It’s the SUV tyranny: where have all the normal family cars gone? | Coco Khan

It’s the SUV tyranny: where have all the normal family cars gone? | Coco Khan

They rule the roads and, in their wake, even old-style saloons have been supersized. It’s an illusion of consumer choice, says writer and podcaster Coco Khan

theguardian.com

Too good not to share.

michaeledward@michaeledward.bsky.social · last mo.

Sure, he was great in Jurassic Park, but I loved Sam first in Reilly, Ace of Spices - my first Famous Person crush (after Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker, obvs). It was largely his extremely neat hair, but also the Mac. TV series written by the Great Troy Kennedy Martin, and based on a true story.

Oh yes! I have been wanting to say this ever since the first time I heard it spoken - then the advertisers got hold of it.

Lucy Fishwife 🥐@lucyfishwife.bsky.social · 2mo ago

STOP SAYING “PICKY BITS” YOU TWEE IDIOTS

I knew it wasn't just me being a baby! I literally feel like there is a furnace deep in my core that is like something out of Mordor. www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/...

Why women are more affected by hot weather than men

Why are women’s bodies impacted by heat differently to men’s?

bbc.co.uk

I’m wondering how kidlit authors will respond to ban on social media for their past and future books? All the plots that rely on protagonists being on social media will be obsolete, presumably. No more teen influencer wannabes, or vital clues or even annoying older sibs on the gram?

A news story to make your day. (Well, it made mine!) www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

I wrote a poem about my son - years later it appeared on his exam

Emily Cullen says she couldn't believe it when her son told her about the poem, which she had written seven years earlier.

bbc.co.uk

Still coming down from the high of last week's Undiscovered Voices launch party. If you're an agent looking for exciting new voices in #kidslit, check out the UV website and download the winning novel extracts. @louiestowell.bsky.social did an amazing job as Hon Chair. @uvcompetition.bsky.social

Proud to present the cohort of 2026! 😊

Undiscovered Voices@uvcompetition.bsky.social · 4mo ago

Last night saw the Undiscovered Voices 2026 anthology launch party - and what a night it was 🥳 These 12 exceptional writers should be so proud. The future looks very bright ✨ Thanks to all the agents, publishers and guests from the writing world who came, and our super sponsor Writing Partners ❤️

Indeed.

hookland.bsky.social@hookland.bsky.social · 4mo ago

No stillness of water erases the liquid paranoia of those Hooklanders soaked in parental scarelore of Stay Belows. There's an ever present tension the surface will be breached, dangling ankles seized by cold, grey hands. The pretty place as trap. – Dr. M. Benn

As someone with Face Blindness who writes about Super Recognition, this blew my mind a little bit today. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... #faceblindness #hyperfamiliarity #superrecogniser #facialrecognition

The woman whose rare condition means she recognises everyone

Jenny Parry has been diagnosed with a condition known as hyperfamiliarity for faces.

bbc.co.uk

I saw this! And thought, good things can happen.

Bluemoose Books @ofmooseandmen.bsky.social · 4mo ago

Are we the only recent Indie Publisher to have a book Selected as a set text on a national exam board? From September 2026 Leonard and Hungry Paul By @ronanhession.bsky.social will be on The National Junior Certificate in Ireland. Marvelous.

The one who stays is the HERO.. .

The prehistoric cave horses call to me, yearning to live a 21st century life (but insist fire must still be present)

Today I am FINALLY going to visit the Waterstones comics pop up dammit! But first...many other bookshops. For it is the first day that the new Loki editions can be found out in the world!

Phantom trains thrum the rails. Unseen hands switch points in abandoned signal boxes. Our infrastructure is haunted not only by its disasters, but misremembered golden ages. Ghosted by long dead lives and a nagging sense that something has been lost. – George Kindred, Haunted Hookland

Of all animals in that collective wooden bestiary called pew end, my favourites are avatars of the Queen of Owls. Whether Fethrower or Owlpad, they manifest her mysteries. They give her eyes, give her carved eyes. They make even a church part of her kingdom. – Dr. M. Benn, 1982

So delighted for Claire - a well-deserved winner and also an @uvcompetition.bsky.social finalist! Go Claire!!! @claire.l.gordon.writes www.thebookseller.com/news/teacher...

