Ally
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genteelblackhole.bsky.social
Ally
@genteelblackhole.bsky.social
330 followers 91 following 220 posts
Ally (they/he), late 30s, UK. Musician, BookTuber, wheelchair user. Fan of Shakespeare, Pratchett, weird old music, terrible puns and exhaustive lists.

Music here: http://bugprentice.bandcamp.com
BookTube here: https://youtube.com/@genteelblackhole
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genteelblackhole.bsky.social
(Prompted by a first listen to this album, in case you were puzzled.)

#YouFantastic
The album cover of Homesickness by You Fantastic! The artwork shows an orange rotary phone made of painted pieces of cardboard, but with a real cable, on a blue background.
May 30, 2025 at 10:40 PM
genteelblackhole.bsky.social
Took a Stupid Little Walk today. Brought my Good Camera outdoors for the first time. Not bad.

#selfie #selfies #sunshine #beard #glasses #wheelchairuser
Monochrome selfie of Ally, a wheelchair user with a beard and glasses. They're outside in the shade, with brightly-lit trees and bushes in the background. Colour selfie of Ally squinting at the camera, blinded by the sunshine.
April 29, 2025 at 3:20 PM
genteelblackhole.bsky.social
Took another stupid little walk today.
Selfie of Ally, a wheelchair user with glasses and a beard. They’re wearing a red scarf, and a black jacket with a Tardis pin badge on it. In the background are green and red leaves. A row of cars parked under a large tree. The sky is overcast. A brick wall in the sunlight. The bricks are uneven and different sizes. Closeup of a green plant.
April 23, 2025 at 4:25 PM
genteelblackhole.bsky.social
Lopped off a load of hair. That’s a relief!
Selfie of Ally, a wheelchair user with a beard and glasses. They have a freshly shaved undercut. Another of Ally, showing the other side of their freshly shaved undercut.
April 16, 2025 at 4:51 PM
genteelblackhole.bsky.social
Took a stupid little walk for my stupid little brain. Saw a (not stupid) little tree.
Selfie of Ally, a wheelchair user with glasses and a beard. They’re outside, wearing a red hat, a black jacket and a purple jumper. A tree with white flowers blooming
March 24, 2025 at 6:04 PM
genteelblackhole.bsky.social
Time for my next Ibsen play. Will it be another hit? We'll sea.

#CurrentlyReading #Ibsen #HenrikIbsen #TheLadyFromTheSea #BookSky #BookTube
The title page of Henrik Ibsen's The Lady from the Sea: A Play in Five Acts
March 15, 2025 at 7:56 PM
genteelblackhole.bsky.social
Had a productive afternoon recording a new video — including a cameo from the enchanting Tim, during my review of The Farthest Shore.

#dragon #dragons #plushie #selfie #booktube #Earthsea
Photo of Ally, a bearded and bespectacled wheelchair-user, posing with a red plushie dragon called Tim
March 11, 2025 at 8:12 PM
genteelblackhole.bsky.social
Took another stupid little walk for my stupid mental health.
Outdoor selfie of Ally, a bearded, bespectacled wheelchair-user.
March 10, 2025 at 6:49 PM
genteelblackhole.bsky.social
Making a start on The Last Continent, one of only three Discworld books left that I’ve never read. The Rincewind books are by far my least favourite in Discworld, but it’s still nice to read some totally new-to-me Pratchett for the first time in a while.

#Discworld #TerryPratchett #currentlyreading
The Last Continent, by Terry Pratchett — the hardback Collector's Library edition, with a bright orange cover featuring stylised red, black and white artwork depicting Rincewind and the Luggage, with a kangaroo in the background.
March 7, 2025 at 4:35 PM
genteelblackhole.bsky.social
Had a productive afternoon. The January reading wrap-up video is finally on the way. (Once I’ve edited it.)
March 6, 2025 at 8:22 PM
genteelblackhole.bsky.social
Time for me to chekhout some more Chekhov!

#books #reading #currentlyreading #BookTube #Booksky #AntonChekhov #ThreeSisters
The title page of Three Sisters: A Drama in Four Acts
March 3, 2025 at 4:24 PM
genteelblackhole.bsky.social
This morning I finished a reread of Agatha Christie’s ABC Murders. Next reread: The Farthest Shore, by Ursula K. Le Guin. Nice to always have something familiar on the go.

