Mr. David Bishop 🇬🇧🇪🇺🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️
@libraryrinth.bsky.social
Hardest working man in teaching. Lead Practitioner in English. Book reading quiz teaming woke art lover. He/him. #Booksky #Edusky
libraryrinth.substack.com
libraryrinth.substack.com
Pinned
The Circular Book - Thin Skin
Caroline Walker’s living room was largely how you’d expect one belonging to a librarian to look. All of the walls were hidden behind bookcases; each bookcase was full, of both books standing upright a...
thin-skin.com
My story 'The Circular Book' has been published in the latest edition of Thin Skin magazine.
thin-skin.com/shortstory/t...
thin-skin.com/shortstory/t...
Sorry, me again and this bloody painting. But I think one reason I find art (and literature) so fulfilling is because it has taken time, and it is considered. It is a balanced diet, against the junk food served up online and via social media: superficially tasty, but with zero nutrition.
This is Joseph Wright of Derby's 1768 painting 'An Experiment on a Bird in an Air Pump', and seeing it in the flesh today reminded me of the immense power of art.
February 19, 2026 at 11:47 PM
Sorry, me again and this bloody painting. But I think one reason I find art (and literature) so fulfilling is because it has taken time, and it is considered. It is a balanced diet, against the junk food served up online and via social media: superficially tasty, but with zero nutrition.
Something else: that dot of light on the end of his finger. That's God on the ceiling of the Sistine chapel, right, his fingertip bringing Adam to life?
But I also find his hands fascinating. One hovers above the glass chamber, ready to let air in and thus save the bird. The other points to the painting's source of light, and the skull that obscures it. Life and death, held in balance.
February 19, 2026 at 10:26 PM
Something else: that dot of light on the end of his finger. That's God on the ceiling of the Sistine chapel, right, his fingertip bringing Adam to life?
This is Joseph Wright of Derby's 1768 painting 'An Experiment on a Bird in an Air Pump', and seeing it in the flesh today reminded me of the immense power of art.
February 19, 2026 at 7:26 PM
This is Joseph Wright of Derby's 1768 painting 'An Experiment on a Bird in an Air Pump', and seeing it in the flesh today reminded me of the immense power of art.
Excellent day out in London, and as per over far too quickly. I thoroughly enjoyed the Joseph Wright exhibition at the National; seeing the paintings live and at scale is something you can never replicate in a book or on a screen.
February 19, 2026 at 5:33 PM
Excellent day out in London, and as per over far too quickly. I thoroughly enjoyed the Joseph Wright exhibition at the National; seeing the paintings live and at scale is something you can never replicate in a book or on a screen.
Okay, bed. Tomorrow: London, art, lunch out, bookshops.
February 18, 2026 at 10:36 PM
Okay, bed. Tomorrow: London, art, lunch out, bookshops.
'One more thing...'
February 18, 2026 at 10:06 PM
'One more thing...'
February 18, 2026 at 6:14 PM
Book 11 of 2026 #Booksky
Lew Griffin Book 5, and the shortest in the series. On the surface, it's a story of white supremacists, and Griffin putting himself back together after a prolonged stay in hospital, after bring shot on the street. But...
Lew Griffin Book 5, and the shortest in the series. On the surface, it's a story of white supremacists, and Griffin putting himself back together after a prolonged stay in hospital, after bring shot on the street. But...
February 16, 2026 at 4:47 PM
Book 11 of 2026 #Booksky
Lew Griffin Book 5, and the shortest in the series. On the surface, it's a story of white supremacists, and Griffin putting himself back together after a prolonged stay in hospital, after bring shot on the street. But...
Lew Griffin Book 5, and the shortest in the series. On the surface, it's a story of white supremacists, and Griffin putting himself back together after a prolonged stay in hospital, after bring shot on the street. But...
Book 10 of 2026 #Booksky
Lew Griffin book 4, and favourite so far on this re-read through the series. Also the first I read, back in the late 2000s. As compelling now as it was then.
