Vicky MacKenzie
@vickymackenzie.bsky.social
Writer, cat lady, John Ruskin obsessive, wrote a novel about medieval mystics. Aspiring anchoress. https://victoriamackenzie.net/
Substack: https://victoriamackenzie.substack.com/
Substack: https://victoriamackenzie.substack.com/
Pinned
For Thy Great Pain Have Mercy on My Little Pain by Victoria MacKenzie review – a pocket epic
This electrifying debut compares the spiritual adventures of Margery Kempe and Julian of Norwich
www.theguardian.com
And as always a thousand thank yous to @frankcottrellboyce.bsky.social who wrote this astounding and thoughtful review of my book when it first came out, and sent it out into the world with a bang! 😍
www.theguardian.com/books/2023/j...
www.theguardian.com/books/2023/j...
Reposted by Vicky MacKenzie
Watching Labour MPs take a wrecking ball to nature makes me so angry & so sad. Their action tonight voting down amendments to the #PlanningBill intended to protect wildlife & habitats from destruction is so reckless & so counterproductive. People didn’t vote Labour for this 👇
Housing secretary tells Labour MPs to vote down planning bill amendment
Amendment restricts protection for animals to allow faster house building
www.theguardian.com
November 13, 2025 at 9:06 PM
Watching Labour MPs take a wrecking ball to nature makes me so angry & so sad. Their action tonight voting down amendments to the #PlanningBill intended to protect wildlife & habitats from destruction is so reckless & so counterproductive. People didn’t vote Labour for this 👇
Reposted by Vicky MacKenzie
What's from Chicago, hates Illinois Nazis, and is holy as fuck?
It's the Pope in 1982.
It's the Pope in 1982.
November 13, 2025 at 1:37 AM
What's from Chicago, hates Illinois Nazis, and is holy as fuck?
It's the Pope in 1982.
It's the Pope in 1982.
Reposted by Vicky MacKenzie
Day 13 of #NovellasInNovember is COLD NIGHTS OF CHILDHOOD by Turkish writer Tezer Özlü a lyrical auto-fictional account of the author's fight to survive depression and carve out her own path in 1950s and 60s Istanbul #BookSky #LitFic
November 13, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Day 13 of #NovellasInNovember is COLD NIGHTS OF CHILDHOOD by Turkish writer Tezer Özlü a lyrical auto-fictional account of the author's fight to survive depression and carve out her own path in 1950s and 60s Istanbul #BookSky #LitFic
Thank you @ruthiesthomas.bsky.social for recommending THE HERO OF THIS BOOK by the inimitable Elizabeth McCracken - what a deep and wise joy it is! A memoir written on the aftermath of her mother's death, it is so gloriously perceptive and witty and tender. #BookSky
November 13, 2025 at 2:53 PM
Thank you @ruthiesthomas.bsky.social for recommending THE HERO OF THIS BOOK by the inimitable Elizabeth McCracken - what a deep and wise joy it is! A memoir written on the aftermath of her mother's death, it is so gloriously perceptive and witty and tender. #BookSky
It can't be this time already! 😱
Books of the Year 2025: Our contributors choose their favourites
Books of the Year 2025
www.the-tls.com
November 13, 2025 at 2:19 PM
It can't be this time already! 😱
Reposted by Vicky MacKenzie
“The sickness that once detached him from life had now made him greedy for experience… he accumulated several lifetimes worth of adventures”
—Trent B. Olsen on Robert Louis Stevenson’s Art of Living (& Dying), via @literaryhub.bsky.social
#RLSDay #C19th
lithub.com/robert-louis...
—Trent B. Olsen on Robert Louis Stevenson’s Art of Living (& Dying), via @literaryhub.bsky.social
#RLSDay #C19th
lithub.com/robert-louis...
Robert Louis Stevenson’s Art of Living (and Dying)
On summer break from his university studies, a young Robert Louis Stevenson worked late into the night. He apprenticed in his family’s lighthouse engineering business but had no interest in the tra…
lithub.com
November 13, 2025 at 2:16 PM
“The sickness that once detached him from life had now made him greedy for experience… he accumulated several lifetimes worth of adventures”
—Trent B. Olsen on Robert Louis Stevenson’s Art of Living (& Dying), via @literaryhub.bsky.social
#RLSDay #C19th
lithub.com/robert-louis...
