Annabookbel
@annabookbel.bsky.social
Book lover, blogging about them since 2008! Oxford environs. Blog: https://annabookbel.net/. Proud Co-founder of https://shinynewbooks.co.uk/
I thought I'd scheduled this post for Monday - but it's out there now! A new archive series - a look back at What I read 10 years ago. annabookbel.net/what-i-was-r...
What I was reading 10 years ago – in February 2016
This is the first in a new series of archive posts in which I look back at my reading lists to pick a few highlights from a particular time. Links lead to my original posts as appropriate. February…
annabookbel.net
February 7, 2026 at 8:39 PM
I thought I'd scheduled this post for Monday - but it's out there now! A new archive series - a look back at What I read 10 years ago. annabookbel.net/what-i-was-r...
Mega-irritating! The two events I most would want to see at the Oxford Literary Festival are at the same time!
February 7, 2026 at 6:11 PM
Mega-irritating! The two events I most would want to see at the Oxford Literary Festival are at the same time!
First Saturday of the month, and time for the bookish #6 degrees - here's my chain: annabookbel.net/six-degrees-...
Six Degrees of Separation: Flashlight by Susan Choi
It’s time for the super monthly tag Six Degrees of Separation, which is hosted by Kate at Booksaremyfavouriteandbest, Six Degrees of Separation #6degrees picks a starting book for pa…
annabookbel.net
February 7, 2026 at 12:49 PM
First Saturday of the month, and time for the bookish #6 degrees - here's my chain: annabookbel.net/six-degrees-...
Reading in bed with Harry @orendabooks.bsky.social @ohneklippo.bsky.social
February 7, 2026 at 8:48 AM
Reading in bed with Harry @orendabooks.bsky.social @ohneklippo.bsky.social
Reposted by Annabookbel
It's been a wet Shiny Tuesday, cheer yourself up with @bookishbeck.bsky.social reviewing Rachel Joyce's latest, now in paperback. shinynewbooks.co.uk/the-homemade...
The Homemade God by Rachel Joyce
Review by Rebecca Foster
If, like me, you’ve been following Rachel Joyce’s career ever since her 2012 debut, The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, I have good news to impart: The Homemade
shinynewbooks.co.uk
February 3, 2026 at 6:09 PM
It's been a wet Shiny Tuesday, cheer yourself up with @bookishbeck.bsky.social reviewing Rachel Joyce's latest, now in paperback. shinynewbooks.co.uk/the-homemade...
Reading in bed with Harry...
February 3, 2026 at 7:09 AM
Reading in bed with Harry...
I read-along-a-Traitors! Here's my thoughts on Harriet 'Faithful' Tyce's first novel @headlinebooks.bsky.social annabookbel.net/blood-orange...
Blood Orange by Harriet ‘Faithful’ Tyce
The latest ‘civilian’ series of Traitors on the BBC ended on Friday with a good win for the two remaining Traitors, who were loyal to their pact back at the beginning. Stephen could hav…
annabookbel.net
January 27, 2026 at 6:15 PM
I read-along-a-Traitors! Here's my thoughts on Harriet 'Faithful' Tyce's first novel @headlinebooks.bsky.social annabookbel.net/blood-orange...
Reading in bed with Harry..
January 24, 2026 at 7:48 AM
Reading in bed with Harry..
On my blog today, my review of the benefactors by Wendy Erskine and my first critical reading session with @galleybeggars.bsky.social and @samjordison.bsky.social to discuss it. Https://annabookbel.net/the-benefactors-by-wendy-erskine-galley-beggar-critical-reading-class-1/
January 22, 2026 at 1:56 PM
On my blog today, my review of the benefactors by Wendy Erskine and my first critical reading session with @galleybeggars.bsky.social and @samjordison.bsky.social to discuss it. Https://annabookbel.net/the-benefactors-by-wendy-erskine-galley-beggar-critical-reading-class-1/
On my blog today, 4 shorter reviews closing out my 2025 books read pile: Austen, Dabos, Simenon & Steeds. annabookbel.net/review-catch...