Lew Griffin book 4, and favourite so far on this re-read through the series. Also the first I read, back in the late 2000s. As compelling now as it was then.
February 15, 2026 at 4:44 PM
Book 10 of 2026 #Booksky
Lew Griffin book 4, and favourite so far on this re-read through the series. Also the first I read, back in the late 2000s. As compelling now as it was then.
Lew Griffin book 4, and favourite so far on this re-read through the series. Also the first I read, back in the late 2000s. As compelling now as it was then.
Book 9 of 2026 #Booksky
Lew Griffin Book 3, and a sniper prowls the rooftops of 1968 New Orleans. Not as powerful as the first two, but still a cut above your regular PI tale.
Lew Griffin Book 3, and a sniper prowls the rooftops of 1968 New Orleans. Not as powerful as the first two, but still a cut above your regular PI tale.
February 12, 2026 at 8:14 PM
Book 9 of 2026 #Booksky
Lew Griffin Book 3, and a sniper prowls the rooftops of 1968 New Orleans. Not as powerful as the first two, but still a cut above your regular PI tale.
Lew Griffin Book 3, and a sniper prowls the rooftops of 1968 New Orleans. Not as powerful as the first two, but still a cut above your regular PI tale.
Reposted by Mr. David Bishop 🇬🇧🇪🇺🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️
Billboard in Dundee. Pic: Alistair Heather
February 11, 2026 at 7:39 PM
Billboard in Dundee. Pic: Alistair Heather
Book 8 of 2026 #Booksky
Lew Griffin book 2, and just terrific. The prose is deceptively simple, but you can feel the depths that lurk beneath.
Lew Griffin book 2, and just terrific. The prose is deceptively simple, but you can feel the depths that lurk beneath.
February 8, 2026 at 10:28 PM
Book 8 of 2026 #Booksky
Lew Griffin book 2, and just terrific. The prose is deceptively simple, but you can feel the depths that lurk beneath.
Lew Griffin book 2, and just terrific. The prose is deceptively simple, but you can feel the depths that lurk beneath.
I've got that exhausted, end of half term feeling where I just don't feel like doing anything. I slept really well last night and the one before, and had a nap on the sofa yesterday - and yet here I still am.
February 8, 2026 at 12:36 PM
I've got that exhausted, end of half term feeling where I just don't feel like doing anything. I slept really well last night and the one before, and had a nap on the sofa yesterday - and yet here I still am.
If a blog post uses an AI image, chances are I won't read it.
February 7, 2026 at 8:56 PM
If a blog post uses an AI image, chances are I won't read it.
Reposted by Mr. David Bishop 🇬🇧🇪🇺🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️
What do we reckon?
February 7, 2026 at 8:21 PM
What do we reckon?
Book 7 of 2026 #Booksky
In memory of James Sallis, I bought and am re-reading (in order, for the first time) his Lew Griffin novels.
This is episodic, lots of heart, and also the sense that it is setting up something much darker and complex. Highly recommended.
In memory of James Sallis, I bought and am re-reading (in order, for the first time) his Lew Griffin novels.
This is episodic, lots of heart, and also the sense that it is setting up something much darker and complex. Highly recommended.
February 7, 2026 at 9:38 AM
Book 7 of 2026 #Booksky
In memory of James Sallis, I bought and am re-reading (in order, for the first time) his Lew Griffin novels.
This is episodic, lots of heart, and also the sense that it is setting up something much darker and complex. Highly recommended.
In memory of James Sallis, I bought and am re-reading (in order, for the first time) his Lew Griffin novels.
This is episodic, lots of heart, and also the sense that it is setting up something much darker and complex. Highly recommended.
Reposted by Mr. David Bishop 🇬🇧🇪🇺🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️
Sir Ian McKellen performing a monologue from Shakespeare’s Sir Thomas More on the Stephen Colbert show. Never have I heard this monologue performed with such a keen sense of prescience. Nor have I ever been in this exact historical moment.TY Sir Ian, for reaching us once again.
