Holly Smith
@hsmithwrites.bsky.social
Editor-in-chief, Washington Independent Review of Books. Loser-in-chief, "Jeopardy!" season 39. "It's such a fine line between stupid and clever."
Reposted by Holly Smith
An Interview with Melanie D.G. Kaplan. www.washingtonindependentreviewofbooks.com/features/an-... @melaniedgkaplan.bsky.social #booksky
November 11, 2025 at 5:25 PM
An Interview with Melanie D.G. Kaplan. www.washingtonindependentreviewofbooks.com/features/an-... @melaniedgkaplan.bsky.social #booksky
Reposted by Holly Smith
Think about buying a car, a fun, stress-free negotiating process that everybody loves. Now imagine that if you don’t buy a car you die and if you buy the wrong car you also die
Trump: "I want the money to go into an account for people where they buy their own health insurance. It's so good. The insurance will be better. It'll cost less. Everybody is gonna be happy. They're gonna feel like entrepreneurs. They're actually able to go out & negotiate their own insurance"
November 11, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Think about buying a car, a fun, stress-free negotiating process that everybody loves. Now imagine that if you don’t buy a car you die and if you buy the wrong car you also die
Reposted by Holly Smith
This review! “Happy people really don’t live here. Sorrow floats above them like the cemetery ghosts, unmoored and occasionally angry, everything framed within a madcap murder mystery…Sparks is a clever writer who has, by melding conventions from several genres, created a perfect hybrid”
The bighearted ghost story you didn’t know you needed. www.washingtonindependentreviewofbooks.com/bookreview/h... @liveright.bsky.social @ambersparks.bsky.social @keithdonohue.bsky.social #booksky
Happy People Don’t Live Here: A Novel | Washington Independent Review of Books
The Independent is an important voice in the community of readers and writers dedicated to book reviews and writing about the world of books.
www.washingtonindependentreviewofbooks.com
November 11, 2025 at 12:28 PM
This review! “Happy people really don’t live here. Sorrow floats above them like the cemetery ghosts, unmoored and occasionally angry, everything framed within a madcap murder mystery…Sparks is a clever writer who has, by melding conventions from several genres, created a perfect hybrid”
Reposted by Holly Smith
Idiom Origin
“pull yourself up by your bootstraps”
This was originally *sarcasm* & meant to convey that the act was impossible.
A boot strap is a loop used to help put your boot on.
This 1921 cartoon from the “Nonpartisan Leader” showcases that you can’t pull upward on your boots to levitate.
“pull yourself up by your bootstraps”
This was originally *sarcasm* & meant to convey that the act was impossible.
A boot strap is a loop used to help put your boot on.
This 1921 cartoon from the “Nonpartisan Leader” showcases that you can’t pull upward on your boots to levitate.
January 20, 2025 at 10:44 PM
Idiom Origin
“pull yourself up by your bootstraps”
This was originally *sarcasm* & meant to convey that the act was impossible.
A boot strap is a loop used to help put your boot on.
This 1921 cartoon from the “Nonpartisan Leader” showcases that you can’t pull upward on your boots to levitate.
“pull yourself up by your bootstraps”
This was originally *sarcasm* & meant to convey that the act was impossible.
A boot strap is a loop used to help put your boot on.
This 1921 cartoon from the “Nonpartisan Leader” showcases that you can’t pull upward on your boots to levitate.
Today's "No-Pressure Reading Recommendation" to my students...
November 11, 2025 at 12:04 PM
Today's "No-Pressure Reading Recommendation" to my students...
Reposted by Holly Smith
The bighearted ghost story you didn’t know you needed. www.washingtonindependentreviewofbooks.com/bookreview/h... @liveright.bsky.social @ambersparks.bsky.social @keithdonohue.bsky.social #booksky
Happy People Don’t Live Here: A Novel | Washington Independent Review of Books
The Independent is an important voice in the community of readers and writers dedicated to book reviews and writing about the world of books.
www.washingtonindependentreviewofbooks.com
November 11, 2025 at 11:21 AM
The bighearted ghost story you didn’t know you needed. www.washingtonindependentreviewofbooks.com/bookreview/h... @liveright.bsky.social @ambersparks.bsky.social @keithdonohue.bsky.social #booksky
Reposted by Holly Smith
How the Potomac helps tell the story of DC. www.washingtonindependentreviewofbooks.com/features/our... @theinnerlooplit.bsky.social #booksky
November 10, 2025 at 5:13 PM
How the Potomac helps tell the story of DC. www.washingtonindependentreviewofbooks.com/features/our... @theinnerlooplit.bsky.social #booksky
Reposted by Holly Smith
New: The Supreme Court DENIES Kim Davis' request to overturn Obergefell, the marriage equality decision. No noted dissents. www.supremecourt.gov/orders/court...
