Alex (thebetterwithbooksclub)
@alexherod.bsky.social
Books, writing, horror, mental health.
Creative Writing PhD student (PT) & snr marketing manager (FT) at Salford Uni; counsellor.
Happy in water.
Manchester, UK.
She/Her
@thebetterwithbooksclub on t'other apps
https://linktr.ee/thebetterwithbooksclub
Creative Writing PhD student (PT) & snr marketing manager (FT) at Salford Uni; counsellor.
Happy in water.
Manchester, UK.
She/Her
@thebetterwithbooksclub on t'other apps
https://linktr.ee/thebetterwithbooksclub
My current read: What Doesn't Kill Us by Ajay Close @saraband-books.bsky.social
Crime drama, 1970s Leeds & Bradford, and a feminist collective at the heart of the story. Enjoying this, looking forward to getting home so I can pit the kettle on and sit down with it ☕️📖
Crime drama, 1970s Leeds & Bradford, and a feminist collective at the heart of the story. Enjoying this, looking forward to getting home so I can pit the kettle on and sit down with it ☕️📖
March 3, 2025 at 6:22 PM
My current read: What Doesn't Kill Us by Ajay Close @saraband-books.bsky.social
Crime drama, 1970s Leeds & Bradford, and a feminist collective at the heart of the story. Enjoying this, looking forward to getting home so I can pit the kettle on and sit down with it ☕️📖
Crime drama, 1970s Leeds & Bradford, and a feminist collective at the heart of the story. Enjoying this, looking forward to getting home so I can pit the kettle on and sit down with it ☕️📖
Further adventures in solo, sober gigging:
danced my tits off at Gogol Bordello & Dropkick Murphys tonight to the extent that my fitbit clocked it as mountain biking 😂
[Obligatory crap gig pic]
danced my tits off at Gogol Bordello & Dropkick Murphys tonight to the extent that my fitbit clocked it as mountain biking 😂
[Obligatory crap gig pic]
February 6, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Further adventures in solo, sober gigging:
danced my tits off at Gogol Bordello & Dropkick Murphys tonight to the extent that my fitbit clocked it as mountain biking 😂
[Obligatory crap gig pic]
danced my tits off at Gogol Bordello & Dropkick Murphys tonight to the extent that my fitbit clocked it as mountain biking 😂
[Obligatory crap gig pic]
Coop has chosen our next bedtime book: The Great Orme by @pauldcoombs.bsky.social 📚
February 1, 2025 at 10:23 PM
Coop has chosen our next bedtime book: The Great Orme by @pauldcoombs.bsky.social 📚
That's such a great print ❤️I have him either side of me in the living room. A great face to look upon/be looked on by
January 16, 2025 at 8:42 PM
That's such a great print ❤️I have him either side of me in the living room. A great face to look upon/be looked on by
Missed parkrun yesterday as working so just did a chilly 5k near my house. Less fun but has set me up for a cosy afternoon of coffee and writing (and rewatching Criminal Minds as current comfort background) 👍Tempted to start a story set in the old mill building round the corner (Warwick Mill, 1907)
January 12, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Missed parkrun yesterday as working so just did a chilly 5k near my house. Less fun but has set me up for a cosy afternoon of coffee and writing (and rewatching Criminal Minds as current comfort background) 👍Tempted to start a story set in the old mill building round the corner (Warwick Mill, 1907)
The last three days = lots of sky moods 👌
January 11, 2025 at 2:02 PM
The last three days = lots of sky moods 👌
Joined an online write together session this morning. The prompts were gentle and mindful, discussion warm and reflective. I have, inevitably, started a gross little body horror piece off the back of it 😂
January 5, 2025 at 12:12 PM
Joined an online write together session this morning. The prompts were gentle and mindful, discussion warm and reflective. I have, inevitably, started a gross little body horror piece off the back of it 😂
Obligatory snow photos ❄️ Zorro is originally from a rescue in gran canaria. This is his 4th UK winter. He has just about made peace with the cold white stuff.
2nd pic - the trees look painted on one side.
2nd pic - the trees look painted on one side.
January 5, 2025 at 9:57 AM
Obligatory snow photos ❄️ Zorro is originally from a rescue in gran canaria. This is his 4th UK winter. He has just about made peace with the cold white stuff.
2nd pic - the trees look painted on one side.
2nd pic - the trees look painted on one side.
Handed in a big piece o' work on new year's eve, then had a busy couple of days. This morning = first parkrun of the year (over 1k runners at Heaton Park today 🙌) and all the errands, xmas tree/decs away, tidying. So now to settle for a weekend of no plans except films+book+pets+jigsaw...
January 4, 2025 at 12:48 PM
Handed in a big piece o' work on new year's eve, then had a busy couple of days. This morning = first parkrun of the year (over 1k runners at Heaton Park today 🙌) and all the errands, xmas tree/decs away, tidying. So now to settle for a weekend of no plans except films+book+pets+jigsaw...
