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The Lit & Phil @litandphil.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Join Val McDermid & Jo Sharp at the Lit & Phil as they discuss their book 'This Door of the Seas'! Tuesday 22/09/26 | 6pm - 7pm A LIVE Lit & Phil Event | £12/£10 conc. www.litandphil.org.uk/event/val-mc... #booksky

litandphil.org.uk

Val McDermid and Jo Sharp | Book Event - The Lit & Phil

This Door of the Seas (Book Cover) | Image provided [...]

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The Lit & Phil @litandphil.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

The Lit & Phil’s collection of books is full of surprises, oddities and gems No.40 'Bengalee' A vocabulary of the Bengalee Language. Second edition. 1820. Published by the Baptist Mission Press on behalf of the Calcutta School Book Society.

The title page is translated thus: Towards young boys education, alphabetical and phonetic Bengalee language, with increased words both clarified and purified have now been compiled by Sri Ram Chandro Sorma for the Second Edition.

Hand inscription: Presented by John Fenwick July9, 1828

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The Border Readers @theborderreaders.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

Thrilled to have our friend Jacqueline Phillips @qualityofmercy.bsky.social join us to read for 'Words of Love' at @litandphil.bsky.social (13/10) Dry Water Arts, Amble (17/10) & Humshaugh Village Hall (23/10) #Reading #Literature @joscottheritage.bsky.social

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The Lit & Phil @litandphil.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

The Lit & Phil’s collection of books is full of surprises, oddities and gems. No.111 "Distemper" From, 'A collection of all the orders of council and clauses in the several ACTS of PARLIAMENT in FORCE relating to the Distemper'd Cattle.'

A scan of a page with a royal crest, showing the text:

'A collection of all the orders of council and clauses in the several ACTS of PARLIAMENT in FORCE relating to the Distemper'd Cattle.

Published pursuant to His Majesty's Order in Council of the Twenty First of June 1754.

For the greater Ease and Convenience of the Magistrates in carrying the same into Execution

Printed by Thomas Baskett, Printer to the King's most Excellent Majesty; and by the Affigns of Robert Baskett. 1754'

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The Lit & Phil @litandphil.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

We have a new Facebook page! Please come and follow us as we get it set up: www.facebook.com/people/Lit-P...

A fish-eye lens photo of the interior of the main Library of the Lit & Phil taken from the Gallery looking over our shelves.

Photo credit, Graeme Peacock.

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The Society of Antiquaries of London @antiquaries.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

The 17th century saw a lot of cultural concern around eclipses, and what they may mean and portend. Nicholas Culpeper’s Catastrophe Magnatum is one of the texts which delves into this theme, looking at year of 1652 where there was an eclipse named 'Black Monday'.

Title page of Catastrophe Magnatum with a woodcut showing an eclipsed sun. The sun has a face and there are clouds around it.

Our copy of his Catastrophe Magnatum also has a remark to the reader that the woodcutter did a woodcut of the moon incorrectly for one of the illustrations. He remarks 'Gentle Reader, Please to take notice, that the Cutter (through neglect) hath not placed the centre of the Moon at the beginning on the line of Incidence, as he should have done. Humanity can but ere; therefore, let thy pardon argue the greatness of thy humanity, since the disease is Epidemical.'

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The Lit & Phil @litandphil.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

The Lit & Phil’s collection of books is full of surprises, oddities and gems. No.437 | THE SUN From ‘The Sun: ruler, fire, light, and life of the planetary system’ by Richard A. Proctor, B.A. F.R.A.S. 1871.

A copy of a book plate showing the Corona of the Eclipsed Sun, 1871

A copy of a book plate showing two images of 'Solar Prominences: FROM THE DRAWINGS PUBLISHED BY THE DIRECTOR OF THE HARVARD COLLEGE OBSERVATORY'

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The Lit & Phil @litandphil.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

The Pudding Chare Festival closes on Saturday 15th at 1pm with works by Bartok, Haydn, Ligeti and Brahms along with a commissioned work by Emily Linane! Tickets: www.puddingcharemusicfestival.co.uk

An image of the Pudding Chare Music Festival 2026 flyer (13th - 15th August). Several heads of composers and performers are sticking out of the roof of the Lit & Phil Library.