—Trent B. Olsen on Robert Louis Stevenson’s Art of Living (& Dying), via @literaryhub.bsky.social
#RLSDay #C19th
lithub.com/robert-louis...
Reposted by Vicky MacKenzie
“It has a nimble wit and a punk rock attitude that is wholly addictive. Destined, as they say, to become a cult classic.” @judecook.bsky.social’s dream review of Loren Ipsum
www.theguardian.com/books/2025/n...
www.theguardian.com/books/2025/n...
Loren Ipsum by Andrew Gallix review – chronically funny satire of the literary scene
Full of word games, in-jokes and grisly murders, this debut pours gleeful scorn on the pretensions of contemporary literary life
www.theguardian.com
November 13, 2025 at 9:31 AM
“It has a nimble wit and a punk rock attitude that is wholly addictive. Destined, as they say, to become a cult classic.” @judecook.bsky.social’s dream review of Loren Ipsum
www.theguardian.com/books/2025/n...
www.theguardian.com/books/2025/n...
Reposted by Vicky MacKenzie
Reposted by Vicky MacKenzie
John Maclean: All that life can give us
19 Nov, University of Stirling – free
Author & poet Henry Bell will discuss his creative & historical work around Scottish socialist John Maclean (1879–1923), followed by an open archive & poetry reading
19 Nov, University of Stirling – free
Author & poet Henry Bell will discuss his creative & historical work around Scottish socialist John Maclean (1879–1923), followed by an open archive & poetry reading
November 12, 2025 at 6:51 PM
John Maclean: All that life can give us
19 Nov, University of Stirling – free
Author & poet Henry Bell will discuss his creative & historical work around Scottish socialist John Maclean (1879–1923), followed by an open archive & poetry reading
19 Nov, University of Stirling – free
Author & poet Henry Bell will discuss his creative & historical work around Scottish socialist John Maclean (1879–1923), followed by an open archive & poetry reading
Reposted by Vicky MacKenzie
In an interview about Palantir's creeping involvement in the British state and the NHS, I told @prospectmagazine.co.uk: “Its business is death and destruction. This is not an organisation you want running the democratic jewel of the postwar period.”
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/politics/dem...
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/politics/dem...
How Palantir infiltrated the state
At a moment of national emergency, the government handed our data to Peter Thiel’s controversial company
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk
November 12, 2025 at 10:49 AM
In an interview about Palantir's creeping involvement in the British state and the NHS, I told @prospectmagazine.co.uk: “Its business is death and destruction. This is not an organisation you want running the democratic jewel of the postwar period.”
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/politics/dem...
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/politics/dem...
Reposted by Vicky MacKenzie
‘By going out of its way to appease its critics on the right – by, for example, providing disproportionate coverage of Reform and amplifying right-wing talking points from social media – the BBC has only fuelled the forces that are set on undermining it.’
Des Freedman
www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2025/no...
Des Freedman
www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2025/no...
Des Freedman | Whose BBC?
From the revelations about Jimmy Savile in 2012 to the gender pay gap debacle in 2017, the BBC was for many years its...
www.lrb.co.uk
November 12, 2025 at 6:43 PM
‘By going out of its way to appease its critics on the right – by, for example, providing disproportionate coverage of Reform and amplifying right-wing talking points from social media – the BBC has only fuelled the forces that are set on undermining it.’
Des Freedman
www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2025/no...
Des Freedman
www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2025/no...
Reposted by Vicky MacKenzie
Started the new Best British Short Stories late last night. Probably not a good idea to read ‘Torsos’ by Linden Hibbert right before bed. Deeply strange and pretty unnerving stuff. Great though.
November 12, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Started the new Best British Short Stories late last night. Probably not a good idea to read ‘Torsos’ by Linden Hibbert right before bed. Deeply strange and pretty unnerving stuff. Great though.
Reposted by Vicky MacKenzie
Want to join us for #ConsciousWritingMonth? You can secure your spot for our last two Masterclasses with a £15 ticket, available to purchase until the evening before.
