Hermione Jane Middleton
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Hermione Jane Middleton
@cloverandquill.bsky.social
45 followers 23 following 39 posts
Part-time librarian’s assistant, full-time bookworm 📚🐾 Lover of cats, coffee, and classic novels. When I’m not in the stacks, I’m in my allotment, coaxing veggies to grow (with mixed success). 🌱📖💭 #BookishLife”
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Easter holiday goals: read lots 📚, show library restraint 😅, knitting and sewing.
TBR: Middlemarch, Didion, Plath, O’Brien.
Plus trips to Cromford Mills, Buxton & bookshops!
#SpringReads #CurrentlyReading #Bibliophile #AllotmentLife
This photograph shows four books arranged on a peachy-orange fabric with black polka dots. The books are placed in a casual arrangement on the slightly wrinkled fabric. On the left side, two books are standing vertically next to each other: "Country Girls" by Edna O'Brien in a mint green spine with yellow lettering, and "The Journals of Sylvia Plath" edited by Karen V. Kukil in a teal blue spine. To the right are two books laying flat: "Play It As It Lays" by Joan Didion with a black and white photograph on its cover showing a woman and man at what appears to be a laboratory table, and below it is a dusty pink edition of "Middlemarch" by George Eliot with decorative oval cameo portraits on the cover. All books except the Middlemarch edition have library identification labels on their spines. The collection features notable female authors spanning different literary periods. The polka dot background provides a warm contrast to the book covers.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
April 5, 2025 at 8:44 PM
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Book purchase of the month: Play It As It Lays.

Joan Didion’s confessional style is unmatched. The Year of Magical Thinking is my favorite—precise and deeply moving. Excited to explore her fiction!

Where should I start?

#JoanDidion #PlayItAsItLays #LiteraryFiction #WomenWriters #CurrentlyReading
A cup of milky tea in a glass mug with a gold handle sits on a white marble surface. Next to it, a vintage floral plate holds a slice of cake topped with whipped cream and two round biscuits with an embossed design. Beside the plate is a copy of Play It As It Lays by Joan Didion, featuring a black-and-white cover image of two people playing chess.
March 26, 2025 at 5:22 PM
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This is Pleasure – Mary Gaitskill

A sharp, unsettling look at consent, power & perception. Quinn, a publisher, is accused of harassment; Margot, his friend, reflects on his behavior. Gaitskill’s unsentimental style makes this a thought provoking read. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#MaryGaitskill #ThisIsPleasure #LitFic
This image shows a cozy café setting with a round wooden table bathed in warm sunlight. On the table, there’s a copy of This Is Pleasure by Mary Gaitskill, its minimalist cream-colored cover featuring abstract line drawings of faces and lips in black and pink. The book is placed near the top left of the table. Beside the book, to the right, is a cup of matcha latte in a ceramic mug, topped with delicate heart-shaped latte art. Below the book and latte, a golden-brown croissant is placed on a plate lined with branded parchment paper reading “Sonder.” The croissant is topped with vibrant green pistachio cream and crushed pistachios, giving it a textured appearance. A silver fork rests on the plate. To the right of the latte, a textured, round, earth-toned object with a hollow opening sits on the table, possibly a decorative lamp or sculpture. In the bottom left corner of the image, part of a yellow gingham fabric—likely a skirt or dress—is visible, adding a soft contrast to the warm wooden tones of the table. The overall aesthetic is warm, inviting, and thoughtfully arranged.
March 8, 2025 at 7:28 PM
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They say you find the right book when you need it. I’ve finally read James Baldwin’s No Name in the Streets—his insight, empathy, and righteous anger are unmatched. His words make me believe things can get better—somehow. #JamesBaldwin #NoNameInTheStreets #Literature #Books #Hope
February 24, 2025 at 9:58 PM
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Wrapped tulips bringing spring while waiting for our allotment blooms 🌷

Perfect pairing with @porterhilltea's Earl of Colne Valley (that afternoon slump savior) and diving into Norah Lofts' Lady Living Alone📚

Support your local tea merchants, friends! ✨

#TeaAndBooks #ShopLocal​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
February 22, 2025 at 8:55 PM
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Feels like the first morning of spring. The warmth of the sunlight on my skin streaming through the living room window and I’m nursing a lovely cup of coffee.

