Timothy C. Baker
@timothycbaker.bsky.social
Lectures on Scottish and contemporary literature, writes about animals, tries to be hopeful. He/they. Currently trying to open a cinema in Aberdeen.
I'm not going to buy a first US edition of The Quarry Wood, but I like this cover so much more than any of the paperback reprints.
October 27, 2025 at 5:58 PM
I'm not going to buy a first US edition of The Quarry Wood, but I like this cover so much more than any of the paperback reprints.
I’ve never liked the phrase ‘giving it 110%’, but I’m watching Grand Hotel, and Greta Garbo just acts MORE than any other human.
September 7, 2025 at 8:23 PM
I’ve never liked the phrase ‘giving it 110%’, but I’m watching Grand Hotel, and Greta Garbo just acts MORE than any other human.
New favourite Aberdeen image, from 1932.
August 28, 2025 at 4:35 PM
New favourite Aberdeen image, from 1932.
University management preparing their start-of-term updates.
(Still actually from the new music video by The Beths. But still.)
(Still actually from the new music video by The Beths. But still.)
August 18, 2025 at 7:37 PM
University management preparing their start-of-term updates.
(Still actually from the new music video by The Beths. But still.)
(Still actually from the new music video by The Beths. But still.)
Glorious shade cast by Nan Shepherd in a 1960 issue of the Aberdeen University Review, where after a series of remembrances of the former Professors of English we find this:
July 7, 2025 at 11:20 AM
Glorious shade cast by Nan Shepherd in a 1960 issue of the Aberdeen University Review, where after a series of remembrances of the former Professors of English we find this:
If you don't fancy reading a long novel and would prefer to come along and read (aloud) exciting sea-themed excerpts, there's an event Fri 18 July, 14:30. aberdeencity.spydus.co.uk/cgi-bin/spyd...
June 26, 2025 at 10:52 AM
If you don't fancy reading a long novel and would prefer to come along and read (aloud) exciting sea-themed excerpts, there's an event Fri 18 July, 14:30. aberdeencity.spydus.co.uk/cgi-bin/spyd...
If you live in Aberdeen and want to talk about Neil M. Gunn's The Silver Darlings, there's a book group for you! (Wed 16 July, 18:00-19:00) aberdeencity.spydus.co.uk/cgi-bin/spyd...
June 26, 2025 at 10:50 AM
If you live in Aberdeen and want to talk about Neil M. Gunn's The Silver Darlings, there's a book group for you! (Wed 16 July, 18:00-19:00) aberdeencity.spydus.co.uk/cgi-bin/spyd...
It's horrible to discover you may in fact be a film bro.
June 24, 2025 at 3:04 PM
It's horrible to discover you may in fact be a film bro.
What's a poster you had in your room growing up?
(The clues, it seems, were there if you looked hard enough)
(The clues, it seems, were there if you looked hard enough)
June 23, 2025 at 6:24 PM
What's a poster you had in your room growing up?
(The clues, it seems, were there if you looked hard enough)
(The clues, it seems, were there if you looked hard enough)
For those of you who are too hot today, Aberdeen is 17 and looks like this.
June 21, 2025 at 1:54 PM
For those of you who are too hot today, Aberdeen is 17 and looks like this.
In lieu of thoughts, a general endorsement of Saoirse Ronan's wardrobe in the new Talking Heads video.
June 9, 2025 at 11:35 AM
In lieu of thoughts, a general endorsement of Saoirse Ronan's wardrobe in the new Talking Heads video.
It is not especially surprising that Ali Smith’s tiny new book about ghosts/mothers/trees is my favourite writing of hers in years, but I adored it.
May 30, 2025 at 4:16 PM
It is not especially surprising that Ali Smith’s tiny new book about ghosts/mothers/trees is my favourite writing of hers in years, but I adored it.
One of my former students just got nominated for a Clarke!! (Nothing to do with me, but still.) (Also, great list in general.) (But go Maud!!) www.clarkeaward.com
May 12, 2025 at 6:50 PM
One of my former students just got nominated for a Clarke!! (Nothing to do with me, but still.) (Also, great list in general.) (But go Maud!!) www.clarkeaward.com
Find yourself someone who looks at you the way Mandy Patinkin and Lee Remick look at Barbara Cook. (This from the 1986 Follies: Four Days in New York documentary on iPlayer, which I might have to watch every day.)