November 10, 2025 at 2:31 PM
New: The Supreme Court DENIES Kim Davis' request to overturn Obergefell, the marriage equality decision. No noted dissents. www.supremecourt.gov/orders/court...
Reposted by Holly Smith
How. In. The. World. Does. A. Senator. Go. On. National. Television. And. Say. This.
November 10, 2025 at 2:09 PM
How. In. The. World. Does. A. Senator. Go. On. National. Television. And. Say. This.
Reposted by Holly Smith
The esteemed South Carolina lawmaker honors his predecessors. www.washingtonindependentreviewofbooks.com/bookreview/t... @littlebrown.bsky.social @repjamesclyburn.bsky.social #booksky
The First Eight: A Personal History of the Pioneering Black Congressmen Who Shaped a Nation | Washington Independent Review of Books
The Independent is an important voice in the community of readers and writers dedicated to book reviews and writing about the world of books.
www.washingtonindependentreviewofbooks.com
November 10, 2025 at 11:24 AM
The esteemed South Carolina lawmaker honors his predecessors. www.washingtonindependentreviewofbooks.com/bookreview/t... @littlebrown.bsky.social @repjamesclyburn.bsky.social #booksky
Reposted by Holly Smith
Schumer says he's a NO on this deal, slamming Republicans for refusing an ACA funding extension.
"Because of Republicans, Americans are going to suffer immensely as this health care crisis gets worse," he said. "Therefore, I must vote no."
He vows to bring this fight to 2026 midterms.
"Because of Republicans, Americans are going to suffer immensely as this health care crisis gets worse," he said. "Therefore, I must vote no."
He vows to bring this fight to 2026 midterms.
November 10, 2025 at 1:24 AM
Schumer says he's a NO on this deal, slamming Republicans for refusing an ACA funding extension.
"Because of Republicans, Americans are going to suffer immensely as this health care crisis gets worse," he said. "Therefore, I must vote no."
He vows to bring this fight to 2026 midterms.
"Because of Republicans, Americans are going to suffer immensely as this health care crisis gets worse," he said. "Therefore, I must vote no."
He vows to bring this fight to 2026 midterms.
Reposted by Holly Smith
I’ve voted 7 times to reopen the government in a way that holds Trump accountable for his lawlessness and prevents a health care crisis.
I’m prepared to work toward a compromise, but this “deal” before us does not come close to meeting those terms. Voting NO.
Full statement:
I’m prepared to work toward a compromise, but this “deal” before us does not come close to meeting those terms. Voting NO.
Full statement:
November 10, 2025 at 12:48 AM
I’ve voted 7 times to reopen the government in a way that holds Trump accountable for his lawlessness and prevents a health care crisis.
I’m prepared to work toward a compromise, but this “deal” before us does not come close to meeting those terms. Voting NO.
Full statement:
I’m prepared to work toward a compromise, but this “deal” before us does not come close to meeting those terms. Voting NO.
Full statement:
Reposted by Holly Smith
Keep up the pressure folks. The folders are getting screamed at and realizing there won't be a shred of cover.
Whats interesting is how Slotkin was involved early on but not at the end
November 9, 2025 at 11:26 PM
Keep up the pressure folks. The folders are getting screamed at and realizing there won't be a shred of cover.
Reposted by Holly Smith
Trump at the Commanders game:
November 9, 2025 at 11:47 PM
Trump at the Commanders game:
Et tu, Commanders?
As the Senate moves toward a possibly crucial vote on reopening the government, Trump is at the Commanders-Lions game over in Maryland. House Speaker Mike Johnson is with him, along with several Cabinet secretaries. They just had an Air Force One flyover.
November 9, 2025 at 10:22 PM
Et tu, Commanders?
Reposted by Holly Smith
Reposted by Holly Smith
Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (N.H.)
Maggie Hassan (N.H.)
Sens. Jacky Rosen (Nev.),
Tammy Baldwin (Wis.), Mark Kelly (Ariz.),
Jon Ossoff (Ga.),
Gary Peters (Mich.) Dick Durbin (Ill.)
the Democrats who are are considered by R's as possible “yes” votes for the deal.
Maggie Hassan (N.H.)
Sens. Jacky Rosen (Nev.),
Tammy Baldwin (Wis.), Mark Kelly (Ariz.),
Jon Ossoff (Ga.),
Gary Peters (Mich.) Dick Durbin (Ill.)
the Democrats who are are considered by R's as possible “yes” votes for the deal.
Call the United States Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and they will connect you with your senator's office.
