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sallyoreilly.bsky.social
Sally O'Reilly
@sallyoreilly.bsky.social
230 followers 550 following 7 posts
Eco-worrier. Also writes. http://sallyoreilly.co.uk
New novel HAGTALE out with Scribe 2025
Agent Joanna Swainson https://hardmanswainson.com
Posts Replies Media Videos
sallyoreilly.bsky.social
If that is in reality the mighty GBS then this has made my day.
johnattridge.bsky.social John Attridge @johnattridge.bsky.social · Dec 16
Me after writing one (1) sentence in my writing hut
December 17, 2024 at 2:41 PM
Reposted by Sally O'Reilly
whyiwrite.bsky.social
Taking a short break to invite you to read with me. I needed to make time to read for pleasure. So I started a bi-weekly book club. Every other Sunday from 6-8 PM (GMT) we read what we want. If you’d like to join us in zoom, let me know. Or read when and wherever you are.
Cute, small ginger and white kitten sleeping on draft pages of Curdle Creek during a round of editing. I was editing, not the cute, sleeping kitten.
November 24, 2024 at 6:53 PM
sallyoreilly.bsky.social
The question, what are novels for, right there. Leavis, back in the day, believed they should be 'life enhancing' which is open to wide interpretation. But 'ideologically correct'? Not so much. We're further down that path in 2024 than we were in 1989, and not in a good way.
john-self.bsky.social John Self @john-self.bsky.social · Dec 7
"In the course of my conversation with Helen she listed her criteria for a good novel, and the last of them was 'It must be ideologically correct'."

David Lodge, Booker chair in 1989, thought Amis's London Fields a frontrunner for the prize. Here's when he realised it wouldn't even get shortlisted.
At the June meeting we drew up a list of forty-seven novels which were deemed worthy of serious consideration, and at the first September meeting we whittled these down to seventeen to be considered for the shortlist. During that time I had phone conversations with both Maggie and Helen. Maggie wanted an assurance that the shortlist would not be decided by a numerical majority of only 3 to 2. I could not give it, but reiterated what I had said at the beginning of the process, that I hoped we could reach a consensus by discussion. In the course of my conversation with Helen she listed her criteria for a good novel, and the last of them was, 'It must be ideologically correct'. I was so startled by this declaration that I did not challenge it, as I should have done. At this time the phrase 'politically correct' had not yet reached Britain from America, and when it did so it carried the scare quotes which allowed it to be used ironically by sophisticated left-wingers as well as scornfully by outraged right-wingers. 'Ideologically correct' was a much more inflexible concept which one associated with Stalinist Russia or Mao's China. In my view a responsible literary critic should always try to suspend his or her ideological principles and prejudices when reading a text to assess its literary merit. I prepared carefully for the shortlist meeting, and had a folder in my notes on all seventeen books, arranged alphabetically by author: The first of these was Amis, Martin. As mentioned earlier, I thought his novel Money had been unjustly excluded from the shortlist by the judges in 1984. I was pleased when I heard that he had a new novel out this year, called London Fields, and looked forward eagerly to reading it. Having done so I described it in my notes as: Notable for dense, imaginative and expressive use of language, summoning up a wasteland vision of urban and global entropy. Brilliant metaphors and similes. Often blackly funny. Cunning interweaving of motifs and symbolism. MA's preoccupations with pornography & Swiftian relish of disgusting behaviour manifest in earlier work continue here, but much more under control. Keith is an extraordinary creation - totally loathsome, yet credible and weirdly vital... The flatness and unchangingness of the other main characters is the only arguable flaw in this generally brilliant achievement, and perhaps it is a little too long for its own good. But a frontrunner. The shortlist meeting took place in the utilitarian premises of Book Trust in south-west London. We sat at a rectangular Formica-topped table with myself at the head, Martyn to one side and slightly behind me, the two men to my left, and the two women on the right. I began by proposing that we should get an idea of our collective preferences by going through the seventeen novels one by one, each person classifying them as 'shortlist', 'hold' or 'eliminate', and I had prepared a chart to record these responses, but Ed suggested that instead we should each simply say what our current six choices for the shortlist were, and this won support from the others. At the end of the first round everyone had chosen Kazuo Ishiguro's The Remains of the Day, and Rose Tremain's Restoration, and they were accordingly shortisted, Both Ed White and David Profumo had nominated London Fields, though they were less enthusiastic than I in giving their reasons. I pointed out that no other novel in the remainder we were now considering had achieved three votes in the first round, and proposed that it should therefore be shortlisted. At this Maggie launched a fierce attack on the book as morally and formally flawed: seriously confused, banal, unconvincing on nuclear catastrophe and pollution, and irredeemably sexist. It sounded like a prepared speech, lasted for ten minutes or more, and was remembered later by Martyn Goff in an interview as 'the time when Maggie Gee handbagged David Lodge'. She was supported unreservedly by Helen McNeil. The import of the telephone conversations I had had with each of them was now clear. I did my best to defend Amis's novel, but Maggie and Helen were adamant. Ed said that as I was chairman they should accept my casting vote in Amis's favour, at which Maggie looked distressed and said she would be very unhappy if London Fields went through. David Profumo said that he didn't think we could shortlist a novel to which the two women judges were so strongly opposed. It was 12.30 and we still had only two books on the shortlist. I put London Fields on hold and suggested we considered Margaret Atwood's Cat's Eye, which had been commended with some qualifications in the first round, and it was agreed that it should be shortlisted. With that accomplished, we broke for lunch.
December 17, 2024 at 12:23 PM
sallyoreilly.bsky.social
Yes please.
john-self.bsky.social John Self @john-self.bsky.social · Dec 17
Now can we have a list of editors who published great books that didn’t get shortlisted or sell big numbers, because those things are their own reward?
melindasalisbury.com Melinda Salisbury @melindasalisbury.com · Dec 16
Well this is fucking horrifying. Who asked for this? www.thebookseller.com/features/won...
December 17, 2024 at 12:13 PM
Reposted by Sally O'Reilly
carolinefiennes.bsky.social
It's nearly time to reveal my Quote Of The Year 🥳
In preparation, here's last year's one: a corker, from The Guardian 🤣
Correction in The Guardian newspaper
December 17, 2024 at 7:46 AM
Reposted by Sally O'Reilly
paintingsoflondon.bsky.social
'London Snow', Warwick Square (1955) by Iain Macnab

(Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art)
December 12, 2024 at 8:00 AM
Reposted by Sally O'Reilly
paintingsoflondon.bsky.social
'Full English’, Rock Steady Eddie's, Coldharbour Lane, Camberwell (2006) by Ed Gray
edgrayart.com
December 16, 2024 at 10:24 AM
Reposted by Sally O'Reilly
artukdotorg.bsky.social
A perfectly christmassy still life for day 14 #ArtUKAdvent ❤️

‘Christmas Still Life’ by Charles William Brown (1882–1961) © Potteries Museum
Still life of a vase with various festive greenery including mistletoe and holly with red berries
December 14, 2024 at 11:38 AM
Reposted by Sally O'Reilly
raziaiqbal.bsky.social
This is the last in our podcast series on the great #jamesbaldwin with @ekoweshun link takes you to all Ta-Nehisi coates; bryan stevenson; nikki giovanni; hisham matar; caryl phillips; siri hustvedt; daryl pinckney; colm toibin & elif shafak wnycstudios.org/podcasts/anxiety/projects/notes-native-son
December 2, 2024 at 5:23 PM
Reposted by Sally O'Reilly
colsonwhitehead.com
This shark’s face is like, Doomed to patrol these silent seas without rest, relief, or companionship, will no one put an end to my suffering?
December 13, 2024 at 12:40 PM
Reposted by Sally O'Reilly
peterstefanovic.bsky.social
“Everyone in positions of influence should ask themselves the question: are you treating those fighting to save the planet more harshly than those fighting for inherited wealth? If so, why?”
@josiah.writes.news

