I went to bed smiling, I slept smiling, I woke up smiling. It was dour, muddy, scrappy but utterly magical #COYS

From our trip to Venice last week. Just a higher shutter speed away from being a decent photo. Next time…

When you’ve read a book twice on your kindle, have loved every page, and decide you need a real copy for the next reading.

Maybe not so modern. My O Level text book in 1976. Introduced at an early age to Hemingway, Lawrence, Fitzgerald, Faulkner and lots of great white writers (and drinkers). We’ve moved on in terms of inclusion of race, gender and sexuality, but nonetheless an early immersion into some fine writing.

My next neglected book, inspired by a comment by Sam on the latest @acrossthepondbooks.bsky.social podcast. I’ve had this on the shelf since c. 1992

I’m looking for a better balance of new books / rereading favourites / neglected books from the shelf this year.

The perfect length for a side of vinyl?
This sounds so dynamic - and is my favourite non jazz record of the year
But still not sure about coloured vinyl. I know black vinyl is coloured but it just looks better IMO

Is there a right time to give up on a book? I’m 140 pages into this and not getting much from the experience.

I’m very aware that sometimes I only realise how good a book was once I’ve finished it.

Having been guilty for many years of buying more books than I can read, an early resolution for 2025 is to try to read a neglected purchase for every two new books. To begin, Paul Auster’s New York Trilogy bought, according to the receipt still inside, in 1993 #books #booksky