Seán Costello
@seanjcostello.bsky.social
Editor at large
https://bookeditor.co.uk
https://bookeditor.co.uk
“Stand by Me means more to me than any of my other films.”
Wrote about the time I watched Stand by Me with Rob Reiner for The Guardian www.theguardian.com/film/2025/de...
I watched Stand By Me with Rob Reiner. Both film and man changed my life
I had watched the coming-of-age weepie over and over growing up so it was an overwhelming experience to sit down with its creator and see it again. It was a magical day and he was just as warm-hearted...
www.theguardian.com
December 19, 2025 at 11:22 PM
“Stand by Me means more to me than any of my other films.”
“This can’t last. Nothing lasts, really.” Celia Johnson, born OTD in 1908
December 18, 2025 at 11:47 PM
“This can’t last. Nothing lasts, really.” Celia Johnson, born OTD in 1908
Reposted by Seán Costello
Need to get the annoying, moaning, tantrum-throwing writer in your life something for Christmas? Here you go. It'll get them out of the house for five days, and when they return they'll just sit quietly at the kitchen table writing happily, humming like a bee. Peace in our time.
The Five Day Refresh – 19 January 2026 | Faber Academy
Stalled on a novel, or short story? Or just stalled? Join Keith Ridgway for this intensive five-day course which will reinvigorate your enthusiasm for a project you’re stuck on.
faberacademy.com
December 17, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Need to get the annoying, moaning, tantrum-throwing writer in your life something for Christmas? Here you go. It'll get them out of the house for five days, and when they return they'll just sit quietly at the kitchen table writing happily, humming like a bee. Peace in our time.
Bruxelles je t’aime…
December 16, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Bruxelles je t’aime…
“The person, be it gentleman or lady, who has not pleasure in a good novel, must be intolerably stupid.” – Northanger Abbey
#JaneAusten (born 16 December 1775)
#JaneAusten (born 16 December 1775)
December 16, 2025 at 3:42 PM
“The person, be it gentleman or lady, who has not pleasure in a good novel, must be intolerably stupid.” – Northanger Abbey
#JaneAusten (born 16 December 1775)
#JaneAusten (born 16 December 1775)
What a mensch. #RobReiner
One of my all-time favorite clips of Rob Reiner, from his Friars Club Roast in 2000, as he reads aloud Roger Ebert's infamous scathing review of his movie North. The man had an amazing sense of humor about himself. RIP.
December 15, 2025 at 4:34 PM
What a mensch. #RobReiner
Reposted by Seán Costello
RIP Rob & Michele Reiner
His movies gave me so much happiness.
He directed the funniest movie I’ve ever watched and provided wonderful straight man support to Christopher Guest in its funniest scene: youtu.be/uMSV4OteqBE?...
His movies gave me so much happiness.
He directed the funniest movie I’ve ever watched and provided wonderful straight man support to Christopher Guest in its funniest scene: youtu.be/uMSV4OteqBE?...
Amp. goes to 11 (This is Spinal Tap)
YouTube video by dovenol
youtu.be
December 15, 2025 at 4:52 AM
RIP Rob & Michele Reiner
His movies gave me so much happiness.
He directed the funniest movie I’ve ever watched and provided wonderful straight man support to Christopher Guest in its funniest scene: youtu.be/uMSV4OteqBE?...
His movies gave me so much happiness.
He directed the funniest movie I’ve ever watched and provided wonderful straight man support to Christopher Guest in its funniest scene: youtu.be/uMSV4OteqBE?...
Reposted by Seán Costello
To hell with modesty.
December 14, 2025 at 7:33 PM
To hell with modesty.
Pleased to report that this is a hoot (if a little too long). Josh O’Connor carries it.
December 14, 2025 at 12:37 AM
Pleased to report that this is a hoot (if a little too long). Josh O’Connor carries it.
Reposted by Seán Costello
Spotted in a Parisian bookshop window. #BillyWilder #FilmSky
December 12, 2025 at 10:43 PM
Spotted in a Parisian bookshop window. #BillyWilder #FilmSky
An eloquent riposte to QT by Ryan Gilbey, in which he rightly praises Dano's superb performance as the young Brian Wilson in Love & Mercy www.theguardian.com/film/2025/de...
A stiff dose of ‘weak sauce’: Paul Dano’s best films – ranked!
After Quentin Tarantino’s unfavourable comments about the actor’s performance in films including There Will Be Blood, we run through the roles that show just how potent he really is
www.theguardian.com
December 12, 2025 at 12:34 PM
An eloquent riposte to QT by Ryan Gilbey, in which he rightly praises Dano's superb performance as the young Brian Wilson in Love & Mercy www.theguardian.com/film/2025/de...
Reposted by Seán Costello
A humdinger of a review for 'Nadine' at @popintherealworld.bsky.social. Absolutely spot on, eloquent and passionate. A big thanks to Chris for setting it all out, arguably better than we could do ourselves.
