@grantrintoul.bsky.social
There's no other writer I'd rather listen to than Ali Smith!
January 30, 2026 at 9:42 PM
There's no other writer I'd rather listen to than Ali Smith!
Reposted
Two stories intertwine across time in Kirstine Reffstrup's Iron Lung, translated by Hunter Simpson and published by Peirene Press:
1streading.wordpress.com/2026/01/29/i...
1streading.wordpress.com/2026/01/29/i...
Iron Lung
Kirstine Reffstrup is a Danish author whose debut novel, I, Unica (about the German artist and writer Unica Zürn), was nominated for number of prizes. Now her 2023 novel, Iron Lung, has been transl…
1streading.wordpress.com
January 29, 2026 at 7:55 PM
Two stories intertwine across time in Kirstine Reffstrup's Iron Lung, translated by Hunter Simpson and published by Peirene Press:
1streading.wordpress.com/2026/01/29/i...
1streading.wordpress.com/2026/01/29/i...
Two stories intertwine across time in Kirstine Reffstrup's Iron Lung, translated by Hunter Simpson and published by Peirene Press:
1streading.wordpress.com/2026/01/29/i...
1streading.wordpress.com/2026/01/29/i...
Iron Lung
Kirstine Reffstrup is a Danish author whose debut novel, I, Unica (about the German artist and writer Unica Zürn), was nominated for number of prizes. Now her 2023 novel, Iron Lung, has been transl…
1streading.wordpress.com
January 29, 2026 at 7:55 PM
Two stories intertwine across time in Kirstine Reffstrup's Iron Lung, translated by Hunter Simpson and published by Peirene Press:
1streading.wordpress.com/2026/01/29/i...
1streading.wordpress.com/2026/01/29/i...
Reposted
New on the blog today, my thoughts on IN FARTHEST SEAS by Lalla Romano (tr. Brian Robert Moore).
I loved this profound, intimate and deeply moving elegy to Cenzo Monti, Romano’s husband of fifty years. Fans of Annie Ernaux might appreciate this. #BookSky 💙📚
jacquiwine.wordpress.com/2026/01/29/i...
I loved this profound, intimate and deeply moving elegy to Cenzo Monti, Romano’s husband of fifty years. Fans of Annie Ernaux might appreciate this. #BookSky 💙📚
jacquiwine.wordpress.com/2026/01/29/i...
In Farthest Seas by Lalla Romano (tr. Brian Robert Moore)
A couple of years ago, I read and thoroughly enjoyed A Silence Shared, a beautiful, enigmatic novel by the Italian writer, translator and artist Lalla Romano. First published in Italy in 1957, Tett…
jacquiwine.wordpress.com
January 29, 2026 at 7:19 AM
New on the blog today, my thoughts on IN FARTHEST SEAS by Lalla Romano (tr. Brian Robert Moore).
I loved this profound, intimate and deeply moving elegy to Cenzo Monti, Romano’s husband of fifty years. Fans of Annie Ernaux might appreciate this. #BookSky 💙📚
jacquiwine.wordpress.com/2026/01/29/i...
I loved this profound, intimate and deeply moving elegy to Cenzo Monti, Romano’s husband of fifty years. Fans of Annie Ernaux might appreciate this. #BookSky 💙📚
jacquiwine.wordpress.com/2026/01/29/i...
Going to see Andy White @traversetheatre.bsky.social tonight 40 years after buying his first album.
January 28, 2026 at 5:08 PM
Going to see Andy White @traversetheatre.bsky.social tonight 40 years after buying his first album.
Reposted
On the Ramblings today, for the #japaneseliteraturechallenge and #januaryinjapan I explore a heartbreaking short work, Grave of the Fireflies. More here: kaggsysbookishramblings.wordpress.com/2026/01/26/b...
“By morning, half the fireflies had died…” #japaneseliteraturechallenge
Whenever I take part in reading events and challenges, I normally try to pick books which I already have in the stacks; goodness knows the TBR is already gigantic enough without adding to it! Howev…
kaggsysbookishramblings.wordpress.com
January 26, 2026 at 9:06 AM
On the Ramblings today, for the #japaneseliteraturechallenge and #januaryinjapan I explore a heartbreaking short work, Grave of the Fireflies. More here: kaggsysbookishramblings.wordpress.com/2026/01/26/b...
Reposted
Writing toward the endless horizon: Landscape with Landscape by Gerald Murnane roughghosts.com/2026/01/26/w...