If you're represented by one of the squishier centrists, be sure to make a call. Now.
If you're represented by one of the squishier centrists, be sure to make a call. Now.
Sounds like the squishes in the senate caucus are ready to pull the plug with no ACA changes. This is real. If you want to register your opinion you shld call yr senator in the next hour. They not only want to reopen w/nothing. They want cover from their colleagues who still want to hold out.
November 9, 2025 at 9:51 PM
Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (N.H.)
Maggie Hassan (N.H.)
Sens. Jacky Rosen (Nev.),
Tammy Baldwin (Wis.), Mark Kelly (Ariz.),
Jon Ossoff (Ga.),
Gary Peters (Mich.) Dick Durbin (Ill.)
the Democrats who are are considered by R's as possible “yes” votes for the deal.
Maggie Hassan (N.H.)
Sens. Jacky Rosen (Nev.),
Tammy Baldwin (Wis.), Mark Kelly (Ariz.),
Jon Ossoff (Ga.),
Gary Peters (Mich.) Dick Durbin (Ill.)
the Democrats who are are considered by R's as possible “yes” votes for the deal.
Reposted by Holly Smith
We've got 3 featured books set for the @barrelhouse.bsky.social conference in DC on 4/18/26! For $95 you get the full day conference, a 10 minute 1-on-1 meeting with an editor, your choice of featured book, and more lit swag from our partner presses. A good deal! www.barrelhousemag.com/conference
The Barrelhouse Conference: Conversations and Connections, Practical Advice on Writing — Barrelhouse
Conversations and Connections is a one-day conference organized by Barrelhouse in person at American University in Washington, DC on April 18, 2026.
www.barrelhousemag.com
November 9, 2025 at 4:02 PM
We've got 3 featured books set for the @barrelhouse.bsky.social conference in DC on 4/18/26! For $95 you get the full day conference, a 10 minute 1-on-1 meeting with an editor, your choice of featured book, and more lit swag from our partner presses. A good deal! www.barrelhousemag.com/conference
Reposted by Holly Smith
The president is desperate to make sure Americans go hungry.
Seems like a pretty big news story? Especially as he's throwing massive parties for himself and building a giant golden ballroom?
If the media or Democrats are looking for a "kitchen table" issue, this seems like a *pretty* good fit
Seems like a pretty big news story? Especially as he's throwing massive parties for himself and building a giant golden ballroom?
If the media or Democrats are looking for a "kitchen table" issue, this seems like a *pretty* good fit
Donald Trump has asked his employees on the Supreme Court to overrule lower court orders demanding that he fulfill his duties to feed Americans who are due SNAP benefits
AND
He's demanding that states which just rushed to fill the vacuum created by his cruelty "undo" that work.
AND
He's demanding that states which just rushed to fill the vacuum created by his cruelty "undo" that work.
NEW: The Trump admin told states it must immediately "undo" the work to provide full food stamp benefits, or face penalties. The feds sent this in a late-night memo, only adding to the chaos and confusion around SNAP. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/09/b...
November 9, 2025 at 3:27 PM
The president is desperate to make sure Americans go hungry.
Seems like a pretty big news story? Especially as he's throwing massive parties for himself and building a giant golden ballroom?
If the media or Democrats are looking for a "kitchen table" issue, this seems like a *pretty* good fit
Seems like a pretty big news story? Especially as he's throwing massive parties for himself and building a giant golden ballroom?
If the media or Democrats are looking for a "kitchen table" issue, this seems like a *pretty* good fit
Reposted by Holly Smith
Something is going on over there this morning.
November 9, 2025 at 2:29 PM
Something is going on over there this morning.
Reposted by Holly Smith
A peek at what's on tap this week! www.washingtonindependentreviewofbooks.com/features/a-l... #booksky
November 9, 2025 at 2:45 PM
A peek at what's on tap this week! www.washingtonindependentreviewofbooks.com/features/a-l... #booksky
One of my all-time favorites from @theonion.com... #caturday
November 8, 2025 at 4:52 PM
One of my all-time favorites from @theonion.com... #caturday
Reposted by Holly Smith
Reposted by Holly Smith
Our Week in Reviews: 11/8/25. www.washingtonindependentreviewofbooks.com/features/our... @fsgbooks.bsky.social @coffeehousepress.bsky.social @groveatlantic.bsky.social #booksky
November 8, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Reposted by Holly Smith
HAPPY FOUR SEASONS TOTAL LANDSCAPING DAY TO ALL WHO CELEBRATE
November 7, 2025 at 6:44 PM
HAPPY FOUR SEASONS TOTAL LANDSCAPING DAY TO ALL WHO CELEBRATE