Since everybody is rightly obsessed with pygmy hippos now, sharing a silly little poem I wrote in 2007 about Aldo, a pygmy hippo born in Paris zoo and who I visited that year 😂🦛
December 30, 2024 at 8:55 AM
Since everybody is rightly obsessed with pygmy hippos now, sharing a silly little poem I wrote in 2007 about Aldo, a pygmy hippo born in Paris zoo and who I visited that year 😂🦛
Coffee ☕️ & book 📖 before anything else today.
Starting what is likely to be my last read of 2024.
Silver Nitrate by Silvia Moreno-Garcia:
"meld of Mexican horror movies and Nazi occultism: a dark thriller about the curse that haunts a legendary lost film—and awakens one woman’s hidden powers"
Starting what is likely to be my last read of 2024.
Silver Nitrate by Silvia Moreno-Garcia:
"meld of Mexican horror movies and Nazi occultism: a dark thriller about the curse that haunts a legendary lost film—and awakens one woman’s hidden powers"
December 29, 2024 at 8:04 AM
Coffee ☕️ & book 📖 before anything else today.
Starting what is likely to be my last read of 2024.
Silver Nitrate by Silvia Moreno-Garcia:
"meld of Mexican horror movies and Nazi occultism: a dark thriller about the curse that haunts a legendary lost film—and awakens one woman’s hidden powers"
Starting what is likely to be my last read of 2024.
Silver Nitrate by Silvia Moreno-Garcia:
"meld of Mexican horror movies and Nazi occultism: a dark thriller about the curse that haunts a legendary lost film—and awakens one woman’s hidden powers"
Almost time to put Die Hard on. Raising a glass to little tree dec Hans Gruber.
(I know he falls facing t'other way but he came stringed like that)
[It's Martini vibrante alcohol free aperitif with fever tree aromatic tonic -- great booze free option if you like bitter/spiced/citrus type drinks]
(I know he falls facing t'other way but he came stringed like that)
[It's Martini vibrante alcohol free aperitif with fever tree aromatic tonic -- great booze free option if you like bitter/spiced/citrus type drinks]
December 24, 2024 at 3:46 PM
Almost time to put Die Hard on. Raising a glass to little tree dec Hans Gruber.
(I know he falls facing t'other way but he came stringed like that)
[It's Martini vibrante alcohol free aperitif with fever tree aromatic tonic -- great booze free option if you like bitter/spiced/citrus type drinks]
(I know he falls facing t'other way but he came stringed like that)
[It's Martini vibrante alcohol free aperitif with fever tree aromatic tonic -- great booze free option if you like bitter/spiced/citrus type drinks]
Dog walk >> late breakfast+a film >> writing.
Enjoying the A Chorus Line/Black Swan/Suspiria dance vibes from the start. Assuming this will lean towards the latter, not expecting many gold top hats 😂 Rosemary's Baby was one of the first horror films that hooked me so definitely intrigued...
Enjoying the A Chorus Line/Black Swan/Suspiria dance vibes from the start. Assuming this will lean towards the latter, not expecting many gold top hats 😂 Rosemary's Baby was one of the first horror films that hooked me so definitely intrigued...
December 23, 2024 at 11:53 AM
Dog walk >> late breakfast+a film >> writing.
Enjoying the A Chorus Line/Black Swan/Suspiria dance vibes from the start. Assuming this will lean towards the latter, not expecting many gold top hats 😂 Rosemary's Baby was one of the first horror films that hooked me so definitely intrigued...
Enjoying the A Chorus Line/Black Swan/Suspiria dance vibes from the start. Assuming this will lean towards the latter, not expecting many gold top hats 😂 Rosemary's Baby was one of the first horror films that hooked me so definitely intrigued...
Went to a new parkrun today, fell on my arse in the mud twice, wore an elf tshirt, got brain freeze from a post-run slushy. Fun start to the festive break 🎄
December 21, 2024 at 5:24 PM
Went to a new parkrun today, fell on my arse in the mud twice, wore an elf tshirt, got brain freeze from a post-run slushy. Fun start to the festive break 🎄
I've read the same Deleuze related journal article 3 times for PhD stuff and it is just Not. Making. Sense. Brain says no 😂
So, I've finished off a box of mint matchmakers with a brew and a couple of eps of The Office (US). Early night with book planned...
Current read: Vladimir by Julia May Jonas
So, I've finished off a box of mint matchmakers with a brew and a couple of eps of The Office (US). Early night with book planned...
Current read: Vladimir by Julia May Jonas
December 18, 2024 at 7:43 PM
I've read the same Deleuze related journal article 3 times for PhD stuff and it is just Not. Making. Sense. Brain says no 😂
So, I've finished off a box of mint matchmakers with a brew and a couple of eps of The Office (US). Early night with book planned...
Current read: Vladimir by Julia May Jonas
So, I've finished off a box of mint matchmakers with a brew and a couple of eps of The Office (US). Early night with book planned...