The Text reads: The Lit & Phil, Westgate Road, NE1 1SE TICKETS ON SALE NOW.

Bach, Beach, Jacek Brahms, Dvorak, Tabitha Appel, Zany Denyer, Cameron Walls, Sophia Lim, Magdalena Riedl, Matthew Hayes, Seth Collin, Alma Vink, Isobel Neary-Adams, Richard Taylor.

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The Lit & Phil @litandphil.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Join Pudding Chare Music Festival at the URC Jesmond on Friday 14th August at 7pm for a programme that explores themes and variations in works written 160 years apart. Tickets www.puddingcharemusicfestival.co.uk

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The Lit & Phil @litandphil.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

Pudding Chare Festival is joined at 1pm on Friday 14th August by harpsichordist Richard Taylor for a programme including works by Avison, Bach and Garth! Tickets www.puddingcharemusicfestival.co.uk

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The Lit & Phil @litandphil.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

As part of the Pudding Chare Festival, we run development workshops with younger musicians which culminates in a free Young Musicians' Showcase concert at 12 noon on Friday 14th August with works by Glazunov, Mozart and Kodály. Tickets www.puddingcharemusicfestival.co.uk

A photo taken within the Lit & Phil venue space showing a pale green painted room with several oil paintings on the walls. 4 musicians are playing a variety of instruments in front of a grand piano.

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The Lit & Phil @litandphil.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

Our opening concert on Thursday, 13th August at 6pm sees works by Beach, Martinů and Janáček as well as the Dvořák's incredible American Quintet. Tickets www.puddingcharemusicfestival.co.uk

A photo of some of the musicians from the Pudding Chare festival posing at the bottom of the main staircase at the entrance to the Lit & Phil Library. They are framed by the stairs and the statue of James Losh looms over them in the background.

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The Lit & Phil @litandphil.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

The Pudding Chare Festival returns! Alongside joyful performances of the chamber music repertoire, the festival is rooted in providing opportunities for young musicians, and celebrating the local musical heritage of the region. Tickets www.puddingcharemusicfestival.co.uk

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The Lit & Phil @litandphil.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

Thank you to everyone who attended our Open Day on Saturday and made it such a success, and an especial thank you to Michael Turner who again brought his Cabinet of Natural Curiosities to show to visitors!

Photo of a dapper man in waistcoat, tie, moustache and bear standing in a library by a table adorned with all manner of trinkets, baubles, fossils and knick-knacks.

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The Lit & Phil @litandphil.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

The Lit & Phil’s collection of books is full of surprises, oddities and gems. No. 143 'Scarab' Illustration from ‘Description of a rare scarabaeus from Potosi, in South America; with engraved representation of the same, coloured from nature by John Francillon’. 1795.

A scan of a coloured bookplate showing a beetle with very large and powerful back legs, at an angle and on it's side.

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The Lit & Phil @litandphil.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

The Lit & Phil’s collection of books is full of surprises, oddities and gems No. 412 | THE CINNABAR MOTH From ‘Butterflies and Moths of the Country Side’ by F. Edward Hulme. c.1903.

A scan of a colour bookplate showing a scientific illustration of the top of a ragwort plant with the different life stages of the Cinnabar Moth including caterpillars, pupa and a colour variant.

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MNG - University Presses @mngupbooks.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

A visually rich history of collective achievement, Enchanted Wood establishes these women engravers as important modern artists and literary figures in their own right. 🔗 buff.ly/TGFlJAC 🗓️ 7 July 2026 📍The Lit & Phil, Newcastle @uminnpress.bsky.social @litandphil.bsky.social

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The Lit & Phil @litandphil.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

The Lit & Phil’s collection of books is full of surprises, oddities and gems No.437 | THE SUN From ‘The Sun: ruler, fire, light, and life of the planetary system’ by Richard A. Proctor, B.A. F.R.A.S. 1871.

A scan of a bookplate showing, according to the caption 'A PORTION OF THE SUNS DISC as seen in May 1870 by Mr. Browning F.R.A.S. with a 12.5 inch BROWNING WITH REFLECTOR'.

