Claire Handscombe
@bookishclaire.bsky.social
Reader, writer, epic daydreamer.
4w3/ENFP
🇫🇷🇧🇪🇬🇧
Bookseller, publishing person, West Wing fan.
Forever missing D.C.
4w3/ENFP
🇫🇷🇧🇪🇬🇧
Bookseller, publishing person, West Wing fan.
Forever missing D.C.
Reposted by Claire Handscombe
I’ve written a piece on the curious lack of media and political interest in the issues faced by our national @britishlibrary.bsky.social. This is strange given we live in a world where ideas, knowledge and research are a long-term source of innovation and insight
www.cityam.com/the-british-...
www.cityam.com/the-british-...
The British library is in crisis: why does nobody care?
The widespread indifference to the British Library's crippling cyberattack demonstrates a perilous failure to value the knowledge infrastructure vital for national prosperity
www.cityam.com
November 18, 2025 at 6:27 AM
I’ve written a piece on the curious lack of media and political interest in the issues faced by our national @britishlibrary.bsky.social. This is strange given we live in a world where ideas, knowledge and research are a long-term source of innovation and insight
www.cityam.com/the-british-...
www.cityam.com/the-british-...
Reposted by Claire Handscombe
Do you rely on others for support?
From the new Private Eye, out now.
From the new Private Eye, out now.
November 18, 2025 at 8:19 AM
Do you rely on others for support?
From the new Private Eye, out now.
From the new Private Eye, out now.
Reposted by Claire Handscombe
If you're looking for books in translation to read... check out Josh Cook's selects! He'll send you three paperbacks in translation, ranging in genre, and press. A great gift for the holidays or for anyone looking to switch up what they normally read.
For all you weirdos (you know who you are!) there is the classic Josh Sends You Three Paperbacks in which, well...Josh sends you three paperbacks. (And they'll all be incredible and only as weird as you want them. 2/7
Josh Sends You 3 Paperbacks
They'll be a range of genres, but you'll probably get books from small presses, something in a translation, probably something weird, and they'll usually be relatively new releases. If you have a strong genre preferrence let us know in the order comments, but Josh will also try to surprise you.
portersquarebooks.com
November 17, 2025 at 4:34 PM
If you're looking for books in translation to read... check out Josh Cook's selects! He'll send you three paperbacks in translation, ranging in genre, and press. A great gift for the holidays or for anyone looking to switch up what they normally read.
Reposted by Claire Handscombe
Exactly one woman has won the Booker in the past six years www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
November 16, 2025 at 10:42 AM
Exactly one woman has won the Booker in the past six years www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Claire Handscombe
At some point, for the love of God, will someone ANYONE at long last take the council funding crisis seriously?!?
Because THIS is what will break down a society, not some poor soul escaping incredible dangers, arriving on our shores.
Because THIS is what will break down a society, not some poor soul escaping incredible dangers, arriving on our shores.
English councils plan to sell off social clubs and sports centres to balance books
English councils plan to sell off social clubs and sports centres to balance books
Survey finds 60% of key cities councils are planning to sell assets to meet costs of adult and children’s social care
English councils are planning to sell social clubs, sports centres and shopping arcades as they bet on a fire sale of assets to balance the books, according to a survey of local authorities.
The key cities group of councils, which represents second-tier cities in England, said 60% of councils were planning to sell assets to meet the escalating costs of adult and children’s social care. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 15, 2025 at 8:03 PM
At some point, for the love of God, will someone ANYONE at long last take the council funding crisis seriously?!?
Because THIS is what will break down a society, not some poor soul escaping incredible dangers, arriving on our shores.
Because THIS is what will break down a society, not some poor soul escaping incredible dangers, arriving on our shores.
Reposted by Claire Handscombe
I have a weekly "how much we need to make to pay expenses" goal... we have not reached it a single week since August...
Anyway if you buy a book through our affiliate @bookshop_org you get a cookie 😉 and we get 30% of each sale!
Some of my faves I've read this year: bookshop.org/lists/best-b...
Anyway if you buy a book through our affiliate @bookshop_org you get a cookie 😉 and we get 30% of each sale!
Some of my faves I've read this year: bookshop.org/lists/best-b...
