Ricky Grove
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rickygrove.bsky.social
Ricky Grove
@rickygrove.bsky.social
I am a retired bookseller who loves reading, cooking, and petting my kitties, Pinky and Henrietta. I also produce a podcast, The Paperback Show. (paperbackshow.com).
Two completely different cover designs for paperback editions of Faulkner's Go Down, Moses.
open.substack.com/pub/paperbac...
A Tale of Two Covers
Exploring Meaning in Two Different Cover Designs for Faulkner's "Go Down, Moses"
open.substack.com
November 5, 2025 at 9:03 PM
A remarkable true crime book by Caroline Fraser that reframes the serial killer plague of the 1980s. paperbackshow.substack.com/p/murderland...
October 22, 2025 at 9:35 PM
Cover of the Week features work by illustrator Earl Mayan.
open.substack.com/pub/paperbac...
Cover of the Week: Lone Hand by Evan Evans (Max Brand)
Classic western-themed cover design
open.substack.com
October 16, 2025 at 5:53 PM
New Paperback Show "Book to Movie" podcast covers Ira Levin's novel, Rosemary's Baby, and its 1968 movie adaptation by Roman Polanski. Special guest host: Matt Kelland.

paperbackshow.com/ep-27-book-t...
September 19, 2025 at 7:48 PM
Beware Demonic Pets – The Disrespectful Summons
open.substack.com/pub/rebekahk...
Beware Demonic Pets – The Disrespectful Summons
Horror Moments, Edward Gorey Edition
open.substack.com
September 11, 2025 at 5:10 PM
Review of Charles Simic's short book on the artist Joseph Cornell. open.substack.com/pub/paperbac...
September 8, 2025 at 5:28 PM
Avon Bard paperbacks introduced Latin American Literature to the English speaking world.

open.substack.com/pub/paperbac...
Avon Bard Paperbacks and Latin American Fiction
The democratization of Spanish Literature in translation
open.substack.com
August 30, 2025 at 5:13 PM
The Demon that Kicks Men in the Balls
open.substack.com/pub/rebekahk...
The Demon that Kicks Men in the Balls
And how to stop him kicking you.
open.substack.com
August 25, 2025 at 4:26 PM
New cover of the week for Bonibooks (1931). Paul Morand's masterpiece short story collection is told like jazz and set in the aftermath of WWI. open.substack.com/pub/paperbac...
August 21, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Review of Joe Abercrombie's new grimdark fantasy, The Devils.
open.substack.com/pub/paperbac...
The Devils by Joe Abercrombie
Review of a subversive, witty Fantasy Novel by a master of the genre
open.substack.com
August 13, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Review of John Hersey's Hiroshima and Annie Jacobson's Nuclear War: A scenario.
paperbackshow.substack.com/p/john-herse...
John Hersey's Hiroshima and Nuclear War: A Scenario
Nuclear war could destroy us as a species. Here's how it might happen.
paperbackshow.substack.com
August 11, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Cover of the Week: La-Bas by Huysmans. Marie Lane designed this striking cover for Dedalus Books.

open.substack.com/pub/paperbac...
Cover of the Week: La-Bas by J.-K. Huysmans
Dedalus Books UK (2009) Translated by Brendan King
open.substack.com
August 7, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Start of a new series of podcasts on the Private Library. In this episode, I converse with Charles Duncombe and Frederique Michel, about how they started their library, what kinds of books they love to read and re-read, and how they organize their books.

open.substack.com/pub/paperbac...
August 1, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Short review of one of my favorite New Wave science fiction novels: Breakfast in the Ruins by Michael Moorcock. paperbackshow.substack.com/p/breakfast-...
July 25, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Matthew Sangster recommends 5 classic fantasy novels. His comments on each book are well worth reading.
fivebooks.com/best-books/c...
Classic Fantasy Books
The best classic fantasy books, recommended by literary scholar Michael Sangster, author of 'An Introduction to Fantasy'
fivebooks.com
July 12, 2025 at 5:28 PM
New substack post on the brilliant illustrator Wanda Gag. She changed childrens picture books forever. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Million...
Millions of Cats - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
July 11, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Cover of the Week: The Upfold Witch by Josephine Bell. Shame that the artist is not credit. open.substack.com/pub/paperbac...
June 10, 2025 at 7:33 PM
New arrivals at my online paperback shop, Grove Used Books. Hand picked and low prices. groveusedbooks.com
June 3, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Graphic Books paperback cover for The Big Kiss-Off. paperbackshow.substack.com/p/cover-of-t...
May 21, 2025 at 5:39 PM
20% store-wide sale on collectible paperbacks. One week only! Some really good books
groveusedbooks.com
May 16, 2025 at 8:29 PM
Great cover design for a classic "Sensation Novel" by Mrs. Braddon. paperbackshow.substack.com/p/cover-of-t...
April 28, 2025 at 5:37 PM
new additions to my online vintage paperback store (Grove Used Books). The Robert Bloch book is a lot of fun and my favorite. groveusedbooks.com
April 23, 2025 at 5:42 PM