Writing toward the endless horizon: Landscape with Landscape by Gerald Murnane
In his Foreword to Landscape with Landscape, written for its 2016 re-issue with Giramondo, Gerald Murnane describes his reaction to a number negative reviews that this, his fourth work and first fo…
roughghosts.com
January 26, 2026 at 8:42 AM
Writing toward the endless horizon: Landscape with Landscape by Gerald Murnane roughghosts.com/2026/01/26/w...
For Burns' Night, an extract from Matthew Fitt's Kate o Shanter's Tale - what happens when Tam finally arrives home.
January 25, 2026 at 2:42 PM
For Burns' Night, an extract from Matthew Fitt's Kate o Shanter's Tale - what happens when Tam finally arrives home.
Reposted
For Burns Night. Wrap yr lugs round this beauty.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZ7o...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZ7o...
Dick Gaughan - Now Westlin Winds
YouTube video by 76AMD
www.youtube.com
January 25, 2026 at 9:35 AM
For Burns Night. Wrap yr lugs round this beauty.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZ7o...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZ7o...
Reposted
Alasdair Gray & Robert Burns - Pictured is Alasdair Gray’s 1953 Tam O’Shanter, inspired by Robert Burns. A fierce champion of Scots, Gray shows Tam riding home below as witches dance to bagpipes in the haunted kirk.
January 25, 2026 at 10:21 AM
Alasdair Gray & Robert Burns - Pictured is Alasdair Gray’s 1953 Tam O’Shanter, inspired by Robert Burns. A fierce champion of Scots, Gray shows Tam riding home below as witches dance to bagpipes in the haunted kirk.
Reposted
The first step on my journey through Brian Moore's novels, The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne:
1streading.wordpress.com/2026/01/24/t...
1streading.wordpress.com/2026/01/24/t...
The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne
Brian Moore’s first novel, The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne published in 1955, was not actually his first novel – he had already written a series of pulp thrillers and would go on to write…
1streading.wordpress.com
January 24, 2026 at 3:12 PM
The first step on my journey through Brian Moore's novels, The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne:
1streading.wordpress.com/2026/01/24/t...
1streading.wordpress.com/2026/01/24/t...
Reposted
Atween November’s end and noo
there’s really nithin else tae do
but climb inside a brindlet coo
and dream o Spring…
—W.N. Herbert, “Rabbie, Rabbie, Burning Bright”
in OMNESIA (Remix), @bloodaxebooks.bsky.social 2013
Warming up for #BurnsNight
#poem
www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/poem/rabbie-...
there’s really nithin else tae do
but climb inside a brindlet coo
and dream o Spring…
—W.N. Herbert, “Rabbie, Rabbie, Burning Bright”
in OMNESIA (Remix), @bloodaxebooks.bsky.social 2013
Warming up for #BurnsNight
#poem
www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/poem/rabbie-...
January 24, 2026 at 2:46 PM
Atween November’s end and noo
there’s really nithin else tae do
but climb inside a brindlet coo
and dream o Spring…
—W.N. Herbert, “Rabbie, Rabbie, Burning Bright”
in OMNESIA (Remix), @bloodaxebooks.bsky.social 2013
Warming up for #BurnsNight
#poem
www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/poem/rabbie-...
there’s really nithin else tae do
but climb inside a brindlet coo
and dream o Spring…
—W.N. Herbert, “Rabbie, Rabbie, Burning Bright”
in OMNESIA (Remix), @bloodaxebooks.bsky.social 2013
Warming up for #BurnsNight
#poem
www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/poem/rabbie-...
The first step on my journey through Brian Moore's novels, The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne:
1streading.wordpress.com/2026/01/24/t...
1streading.wordpress.com/2026/01/24/t...
The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne
Brian Moore’s first novel, The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne published in 1955, was not actually his first novel – he had already written a series of pulp thrillers and would go on to write…
1streading.wordpress.com
January 24, 2026 at 3:12 PM
The first step on my journey through Brian Moore's novels, The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne:
1streading.wordpress.com/2026/01/24/t...
1streading.wordpress.com/2026/01/24/t...
Reposted
On the blog today, I spend time with a book by the bats but entertaining John Franklin Bardin - more here! kaggsysbookishramblings.wordpress.com/2026/01/23/o...
“Oh, Philip, why can’t you remember?” #thelastofphilipbanter
Back in 2018, Mr Kaggsy presented me with an intriguing omnibus edition of three books by an author I’d never heard of – John Franklin Bardin. It seemed as if the author was quite obscu…
kaggsysbookishramblings.wordpress.com
January 23, 2026 at 8:39 AM
On the blog today, I spend time with a book by the bats but entertaining John Franklin Bardin - more here! kaggsysbookishramblings.wordpress.com/2026/01/23/o...
