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2026, no. 74 The End of Everything by M J Harrison ⭐️⭐️ As someone who loves SF and speculative fiction I was excited to see this included on the booker 🏆 list. Sadly, it was a disappointment. With so much available for a dystopia,AI, capitalism, Fascism, war, here it requires an Alien invasion.

Book cover of The End of Everything by M J Harrison

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John @j-m-moore.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

2026, no. 73. Taipei Story by R F Kuang ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💕 Loved this story of an American Chinese student’s intense summer language course. Beautifully written with reflections on identity & language. American in China/Chinese in America. How our thinking is determined by our language. Strongly recommended

Cover of the book “Taipei Story” by R F Kuang

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John @j-m-moore.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

2026, no. 72 The Palm House by Gwendoline Riley ⭐️⭐️⭐️ An account of Laura’s life, encounters and most of all her friends. An enjoyable read & refreshing to read a Booker 🏆 longlisted book focused on a female central character.Enjoyable read of a new author to me. Will I read her previous 📚. Maybe.

Cover of the book The Palm House by Gwendoline Riley

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John @j-m-moore.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

2026, no. 71 The Things We Never Say by Elizabeth Strout ⭐️⭐️ Teacher (who loves teaching) wants to die, nearly dies and discovers he wants to live & dies. In between he uncovers family secrets & gets depressed (in a liberal centrist way) about Trump. Strout at her very best. Booker 🏆 short listed

Book cover of The Things We Never Say by Elizabeth Strout

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John @j-m-moore.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

2026, no. 70. Switzy by Emma Cline ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ David, 70s, successful business man, unsuccessful human being, travelling to Switzerland, via London (& awkward final meeting with daughter & grandson) on private jet. His destination assisted suicide. Booker longlist. Brilliantly written, but hard read.

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John @j-m-moore.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

2026, no. 69 The Association of Small Bombs by Karan Mahajan ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️❤️ Brilliant book centred around a “small” bomb in a market, & the consequences for survivors, victims families, the bomb maker & those targeted by the police. Complexity, complexity, complexity. I loved this book. Recommended. 👏❤️👏❤️

Book cover of The Association of Small Bombs by Karan Mahajan

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John @j-m-moore.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

2026, no. 68 Helen of Nowhere by Mahenna Goodman ⭐️ The Booker 🏆 shortlisted this as one of the top 13 books this year! How? A disgraced lecturer in conversation with an estate agent, and the (imagined?) former owner (Helen), and his (imagined) wife. A real struggle to read. A painful experience.

Book cover of Helen of Nowhere by Mahenna Goodman

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John @j-m-moore.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

2026, no. 67 Scary Monsters by Michelle De Kretser ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️❤️👏 2 covers, 2 stories, you chose which to read 1st. 1 set in 1981 France & other in a future fascist Australia. Utterly brilliant writing showing the far right’s deep roots (& consequences). Very clever, will stay with me for a long time 💕💕

Cover of the book Scary Monsters by Michelle De Kretser

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John @j-m-moore.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

2026, no. 66 All them dogs by Djamel White ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Dublin, organised crime, violence with a gay twist. Another Booker Prize long list book with the central theme of masculinity. Took some getting into but enjoyable read.

Cover of the book All them dogs by Djamel White

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John @j-m-moore.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

2026, no. 65 The Palm-Wine Drinkard by Amos Totuola ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Surreal tale of travel among the (un)dead, a classic of African literature, a world view like no other. Blew my brains 🤯 Strong recommendation 💕

Cover of The Palm-Wine Drinkard by Amos Totuola

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John @j-m-moore.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

2026, no. 64 Black Bag by Luke Kennard ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ University teacher hires actor to be inside unresponsive black bag attending lecture and seminars. Using this Kennard reflects on masculinity, political economy, and much much more. Booker long listed, beautifully written and funny novel, worth a read.

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John @j-m-moore.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

2026, no. 63 A Nation on Trial by Dafydd Jenkins ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Originally published in Welsh in 1937, Penyberth tells how three of the founders of modern 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 nationalism set fire to a 🇬🇧air force base & handed themselves in. A 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿jury refused to convict, case moved to London & 3 imprisoned. V. relevant today.

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John @j-m-moore.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

2026, no. 62 The Shadow of the Object by Chloe Aridjis ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Visiting Mexico City Flora is bitten by the family dog & hospitalised. There she meets an elderly German woman collector. 2nd part deals with her return to London & meeting the collector’s son. Didn’t float my boat.🤷‍♂️ Booker 🏆 long list.