November 15, 2025 at 9:03 PM
I have a weekly "how much we need to make to pay expenses" goal... we have not reached it a single week since August...
Anyway if you buy a book through our affiliate @bookshop_org you get a cookie 😉 and we get 30% of each sale!
Some of my faves I've read this year: bookshop.org/lists/best-b...
Anyway if you buy a book through our affiliate @bookshop_org you get a cookie 😉 and we get 30% of each sale!
Some of my faves I've read this year: bookshop.org/lists/best-b...
Reposted by Claire Handscombe
Hey Megyn Kelly,
14-year-old Eloise would like a word:
“If my voice makes you uncomfortable, good…
because the minute adults start defending predators by defending the age of a child, you’re not protecting the truth, you’re protecting the predator.”
Sound up! 🔥🔊
1/2
14-year-old Eloise would like a word:
“If my voice makes you uncomfortable, good…
because the minute adults start defending predators by defending the age of a child, you’re not protecting the truth, you’re protecting the predator.”
Sound up! 🔥🔊
1/2
November 15, 2025 at 1:17 PM
Hey Megyn Kelly,
14-year-old Eloise would like a word:
“If my voice makes you uncomfortable, good…
because the minute adults start defending predators by defending the age of a child, you’re not protecting the truth, you’re protecting the predator.”
Sound up! 🔥🔊
1/2
14-year-old Eloise would like a word:
“If my voice makes you uncomfortable, good…
because the minute adults start defending predators by defending the age of a child, you’re not protecting the truth, you’re protecting the predator.”
Sound up! 🔥🔊
1/2
Reposted by Claire Handscombe
Here’s a new children’s picture book from @pushkinchildrens.bsky.social in my translation, the third in a series by Tina Oziewicz and Aleksandra Zając, ideal for prompting conversations about emotions as well as for pure entertainment. pushkinpress.com/book/what-fe...
What Feelings Do at Night by Tina Oziewicz | 9781782695301 | Pushkin Press
Happiness sleeps peacefully. Imagination puts on her boots and goes out for a long ramble under the stars. Anger loves stormy nights, when the whole sky feels l
pushkinpress.com
September 15, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Here’s a new children’s picture book from @pushkinchildrens.bsky.social in my translation, the third in a series by Tina Oziewicz and Aleksandra Zając, ideal for prompting conversations about emotions as well as for pure entertainment. pushkinpress.com/book/what-fe...
Looking for highly giftable books? I made you a list on @bookshop-org-uk.bsky.social.
uk.bookshop.org/lists/highly...
uk.bookshop.org/lists/highly...
November 15, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Looking for highly giftable books? I made you a list on @bookshop-org-uk.bsky.social.
uk.bookshop.org/lists/highly...
uk.bookshop.org/lists/highly...
Reposted by Claire Handscombe
What better place to spend your Saturday than in a bookshop?
If you're an #IndieBookshop why not tell us something about yourself, any upcoming events, where you're based, what your speciality is if any, show us around!
#SaturdayInABookshop #BookSky 📚💙 #Bookshop #BrowseABookshop
alt text please
If you're an #IndieBookshop why not tell us something about yourself, any upcoming events, where you're based, what your speciality is if any, show us around!
#SaturdayInABookshop #BookSky 📚💙 #Bookshop #BrowseABookshop
alt text please
November 15, 2025 at 7:50 AM
What better place to spend your Saturday than in a bookshop?
If you're an #IndieBookshop why not tell us something about yourself, any upcoming events, where you're based, what your speciality is if any, show us around!
#SaturdayInABookshop #BookSky 📚💙 #Bookshop #BrowseABookshop
alt text please
If you're an #IndieBookshop why not tell us something about yourself, any upcoming events, where you're based, what your speciality is if any, show us around!
#SaturdayInABookshop #BookSky 📚💙 #Bookshop #BrowseABookshop
alt text please
Reposted by Claire Handscombe
Open AI loses copyright case in Germany.
Judge Elke Schwager summarized the case saying that if you want to build something and need components, "then you purchase them and do not use the property of others."
Judge Elke Schwager summarized the case saying that if you want to build something and need components, "then you purchase them and do not use the property of others."