Take a closer look at what we have yet to come this month
🍂 bit.ly/CWM-2025
Take a closer look at what we have yet to come this month
🍂 bit.ly/CWM-2025
November 12, 2025 at 11:32 AM
Want to join us for #ConsciousWritingMonth? You can secure your spot for our last two Masterclasses with a £15 ticket, available to purchase until the evening before.
Take a closer look at what we have yet to come this month
🍂 bit.ly/CWM-2025
Take a closer look at what we have yet to come this month
🍂 bit.ly/CWM-2025
Reposted by Vicky MacKenzie
Let's talk libraries! 🔍
Join authors Louise Welsh & Damian Barr TONIGHT for a free in-conversation event at Kelvin Hall about the libraries that shaped them.
📅 6:30-7:30pm, Wednesday, 12 November
📌 Kelvin Hall
🎟️ Free
Book your tickets now > www.nls.uk/whats-on/lib...
Join authors Louise Welsh & Damian Barr TONIGHT for a free in-conversation event at Kelvin Hall about the libraries that shaped them.
📅 6:30-7:30pm, Wednesday, 12 November
📌 Kelvin Hall
🎟️ Free
Book your tickets now > www.nls.uk/whats-on/lib...
November 12, 2025 at 11:30 AM
Let's talk libraries! 🔍
Join authors Louise Welsh & Damian Barr TONIGHT for a free in-conversation event at Kelvin Hall about the libraries that shaped them.
📅 6:30-7:30pm, Wednesday, 12 November
📌 Kelvin Hall
🎟️ Free
Book your tickets now > www.nls.uk/whats-on/lib...
Join authors Louise Welsh & Damian Barr TONIGHT for a free in-conversation event at Kelvin Hall about the libraries that shaped them.
📅 6:30-7:30pm, Wednesday, 12 November
📌 Kelvin Hall
🎟️ Free
Book your tickets now > www.nls.uk/whats-on/lib...
Reposted by Vicky MacKenzie
From the archive for John McGahern, #BornOnThisDay in 1934, my thoughts on AMONGST WOMEN.
A superb, beautifully observed character study of an ageing, tyrannical father whose wife and daughters both love and fear him. A highlight of my reading year. 💙📚
jacquiwine.wordpress.com/2025/09/14/a...
A superb, beautifully observed character study of an ageing, tyrannical father whose wife and daughters both love and fear him. A highlight of my reading year. 💙📚
jacquiwine.wordpress.com/2025/09/14/a...
Amongst Women by John McGahern
Amongst Women, the fifth novel by the critically acclaimed Irish writer John McGahern, was shortlisted for the Booker Prize in 1990, missing out to A. S. Byatt’s Possession in the final cut. Ostens…
jacquiwine.wordpress.com
November 12, 2025 at 9:30 AM
From the archive for John McGahern, #BornOnThisDay in 1934, my thoughts on AMONGST WOMEN.
A superb, beautifully observed character study of an ageing, tyrannical father whose wife and daughters both love and fear him. A highlight of my reading year. 💙📚
jacquiwine.wordpress.com/2025/09/14/a...
A superb, beautifully observed character study of an ageing, tyrannical father whose wife and daughters both love and fear him. A highlight of my reading year. 💙📚
jacquiwine.wordpress.com/2025/09/14/a...
Reposted by Vicky MacKenzie
BBC Under Attack: Pot and Kettle Special
The new Private Eye is out now.
The new Private Eye is out now.
November 12, 2025 at 8:06 AM
BBC Under Attack: Pot and Kettle Special
The new Private Eye is out now.
The new Private Eye is out now.
Reposted by Vicky MacKenzie
CREATIVES! A gang of us are organising an auction raising funds for mutual aid groups in Sudan, amid the war on civilians. Can YOU contribute to the auction? Perhaps a piece of art or music? Signed books? Embroidery? Half an hour of creative mentoring? Sign up here! www.sudancoup.com/auction
Creatives4Sudan Fundraising Auction — Keep Eyes On Sudan
Creatives coming together to raise life-saving funds for the people escaping genocide in El-Fasher, Sudan
www.sudancoup.com
November 12, 2025 at 8:09 AM
CREATIVES! A gang of us are organising an auction raising funds for mutual aid groups in Sudan, amid the war on civilians. Can YOU contribute to the auction? Perhaps a piece of art or music? Signed books? Embroidery? Half an hour of creative mentoring? Sign up here! www.sudancoup.com/auction
It's only when I read that I can take a rest from myself.