April 7, 2025 at 9:13 PM
Find yourself someone who looks at you the way Mandy Patinkin and Lee Remick look at Barbara Cook. (This from the 1986 Follies: Four Days in New York documentary on iPlayer, which I might have to watch every day.)
The kicker at the end of this article...
March 19, 2025 at 8:41 PM
The kicker at the end of this article...
The Republicans declaring the rest of 2025 to be one long day, in order to avoid congressional votes on tariffs, may be ridiculous politics, but hey, I'm going to meet so many deadlines.
March 12, 2025 at 2:08 PM
The Republicans declaring the rest of 2025 to be one long day, in order to avoid congressional votes on tariffs, may be ridiculous politics, but hey, I'm going to meet so many deadlines.
I mean, they're not WRONG, but...
![iPlayer screencap reading 'If you liked "Blue Velvet" [try] Eight Grade'.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:bdykvl6y5lgmfuyveoowuts3/bafkreibiuaze2udmwvm34qb3dw4dv5krzllvm3csvxhu4o7bssrp3mnnnm@jpeg)
February 23, 2025 at 10:23 PM
I mean, they're not WRONG, but...
How I think I look when I'm teaching/How I actually look:
February 6, 2025 at 8:22 PM
How I think I look when I'm teaching/How I actually look:
The memes are true, and younger me wrong. Master and Commander is utterly delightful i.kym-cdn.com/photos/image....
January 26, 2025 at 9:38 PM
The memes are true, and younger me wrong. Master and Commander is utterly delightful i.kym-cdn.com/photos/image....
I’ve lived in Aberdeen for 15 years and never, to my shame, properly read Charles Murray, but I found this cute edition in the Dundee Oxfam last week and couldn’t resist. He really is very good.
December 28, 2024 at 3:03 PM
I’ve lived in Aberdeen for 15 years and never, to my shame, properly read Charles Murray, but I found this cute edition in the Dundee Oxfam last week and couldn’t resist. He really is very good.
My friend embroidered me a Sufjan Stevens Christmas Unicorn pillowcase, and now I’m crying.
December 25, 2024 at 12:27 PM
My friend embroidered me a Sufjan Stevens Christmas Unicorn pillowcase, and now I’m crying.
Edwin Morgan's Trio will always be my favourite Christmas poem. Orphean sprig! Melting baby! Warm chihuahua!
December 12, 2024 at 11:00 AM
Edwin Morgan's Trio will always be my favourite Christmas poem. Orphean sprig! Melting baby! Warm chihuahua!
Cannot believe I never knew, or perhaps forgot, that Petula Clark shows up in I Know Where I’m Going.
November 27, 2024 at 11:27 PM
Cannot believe I never knew, or perhaps forgot, that Petula Clark shows up in I Know Where I’m Going.
Rewatching a triple bill of Bill Douglas's My Childhood, Lynne Ramsay's Gasman, and Charlotte Wells's Tuesday for class tomorrow, and putting myself in A Mood. I really need to teach happier things. (But also, I love Gasman so much.)
March 4, 2024 at 8:46 PM
Rewatching a triple bill of Bill Douglas's My Childhood, Lynne Ramsay's Gasman, and Charlotte Wells's Tuesday for class tomorrow, and putting myself in A Mood. I really need to teach happier things. (But also, I love Gasman so much.)
Last night I discovered, belatedly, L'Inconnue de la Seine, a death-mask taken from an unknown drowned woman in the 1880s who was taken for about fifty years as the height of beauty, which a) what a great find for Ash Valentine's, and b) Holy Sources of Bella Baxter, Batman!
February 14, 2024 at 2:02 PM
Last night I discovered, belatedly, L'Inconnue de la Seine, a death-mask taken from an unknown drowned woman in the 1880s who was taken for about fifty years as the height of beauty, which a) what a great find for Ash Valentine's, and b) Holy Sources of Bella Baxter, Batman!