Blow for OpenAI in Germany as court rules song lyrics used illegally
A German court ruled on Tuesday that OpenAI violated copyright on nine popular songs in a lawsuit that marked another attempt to prevent the free use of artists' content online. The Munich Regional Co...
www.yahoo.com
November 14, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Open AI loses copyright case in Germany.
Judge Elke Schwager summarized the case saying that if you want to build something and need components, "then you purchase them and do not use the property of others."
Judge Elke Schwager summarized the case saying that if you want to build something and need components, "then you purchase them and do not use the property of others."
Reposted by Claire Handscombe
One of my favourite pieces by Rachel Cooke. #RIP
On the subtle art of translating fiction, in which stylish prose trumps linguistic accuracy when comparing two different translations of Françoise Sagan’s novella, BONJOUR TRISTESSE. She was right of course. 💙📚
www.theguardian.com/books/2016/j...
On the subtle art of translating fiction, in which stylish prose trumps linguistic accuracy when comparing two different translations of Françoise Sagan’s novella, BONJOUR TRISTESSE. She was right of course. 💙📚
www.theguardian.com/books/2016/j...
The subtle art of translating foreign fiction
How foreign fiction is booming in the UK, and the secrets of some of the world’s best translators
www.theguardian.com
November 14, 2025 at 10:27 PM
One of my favourite pieces by Rachel Cooke. #RIP
On the subtle art of translating fiction, in which stylish prose trumps linguistic accuracy when comparing two different translations of Françoise Sagan’s novella, BONJOUR TRISTESSE. She was right of course. 💙📚
www.theguardian.com/books/2016/j...
On the subtle art of translating fiction, in which stylish prose trumps linguistic accuracy when comparing two different translations of Françoise Sagan’s novella, BONJOUR TRISTESSE. She was right of course. 💙📚
www.theguardian.com/books/2016/j...
Reposted by Claire Handscombe
Analysis | Yes, Democrats won last Tuesday's elections by double digits. However, they did not win them by triple digits. The time had come to cave to Trump.
November 10, 2025 at 11:40 PM
Analysis | Yes, Democrats won last Tuesday's elections by double digits. However, they did not win them by triple digits. The time had come to cave to Trump.
Reposted by Claire Handscombe
With courage and decisiveness, there's an opportunity for the government to flip the BBC crisis on its head and turn it into an opportunity, bringing the country together via a siege mentality against external forces.
Problem is that courage and decisiveness aren't the government's main traits.
Problem is that courage and decisiveness aren't the government's main traits.
November 12, 2025 at 8:48 AM
With courage and decisiveness, there's an opportunity for the government to flip the BBC crisis on its head and turn it into an opportunity, bringing the country together via a siege mentality against external forces.
Problem is that courage and decisiveness aren't the government's main traits.
Problem is that courage and decisiveness aren't the government's main traits.
Reposted by Claire Handscombe
The party exists to fundraise off sustained mediocrity. Nothing else.
November 11, 2025 at 5:00 PM
The party exists to fundraise off sustained mediocrity. Nothing else.
Reposted by Claire Handscombe
This is actually good spin, or would have been. But the fact that the Democratic cave happened without even a coordinated, agreed-upon message like this indicates the depth of the leadership void.
November 11, 2025 at 5:12 PM
This is actually good spin, or would have been. But the fact that the Democratic cave happened without even a coordinated, agreed-upon message like this indicates the depth of the leadership void.
Reposted by Claire Handscombe
Bookstores, not Amazon. Proud of my US colleagues.
To Help SNAP Recipients, Bookstores Set Up as Food Banks
www.nytimes.com
November 11, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Bookstores, not Amazon. Proud of my US colleagues.
Reposted by Claire Handscombe
"...if you chronically underfund your cultural institutions, and treat your cultural workers with contempt... people will begin to suspect that in truth you do not value culture at all, and are in fact running a giant heritage museum in which the only cultural workers you respect are the dead ones."
Does Britain value culture any more? Ask the striking workers at the British Library | Zadie Smith
The dispute over pay at this great national institution gets to the heart of our misplaced priorities, says novelist Zadie Smith
share.google
November 11, 2025 at 5:49 PM
"...if you chronically underfund your cultural institutions, and treat your cultural workers with contempt... people will begin to suspect that in truth you do not value culture at all, and are in fact running a giant heritage museum in which the only cultural workers you respect are the dead ones."