Several dark features are visible on the surface of the Sun.

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Daniel Hinds @danielghinds.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

Really enjoyed attending a poetry reading by John Challis & Linda Anderson this week at the @litandphil.bsky.social, reading from new books published by @bloodaxebooks.bsky.social & @pavilionpoetry.bsky.social. I'm a big fan of John's work, so have been really looking forward to his new collection!

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Dr Elizabeth Mackintosh @drelizabethmac1.bsky.social · 17/06/2026

Also what a moment to realise you are casually talking to the remarkable #GillianAllnutt. Listen to her read #Solitude here: youtu.be/3jBRncmRxhE?... #poetry #NorthEast #philosophy #poetrysky #philosophysky @litandphil.bsky.social

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Gillian Allnutt reads 'Solitude'

YouTube video by T. S. Eliot Prize

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Mary Burgess @cambliblife.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

Went to make a cup of tea and found one of my colleagues had evidently enjoyed themselves at the kid's Lego session yesterday. Not sure we've got enough lego to make a full size one though...

A lego model of a blue book trolley made out of lego, with a variety of different coloured books on it.

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The Lit & Phil @litandphil.bsky.social · 22/05/2026

Silence Room Closure 25th May to 5th June 2026 The Silence Room (aka The Reference Room) will be closed due to essential works. (This is the members only room down the back stairs.) We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

A scan of a bookplate showing a man seated by a strange contraption, a 'Book-Wheel', allowing him to look at several open books at once.

Picture Source:

‘Recueil d'ouvrages curieux de mathématique et de mécanique: ou, Description du cabinet de Monsieur Grollier de Servière’. 1719.
Nicolas Grollier de Servière (1596–1689) was a French inventor and ornamental turner who became well known for creating a series of fantastic machines.

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Converge Northumbria @convergenu.bsky.social · 16/04/2026

We were very kindly invited down to the @litandphil.bsky.social for a private tour and handling session! We went down as a group and got a detailed behind the scenes tour of the building and its rich history, as well as a handling session with some of the books in their collection. Thank you! 📚📖

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The Lit & Phil @litandphil.bsky.social · 19/03/2026

Easter Opening Hours We close for Easter at 7pm on Thursday 2nd April We reopen at 9.30am on Tuesday 7th April #Easter

A scan of a novelty postcard by A.G. Steglitz from 1904. It is faded, perhaps originally coloured by hand. A young lady in a rural scene gazes at what appears to be a gigantic egg a metre tall which is cracking, about to hatch.

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The Lit & Phil @litandphil.bsky.social · 12/03/2026

The Lit & Phil’s collection of books is full of surprises, oddities and gems No.75 From William Hutton’s 'History of the Roman Wall' describing its appearance in the year 1801. Hutton (1723-1815) is generally held to be the first person in modern times to walk the entire length of Hadrian's Wall.

A scan of a plain, uncoloured illustration showing; 'Part of the Wall near BENWELL HILL, with an Apple Tree growing upon it's Summit.' The portion of the wall is marked as being '36 feet long, 9 wide & 5 high'

Hutton, producing an account of his journey in The History of the Roman Wall. Walking 600 miles from his Birmingham home, along the wall, and back home again, he wrote in the preface, "I have given a short sketch of my approach to this famous Bulwark; have described it as it appears in the present day, and stated my return. Perhaps, I am the first man that ever traveled the whole length of this Wall, and probably the last that will ever attempt it ..."

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The Lit & Phil @litandphil.bsky.social · 05/03/2026

The front page of our website has links to the files for the Library Assistant Job Description & the Application Form! www.litandphil.org.uk

litandphil.org.uk

Home - The Lit & Phil

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The Lit & Phil @litandphil.bsky.social · 05/03/2026

We are recruiting! We are seeking a part-time library assistant, working 12 hrs per week The closing date for applications is Monday 23 March Interviews will be held on Tuesday 31 March Contact the library on 0191 232 0192 or library@litandphil.org.uk for more information and an application form

A photograph of a corner bookshelf of the Lit & Phil library, chock full of history books!