#butfirstcoffee #morningslikethese #lightandshade #coffeeandbooks
February 22, 2025 at 1:54 PM
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When you have 36 hours to your book club and have 130 pages to read.

#bookclubproblems #panicreading
a woman is crying while holding a piece of paper and making a funny face .
ALT: a woman is crying while holding a piece of paper and making a funny face .
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February 20, 2025 at 11:00 AM
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After a busy term, I’m recharging this week! Plans include reading (Moon Tiger, White Teeth, The Night Watch & more), my first book club (pencils & post-its ready!), knitting a pixie balaclava for the allotment, visiting the Miffy exhibition & prepping for spring! 🌱📚🧶 #BookishLife #SpringVibes
February 14, 2025 at 8:29 PM
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A big thank you to @bbcradio4.bsky.social for this week’s deeply nauseating sewage storyline in The Archers, perfectly timed for supper. Truly, a public service. #TheArchers #RadioDrama #SewageWithYourSupper
a man with glasses says that makes me want to throw up in a car
ALT: a man with glasses says that makes me want to throw up in a car
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February 13, 2025 at 7:49 PM
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New book club reads have arrived! Time to dive into some literary brilliance (and probably some strong opinions at the next meeting). Let the page-turning commence! 📚✨ #BookClub #NewReads
A warm, bookish flat lay on a wooden table. Two paperback books are placed diagonally—I, Claudius by Samuel Richardson, featuring a classical painting of a reclining woman on the cover, and Moon Tiger by Penelope Lively, with a moody, shadowed image of a woman lying down. A small bundle of dried flowers with soft beige and orange hues rests nearby. To the right, a box of Yorkshire shortbread biscuits with a decorative, vintage-inspired design adds a cozy touch. At the bottom, a glass mug filled with creamy tea or coffee completes the inviting scene.
February 12, 2025 at 6:35 PM
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Had a wonderful time seeing Wuthering Heights by Andrea Arnold at National Science and Media Museum. She captures the novel’s raw cruelty. Loved the shots of the landscape and wildlife. Seeing it on 35mm was a real treat. #WutheringHeights #AndreaArnold #Filmadaptation
February 9, 2025 at 10:17 PM
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As an avid reader I always have an interior monologue in my head saying I feel so like X character at the moment or this reminds of the part in Y book. Cue a smug grin on my face and air of intellectual superiority . Bonus points if the novel is published in Penguin Classics.
a brown and white dog is sitting on a couch looking at the camera .
ALT: a brown and white dog is sitting on a couch looking at the camera .
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February 8, 2025 at 1:03 PM
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Librarian’s Uniform

Cosy cardigan ✔️
High neck blouse ✔️
Opaque tights ✔️
Vintage style brogues ✔️
Book to read on break ✔️
Pen tucked into hair bun that you always forget about ✔️

#LibrarianChic #CardiganLife #WhereDidIPutThatPen #ProfessionalShusher #BookishAndProud #CozyAcademia #QuietlyFashionable
January 29, 2025 at 9:40 PM
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How pleasing that Barbara Pym’s diaries smell of a church vestry—so appropriate and lovely. There’s something so comforting about the smell of old books, isn’t there? 📚✨ #BarbaraPym #BookLovers #Nostalgia”
January 19, 2025 at 4:14 PM
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Love these books from Penguin. I’m trying to read more as I’m travelling, and these charming books are perfect to dip in and out of. Trying to read more American and classic fiction, hence the authors selected.