Reposted
New on the blog today, I've written about more of my favourite London novels.
Including books by Anita Brookner, Elizabeth Bowen, Barbara Pym and many more! #BookSky #London 💙📚
jacquiwine.wordpress.com/2026/01/22/l...
Including books by Anita Brookner, Elizabeth Bowen, Barbara Pym and many more! #BookSky #London 💙📚
jacquiwine.wordpress.com/2026/01/22/l...
London novels – another ten favourites from my shelves
Back in July, I put together a list of ten favourite novels set in London. It seemed to strike a chord with many of you, so much so that I thought I’d pick another ten, including some of the books …
jacquiwine.wordpress.com
January 22, 2026 at 10:45 AM
New on the blog today, I've written about more of my favourite London novels.
Including books by Anita Brookner, Elizabeth Bowen, Barbara Pym and many more! #BookSky #London 💙📚
jacquiwine.wordpress.com/2026/01/22/l...
Including books by Anita Brookner, Elizabeth Bowen, Barbara Pym and many more! #BookSky #London 💙📚
jacquiwine.wordpress.com/2026/01/22/l...
Reposted
On the Ramblings today, my thoughts on the truly magnificent Is A River Alive? by @robgmacfarlane.bsky.social - what a book! kaggsysbookishramblings.wordpress.com/2026/01/21/p...
“…part of a web of entangled life…” #isariveralive
As I’ve no doubt mentioned many times before, I’m a great believer in every book having its time and so I don’t necessarily pick up each new title that comes through the door as s…
kaggsysbookishramblings.wordpress.com
January 21, 2026 at 8:26 AM
On the Ramblings today, my thoughts on the truly magnificent Is A River Alive? by @robgmacfarlane.bsky.social - what a book! kaggsysbookishramblings.wordpress.com/2026/01/21/p...
Reposted
My latest #JanuaryInJapan review takes us far into the future with Hiromi Kawakami's 'Under the Eye of the Big Bird' (translated by Asa Yoneda, published by Granta Books), a novel telling us all about the human race, and how it ends... tonysreadinglist.wordpress.com/2026/01/21/u...
January 21, 2026 at 10:25 AM
My latest #JanuaryInJapan review takes us far into the future with Hiromi Kawakami's 'Under the Eye of the Big Bird' (translated by Asa Yoneda, published by Granta Books), a novel telling us all about the human race, and how it ends... tonysreadinglist.wordpress.com/2026/01/21/u...
Reposted
For #JanuaryinJapan my first experience of the 'other' Murakami, Ryu (translated by Ralph McCarthy), Piercing:
1streading.wordpress.com/2026/01/18/p...
1streading.wordpress.com/2026/01/18/p...
Piercing
Ryu Murakimi’s Piercing was originally published in 1994 and became the second of his novels to be translated into English (by Ralph McCarthy) in 2007. A dark thriller of dysfunctional love and dam…
1streading.wordpress.com
January 18, 2026 at 6:09 PM
For #JanuaryinJapan my first experience of the 'other' Murakami, Ryu (translated by Ralph McCarthy), Piercing:
1streading.wordpress.com/2026/01/18/p...
1streading.wordpress.com/2026/01/18/p...
For #JanuaryinJapan my first experience of the 'other' Murakami, Ryu (translated by Ralph McCarthy), Piercing:
1streading.wordpress.com/2026/01/18/p...
1streading.wordpress.com/2026/01/18/p...
Piercing
Ryu Murakimi’s Piercing was originally published in 1994 and became the second of his novels to be translated into English (by Ralph McCarthy) in 2007. A dark thriller of dysfunctional love and dam…
1streading.wordpress.com
January 18, 2026 at 6:09 PM
For #JanuaryinJapan my first experience of the 'other' Murakami, Ryu (translated by Ralph McCarthy), Piercing:
1streading.wordpress.com/2026/01/18/p...
1streading.wordpress.com/2026/01/18/p...
Reposted
New on the blog today, I've written about the first novel in Olivia Manning's superb semi-autobiographical LEVANT TRILOGY - The Danger Tree.
An acutely perceptive portrait of the early years of a fraught marriage set against the advancing front of WW2. 💙📚
jacquiwine.wordpress.com/2026/01/18/t...
An acutely perceptive portrait of the early years of a fraught marriage set against the advancing front of WW2. 💙📚
jacquiwine.wordpress.com/2026/01/18/t...