Cover of the book The Shadow of the Object by Chloe Aridjis

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Reposted by John

Zack Polanski @zackpolanski.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

Arrived in Edinburgh for the fringe and just finished reading this excellent book - "Unsafe" Spans so many different subjects from our prison system to feminism - through the lens of countering transphobia in a world where no one should be disposable.

Unsafe. The carceral roots of the anti trans backlash

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John @j-m-moore.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

2026, no. 61 The Renovation by Kenan Orhan ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Renovated en-suite in Italy turns out to be a prison cell in Turkey. Dilara is caring for her father, dissident academic as he sinks into dementia. In between her caring duties she can spend time in her cell. Engrossing Booker 🏆 long list book.

Book cover of The Renovation by Kenan Orhan

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Reposted by John

The European Group for the Study of Deviance and Social Control @europeangroup.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

Here is a leaflet with our fantastic programme (abridged version). Stay tuned—the full version will be available next week!

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John @j-m-moore.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

2026, no. 60 May We Feed the King by Rebecca Perry ⭐️⭐️ Booker 🏆 long list, why? Very disappointing story of a curator of historic house exhibitions. She gets a commission & imagines the life of a reluctant king, produces some displays. Kept waiting for a reveal about her or her king, but nothing.

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John @j-m-moore.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

2026, no. 58 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The Summer Book by Tove Jansson Six year old girl and her grandmother’s summer on an island. Exquisite writing perfectly captures their relationship and adventures. A real joy to read this belated Father’s Day present 💕

Cover of The Summer Book by Tove Jansson

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John @j-m-moore.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

2026, no. 59 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Discipline and the Other Body edited by Steven Pierce & Anupama Rao Important collection looking at colonial punishment and torture, how bodies were racialised. Civilisation required uncivilised practices. Difficult read.

Cover of the book Discipline and the Other Body edited by Steven Pierce & Anupama Rao

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John @j-m-moore.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

2026, no. 57 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Ghost Driver by Nell Osborne The tale of a woman disassociated from modern life, crap job, friends, boy friend, flat. Both enjoyable & depressing, but worth reading for lines like: “A volunteer policeman from across the road raised his snout, as if smelling civil disobedience”

Cover of the book Ghost Driver by Nell Osborne

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John @j-m-moore.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

2026, no. 56 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Absence by Jess Quincy Starts with a poem read by the narrators mother, followed by a series of stories told to him by people he encounters. The sort of philosophical novel that I don’t seem to be able to get excited about. My loss I suspect.

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John @j-m-moore.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

2026, no. 55 💕⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🚀 John of John by Douglas Stuart Utterly wonderful book. Gay Cal returns home to the west Scotland island family croft to live with his Presbyterian father & Glaswegian gran. Perfect portrayal of the claustrophobic community, its secrets and their consequences. Closets abound

Cover of the book John of John by Douglas Stuart

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John @j-m-moore.bsky.social · 18/07/2026

2026, no. 54. ❤️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️❤️ Unsafe by Lamble Powerful analysis of ‘the carceral roots of the anti-trans backlash’. Identifies how safety requires ‘collective care, justice & solidarity’ and the rejection of division into the deserving & undeserving. Powerful stuff which is also a good read. #abolition

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John @j-m-moore.bsky.social · 12/07/2026

2026, no. 53 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️😢❤️ Said The Dead by Doireann Ní Ghríofa An astoundingly good book that 🤯. Fictionalised account of the staff and patients of the Cork Asylum. Part biography, part speculation always poetic, made more special because I visited the ruins this year & 2 great aunts lived there 💕

Book cover of Said The Dead by Doireann Ní Ghríofa

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John @j-m-moore.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

2026, no. 52 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Benbecula by Graeme Macrae Burnet Fictionalised account of 1850s murders. Angus Macphee killed his mother, aunt and father in their remote Scottish island croft. Carefully reconstructed from the archives, Burnet delivers a fascinating account of the family’s life and madnesses.