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The Lit & Phil @litandphil.bsky.social · 05/03/2026

We are delighted to announce that our brand new stairlift is now installed and ready to use!

A colour photograph of a stairlift at the bottom of a flight of stairs, ready for use.

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The Lit & Phil @litandphil.bsky.social · 23/02/2026

The Lit & Phil’s collection of books is full of surprises, oddities and gems No.63 Egypt From Volume II of "Travels of Ali Bey in Morocco, Tripoli, Cyprus, Egypt, Arabia, Syria and Turkey between the years 1803 and 1806" 1st English edition, 1816. #oldbooks #libraries

A scan of a small section of an old map of Lower Egypt.

An uncoloured illustration of a view of Belbeis. The town is seen in the distance in an arid landscape with encampments outside the walls with a few palm trees.

Of Belbeis the author says:
“Belbeis is a tolerably large town and has several mosques. The Nile supplies it with water in great abundance by a canal at the time of its increase; this supply maintains the vegetation of a considerable number of palm and other trees. There are also good melons and water melons but no pulse. This town, with its territory, is governed by a Kiaschef or officer of the Pacha of Cairo.”

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Laura Tisdall @lauratisdall.bsky.social · 13/02/2026

Delighted to be speaking about my forthcoming book We Have Come To Be Destroyed: Growing Up In Cold War Britain at the fantastic @litandphil.bsky.social on 30 April! Do come along if you're Newcastle/NE based - admission free www.litandphil.org.uk/event/we-hav...

Book cover of We Have Come To Be Destroyed: Growing Up In Cold War Britain showing a group of children against an eerie blue-green backdrop.

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The Lit & Phil @litandphil.bsky.social · 09/02/2026

The Lit & Phil’s collection of books is full of surprises, oddities and gems No. 121 ANTARCTIC FLORA From ‘The botany of the Antarctic voyage of H.M. discovery ships Erebus and Terror in the years 1839-1843[...]' by Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker (1817-1911) #oldbooks #libraries #illustration

A scan of a coloured print illustration of a Coprosma Cuncata(?) plant showing the stages and structure of fruit and seed development.

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The Lit & Phil @litandphil.bsky.social · 09/02/2026

Replacement Stair Lift News! A new stair lift will be installed on Monday 16th February. There may be some disruption and noise on the day, for which we apologise in advance. Members and visitors may be asked to use an alternative staircase for a short period.

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The Lit & Phil @litandphil.bsky.social · 27/01/2026

The Lit & Phil’s collection of books is full of surprises, oddities and gems No. 325 "Man Against Microbe" by Bigger, Joseph W. Imprint: London; The Book Club, 1941. #books #bookcovers #libraries

A stark book cover in black, white and orange for MAN AGAINST MICROBE showing 3 artillery pieces firing, as though at falling microscope slides showing the outline of microbes.

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The Lit & Phil @litandphil.bsky.social · 15/12/2025

Early Closure Due to the annual members’ gathering on Thursday 18th December, the library will close at 6pm. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

A photo of a small statue of Joseph Swan with a jolly little knitted santa claus in his lap.

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The Lit & Phil @litandphil.bsky.social · 13/11/2025

Our new Christmas cards are back in stock! Please enjoy ‘The Rein-Deer’ by Thomas Bewick with a festive twist. 6 cards for £8 www.litandphil.org.uk/shop/christm...

A photograph of our new Christmas card for 2025, featuring an old woodcut illustration of a Reindeer with the addition of a shiny red nose.

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Robert Lloyd Parry @nunkie.bsky.social · 19/08/2025

All three Nunkie/ThomThomFilms documentaries are now viewable for free on YouTube: Wits in Felixstowe youtu.be/iYq-MS1790Y Dim Presences youtu.be/Ne2kYzwvHOI The Shrew Ash youtu.be/-T4qTLeaaxg You can subscribe to the Nunkie Youtube channel and let us know what you think...

youtu.be

Wits in Felixstowe

YouTube video by Nunkie Films

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Joanne Harris @joannechocolat.bsky.social · 03/11/2025

This postcard I wrote to a young reader, Sasha Stephenson, was returned to me, as she no longer lives at the address she gave me. Please help me to get it to her if you can!