The Levant Trilogy (Book One: The Danger Tree) by Olivia Manning
Five years ago, I read and loved Olivia Manning’s Balkan Trilogy, a superb series of largely autobiographical novels based on the author’s experiences of a life lived on the advancing edges of turm…
jacquiwine.wordpress.com
January 18, 2026 at 7:20 AM
New on the blog today, I've written about the first novel in Olivia Manning's superb semi-autobiographical LEVANT TRILOGY - The Danger Tree.
An acutely perceptive portrait of the early years of a fraught marriage set against the advancing front of WW2. 💙📚
jacquiwine.wordpress.com/2026/01/18/t...
An acutely perceptive portrait of the early years of a fraught marriage set against the advancing front of WW2. 💙📚
jacquiwine.wordpress.com/2026/01/18/t...
1. B B King at the Playhouse (Edinburgh), my first.
2. Belle & Sebastian at the Carnegie Hall (Dunfermline) with a brass band.
3. Richard Thompson at St Mary's Cathedral (Edinburgh).
4. Rab Noakes/Michael Marra, Parkway Hotel (Kirkcaldy)
5. Bob Dylan, Usher Hall (Edinburgh), 2024.
2. Belle & Sebastian at the Carnegie Hall (Dunfermline) with a brass band.
3. Richard Thompson at St Mary's Cathedral (Edinburgh).
4. Rab Noakes/Michael Marra, Parkway Hotel (Kirkcaldy)
5. Bob Dylan, Usher Hall (Edinburgh), 2024.
January 17, 2026 at 11:14 AM
1. B B King at the Playhouse (Edinburgh), my first.
2. Belle & Sebastian at the Carnegie Hall (Dunfermline) with a brass band.
3. Richard Thompson at St Mary's Cathedral (Edinburgh).
4. Rab Noakes/Michael Marra, Parkway Hotel (Kirkcaldy)
5. Bob Dylan, Usher Hall (Edinburgh), 2024.
2. Belle & Sebastian at the Carnegie Hall (Dunfermline) with a brass band.
3. Richard Thompson at St Mary's Cathedral (Edinburgh).
4. Rab Noakes/Michael Marra, Parkway Hotel (Kirkcaldy)
5. Bob Dylan, Usher Hall (Edinburgh), 2024.
Coming from the increasingly excellent @faberbooks.bsky.social editions next month, the first appearance in English (translated by Saskia Vogel) of Swedish writer Brigitta Trotzig.
January 17, 2026 at 10:28 AM
Coming from the increasingly excellent @faberbooks.bsky.social editions next month, the first appearance in English (translated by Saskia Vogel) of Swedish writer Brigitta Trotzig.
Reposted
I loved Sylvia Townsend Warner's stunning, funny, richly imagined historical novel, THE CORNER THAT HELD THEM. My thoughts:
readersretreat2017.wordpress.com/2026/01/16/t...
readersretreat2017.wordpress.com/2026/01/16/t...
January 17, 2026 at 6:25 AM
I loved Sylvia Townsend Warner's stunning, funny, richly imagined historical novel, THE CORNER THAT HELD THEM. My thoughts:
readersretreat2017.wordpress.com/2026/01/16/t...
readersretreat2017.wordpress.com/2026/01/16/t...
Reposted
It's the centenary of the wonderful Agnes Owens' birth this year. Her books are being reissued & a satellite archive has officially opened within the Alasdair Gray archive. I spoke to her son, John, & wrote about this "most unfairly neglected of Scottish authors" in the @heraldscotland.bsky.social.
Finally, recognition for 'unfairly neglected' Scottish author Agnes Owens
Writer Agnes Owens was once seen as “part of a golden age of Scottish literature,” and influenced younger writers, including Janice Galloway,…
www.heraldscotland.com
January 17, 2026 at 9:24 AM
It's the centenary of the wonderful Agnes Owens' birth this year. Her books are being reissued & a satellite archive has officially opened within the Alasdair Gray archive. I spoke to her son, John, & wrote about this "most unfairly neglected of Scottish authors" in the @heraldscotland.bsky.social.
Reposted
You are neither silence nor language: The Answer to Lord Chandos by Pascal Quinard @wakefieldpress.bsky.social
roughghosts.com/2026/01/16/y...
roughghosts.com/2026/01/16/y...
You are neither silence nor language: The Answer to Lord Chandos by Pascal Quinard
Austrian poet, writer and librettist, Hugo von Hofmannsthal signalled a break with his earlier works when, in 1902, he published the story “A Letter,” also known as “The Lord Chandos Letter.” It is…
roughghosts.com
January 16, 2026 at 11:13 AM
You are neither silence nor language: The Answer to Lord Chandos by Pascal Quinard @wakefieldpress.bsky.social
roughghosts.com/2026/01/16/y...
roughghosts.com/2026/01/16/y...