Review Catch-up: Austen, Dabos, Simenon & Steeds
Shorter reviews today so I can close out my pile of books read in 2025 finally! Persuasion by Jane Austen This was our bookgroup’s Christmas Classic read – our celebration of AustenR…
annabookbel.net
January 18, 2026 at 11:56 AM
On my blog today, 4 shorter reviews closing out my 2025 books read pile: Austen, Dabos, Simenon & Steeds. annabookbel.net/review-catch...
It's #JanuaryinJapan and here's my first Japanese read of the year - Heaven by Meiko Kawakami - superb. annabookbel.net/heaven-by-mi...
Heaven by Mieko Kawakami
Translated by Sam Bett and David Boyd As Tony, the host of ‘January in Japan’ says in his review of this superb novella, ‘despite its title, this is a book where the main characte…
annabookbel.net
January 14, 2026 at 4:52 PM
It's #JanuaryinJapan and here's my first Japanese read of the year - Heaven by Meiko Kawakami - superb. annabookbel.net/heaven-by-mi...
3 shorter reviews for you today on my blog to help clear the 2025 pile. annabookbel.net/review-catch...
Review catch-up
In an effort to clear the review pile, here are three shorter reviews of some of my outstanding pile! The Art of a Lie by Laura Shepherd-Robinson I read relatively little historical fiction, but oc…
annabookbel.net
January 4, 2026 at 12:24 PM
3 shorter reviews for you today on my blog to help clear the 2025 pile. annabookbel.net/review-catch...
It's my books of the year - the baker's dozen of my favourites (plus a few runners up and extras) - but which was my top read? annabookbel.net/review-of-th...
Review of the Year #3, 2025 – Books of the Year!
It’s finally time for me to share my favourite books of the year with you. It’s always a difficult and enjoyable decision to make! I read 1?? books this year, of which I awarded 10/10 to 22 titles …
annabookbel.net
December 31, 2025 at 8:47 AM
It's my books of the year - the baker's dozen of my favourites (plus a few runners up and extras) - but which was my top read? annabookbel.net/review-of-th...
It's the first of my Review of the Year posts on a year of bookblogging highlights (and some low lights) annabookbel.net/review-of-th...
Review of the Year #1 – 2025, A Year of Reading and Blogging
As always, I’m saving my books of the year for the 31st, and you’ll get my book stats (my favourite post) on the 29th, but today as in previous years I’m sharing my blogging highlights, including a…
annabookbel.net
December 27, 2025 at 9:10 AM
It's the first of my Review of the Year posts on a year of bookblogging highlights (and some low lights) annabookbel.net/review-of-th...
4 fine memoirs reviewed. annabookbel.net/non-fiction-...
Non-Fiction Review Catch-up
I am sooo behind in my reviews at the moment, so you’ll see a couple of catch-up posts before I get onto my traditional year-end fare. Today it’s non-fiction, with 4 memoirs. Without fu…
annabookbel.net
December 19, 2025 at 6:51 PM
4 fine memoirs reviewed. annabookbel.net/non-fiction-...
#DoorstoppersInDecember: 1 sublime, 1 DNF – MacInnes & Winton
Laura is hosting #DoorstoppersInDecember partly as an antidote to #NovNov25, but as the weather gets colder/more unpredictable, what’s better than getting stuck into a chunky novel. There are…
annabookbel.net
December 17, 2025 at 11:47 AM
3 more novella reviews for #NovNov25 for you. annabookbel.net/three-more-n...
Three more novellas for #NovNov25: Hesion,Wood and Keun
Three more reviews of very different novellas for you. Rónán Hession’s follow-up to the lovely Leonard and Hungry Paul, the buddy read for #NovNov25 and a German classic from the 1930s which …
annabookbel.net
November 22, 2025 at 11:01 AM
3 more novella reviews for #NovNov25 for you. annabookbel.net/three-more-n...