Reposted by Claire Handscombe
spending the first year in power appeasing the racists in an attempt to win over reform voters who will never vote for him then going "somehow, racism has returned" the second he finally sees people are abandoning him for the greens
Racism returning to UK politics – and people are very scared, says Starmer
Racism returning to UK politics – and people are very scared, says Starmer
PM attacks ‘toxic division of Reform’ and gives strongest signal yet that two-child benefit cap will be lifted
*
UK politics live – latest updates
Decades-old racism is returning to British politics, and “it makes people feel very scared” Keir Starmer has said, warning that divisive hard-right politics was “tearing our country apart”.
Speaking to GP and TV personality Amir Khan, the prime minister accused Nigel Farage’s Reform UK of overseeing a return of the racist and divisive politics “that frankly I thought we had dealt with decades ago”. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 11, 2025 at 5:36 PM
spending the first year in power appeasing the racists in an attempt to win over reform voters who will never vote for him then going "somehow, racism has returned" the second he finally sees people are abandoning him for the greens
I cannot believe the Dems have caved. Except of course that I totally can.
November 10, 2025 at 9:20 PM
I cannot believe the Dems have caved. Except of course that I totally can.
Reposted by Claire Handscombe
This holiday season, give Jeff Bezos and Amazon the gift of zero dollars. 🥰
November 10, 2025 at 6:47 PM
This holiday season, give Jeff Bezos and Amazon the gift of zero dollars. 🥰
Reposted by Claire Handscombe
Liberal parties really need to stop saying stuff like this about standard new deal stuff. “An economy that works for the middle and lower class? What’s next!? UNICORNS!?!?”
EXCL: The Green party is offering “simple solutions to complex problems” and making “undeliverable” promises to voters ahead of next election, PM's chief secretary Darren Jones tells me 👇
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Greens’ ‘undeliverable’ promises will let voters down, says Labour minister
Exclusive: Darren Jones says Labour has to convince young people it is ‘modern party of the future’
www.theguardian.com
November 9, 2025 at 11:44 AM
Liberal parties really need to stop saying stuff like this about standard new deal stuff. “An economy that works for the middle and lower class? What’s next!? UNICORNS!?!?”
Reposted by Claire Handscombe
Love how the centrist playbook around the world is to tell voters "things cannot get better, there is no hope." Real inspirational stuff.
EXCL: The Green party is offering “simple solutions to complex problems” and making “undeliverable” promises to voters ahead of next election, PM's chief secretary Darren Jones tells me 👇
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Greens’ ‘undeliverable’ promises will let voters down, says Labour minister
Exclusive: Darren Jones says Labour has to convince young people it is ‘modern party of the future’
www.theguardian.com
November 9, 2025 at 1:18 PM
Love how the centrist playbook around the world is to tell voters "things cannot get better, there is no hope." Real inspirational stuff.
Reposted by Claire Handscombe
i wonder if this strategy of patronising demoralised left wing voters is going to pay off.
EXCL: The Green party is offering “simple solutions to complex problems” and making “undeliverable” promises to voters ahead of next election, PM's chief secretary Darren Jones tells me 👇
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Greens’ ‘undeliverable’ promises will let voters down, says Labour minister
Exclusive: Darren Jones says Labour has to convince young people it is ‘modern party of the future’
www.theguardian.com
November 9, 2025 at 3:55 PM
i wonder if this strategy of patronising demoralised left wing voters is going to pay off.
Reposted by Claire Handscombe
The rich want you to believe that taxing the rich instead of the poor is a more complex problem than it actually is
EXCL: The Green party is offering “simple solutions to complex problems” and making “undeliverable” promises to voters ahead of next election, PM's chief secretary Darren Jones tells me 👇
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Greens’ ‘undeliverable’ promises will let voters down, says Labour minister
Exclusive: Darren Jones says Labour has to convince young people it is ‘modern party of the future’
www.theguardian.com
November 9, 2025 at 4:43 PM
The rich want you to believe that taxing the rich instead of the poor is a more complex problem than it actually is