Kitchen Sink Realism
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realismfan55.bsky.social
Kitchen Sink Realism
@realismfan55.bsky.social
Blogging on British Social Realism / Kitchen Sink Realism in books & film. Fan for 40+ yrs. Former fertility scientist & lecturer.
Website : https://tinyurl.com/bdhmj9ca
Facebook : https://tinyurl.com/54ay8asj
And additionally raising a glass to not only my Dad's birthday, but to the longevity of my Mam & Dad's marriage that has stood the test of time of nearly 58 years ❤️🥂🥳
Here they are way back in the early 1990s at my second graduation 🤗
November 30, 2025 at 3:44 AM
So because of my admiration of Nell Dunn's writing, also for Ken Loach's films, the getting together of my Mam & Dad & of course my Dad's birthday, I will be publishing an article next Friday that I wrote a few months ago, in celebration of both the book & film.
November 30, 2025 at 3:41 AM
On the 7th December it will be 58 years since the film Poor Cow was released in the UK. It coincidently was the first film my parents went to see at the Barnsley Odeon on their first date. It's also my Dad's 82nd birthday next week ...

#PoorCow
#KitchenSinkRealism
#NellDunn
#KenLoach
November 30, 2025 at 3:38 AM
John Braine, one of the "angry young men" whose novels I must re-visit. I do think he was an underrated writer. Source - First Edition, Room at the Top by John Braine published by Penguin Paperback in 1959. 📚
November 21, 2025 at 6:29 PM
There Is A Happy Land by Keith Waterhouse. Publisher Penguin Books Ltd (1964). I first read in 1983 & am going to re-read again. It was the catalyst that sparked my interest of the British New Wave movement. I will forever have soft for this book, although it is now slightly battered ❤️

#booksky
November 11, 2025 at 5:01 PM
It's 68 years ago since Room At The Top by John Braine was published. The story of the working-class & ambitiously ruthless Joe Lampton in his pursuit for social mobility. Highlighting the detriment to personal cost and questioning moral ambiguity. My copy that that I acquired 40 yrs ago ❤️
#booksky
November 3, 2025 at 11:24 AM
I do like Nell Dunn's style of writing, due to her compassionate & authentic portrayal of working-class women during the 1960s in London.This is an interesting listen where she discusses her writing career with the British Theatre Guide.
💙📚 #booksky

youtu.be/EC5jbuSylec?...
October 8, 2025 at 6:31 PM
I never anticipated back in October 1985 I'd be sitting at the bottom of the playing field drawing the pit for my art O' Level project, that almost 40 years on that the pit would be gone & that I'd be fortunate enough to be spending time with my parents. I never envisioned them being elderly.
October 7, 2025 at 7:50 PM
Remembering the pioneering theatre director Joan Littlewood, founder of The Theatre Workshop, who was born on this day in 1914.
Image credit : Wikimedia Commons Stratfordeast
October 6, 2025 at 12:14 AM
“Being in love doesn't last, but you can find love to take its place.” ― Stan Barstow, A Kind of Loving ....
Kitchen sink realism at some of it's very best ... Based on the novel by Stan Barstow & directed by John Schlesinger in 1962. Wonderful film & novel❤️
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🎬
#filmsky
#moviesky
September 23, 2025 at 12:20 PM
The Loneliness Of The Long Distance Runner by Alan Sillitoe & later film adaptation was released 63 yrs ago yesterday. Starring Tom Courtenay, it is a milestone short story & film within kitchen sink realism, conveying class struggle & nonconformity.
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#filmsky
#moviesky
September 22, 2025 at 7:07 PM
The memoir by Richard Hines, Barry Hines' brother. This is my 81 yr old Dad's copy which I sent to him on it's publication in 2016, as we both originate from Barnsley. He highly recommends it as a great read. Looking forward to reading this, this weekend.
#booksky
#Kes
#BarryHines
#Barnsley
March 14, 2025 at 7:55 PM
I read this book about 25 yrs ago. It is about a young lad who is released from Borstal & becomes involved in a gang, set in Radford, Nottingham. #AlanSillitoe wrote the forward. . What is more impressive is the author, Pat McGrath was only 14 yrs old when he wrote this book in 1966. Great read😊
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March 9, 2025 at 7:40 PM
A preview of one of several articles that I will be adding to the Kitchen Sink Realism / British Social Realism category on my site. "The Ragman's Daughter" written by #AlanSillitoe & adapted into the film in 1972. Superb short story & equally brilliant film.
soulandmod.com/kitchen-sink...
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March 9, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Decided to re-watch the "Spend, Spend, Spend" episode from the Play for Today, written by Jack Rosenthal this weekend. Originally screened on 15/03/77, nearly 48 years ago almost. Based ofc on the "lass from Cas" ... The late, Viv Nicholson. Who remembers this?
March 1, 2025 at 1:19 PM
This card is a set of ones belonging to a collection that was bought for me in the 1980s, titled "Dicks Gang" from Athena Cards by Richard Jordan. I am huge a fan of nostalgia 😊 Wishing you all a lovely, relaxing w/e & keep smiling 😊
March 1, 2025 at 1:14 PM
Mike Leigh's latest film Hard Truths, explores the aspects of depression, from an empathetic & compassionate viewpoint. I read somewhere that anger is the manifestation of hurt. If this film does'nt convey this, I don't know what does. Exceptional film.