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The Lit & Phil @litandphil.bsky.social · 03/11/2025

Tickets are still available for tonight's NU Ideas Talk: "Growing a House" & "Specialisation is for Insects"! www.litandphil.org.uk/event/nu-ide... A LIVE Event at the Lit & Phil, Newcastle upon Tyne. Tickets are FREE for Monday 3rd November | 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm

litandphil.org.uk

NU Ideas | Season 4 Talk 1 | Growing a house & Specialisation is for insects - The Lit & Phil

Monday 3rd November 2025 | 6pm NU Ideas | Season […]

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Wayne Gamble @gamblism.bsky.social · 01/10/2025

Brand new book design for @amstirling.bsky.social’s collection of stories launching at Newcastle’s @litandphil.bsky.social on Wednesday 8 October. Thirteen’s cover design is loosely based on Charles Demuth’s 1928 painting, I Saw the Figure 5 in Gold. #bookdesign #graphicdesign #freelance

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The Lit & Phil @litandphil.bsky.social · 19/09/2025

The Lit & Phil’s collection of books is full of surprises, oddities and gems No.29 "Peter Pan; or, the Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up" J.M. Barrie First edition 1911. Illustrated by F.D. Bedford

A scan of the black and white illustration of 'THE NEVER-NEVER LAND', showing Peter Pan playing his pipes surrounded by wild beasts, with the pirate crew marching and singing in the background along the coast to their ship.

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Manchester University Press @manchesterup.bsky.social · 19/09/2025

Don't miss @jakecampbell88.bsky.social on a mini book tour in the North-East this autumn, with events at Durham Book Festival, @crossingthetees.bsky.social, Blyth Celebrates and #Newcastle @litandphil.bsky.social.

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The Lit & Phil @litandphil.bsky.social · 11/09/2025

The Lit & Phil’s collection of books is full of surprises, oddities and gems No. 47 "Cook – title page and Zee-Otter" Images from 'Reizen Rondom de Waereld: James Cook’s Voyages', published in Dutch in 13 vols. between 1795-1803. #books #libraries #illustration

A scan of an uncoloured print showing a sea otter at rest on the Canadian coast.

The title page of the multi volume set: "Reizen Rondom de Waereld: James Cook, Vertaald Door J.D. Pasteur Met Kaarten en Plaaten Elfde Deel." Depicting two cherubs uncovering the Earth.

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The Lit & Phil @litandphil.bsky.social · 01/09/2025

Tickets are LIVE for "The Wylam Song Cycle : A Railway200 Celebration" www.litandphil.org.uk/event/the-wy... A LIVE concert at the Lit & Phil, Newcastle upon Tyne. Tickets are £10 or £8 for concessions, for 1pm on Friday 26th September #concert #live #music

litandphil.org.uk

The Wylam Song Cycle : A Railway200 Celebration | Concert - The Lit & Phil

Friday 26th September | 1pm The Wylam Song Cycle : […]

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The Lit & Phil @litandphil.bsky.social · 30/08/2025

The Lit & Phil’s collection of books is full of surprises, oddities and gems. No.71 'The Lobster Moth' From Edward Donovan’s ‘Natural History of British Insects’ Volume V, published in (1796) #antique #books #illustration #libraries

A colour plate depicting the lifecycle of the Lobster Moth. It is shown as an egg, a caterpillar on a leaf, a cocoon and an adult moth.

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The Lit & Phil @litandphil.bsky.social · 29/08/2025

The Lit & Phil’s collection of books is full of surprises, oddities and gems. No.66 "Scotswood Bridge over the Tyne" From ‘Westmorland, Cumberland, Durham and Northumberland, Illustrated from original drawings by Thomas Allom, & c.' (1833) #old #books #illustration

A scanned, uncoloured etching of the Scotswood Bridge surrounded by a bucolic rural idyll.

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Phil Jackman @philjackman.bsky.social · 28/08/2025

Another excellent visit to the @litandphil.bsky.social Took a while but got another 5 books for my #readtheworld challenge

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