#Pinks #ProudBlue
#Pinks #ProudBlue
February 5, 2026 at 11:50 AM
Sir Ian McKellen performing a monologue from Shakespeare’s Sir Thomas More on the Stephen Colbert show. Never have I heard this monologue performed with such a keen sense of prescience. Nor have I ever been in this exact historical moment.TY Sir Ian, for reaching us once again.
#Pinks #ProudBlue
#Pinks #ProudBlue
February 1, 2026 at 11:17 PM
Reposted by Mr. David Bishop 🇬🇧🇪🇺🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️
My story 'The Circular Book' has been published in the latest edition of Thin Skin magazine.
thin-skin.com/shortstory/t...
thin-skin.com/shortstory/t...
The Circular Book - Thin Skin
Caroline Walker’s living room was largely how you’d expect one belonging to a librarian to look. All of the walls were hidden behind bookcases; each bookcase was full, of both books standing upright a...
thin-skin.com
January 31, 2026 at 2:34 PM
My story 'The Circular Book' has been published in the latest edition of Thin Skin magazine.
thin-skin.com/shortstory/t...
thin-skin.com/shortstory/t...
This is great - bought it yesterday, and if I don't finish it tonight I surely will tomorrow. It's also making me think about school - not a prison (clearly), but similarly dynamic and challenging.
January 31, 2026 at 5:36 PM
This is great - bought it yesterday, and if I don't finish it tonight I surely will tomorrow. It's also making me think about school - not a prison (clearly), but similarly dynamic and challenging.
My story 'The Circular Book' has been published in the latest edition of Thin Skin magazine.
thin-skin.com/shortstory/t...
thin-skin.com/shortstory/t...
The Circular Book - Thin Skin
Caroline Walker’s living room was largely how you’d expect one belonging to a librarian to look. All of the walls were hidden behind bookcases; each bookcase was full, of both books standing upright a...
thin-skin.com
January 31, 2026 at 2:34 PM
My story 'The Circular Book' has been published in the latest edition of Thin Skin magazine.
thin-skin.com/shortstory/t...
thin-skin.com/shortstory/t...
RIP James Sallis, a wonderful writer and lovely man. When I wrote this post on his first Lew Griffin book, Sallis messaged me to thank me for writing it. #Booksky
whatareyoureadingfor.wordpress.com/2015/10/18/j...
whatareyoureadingfor.wordpress.com/2015/10/18/j...
James Sallis, ‘The Long-Legged Fly’ (1992)
‘In the darkness things always go away from you. Memory holds you down while regret and sorrow kick hell out of you.’ The Long Legged Fly is the first book in the Lew Griffin series; an…
whatareyoureadingfor.wordpress.com
January 29, 2026 at 9:01 PM
RIP James Sallis, a wonderful writer and lovely man. When I wrote this post on his first Lew Griffin book, Sallis messaged me to thank me for writing it. #Booksky
whatareyoureadingfor.wordpress.com/2015/10/18/j...
whatareyoureadingfor.wordpress.com/2015/10/18/j...
Book 5 of 2026 #Booksky
Much like 'Gatsby', this is full of some pretty unlikeable characters, but I had more pity for Anthony Patch. Some terrific descriptions of New York, and Patch's descent into alcoholism is unflinching. And FSF was only 26 when he wrote it!
Much like 'Gatsby', this is full of some pretty unlikeable characters, but I had more pity for Anthony Patch. Some terrific descriptions of New York, and Patch's descent into alcoholism is unflinching. And FSF was only 26 when he wrote it!
January 29, 2026 at 8:05 PM
Book 5 of 2026 #Booksky
Much like 'Gatsby', this is full of some pretty unlikeable characters, but I had more pity for Anthony Patch. Some terrific descriptions of New York, and Patch's descent into alcoholism is unflinching. And FSF was only 26 when he wrote it!
Much like 'Gatsby', this is full of some pretty unlikeable characters, but I had more pity for Anthony Patch. Some terrific descriptions of New York, and Patch's descent into alcoholism is unflinching. And FSF was only 26 when he wrote it!