🎧 popintherealworld.co.uk/l/eat-drink-party-sleepzzzz/
Lots to catch up on and possibly our widest range of music yet. Thanks to
@rivalconsoles.bsky.social Catt, Sven Wunder, Blood Orange
Rialto, The Futureheads Jims Twenty-one
and Ezra Feinstein.
Lots to catch up on and possibly our widest range of music yet. Thanks to
@rivalconsoles.bsky.social Catt, Sven Wunder, Blood Orange
Rialto, The Futureheads Jims Twenty-one
and Ezra Feinstein.
Eat. Drink. Party. Sleepzzzz :: Pop In The Real World
The Cast (Albums) : Blood Orange, Catt, Ezra Feinberg, The Futureheads, Jim's Twenty-one Rialto, Rival Consoles, Sven Wunder
popintherealworld.co.uk
December 12, 2025 at 7:46 AM
A humdinger of a review for 'Nadine' at @popintherealworld.bsky.social. Absolutely spot on, eloquent and passionate. A big thanks to Chris for setting it all out, arguably better than we could do ourselves.
Reposted by Seán Costello
There are LOTS of reviews of singles, EPs and albums in Issue 3 of my zine. Here's one of them: You Still Believe In Me by @slowcountry.bsky.social
You can buy the zine here: assistant.bandcamp.com/merch/in-the...
You can buy the zine here: assistant.bandcamp.com/merch/in-the...
December 11, 2025 at 8:46 PM
There are LOTS of reviews of singles, EPs and albums in Issue 3 of my zine. Here's one of them: You Still Believe In Me by @slowcountry.bsky.social
You can buy the zine here: assistant.bandcamp.com/merch/in-the...
You can buy the zine here: assistant.bandcamp.com/merch/in-the...
This book, by E.J. Hardy, gets a sardonic mention in Samuel Beckett’s play All That Fall
December 11, 2025 at 7:00 PM
This book, by E.J. Hardy, gets a sardonic mention in Samuel Beckett’s play All That Fall
This is an album I’ve kept returning to this year. Sounding unlike anything else that came out in 2025, for me its folk-tinged psychedelic pop most strongly harks back to classic Beach Boys.
December 8, 2025 at 9:44 PM
This is an album I’ve kept returning to this year. Sounding unlike anything else that came out in 2025, for me its folk-tinged psychedelic pop most strongly harks back to classic Beach Boys.
Some great short story recommendations here…
I've updated the apersonalanthology.com website with @john-self.bsky.social's selection – his pick of and introduction to a dozen favourite stories that, in his words, "feel like they’re *mine*."
Check them out!
(Featuring a Personal Anthology debut for Brian Friel, so congrats to him!)
Check them out!
(Featuring a Personal Anthology debut for Brian Friel, so congrats to him!)
A Personal Anthology
Writers, critics and others dream-edit a personal anthology of their favourite short stories
apersonalanthology.com
December 8, 2025 at 7:23 PM
Some great short story recommendations here…
Enjoyed Celine Song’s Jane Austen-inflected comedy about the brutal reality of dating, featuring a terrific performance from Dakota Johnson and a great New York backdrop
December 7, 2025 at 11:44 PM
Enjoyed Celine Song’s Jane Austen-inflected comedy about the brutal reality of dating, featuring a terrific performance from Dakota Johnson and a great New York backdrop
“I make it a point never to see pictures I write.” Rewatched Bogart in this pitch-dark Hollywood noir alongside the great Gloria Grahame.
December 6, 2025 at 11:55 PM
“I make it a point never to see pictures I write.” Rewatched Bogart in this pitch-dark Hollywood noir alongside the great Gloria Grahame.
Reposted by Seán Costello
Thank God for Bluesky: A little love letter to the people who would not compromise with Nazis iandunt.substack.com/p/thank-god-...
Thank God for Bluesky
Yes, it's eager. Yes, it's censorious. But it has the very considerable advantage of not being fascist.
iandunt.substack.com
December 5, 2025 at 1:10 PM
Thank God for Bluesky: A little love letter to the people who would not compromise with Nazis iandunt.substack.com/p/thank-god-...
Reposted by Seán Costello
Thanks to Tim at Harriet Records @seanjcostello.bsky.social for safe and secure delivery of the much anticipated Nadine CD and thanks to Andrew and Kenny @jimstwentyone.bsky.social ✨️
December 5, 2025 at 11:08 AM
Thanks to Tim at Harriet Records @seanjcostello.bsky.social for safe and secure delivery of the much anticipated Nadine CD and thanks to Andrew and Kenny @jimstwentyone.bsky.social ✨️
Well worth the trek up to Room 90 of the BM if you happen to be in London…
December 4, 2025 at 8:58 PM
Well worth the trek up to Room 90 of the BM if you happen to be in London…
Nordic noir: enjoyed this exhibition of works on paper by Scandinavian artists #BritishMuseum
December 3, 2025 at 8:54 PM
Nordic noir: enjoyed this exhibition of works on paper by Scandinavian artists #BritishMuseum