Brendan McKenico
@mckenico.bsky.social
Photography, books, old TV, film, Golden Retriever/Russian Blue, LGBTQ+, cooking, Doctor Who…
The Safekeep is possibly my favourite read this year so far. I will read it again in the future. I will be purchasing my own copy to keep on my bookcase.
November 2, 2025 at 3:55 PM
The Safekeep is possibly my favourite read this year so far. I will read it again in the future. I will be purchasing my own copy to keep on my bookcase.
October reading came in the form of books shared with me by friends. Each copy belongs to someone else who wanted to share these stories with me for the purpose of us being able to talk about them when we next meet.
November 2, 2025 at 3:55 PM
October reading came in the form of books shared with me by friends. Each copy belongs to someone else who wanted to share these stories with me for the purpose of us being able to talk about them when we next meet.
Started #ObjectZ a couple of nights ago. Binged the final 4 episodes tonight. Very watchable and surprisingly pacy for 60s TV. Had never heard of it until I saw posts about the BFI release. Lots to enjoy and lots of familiar faces to spot. Highly recommended.
October 24, 2025 at 8:52 PM
Started #ObjectZ a couple of nights ago. Binged the final 4 episodes tonight. Very watchable and surprisingly pacy for 60s TV. Had never heard of it until I saw posts about the BFI release. Lots to enjoy and lots of familiar faces to spot. Highly recommended.
I had read The Bell Jar 25 years ago but it felt just as fresh. Reading it at this stage in my life made me think about aspects that didn’t register when I was younger. Glad I revisited it.
September 30, 2025 at 6:05 PM
I had read The Bell Jar 25 years ago but it felt just as fresh. Reading it at this stage in my life made me think about aspects that didn’t register when I was younger. Glad I revisited it.
My favourite podcast is back! Doctor Who: The Missing Episodes Podcast with Tim has a new episode on Patreon. If missing episodes of old TV or Doctor Who in general are your thing then this podcast will tick all the boxes. If you don’t like such things…then may Amdo engulf you!
September 28, 2025 at 3:26 PM
My favourite podcast is back! Doctor Who: The Missing Episodes Podcast with Tim has a new episode on Patreon. If missing episodes of old TV or Doctor Who in general are your thing then this podcast will tick all the boxes. If you don’t like such things…then may Amdo engulf you!
This book was my choice for a campus book group at work. Feeling pleased with my choice as it is a book that raises so many questions, frustrations, talking points and ‘oh my god!’ moments. The group meets the first Monday in October. I’ll post a summary of that once it has taken place.
September 14, 2025 at 12:52 PM
This book was my choice for a campus book group at work. Feeling pleased with my choice as it is a book that raises so many questions, frustrations, talking points and ‘oh my god!’ moments. The group meets the first Monday in October. I’ll post a summary of that once it has taken place.
Started Scarlett Thomas’ The Sleepwalkers this morning. Instantly grabbed by the contents page; very curious about what’s to come. The opening gave me a “Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again…” feeling. Frustratingly, I need to go to work and can’t stay home and read!
September 1, 2025 at 6:26 AM
Started Scarlett Thomas’ The Sleepwalkers this morning. Instantly grabbed by the contents page; very curious about what’s to come. The opening gave me a “Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again…” feeling. Frustratingly, I need to go to work and can’t stay home and read!
August reading stack with the stand out being Panda’s Fen: Scene by Scene. I deliberately slowed down my reading pace to absorb the incredible level of research undertaken by the author. The definitive deep dive companion text to the BFI Blu-ray. Such a rich text. Fabulous. @greavesian.bsky.social
August 31, 2025 at 2:58 PM
August reading stack with the stand out being Panda’s Fen: Scene by Scene. I deliberately slowed down my reading pace to absorb the incredible level of research undertaken by the author. The definitive deep dive companion text to the BFI Blu-ray. Such a rich text. Fabulous. @greavesian.bsky.social
Finished the ironing. Thinking about work. About to get ready to take Eric a walk when I took a beat to read a random poem from The Poetry Pharmacy. Was the universe sending a message? Golden Retrievals and being in the moment. Tomorrow isn’t here yet. Experience now. Lessons from Golden Retrievers.
August 17, 2025 at 7:56 AM
Finished the ironing. Thinking about work. About to get ready to take Eric a walk when I took a beat to read a random poem from The Poetry Pharmacy. Was the universe sending a message? Golden Retrievals and being in the moment. Tomorrow isn’t here yet. Experience now. Lessons from Golden Retrievers.
Came home to book delivery.
