John Grindrod
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grindrod.bsky.social
John Grindrod
@grindrod.bsky.social
Social historian of modern places. Wrote Concretopia and Iconicon. Tales of the Suburbs, on LGBTQ+ history, out March 2026. Also, maps. Disappointingly unserious. Podcast: Monstrosities Mon Amour

https://linktr.ee/johngrindrod
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Let's take a ride... My next book is coming out with @faberbooks.bsky.social. Tales of the Suburbs: LGBTQ+ Lives Behind Net Curtains will be published March 12 2026. Preorder links in profile, and lots more on the book and the remarkable stories people told me to come over the next few months...
Concerned that when I go to bed the dream I had last night will resume, where I was being attacked by knife wielding soft toys
November 11, 2025 at 12:44 AM
Very funny standup show by Judi Love. Ridiculous charisma
November 10, 2025 at 10:37 PM
All the leaves have fallen off the acer overnight
November 10, 2025 at 10:18 AM
Reposted by John Grindrod
Fancy a read about a London (and its surroundings), that never quite came to pass?

If you've heard of the 'Ringways' scheme or not, this is absolutely fascinating (and exactly the sort of thing we include in our histories which come right up to the date of publication). #Skystorians
November 10, 2025 at 9:41 AM
In a foggy caravan park. Or the world may have ended
November 9, 2025 at 10:04 AM
Reposted by John Grindrod
There's a story in ‘Intervals of Darkness’ about a couple who meet, marry, have kids, give up on having hairdos, get scarred and worn down by industrial work, and then slowly decay into oil and rust. It's QUITE PERSONAL. Do give it a read.
Between them ‘Municipal Gothic’ and ‘Intervals of Darkness’ have 27 stories full of haunted buildings, haunted people, and working class weirdness. Obviously *I* think they're great – but so do strangers who owe me nothing!

👉 www.amazon.co.uk/Municipal-Go...

👉 www.amazon.co.uk/Intervals-Da...
November 8, 2025 at 7:53 PM
Second hand treasure from 1969
November 8, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Filth.
November 8, 2025 at 1:29 PM
Heard a tawny owl earlier, having a right old hoot
November 7, 2025 at 7:19 PM
Keen to watch a version of Traitors featuring all the remaining cast of Play School
November 6, 2025 at 8:37 PM
Reposted by John Grindrod
ONE WEEK TODAY!

@burleyfisher.bsky.social
12 Nov, 6.30 pm

Me & my giant face will be talking to Samuel Fisher about language, power, pencils, dragons, Ursula Le Guin & listening…

Please join us to launch BAD LANGUAGE!

burleyfisherbooks.com/products/lau...
Launch: Bad Language by So Mayer
Wednesday 12th November 6.30-9pm We are so excited for Bad Language by So Mayer and published by Peninsula Press. Please join us to celebrate the launch. There is no such thing as a safe word In Bad L...
burleyfisherbooks.com
November 5, 2025 at 6:21 PM
Reposted by John Grindrod
Some promo! @danthompson33.bsky.social was in with us at @thebaytrust.bsky.social yesterday, working on our #PinesGardensIn30Objects project. He’ll be in #Margate on Thursday, hosting a conversation with @holsmith.bsky.social on her ‘Up In The Air’ book. You’d never guess I studied town planning…
Well this looks great
November 4, 2025 at 8:50 PM
Reposted by John Grindrod
Blessing your TL with Lina Bo Bardi
November 4, 2025 at 12:16 PM
Reposted by John Grindrod
Another informative, witty and intriguing podcast from John Grindrod. If you don’t listen to Monstrosities Mon Amour…you really should. It’s good for you and you will enjoy it and…well you just should. So there. That’s it.
November 3, 2025 at 9:43 AM
Municipal Dreams supremo John Boughton champions 60s expanded town Thetford in the latest episode of Monstrosities Mon Amour
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/m...
Monstrosities Mon Amour: Thetford with John Boughton
Podcast Episode · Monstrosities Mon Amour · 30/10/2025 · 28m
podcasts.apple.com
November 3, 2025 at 8:28 AM
Reposted by John Grindrod
Here’s the cover for LIKE A CAT LOVES A BIRD: THE NINE LIVES OF MURIEL SPARK, out 16 April with @sceptrebooks.bsky.social

Preorder here: lnk.to/LikeaCatLove...

Please share! The book doing well means I can write another (and fulfil my dream of owning a pizza oven), so it’s pretty serious

🐈‍⬛ 🐈‍⬛ 🐈‍⬛
November 2, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Lovely to hear the Decemberists on the radio. I want more songs about Cold War spies and vagabonds
November 2, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Reposted by John Grindrod
Carshalton has a new - INCREDIBLE - record shop @lookingforthemagic.bsky.social Really amazing stuff inside (and plenty of heykidsrocknroll.etsy.com goodness)
November 1, 2025 at 11:21 AM
Reposted by John Grindrod
Latest episode of Monstrosities Mon Amour is out! John Boughton @municipaldreams.bsky.social on the joys of 60s overspill town Thetford open.substack.com/pub/johngrin...
Monstrosities Mon Amour: Thetford with John Boughton
#11. John Grindrod meets Municipal Dreams writer John Boughton to explore the expanded and maligned Norfolk town of Thetford and the wonders of white bread.
open.substack.com
October 31, 2025 at 7:22 AM
Tonight’s viewing: Robert Wise’s The Haunting (1963), and a high-camp spooky Poirot, Halloween Party, to help me recover from Robert Wise’s The Haunting (1963).
October 31, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Reposted by John Grindrod
Hookand is gothic and a conversation with the ghost soil of place 365 days of the year. Halloween and the whole season of the dead is sacred, intimate and primarily focussed on listening for me. So, apologies if you expect movie recommendations and a big event, a Hookland Halloween isn’t that way.
October 31, 2025 at 12:24 PM
Latest episode of Monstrosities Mon Amour is out! John Boughton @municipaldreams.bsky.social on the joys of 60s overspill town Thetford open.substack.com/pub/johngrin...
Monstrosities Mon Amour: Thetford with John Boughton
#11. John Grindrod meets Municipal Dreams writer John Boughton to explore the expanded and maligned Norfolk town of Thetford and the wonders of white bread.
open.substack.com
October 31, 2025 at 7:22 AM
Reposted by John Grindrod
Let's take a ride... My next book is coming out with @faberbooks.bsky.social. Tales of the Suburbs: LGBTQ+ Lives Behind Net Curtains will be published March 12 2026. Preorder links in profile, and lots more on the book and the remarkable stories people told me to come over the next few months...
October 28, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Reposted by John Grindrod
Had a truly life affirming, cathartic & beautiful time talking to John for this, one that made it clear he’d handle the experiences of all who spoke to him with empathy, wit & profound care.
It is a really special book by an extraordinary writer & human so preorder the net curtains out of it, please
Let's take a ride... My next book is coming out with @faberbooks.bsky.social. Tales of the Suburbs: LGBTQ+ Lives Behind Net Curtains will be published March 12 2026. Preorder links in profile, and lots more on the book and the remarkable stories people told me to come over the next few months...
October 28, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Reposted by John Grindrod
‘There’s a place for us, goes Stephen Sondheim’s opening lyric from that evergreen LGBTQ+ anthem “Somewhere”. But with the best will in the world, I don’t think he meant Milton Keynes.'

Introducing Tales of the Suburbs: LGBTQ+ Lives Behind Net Curtains by @grindrod.bsky.social, out 12 March 2026.
October 28, 2025 at 2:00 PM