November 11, 2025 at 10:32 PM
It's only when I read that I can take a rest from myself.
Reposted by Vicky MacKenzie
This book is SO GOOD, and I’m grateful to the Phinney Books newsletter for reminding me of its existence and convincing me to call and order it.
Naturally, as you’d expect, he took all that had happened as something that had happened.
—J. L. Carr, How Steeple Sinderby Wanderers Won the F. A. Cup
—J. L. Carr, How Steeple Sinderby Wanderers Won the F. A. Cup
November 11, 2025 at 9:18 PM
This book is SO GOOD, and I’m grateful to the Phinney Books newsletter for reminding me of its existence and convincing me to call and order it.
Reposted by Vicky MacKenzie
If I were a doctor with a massive house, I would definitely name it Bedside Manor
November 11, 2025 at 6:02 PM
If I were a doctor with a massive house, I would definitely name it Bedside Manor
Reposted by Vicky MacKenzie
Can you believe that the Post Office has agreed to pay Fujitsu £41m to carry on using the faulty Horizon IT system?
Nearly 290,000 have now signed a petition demanding that Fujitsu is finally held to account.
Do add your name:
you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/ho...
Nearly 290,000 have now signed a petition demanding that Fujitsu is finally held to account.
Do add your name:
you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/ho...
Hold Fujitsu to account for Post Office scandal
£41 million! That’s how much more the Post Office has just agreed to pay Fujitsu to keep using the faulty Horizon IT system. And that's on top of another whopping £65m the Government paid the scandal ...
you.38degrees.org.uk
November 11, 2025 at 5:51 PM
Can you believe that the Post Office has agreed to pay Fujitsu £41m to carry on using the faulty Horizon IT system?
Nearly 290,000 have now signed a petition demanding that Fujitsu is finally held to account.
Do add your name:
you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/ho...
Nearly 290,000 have now signed a petition demanding that Fujitsu is finally held to account.
Do add your name:
you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/ho...
Just sitting here enjoying imagining #MargeryKempe as a digital mystic. Oh my Queen of Mystic TikTok.
Digital mystics are flooding TikTok and Etsy – and with religion fading and loneliness rising, they’re filling a spiritual vacuum
✏️ Olive Pometsey
✏️ Olive Pometsey
The witches of the internet
Digital mystics are flooding TikTok and Etsy – and with religion fading and loneliness rising, they’re filling a spiritual vacuum
www.thenewworld.co.uk
November 11, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Just sitting here enjoying imagining #MargeryKempe as a digital mystic. Oh my Queen of Mystic TikTok.
Reposted by Vicky MacKenzie
Fun (or not so fun) fact - the author of the “BBC bias” memo is a lobbyist for the American Pharmaceutical Group.
U.S. pharma companies recently threatened to abandon the UK unless the NHS pays more for its medicines.
They also donated millions to Trump’s campaign and inauguration
U.S. pharma companies recently threatened to abandon the UK unless the NHS pays more for its medicines.
They also donated millions to Trump’s campaign and inauguration
November 11, 2025 at 2:36 PM
Fun (or not so fun) fact - the author of the “BBC bias” memo is a lobbyist for the American Pharmaceutical Group.
U.S. pharma companies recently threatened to abandon the UK unless the NHS pays more for its medicines.
They also donated millions to Trump’s campaign and inauguration
U.S. pharma companies recently threatened to abandon the UK unless the NHS pays more for its medicines.
They also donated millions to Trump’s campaign and inauguration
Reposted by Vicky MacKenzie
Boris Johnson says the idea that criticism of the BBC is being organised by the right is ‘complete and utter bollocks’, which makes me think there might be something in it.
November 11, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Boris Johnson says the idea that criticism of the BBC is being organised by the right is ‘complete and utter bollocks’, which makes me think there might be something in it.