Discovered Panda’s Fen last month via the BFI release. I’m now obsessed and had to buy this @tenacrefilms.bsky.social book.
Excited to read this prequel to the DW story ‘Inferno’. UK Gold nightly broadcasts in 1993 captured my imagination. @cutawaycomics.bsky.social
Discovered Panda’s Fen last month via the BFI release. I’m now obsessed and had to buy this @tenacrefilms.bsky.social book.
Excited to read this prequel to the DW story ‘Inferno’. UK Gold nightly broadcasts in 1993 captured my imagination. @cutawaycomics.bsky.social
August 15, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Came home to book delivery.
Discovered Panda’s Fen last month via the BFI release. I’m now obsessed and had to buy this @tenacrefilms.bsky.social book.
Excited to read this prequel to the DW story ‘Inferno’. UK Gold nightly broadcasts in 1993 captured my imagination. @cutawaycomics.bsky.social
Discovered Panda’s Fen last month via the BFI release. I’m now obsessed and had to buy this @tenacrefilms.bsky.social book.
Excited to read this prequel to the DW story ‘Inferno’. UK Gold nightly broadcasts in 1993 captured my imagination. @cutawaycomics.bsky.social
This months reading stack. The Quatermass Experiment book stood out. The depth of research and style of writing was most satisfying. Will be looking out my DVD to rewatch the first two episodes. Also planning to seek out the film (s) and the 2005 remake. I want more Quatermass Experiment!
August 3, 2025 at 3:24 PM
This months reading stack. The Quatermass Experiment book stood out. The depth of research and style of writing was most satisfying. Will be looking out my DVD to rewatch the first two episodes. Also planning to seek out the film (s) and the 2005 remake. I want more Quatermass Experiment!
A third of the way through and I am not disappointed. I have appreciation for the process of bringing TQE to TV in 1953 but it’s more than that. The small chapter on those sharing the name Quatermass was unexpectedly intriguing. @tobyhadoke.bsky.social’s writing gives life and warmth to the facts.
July 29, 2025 at 7:11 AM
A third of the way through and I am not disappointed. I have appreciation for the process of bringing TQE to TV in 1953 but it’s more than that. The small chapter on those sharing the name Quatermass was unexpectedly intriguing. @tobyhadoke.bsky.social’s writing gives life and warmth to the facts.
Should anyone be keeping track, I have copy 174 of 250.
July 25, 2025 at 12:58 PM
Should anyone be keeping track, I have copy 174 of 250.
Next up in my TV history non-fiction reading binge is The Quatermass Experiment: The Making of TV’s first sci-fi classic by Toby Hadoke. Looking forward to the deepest of deep dives with this book. Special mention for the evocative beauty of the cover. Gorgeous.
July 25, 2025 at 12:55 PM
Next up in my TV history non-fiction reading binge is The Quatermass Experiment: The Making of TV’s first sci-fi classic by Toby Hadoke. Looking forward to the deepest of deep dives with this book. Special mention for the evocative beauty of the cover. Gorgeous.
I am now enjoying a non-fiction phase. First up is Escapades which covers curiosités from one of my favourite TV shows ‘The Avengers’. It has not disappointed so far. Loving all the researched facts and behind the scenes perspectives. I used to love visiting The Avengers Declassified website.
July 24, 2025 at 4:43 PM
I am now enjoying a non-fiction phase. First up is Escapades which covers curiosités from one of my favourite TV shows ‘The Avengers’. It has not disappointed so far. Loving all the researched facts and behind the scenes perspectives. I used to love visiting The Avengers Declassified website.
I also enhanced my appreciation of the size of a continent and traversing it by road. Less glamorous in this book than in other texts/films. As a teen I would’ve been pulled in by the relationship between Sal and Dean. Also, the cover of the edition I read is a thing of beauty.
July 24, 2025 at 4:38 PM
I also enhanced my appreciation of the size of a continent and traversing it by road. Less glamorous in this book than in other texts/films. As a teen I would’ve been pulled in by the relationship between Sal and Dean. Also, the cover of the edition I read is a thing of beauty.
Finished The Goldfinch which as it was a reread I found myself vividly recalling the parts in Las Vegas but having a hazy memory of the 8 years later final third of the novel. I still think The Secret History is my favourite DT.
New book started. This one has been on the bookcase for 20 years.
New book started. This one has been on the bookcase for 20 years.
July 12, 2025 at 7:38 PM
Finished The Goldfinch which as it was a reread I found myself vividly recalling the parts in Las Vegas but having a hazy memory of the 8 years later final third of the novel. I still think The Secret History is my favourite DT.
