxminervas.bsky.social translated book club this month, and the translator is coming to our meeting, so I’ll be able to ask lots of questions! It’s from Praspar Press; they’re not on here, so I’m going to tag co-founder @jencalleja.bsky.social...

Thinking of getting a new duvet. Just maybe not this one?

Just ordered the yarn for my next crochet project.

My 200th @backlisted.bsky.social read was Angel by Elizabeth Taylor. I’d been debating which book to save for the big number, and this is the the one I picked. I revelled in this fabulous book. It was fun and funny, and gloriously Gothic. I absolutely loved it.

Ooh, looks like Commissioner Gordon needs me.

OH is reading Mike Batt’s book at the moment, so we’ve just listened to these two stone cold classic albums

Also nice to spot Keshed by @stuhennigan.bsky.social on the shelves in the BookCellar