Annabookbel
@annabookbel.bsky.social
Book lover, blogging about them since 2008! Oxford environs. Blog: https://annabookbel.net/. Proud Co-founder of https://shinynewbooks.co.uk/
Book 13 of my #20BOS26 is Nicola Barker's debut novel Reversed Forecast annabookbel.net/twenty-books...
Twenty Books of Summer #20BOS26 No 13 – Reversed Forecast by Nicola Barker
I’ve now read 17/20 and am rather behind on my reviews, but here’s the next one for you… The second of my Barker Books reads this summer is her debut novel from 1994. This was a r…
annabookbel.net
At Shiny today, @annabookbel.bsky.social reviews Best Served Cold - an anthology of crime and revenge short stories from Flame Tree Publishing shinynewbooks.co.uk/best-served-...
Best Served Cold: Chilling Short Stories of Crime & Revenge (Beyond and Within), edited by Paul Kane & Marie O’Regan
Review by Annabel Flame Tree Publishing's anthology series, 'Beyond & Within' has a broad remit to collect short stories from a variety of genres. Their latest crime collection, Guilty Sec
shinynewbooks.co.uk
On my blog today, book 12 of my #20BOS26 - Adrian Tomine's memoir in graphic novel form annabookbel.net/20-books-of-...
20 Books of Summer #20BOS26 – No 12 – The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Cartoonist by Adrian Tomine
I’m currently dipping into Tomine’s 2024 book, Q&A, in which he answers questions posed to him sent to his publishers about his life, his career, his techniques, the business of car…
annabookbel.net
It's time to start discussing our #20BOS26 buddy read - Yesteryear. A discussion post is up on my blog - there will be spoilers, but if you've read the book, do feel free to join in. annabookbel.net/yesteryear-b...
Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke – the #20BOS26 buddy read discussion post – warning! – There be* SPOILERS*
Hello, lovely summer readers. If you’ve read Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke – it’s time to open up the discussion on this summer’s most talked about book. Spoilers are welc…
annabookbel.net
On my blog today, my review of Holy F*ck by Joseph Incardona translated by Sam Taylor @bitterlemonpress.bsky.social annabookbel.net/holy-fck-by-...
Holy F*ck by Joseph Incardona
Translated from the French by Sam Taylor With its tagline ‘Salvation comes with a body count’, I was never going to say no to this thriller involving the Vatican, a priest and an honest…
annabookbel.net
It's the first Sat of the month, so time for the bookish #6degrees shinynewbooks.co.uk/land-by-magg...
Land by Maggie O’Farrell
Reviewed by Harriet Maggie O’Farrell’s new book has had quite a mixed reception - some high praise and some rather damning criticism. Having read it myself, which took a long time because
shinynewbooks.co.uk
At Shiny today, @kaggsy59.bsky.social reviews Guilty Secrets an anthology of new crime short stories, ed. @martinedwardsbooks.bsky.social from Flame Tree Publishing shinynewbooks.co.uk/guilty-secre...
Guilty Secrets: From the Crime Writers Association (Beyond and Within), edited by Martin Edwards
Review by Karen Langley The Crime Writers’ Association was formed in 1953 by author John Creasey, with a stated aim to promote, support and celebrate crime writing, and writers of all crime
shinynewbooks.co.uk
On my blog today, a survey of Brooklyn-born/based authors plus some Brooklyn-set novels I've read. This was fun! annabookbel.net/brooklyn-nyc...
Brooklyn, NYC – authors and novels
I do love a listy post. I was contemplating doing one of my archive ‘Five Feat’ posts about Brooklyn, one of NYC’s five boroughs, but when I started looking for posts, I found the…
annabookbel.net
It's my #20BOS26 midway check-in and road trip post annabookbel.net/20-books-of-...
20 Books of Summer – Midway check-in and my road trip #20BOS26
A little late, but the last week and a half was hectic! I’ve finally put the summer edition of our school magazine to bed. I had to use Canva for it for the first time, having always used Ado…
annabookbel.net
On my blog today: 3 novellas - Duras, de Vigan and Balle, for #ParisinJuly2026 hosted by @wordsandpeace.bsky.social and #20BOS26 annabookbel.net/three-for-pa...