New book started. This one has been on the bookcase for 20 years.
New book started. This one has been on the bookcase for 20 years.
Donna Tartt is an author I associate with summer holidays. ‘The Little Friend started last summer’s reading. ‘The Secret History’ has been read a number of times already so I decided to revisit ‘The Goldfinch’. I remember being disappointed by the film and hope to rediscover and savour the story.
July 2, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Donna Tartt is an author I associate with summer holidays. ‘The Little Friend started last summer’s reading. ‘The Secret History’ has been read a number of times already so I decided to revisit ‘The Goldfinch’. I remember being disappointed by the film and hope to rediscover and savour the story.
The last point I will make is when I started reading the remaining books last year, I thought I would write to Aidan to tell him how much his writing meant/means to me. Then I saw his obituary in May, I knew that chance had gone. At the end of TiA, he wrote about writing. This excerpt stood out…
July 1, 2025 at 2:29 PM
The last point I will make is when I started reading the remaining books last year, I thought I would write to Aidan to tell him how much his writing meant/means to me. Then I saw his obituary in May, I knew that chance had gone. At the end of TiA, he wrote about writing. This excerpt stood out…
I don’t think there is another series of novels that have touched me in the way these have. Living characters I care about with lives I understood. The whole sequence is worth seeking out. ‘This is All’ was 800 pages of a life. The end was shocking. I did not anticipate it. Powerful and real.
July 1, 2025 at 2:29 PM
I don’t think there is another series of novels that have touched me in the way these have. Living characters I care about with lives I understood. The whole sequence is worth seeking out. ‘This is All’ was 800 pages of a life. The end was shocking. I did not anticipate it. Powerful and real.
The rest of the month was spent on This is All: The Pillow Book of Cordelia Kenn by Aidan Chambers. Aidan died earlier this year. Last year I decided to complete his Dance Sequence books, this being the final. These books capture something intangible about teenage life in late 20th century Britain.
July 1, 2025 at 2:29 PM
The rest of the month was spent on This is All: The Pillow Book of Cordelia Kenn by Aidan Chambers. Aidan died earlier this year. Last year I decided to complete his Dance Sequence books, this being the final. These books capture something intangible about teenage life in late 20th century Britain.
June reading has been a month of revisiting texts with a teenage theme. In the late 90s I would’ve been very drawn to The Doors of Perception as well as the Foucault Reader. As an adult, picking them up in a Fopp two for £5 deal, I found I was still drawn to them.
July 1, 2025 at 2:29 PM
June reading has been a month of revisiting texts with a teenage theme. In the late 90s I would’ve been very drawn to The Doors of Perception as well as the Foucault Reader. As an adult, picking them up in a Fopp two for £5 deal, I found I was still drawn to them.
May reading: found myself with time to read so I made the most of it. WD graphic novel was beautiful and haunting. Inspector Imanishi Investigates was fascinating. I appreciated the map of Japan and Tokyo to help me keep track of characters and their regional accents.
June 2, 2025 at 3:31 PM
May reading: found myself with time to read so I made the most of it. WD graphic novel was beautiful and haunting. Inspector Imanishi Investigates was fascinating. I appreciated the map of Japan and Tokyo to help me keep track of characters and their regional accents.
1/ Sequel to The Last Bear which I read last year. Had no idea there was a sequel until I spotted it at the airport in Berlin. The impact of climate change drives the narrative but it is April & Tör’s discussion about people fearing those who stand up for their beliefs and choosing to bully those
May 5, 2025 at 7:36 AM
1/ Sequel to The Last Bear which I read last year. Had no idea there was a sequel until I spotted it at the airport in Berlin. The impact of climate change drives the narrative but it is April & Tör’s discussion about people fearing those who stand up for their beliefs and choosing to bully those
Goodbye to Berlin: alive on multiple levels after trip to Berlin for the half marathon.
Places I’d been plus parallels with things happening here and now. History coming around again.
The Kenneth Williams biography was interesting and made me consider loneliness and my relationships with others.
Places I’d been plus parallels with things happening here and now. History coming around again.
The Kenneth Williams biography was interesting and made me consider loneliness and my relationships with others.
May 1, 2025 at 9:10 AM
Goodbye to Berlin: alive on multiple levels after trip to Berlin for the half marathon.
Places I’d been plus parallels with things happening here and now. History coming around again.
The Kenneth Williams biography was interesting and made me consider loneliness and my relationships with others.
Places I’d been plus parallels with things happening here and now. History coming around again.
The Kenneth Williams biography was interesting and made me consider loneliness and my relationships with others.