#PenguinBooks #ClassicFiction #AmReading #TravelReads #BookTwitter #LiteratureLovers
January 18, 2025 at 8:25 PM
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Burroughs and his cat teaming up to radiate peak ‘leave me alone’ energy. #BadMoodDay #CatsAreSuperior #WilliamSBurroughs #GingerCat #LiteraryMood”
The image features William S. Burroughs, a renowned author, seated with a serious, almost grumpy expression on his face. He’s dressed in formal attire with a hat, giving off an intense, intellectual vibe. Next to him is a ginger cat, sitting upright and staring directly at the camera with a calm yet slightly judgmental look. The contrast between Burroughs’ brooding demeanor and the cat’s composed presence creates a humorous and surreal scene. The background is neutral, keeping the focus entirely on the unlikely pair.
January 17, 2025 at 7:02 PM
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Donna Tartt’s style feels like a whisper from another world—like she could stroll straight out of Twin Peaks with a book in hand and secrets in her pocket. 🌲📖✨☕

#DonnaTartt 🖤📚 #TwinPeaksVibes 🌌🌲 #LiteraryMystique ✍️🔮 #EnigmaticFashion 👓🖋️ #DreamlikeElegance 🌟🪞 #TimelessChic 🎩🕰️
A vintage color photograph of Donna Tartt posing with a man outdoors. The man wears a three-piece suit, striped tie, and sunglasses, while Donna is dressed in a school-inspired outfit with a red blazer, navy skirt, and a large bow around her neck. She has a ribbon with the letter “M” pinned to her blazer and smiles brightly. The setting includes leafy trees in the background. A black-and-white portrait of Donna Tartt standing in a wooded area with bare trees. She wears a tailored, double-breasted jacket over a patterned scarf, her arms crossed. Her expression is serious and introspective, giving the photo an elegant, moody atmosphere. A close-up color photograph of Donna Tartt wearing a leopard-print beret and matching gloves. She has dark hair, a confident expression, and holds a cigarette in one gloved hand. The background is softly blurred, emphasizing her bold and striking style.
January 15, 2025 at 7:13 PM
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Braved icy pavements and sub-zero temps ❄️ but ready for a cosy weekend with books! 📚 Diving into Joan Didion’s Slouching Towards Bethlehem (sunny 1960s California 🌴) and Sally Rooney’s Intermezzo. Perfect escape from the Yorkshire chill! #Books #WeekendReading #TBRpile
A cozy flat-lay on a wooden table featuring two books, a notebook, a mug of whipped cream-topped hot chocolate, and a slice of cake. The books are “Intermezzo” by Sally Rooney with a bold blue and black cover, and “Slouching Towards Bethlehem” by Joan Didion with a monochrome photograph of the author. A green floral-patterned notebook with a pink pencil lies beneath the books. To the right, there is a slice of chocolate cake with white frosting on a vintage floral-patterned plate, alongside a white mug with colorful sprinkles on the whipped cream. The setup exudes a warm and relaxing reading atmosphere.
January 11, 2025 at 3:59 PM
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“Excited to watch Andrea Arnold’s Wuthering Heights in the cinema - it captures the raw, untamed spirit of the novel. Wild landscapes, fierce emotions, quiet intensity—mesmerizing. 🌿✨ A bold, visceral take on a classic.

#WutheringHeights #AndreaArnold #EmilyBronte #FilmAdaptations 🎥📚”
A promotional image for a 35mm screening of Wuthering Heights (2011) by Andrea Arnold, scheduled for February 5, 2025, as part of Bradford 2025: UK City of Culture. The image shows a windswept young woman in a period dress standing in a misty, rugged moorland setting. Text reads: “Andrea Arnold’s elemental take on Emily Brontë’s masterful novel.” A “Tickets” button is visible at the bottom.
January 3, 2025 at 8:30 PM
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Starting 2025 with a classic: Middlemarch by George Eliot. 📚✨

This year, I’m diving into more timeless reads—stories that remind us of life’s universal truths. What’s your first book of the year?

#Middlemarch #GeorgeEliot #ReadingGoals #Classics #2025Reads #BookTwitter
A hardcover edition of Middlemarch by George Eliot, featuring a vintage-style pink cover with white cameo silhouettes in an ornate pattern, rests on a wooden shelf. To the left is a delicate white bowl decorated with green leaves and orange accents, and to the right is a printed artwork of a Virginia Woolf reclining on an orange armchair knitting, adding a cozy and artistic touch to the scene. Portrait by her sister Vanessa Bell.
January 3, 2025 at 8:15 PM