Three for #ParisinJuly2026 – Duras, Vigan & Balle
Today I have short reviews of two novellas set in unspecified French locations by Parisian authors, and one set partly in Paris by a Danish author for Paris in July, hosted by Emma at Words and Pea…
annabookbel.net
On my blog today, Scorpius Books - an indie publisher of dyslexic friendly titles for adults - annabookbel.net/two-from-sco...
Two from Scorpius Books – a UK indie publisher of dyslexic friendly editions
A while ago, I was contacted by Jacqui Kibby, founder and publisher of UK indie Scorpius Books based in Colchester. Scorpius was the first UK publisher to create dyslexic friendly editions especial…
annabookbel.net
Today at Shiny: @lyzzybee.bsky.social reviews Lost London by Paul Knox @yalepress.bsky.social shinynewbooks.co.uk/lost-london-...
Lost London: From Crystal Palace to Heston Airport, a History in 25 Missing Buildings, by Paul Knox
Review by Liz Dexter “Having been lost in the Great Fire and again to the Blitz, Christ Church has now arguably been lost again, figuratively, to London’s neoliberal appetites.”(p. 35)
shinynewbooks.co.uk
It's the midway check-in for #20BOS26 Let us know how you're getting on, and you're invited to take us on a road trip through your books read. annabookbel.net/twenty-books...
My review of Fair Play by Louise Hegarty for #20BOS26 annabookbel.net/fair-play-by...
Fair Play by Louise Hegarty – Book Group Report & No 5 of #20BOS26
This was our July book for discussion at Book Group – and yes, it generated a good discussion – but that doesn’t mean that readers enjoyed it! Only 2 out of 7 were largely positiv…
annabookbel.net
Celebrating the 20th birthday of my wonderful local indie bookshop Mostly Books, annabookbel.net/mostly-books...
Mostly Books is 20 years old!
L-R: Author Matson Taylor, Nicki, Mark, Sarah, author S J Poyton My favourite little indie bookshop, Mostly Books in Abingdon, is twenty years old this weekend! I’ve been going there since it…
annabookbel.net
On my blog, my review of the deliciously dark and funny new novel by John Lanchester @faberbooks.bsky.social annabookbel.net/look-what-yo...
Look What You Made Me Do by John Lanchester
I can’t believe I’m still reviewing books from before #20BOS26 began – but I am – there are three more to come still after this one! I was always going to want to read John …
annabookbel.net
My 4th of my #20BOS26 is The Portrait Artist by Dani Heywood-Lonsdale, @bloomsburybooksuk.bsky.social - loved it. annabookbel.net/the-portrait...
The Portrait Artist by Dani Heywood-Lonsdale – #20BOS26 No 4
Full disclosure: I don’t personally know the author, but Dr Heywood-Lonsdale teaches English at the school I work for – although we’re on different sites, so I was aware of her an…
annabookbel.net
It's my third of my #20BOS26 and the first of my planned Nicola Barker reads: The Cauliflower - annabookbel.net/the-cauliflo...
The Cauliflower® by Nicola Barker, #20BOS26, No 3
As previously stated, one of the aims in my 20 Books of Summer this year was to incorporate a few books by Nicola Barker, a contemporary UK author I very much enjoy into my reading. So much so, I&#…
annabookbel.net
It's my third of my #20BOS26 and the first of my planned Nicola Barker reads: The Cauliflower - annabookbel.net/the-cauliflo...
The Cauliflower® by Nicola Barker, #20BOS26, No 3
As previously stated, one of the aims in my 20 Books of Summer this year was to incorporate a few books by Nicola Barker, a contemporary UK author I very much enjoy into my reading. So much so, I&#…
annabookbel.net
Reading in bed with Harry, The Portrait Artist by Dani Heywood-Lonsdale @bloomsburybooksuk.bsky.social
On my blog, my review of A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan, the last book in my @galleybeggars.bsky.social Critical Reading course. annabookbel.net/a-visit-from...
A Visit From the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan
This was the last book in my six session Galley Beggar Critical Reading class led by chief Galley Beggar Sam Jordison. The others were: The Benefactors by Wendy Erskine Kindred by Oc…
annabookbel.net
Lovely arrivals today. On the left from Flame Tree Publishing and on the right @moonflowerbooks.bsky.social, I'm looking forward to reading these. Thank you!