Current read: Vladimir by Julia May Jonas
Watched In The Mouth of Madness this afternoon, one of my fave Carpenter films. Followed by Muppets Christmas Carol so quite the tonal swerve 🎄
December 13, 2024 at 7:11 PM
Watched In The Mouth of Madness this afternoon, one of my fave Carpenter films. Followed by Muppets Christmas Carol so quite the tonal swerve 🎄
Zorro's first hotel stay 🐕 Blackpool for the Illuminations. He's had some fish+chips & chilly beach walk. Nearly 4yrs since he arrived in snowy UK from the rescue in Gran Canaria, disgusted by the temps+frozen white stuff. He is dead hardy now. Kind of. If he wears his coat & gets cosy afterwards 😄
December 12, 2024 at 3:57 PM
Zorro's first hotel stay 🐕 Blackpool for the Illuminations. He's had some fish+chips & chilly beach walk. Nearly 4yrs since he arrived in snowy UK from the rescue in Gran Canaria, disgusted by the temps+frozen white stuff. He is dead hardy now. Kind of. If he wears his coat & gets cosy afterwards 😄
Good mornin' ☕️ What's Sunday looking like?
Presenting a conference paper online later so having a slow start. Book, bed, brew, and one of those funny moisturising foot pack things that are absolutely lethal if you try to stand or move in them 😅
Presenting a conference paper online later so having a slow start. Book, bed, brew, and one of those funny moisturising foot pack things that are absolutely lethal if you try to stand or move in them 😅
December 8, 2024 at 8:12 AM
Good mornin' ☕️ What's Sunday looking like?
Presenting a conference paper online later so having a slow start. Book, bed, brew, and one of those funny moisturising foot pack things that are absolutely lethal if you try to stand or move in them 😅
Presenting a conference paper online later so having a slow start. Book, bed, brew, and one of those funny moisturising foot pack things that are absolutely lethal if you try to stand or move in them 😅
Spending two days volunteering at our graduation ceremonies at the uni. I love the winter ceremonies🎄 My aim is to be at winter grad for my PhD for festive hat times. In about 1,000 years time (I'm coming to end of yr1 part time).
December 5, 2024 at 8:56 AM
Spending two days volunteering at our graduation ceremonies at the uni. I love the winter ceremonies🎄 My aim is to be at winter grad for my PhD for festive hat times. In about 1,000 years time (I'm coming to end of yr1 part time).
It's lovely! My festive axolotl sends his regards 🎄
November 29, 2024 at 9:07 PM
It's lovely! My festive axolotl sends his regards 🎄
Zorro is very good at relaxing.
November 29, 2024 at 12:00 PM
Zorro is very good at relaxing.
The only time of year when my wardrobe contains colour 😂🎄
[The elf jumper says "Believe in your elf" on the back. I will never apologise for puns.]
[The elf jumper says "Believe in your elf" on the back. I will never apologise for puns.]
November 29, 2024 at 11:24 AM
The only time of year when my wardrobe contains colour 😂🎄
[The elf jumper says "Believe in your elf" on the back. I will never apologise for puns.]
[The elf jumper says "Believe in your elf" on the back. I will never apologise for puns.]
Playing Machinarium again as it is perfect robot-puzzle-calming-music for tired brain. The artwork is so, so lovely.
November 23, 2024 at 8:22 PM
Playing Machinarium again as it is perfect robot-puzzle-calming-music for tired brain. The artwork is so, so lovely.
Festive House of Books & Friends for the Mcr Winter Book Fair ❤️
Bought:
Absorbed - Kylie Whitehead (@deadinkbooks.bsky.social @influxpress.bsky.social)
My Second Home Sylvia Plath in Paris - @davehaslam.bsky.social (Configo)
The Great Orme - @pauldcoombs.bsky.social (@northodoxpress.bsky.social)
Bought:
Absorbed - Kylie Whitehead (@deadinkbooks.bsky.social @influxpress.bsky.social)
My Second Home Sylvia Plath in Paris - @davehaslam.bsky.social (Configo)
The Great Orme - @pauldcoombs.bsky.social (@northodoxpress.bsky.social)
November 23, 2024 at 4:51 PM
Festive House of Books & Friends for the Mcr Winter Book Fair ❤️
Bought:
Absorbed - Kylie Whitehead (@deadinkbooks.bsky.social @influxpress.bsky.social)
My Second Home Sylvia Plath in Paris - @davehaslam.bsky.social (Configo)
The Great Orme - @pauldcoombs.bsky.social (@northodoxpress.bsky.social)
Bought:
Absorbed - Kylie Whitehead (@deadinkbooks.bsky.social @influxpress.bsky.social)
My Second Home Sylvia Plath in Paris - @davehaslam.bsky.social (Configo)
The Great Orme - @pauldcoombs.bsky.social (@northodoxpress.bsky.social)