bylinetimes.com/2024/12/12/t...
Two-Tier Reporting: When Climate Protesters Slow Ambulances They’re Vilified, So Why Are Wealthy Farmers Given a Free Pass?
Media outlets rush to condemn climate change campaigners as "middle class" protesters causing "chaos" while ignoring greater disruption by millionaire landowners
bylinetimes.com
December 13, 2024 at 8:19 AM
Reposted by Sally O'Reilly
robertbohan.bsky.social
Thread: I think it’s time to share with you my love of Rembrandt. I want to take you beyond the stereotypical perception & show you how I see the great man. His genius was he authentic & completely honest in depicting his world. A rare rare thing my friends!
December 6, 2024 at 7:07 PM
Reposted by Sally O'Reilly
drkatherinelucyg.bsky.social
The long association of the feminine with the trivial persists - research by the Women's Prize shows that women writers are disproportionately ignored by men
womensprize.bsky.social Women's Prize @womensprize.bsky.social · Dec 6
2023 research shows that only 19% of readers of the top 20 bestselling female fiction authors are male. (1/3)
December 6, 2024 at 11:00 AM
Reposted by Sally O'Reilly
geoffnorcott.bsky.social
Massive away win for the little fella.
December 2, 2024 at 1:38 PM
Reposted by Sally O'Reilly
baggiesman.bsky.social
You’ll never guess who is on the BBC’s ‘Question Time’ tonight?
Yes, it’s Nigel Farage! What a surprise. Whoever would have thought it?
The BBC Board of Governors is made up of right-wing old fogeys. Why hasn’t Peter Stefanovic been invited?
December 5, 2024 at 6:30 PM
Reposted by Sally O'Reilly
alinhelsinki.bsky.social
With billionaires buying up and using legacy media as mouthpiece’s for their fascistic agendas, this is incredibly concerning. Feels like the Guardian/Observer is the last bastion of trustworthy journalism, and it’s in great peril. Please boycott during the strike days!!
carolecadwalla.bsky.social Carole Cadwalladr @carolecadwalla.bsky.social · Nov 25
So here’s the update. The billionaire owner of the Guardian preparing to get rid of a core part of the news org + 100 journalists.
If you’re a Guardian or Observer reader, please share this. The need for a strong, free & independent press couldn’t be greater. Yet, here it is.
November 26, 2024 at 8:59 AM
Reposted by Sally O'Reilly
paintingsoflondon.bsky.social
'Thames Looking East' by John Duffin
johnduffin.co.uk
November 26, 2024 at 7:43 AM
Reposted by Sally O'Reilly
carolinelucas.bsky.social
#COP29 ends in betrayal of the Global South. Failure of wealthier countries to deliver sufficient finance shows yet again the sickening injustice & inequality at the heart of this process. Solidarity with all who fought for better - the fight continues
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Cop29 agrees $1.3tn climate finance deal but campaigners brand it a ‘betrayal’
Deep divisions remain after high-stakes talks end with agreement to help developing world shift to low-carbon economy
www.theguardian.com
November 24, 2024 at 12:09 AM
Reposted by Sally O'Reilly
natgallerydk.bsky.social
En amagerkone https://www.europeana.eu/portal/record/2020903/KMS615.html?utm_source=api&utm_medium=api&utm_campaign=j4AoMQNzp
En amagerkone
November 23, 2024 at 12:25 PM
Reposted by Sally O'Reilly
jamadden.bsky.social
Princelet Street, Spitalfields, London - November 2023
November 19, 2024 at 5:13 PM
Reposted by Sally O'Reilly
mrjamesob.bsky.social
❤️
kitdewaal.com Kit de Waal @kitdewaal.com · Nov 17
Late Fragment by Raymond Carver.
Photograph of book page which contains a short poem by Raymond Carver which reads 'And did you get what you wanted from this life, even so? I did. And what did you want? To call myself beloved, to feel myself beloved on the earth.'
November 18, 2024 at 3:58 PM
Reposted by Sally O'Reilly
gladlib.bsky.social
"As a writer, my homeland is the desk where I work."

- Nadeem Aslam
A view across desks in the Theology Room. The desks are made of golden pine. There are colourful backed chairs at each desk. There are windows surrounded by bookshelves at the far end of the room
November 18, 2024 at 1:20 PM
Reposted by Sally O'Reilly
aljazeera.com
At least 43,846 Palestinians have been killed and 103,740 wounded in Israeli attacks on Gaza since October 7, 2023, says the enclave’s Health Ministry.

🔴 LIVE updates ⤵️
Israel kills at least 72 in north Gaza, orders more evacuations from Beirut
Medics are unable to reach the wreckage of a residential tower in Beit Lahiya due to the presence of Israeli troops.
aje.io
November 17, 2024 at 11:47 AM
sallyoreilly.bsky.social
So up for this evening's instalment of intrigue, devilment, serious fur action and the suggestion of a suppurating leg.
www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio...
Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light review – six hours of utter TV magic
The final instalment of Hilary Mantel’s masterpiece is the most intricate television you are ever likely to see. It is so beautifully made it’s breathtaking
www.theguardian.com
November 17, 2024 at 6:36 PM
sallyoreilly.bsky.social
I'm afraid I remain relentlessly speccy nerd girl about fashion. Clothes I like, fashion I loathe. And now faces, like hemlines, have to be a la mode. I feel I should be able to see the funny side, but no.
November 17, 2024 at 5:57 PM