It's Novellas in November #NovNov25 and I've shamelessly borrowed this idea from @stuckinabook.bsky.social posting an A-Z (-X) of good novellas I've read and reviewed. annabookbel.net/an-a-z-of-no...
An A-Z of Novellas for #NovNov25
I have shamelessly stolen this idea from the lovely Simon at Stuck in a Book as a curtain-raiser to Novellas in November hosted by Rebecca and Cathy. So, here is my A-Z of novellas and short NF all…
annabookbel.net
November 2, 2025 at 2:26 PM
It's Novellas in November #NovNov25 and I've shamelessly borrowed this idea from @stuckinabook.bsky.social posting an A-Z (-X) of good novellas I've read and reviewed. annabookbel.net/an-a-z-of-no...
First Sat of the month - time for the bookish #6degrees tag annabookbel.net/six-degrees-...
Six Degrees of Separation: We Have Always Lived in the Castle
It’s time for the super monthly tag Six Degrees of Separation, which is hosted by Kate at Booksaremyfavouriteandbest, Six Degrees of Separation #6degrees picks a starting book for participants to g…
annabookbel.net
November 1, 2025 at 11:16 AM
First Sat of the month - time for the bookish #6degrees tag annabookbel.net/six-degrees-...
On my blog today, my review of the brilliant new book by Antti Tuomainen transl. David Hackston pub @orendabooks.bsky.social The Winter Job. annabookbel.net/the-winter-j...
The Winter Job by Antti Tuomainen – blog tour
Translated by David Hackston For me, Antti Tuomainen is the new Antoine Laurain! When Gallic Books (now part of Pushkin Press) introduced Laurain via his novel The President’s Hat it was a bi…
annabookbel.net
October 30, 2025 at 11:02 AM
On my blog today, my review of the brilliant new book by Antti Tuomainen transl. David Hackston pub @orendabooks.bsky.social The Winter Job. annabookbel.net/the-winter-j...
It's the start of #NonfictionNov and here's my post highlighting my best nf reads of the past year. annabookbel.net/my-year-in-n...
My Year in Nonfiction
Nonfiction November runs for 5 weeks from today! As always, week 1 is ‘My Year in NF’, and is hosted by Heather. I’ve participated since 2017! My best ever NF year was 2019 when I read 33 book…
annabookbel.net
October 27, 2025 at 10:47 AM
It's the start of #NonfictionNov and here's my post highlighting my best nf reads of the past year. annabookbel.net/my-year-in-n...
On my blog today for #RIPXX, my review of King Sorrow by Joe Hill @headlinebooks.bsky.social. Thanks to @bookywookydooda.bsky.social for the ARC. annabookbel.net/king-sorrow-...
King Sorrow by Joe Hill
Even when I knew it would be a doorstop brick of a novel, I gulped and said ‘yes’ when offered a proof of Hill’s sixth novel, having really enjoyed two previously; Heart-Shaped Bo…
annabookbel.net
October 26, 2025 at 5:24 PM
On my blog today for #RIPXX, my review of King Sorrow by Joe Hill @headlinebooks.bsky.social. Thanks to @bookywookydooda.bsky.social for the ARC. annabookbel.net/king-sorrow-...
Sharing books I've previously blogged about published in 1925, for the #1925Club hosted by @kaggsy59.bsky.social and @stuckinabook.bsky.social annabookbel.net/the-1925-club/
The 1925 Club
It’s the latest year reading Club hosted by Kaggsy & Simon. I couldn’t find any 1925 books in my TBR, but I have read and reviewed a couple of the greats published that year and a c…
annabookbel.net
October 20, 2025 at 9:31 AM
Sharing books I've previously blogged about published in 1925, for the #1925Club hosted by @kaggsy59.bsky.social and @stuckinabook.bsky.social annabookbel.net/the-1925-club/