#currentlyreading #TheFarthestShore #Earthsea #UrsulaKLeGuin #booksky #booktube
Folio Society edition of The Farthest Shore, by Ursula K. Le Guin, held in my right hand. The cover depicts a dragon looming over two men in a boat, with reflective gold smoke coming from its nostrils. The spine of The Farthest Shore by Ursula K. Le Guin. The title is the same reflective gold as the dragon’s smoke on the front, while the author name is in white underneath.
February 7, 2025 at 5:27 PM
genteelblackhole.bsky.social
This morning I made a start on this absolute chonkster! I may be some time…

#Tolstoy #AnnaKarenina #currentlyreading #books #booksky #booktube
Penguin Classics edition of Leo Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina, held in my right hand The same book, now held at an angle to show how chunky it is — VERY!
February 4, 2025 at 6:00 PM
genteelblackhole.bsky.social
This morning I finished reading Henrik Ibsen’s Rosmersholm. Hmm. It’s taking me a while to decide what I thought of this one.
The title page of Rosmersholm: A Play in Four Acts, by Henrik Ibsen
February 3, 2025 at 9:10 PM
genteelblackhole.bsky.social
Another classic play from my reading list that I’ve decided it’s time to Check Off.
The title page of Uncle Vanya: Scenes from Country Life in Four Acts, by Anton Chekhov.
January 25, 2025 at 8:13 PM
genteelblackhole.bsky.social
First stupid little walk of the stupid little year.
Ally, a wheelchair user with glasses and a beard, pictured outside. They’re wearing a red hat and red scarf.
January 14, 2025 at 5:08 PM
genteelblackhole.bsky.social
Time for my seasonal reread of Hogfather.

#TerryPratchett #Discworld #reading #books #BookTube
Hardback copy of Terry Pratchett’s Hogfather. The cover features seasonal ornaments which, when viewed together, form the shape of a skull — baubles for the eye sockets and nose, candles for the teeth.
December 13, 2024 at 12:47 PM
genteelblackhole.bsky.social
Took a stupid little walk to post some stupid little cards.
Selfie of Ally, a wheelchair user with beard and glasses. They’re wearing a dark red hat, a bright red scarf, and their jacket has a Tardis enamel pin badge in bi flag colours.
December 9, 2024 at 3:45 PM
genteelblackhole.bsky.social
Added a couple more books to the TBR pile. One of them is considerably chonkier than the other! (Thanks to @martinezra.bsky.social for recommending Scoop.)
December 4, 2024 at 5:55 PM
genteelblackhole.bsky.social
What am I thinking about? Taking more pretentious selfies, mostly.
Photo of Ally, a wheelchair user with beard and glasses, resting their chin on their fist. They're looking off to one side as if in deep thought.
December 2, 2024 at 7:46 PM
genteelblackhole.bsky.social
I had a productive afternoon of #BookTube recording. The talking points had been bouncing around my cranium for days, so it was a relief to vent them. Hopefully it’ll edit into a decent (if rambly) video too.
Screenshot from Final Cut Pro, showing Ally (a wheelchair user with beard and glasses) in their living room. Their bookcase is in the background. The title of the video being edited is ‘How to Get Into Reading’.
December 1, 2024 at 8:18 PM
genteelblackhole.bsky.social
Turned out nice again!
Black and white shot of raindrops on a window
November 24, 2024 at 2:42 PM
genteelblackhole.bsky.social
Just thinking about books and stuff...
Black and white shot of Ally, a person with a beard and glasses, resting their chin on their hand, looking off into the distance.
November 22, 2024 at 8:09 PM
genteelblackhole.bsky.social
Track 11: 'Somebody Up There Likes Me', the final track, is an instrumental piece inspired by by Kurt Vonnegut's The Sirens of Titan. Possibly the closest I've gotten to sounding like Papa M. A snippet of this song is now the theme tune for my #BookTube channel.
(12/12)
Black and white photo of Kurt Vonnegut, smoking, at a typewriter. His shirt has been edited, replaced with a colour image of a nebula.
November 19, 2024 at 3:44 PM
genteelblackhole.bsky.social
Track 10: 'I Don't Like John Wayne'... Do I really need to explain what this is about? Musically I was going for an R.E.M. / Soft Boys jangly indie thing. Lyrically, it's a tribute to some of my favourite old Hollywood stars... except one! Okay, maybe two, if you wait for the last line.
(11/12)
Black and white photo of John Wayne in a stetson. His face has been edited, replaced with a colour image of a nebula.
November 19, 2024 at 3:44 PM