Book cover of Benbecula by Graeme Macrae Burnet

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John @j-m-moore.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

2026, no. 51 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️❤️ Honey by Imani Thompson Mind blowing. Yrsa is writing her sociology PhD and struggling with her methodology. Serious philosophical thoughts about the challenges of writing about violence (& a bit of serial killing to help with thinking it through). Dark, stunning & a must read

Cover of the book Honey by Imani Thompson

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John @j-m-moore.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

2026, no. 50 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Transcription by Ben Lerner Not my sort of book. A series of related stories, is a recorded interview different from a remembered one? Do all roads lead to Switzerland? Control of eating, screen time. Parenting. I suspect it will win an award or two.

Book cover of Transcription by Ben Lerner

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John @j-m-moore.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

2026, no. 49 Abolition Geography by Ruth Wilson Gilmore ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️❤️ A brilliant collection of essays from the most important abolitionist scholar writing today. Rigorous analysis of the politics, geography, & economics of the police & prison world. Clearly sets out how we can build a better world.

Book cover of Abolition Geography by Ruth Wilson Gilmore

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John @j-m-moore.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

2026, no. 48 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Yesteryear by Cato Claire Burke Biting and at times very funny story of a tradwife social media influencer. Living her best life of motherhood and apple pie. What could go wrong, particularly with an off camera crew including two Nannie’s? Enjoyable read despite plot holes.

Book cover of Yesteryear by Cato Claire Burke

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John @j-m-moore.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

2026, no. 47 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Prestige Drama by Séamas O’Reilly Netflix comes to Derry to make a mini series on the troubles.Trouble is what they get. US star disappears, writer gets blocked, and various characters seek to exploit the situation. Very funny enjoyable read. ❤️ Strong recommendation.

Book cover of Prestige Drama by Séamas O’Reilly

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John @j-m-moore.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

2026, no. 46 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Parallel Lines by Edward St Aubyn A tale of twins, psychotherapy (from both sides of the couch), families (by birth and adoption), art, apocalypse and wealth. St Aubyn writes wonderfully with a superb appreciation of the absurd. Laugh out loud moments. Definitely worth a read.

Cover of the book Parallel Lines by Edward St Aubyn

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John @j-m-moore.bsky.social · 17/06/2026

What do I know? Joint worse (ranked by me) of the 16 books on the women’s fiction longlist only goes and wins. Prizes are totally subjective but introduce me to authors I wouldn’t otherwise come across.

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John @j-m-moore.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

2026, no. 45 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Lucky Valley by Catherine Hall Brilliant scholarship using Long’s 1774 History of Jamaica to explore the slaver’s construction & justification of racial difference. A detailed study of the network of planter, state and banker that racial capitalism was constructed from.

Cover of the book Lucky Valley by Catherine Hall

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John @j-m-moore.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

2026, no. 44 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The Others by Sheena Kalayil Set in East Germany just before the fall on the Berlin Wall. Mozambican factory worker/Indian medical student/German would-be-poet love triangle provides the plot to this beautifully written novel. Last & one of the best of 2026 Women’s 🏆 longlist.

Book cover of The Others by Sheena Kalayil

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John @j-m-moore.bsky.social · 08/06/2026

2026, no. 43 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Uprising by Tahmima Anam Brilliant book telling the story of an island community of sex workers in Bangladesh partly through the eyes of their children. Enter Kusum who resists, then complies, then organises. Resistance, uprising and revolution follow. A must read ❤️❤️

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John @j-m-moore.bsky.social · 05/06/2026

2026, no. 42 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A Beast Slinks Towards Beijing by Alice Evelyn Yang Told through timelines from 1929 to 2017, taking in Imperial China, Japanese occupation, cultural revolution, migration, US childhood & NYC accountancy, how trauma flows through generations. Excellent read from Women’s 🏆 list.

Book cover of “A Beast Slinks Towards Beijing” by Alice Evelyn Yang

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John @j-m-moore.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

2026, no. 41. 💕⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💕 Brick by Brick: How We Build a World Without Prisons by Cradle Community Brilliant UK abolitionist critique of the carceral state and a practical vision of a different world. ‘While we may not know exactly what to do, we do know how to treat someone with humanity.’ Read!