Teacher wins 2026 Rooker Prize for middle-grade fantasy opener

Cheltenham-based primary school teacher Claire Lincoln Gordon has been awarded the 2026 Rooker Prize, a story-opening competition launched at Lewes Football Club in 2022 and sponsored by Hachette UK, ...

thebookseller.com

My dad had this set when I was growing up and me and all more siblings read them - and then a few years ago he sold them in an auction without telling us. Gutted.

Mike Bailey@linusd.bsky.social · 5mo ago

Nice. I have a second edition set, 1967, cost me more but from a charity shop just up the road.

@karabeecroft.bsky.social

School Reading List@schoolreadinglist.bsky.social · 5mo ago

Recently updated on our site: Football books for children and teens. 📚👍🏼 schoolreadinglist.co.uk/genres/footb... #kidlit Football books for children with titles by Michael Rosen, Tom Palmer, Mal Peet, Michaela Morgan, Priscilla Mante, Alex Wheatle, Dan Freedman...

Top Of The Box - the story behind every single released by BBC Records And Tapes. I'm told it's as funny as it is informative and frankly I'll take that. Paperback or Kindle from here! timworthington.org/books/top-of...

Top Of The Box

Top Of The Box by Tim Worthington – the story behind every single released by BBC Records And Tapes.

timworthington.org

Yes, exactly. I think it's because people secretly enjoy the opportunity of having a dig at the 'popular ones' They love you till they hate you, or something like that.

The Guardian@theguardian.com · 5mo ago

Why are we dragging apologies out of celebrities for the most innocuous things? | Elle Hunt

When I was asked to step-up and take on the organisation of UV 26, I thought it would be a fun way to give back, I had no idea! So worth it though on Saturday when we had our 12 shortlisted authors all together. Now you can read their amazing work too. Visit undiscoveredvoices.com to download.

It's a busy month for #UV24 debuts hitting the shelves 👏 Today it's the turn of Cinders and Stars, a stunning YA fantasy by Esther Scherpenisse. Congratulations and happy publication day, Esther 🥳 bookfinity.com/book/Cinders... @scbwi.bsky.social

These 12 remarkable story openings make up the latest Undiscovered Voices anthology - available to download or order from undiscoveredvoices.com from tomorrow. Thanks again to amazing panel of judges, team of readers and our fabulous honorary chair @louiestowell.bsky.social 🙏

Undiscovered Voices | Discover New Talent

Undiscovered Voices is an initiative by the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) British Isles to help fresh, new voices in children’s literature find agents, publishers and ult...

undiscoveredvoices.com

Delighted to announce our #UV26 WINNERS!! 👏🥳🙌 @cmundywrites.bsky.social @rburrows.bsky.social @ivy-lin.bsky.social, Monica Gutierraz, Caroline Wigg, Zoe Dixon, Kirsty Hammond, Alicja Bagier, Claire Gordon, Dominic Yoboue, Claire Mowat and Alana Warbrick CONGRATULATIONS on your amazing stories ❤️

We told you April was going to be a busy month 😅 Congratulations and happy publication day to #UV24 alumnus Louise Austin whose hilarious debut Alex Abbott is [Un]dead is out today 👏

The Bath Novel Awards@bathnovelaward.co.uk · 5mo ago

🎉Happy publication day to BCNA Longlist Prize-winner Louise Austin, whose hilarious debut ALEX ABBOTT IS [UN]DEAD is out today! Wednesday meets Loki, it's the fang-tastically funny diary of a reluctant vampire aged 11½ and iIllustrated throughout by Katie Kear www.amazon.co.uk/Alex-Abbott-...

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... normally I’m a sucker for miniature things, but I could get on board with this.

Peterborough man creates supersized household objects

He lives in his home among huge objects including a giant pencil, clothes peg and a 13-amp plug.

bbc.co.uk

www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle... I love this so much. But I think the Andrews doth protest too much.

From Andrew Tate to Mountbatten-Windsor, my first name has been dragged through the mud. Can a global community of ‘Drews’ help change that?

The ‘Council of Andrews’ started as a bit of fun – but has led to friendships, financial help and even fiances…

theguardian.com

www.bbc.com/travel/artic... This sounds amazing! Can we have this in the UK please?

The Easter crime wave sweeping Norway

Visitors to Norway during Easter might find the streets emptier than usual, thanks to the nation's cherished Eastertime obsession: retreating to isolated cabins to binge crime fiction.

bbc.com