🎥 #FilmSky
#HardTruths
#MikeLeigh
February 16, 2025 at 8:56 PM
An informative interview where John Braine discusses his novel "Room At The Top" with Studs Terkel, broadcast on April 19th 1959. A really pleasant listen.
tinyurl.com/murjmpsd
#JohnBraine
#RoomAtTheTop
#KitchenSinkRealism
#AngryYoungMenMovement
#BritishNewWave
#WorkingClassLiterature
#Booksky
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February 8, 2025 at 5:57 PM
Nell Dunn on 'Up the Junction' and 'Poor Cow'. How Nell Dunn broke the taboo and whose novels (& films) were a voice for womens' views & openness regarding their entitlement to vocally express their views about their sexuality & their aspirations.
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
January 30, 2025 at 7:27 PM
In 1982 I watched the tv adaptation of A Kind Of Loving. It was broadcast on Yorkshire tv on Sunday evenings. I was so taken by the tv series that read the trilogy of novels that year in the Vic Brown saga. Who else remembers the tv adaptation?
#StanBarstow #AKindOfLoving
January 30, 2025 at 7:24 PM
"I need your love"!
"Up the Junction" was released 57 yrs ago today in 1968
Based on the novel by Nell Dunn, directed Peter Collinson, starring Dennis Waterman, Suzy Kendall, Adrienne Posta, Maureen Lipman & Liz Fraser. Wonderful film ❤️
January 25, 2025 at 11:38 AM
Room At The Top was released on 22nd January 1959, 66 yrs ago today. Adapted from the novel by John Braine, directed by Jack Clayton & starring the wonderful Lawrence Harvey & Simone Signoret. A novel & film which I will always have a soft spot for❤️
January 22, 2025 at 7:17 PM
Saturday Night & Sunday Morning written by Alan Sillitoe & directed by Karel Reisz .. This film will be 65 years old this year .. A scene from the The Savoy Cinema in #Nottingham. I love this cinema .. It used to be like walking back into the 1960s up to recent years❤️
January 16, 2025 at 9:29 PM
"This Is My Street" written by Nan Maynard in 1963 & later adapted into the film, it was released 62 yrs ago yesterday. Starring June Ritchie & Ian Hendry & set In Battersea, it addresses the consequences of infidelity, societal & class limitations in relation to social mobility.
January 16, 2025 at 8:58 PM
A Kestral For A Knave, by #BarryHines, later to be adapted into the film #Kes directed by Ken Loach, was released a few months after I was born. It was filmed in #Barnsley, where I originate from. Such a wonderful read.
January 14, 2025 at 4:52 PM