Book cover of Brick by Brick: How We Build a World Without Prisons by Cradle Community

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John @j-m-moore.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

My current podcast, only 16 episodes in but really enjoyable soundtrack to my dog walks podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/e...

podcasts.apple.com

16. Partition

Podcast Episode · Empire: World History · 8 November 2022 · 50min

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Reposted by John

Laleh Khalili @lalehkhalili.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

Devastating essay on Palestinian mass graves produced by Israel: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

Second, mass graves reinforce the settler colonial historical imagination by aiding attempts to dismantle indigenous cultural, spiritual, and social ties to the land. Settler colonialism aims not only to remove indigenous people physically, but also to erase them from history, bringing about their permanent alienation.Footnote62 Mass graves advance this goal by rendering indigenous bodies anonymous, stripping away burial rites and sites, and disrupting intergenerational ties to a place and connections to ancestral lands. Because burial sites materially anchor indigenous presence and memory in the landscape, their elimination is central to the settler project’s objective of severing all enduring claims to the land. Unlike individual, marked burials, which assert continuity and belonging and serve as sites of memorialisation, mass graves erase these links

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John @j-m-moore.bsky.social · 30/05/2026

2016, no. 40 ❤️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️❤️ Fieldwork as a Sex Object by Meena Kandasamy Wow, just wow! Brilliant novel, Indian woman studying/living in London is victim of a deepfake porno victim. A novel that unflinchingly takes on liberals, patriarchy, race, caste, class etc. incredible writing A MUST read. 💕💕💕

Cover of ‘Fieldwork as a Sex Object’ by Meena Kandasamy

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John @j-m-moore.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

2016, no. 39 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The Benefactors by Wendy Erskine Misty, dumped on her sister’s dad by her mum is now a teenager. She makes friends with 3 middle class boys who rape her. The boys have middle class parents, she has her step dad and his nan. This women’s 🏆 longlisted book explores the aftermath.

Book cover of The Benefactors by Wendy Erskine

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John @j-m-moore.bsky.social · 22/05/2026

2026, no. 38 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ The Mercy Step by Marcia Hutchinson Tells the story of Mercy from birth to the 11+ in 1960/70s Bradford. A story of survival, from her father’s violence, her mother’s Christianity, her teacher’s racism, & various boys/men’s sexual abuse. Libraries emerge as essential resources.

Book cover of The Mercy Step by Marcia Hutchinson

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John @j-m-moore.bsky.social · 19/05/2026

2026, no. 37 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Look What You Made Me Do by John Lanchester Tale of revenge for “stolen” boyfriend played out across generations. Enjoyable, if not always believable, read. Lanchester has a dark view of women combined with a belief that men lack agency. Not his best (Capital is far better)

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John @j-m-moore.bsky.social · 16/05/2026

On my daily walks with the dog I listen to podcasts, so I thought I would share here alongside the books I read. This series on Fela Kuti, the father of Afrobeat, has been a brilliant listen. Strong recommendation.

podcasts.apple.com

To Hell and Back

Podcast Episode · Fela Kuti: Fear No Man · EP1 · 38min

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John @j-m-moore.bsky.social · 16/05/2026

2026, no. 36 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Heart the Lover by Lily King Enjoyable read based around the relationship between 3 undergraduates and their reconnecting years later. Captures how fucked up many of us were at that age. Women’s prize shortlisted.

Cover of the book ‘Heart the Lover’ by Lily King

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John @j-m-moore.bsky.social · 14/05/2026

2026, no. 35 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ The Best of Everything by Kit de Waal I found this tale of a woman’s friendship with the man responsible for her lover’s death quite implausible. Some interesting themes but their development left some big credibility gaps for me. A weaker women’s 🏆 longlisted book.

Cover of the book The Best of Everything by Kit de Waal

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John @j-m-moore.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

2026, no. 34 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Gloria Don’t Speak by Lucy Apps A carefully told story of a vulnerable young woman after she completes her “special” schooling & is left on her own. An encounter with an equally isolated man results in inevitable issues. Manages to capture her inner life really well.

Cover of the book Gloria Don’t Speak by Lucy Apps

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John @j-m-moore.bsky.social · 10/05/2026

2026, no. 33 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Hayek’s Bastards by Quinn Slobodian “Many supposed disrupters of the status quo are agents less of a backlash against global capitalism than a frontlash” Forensic analysis of the fusion of culture wars, neoliberal economics & racism that underpins the populist right. A warning

Cover of the book Hayek’s Bastards by Quinn Slobodian

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John @j-m-moore.bsky.social · 09/05/2026

2026, no. 32 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Kingfisher by Rozie Kelly I loved this book. All about relationships, power dynamics, legacy of childhood abuse trauma, love, sex and writing poetry. Brilliantly crafted novel. Another excellent book from the women’s 🏆 longlist (but not the shortlist😫). Strong recommendation.

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