Paul Wilson
@bibliopaul.bsky.social
Co-host of The Mookse And The Gripes podcast with @mookse | 2023 @USRofC judge | Slowly and happily burying myself in books
Reposted by Paul Wilson
Happy Thanksgiving, friends!
Today @bibliopaul.bsky.social and I are giving thanks for the bookish communities that enrich our solitary reading lives. Then we share our holiday reading plans and all the books we hope to finish before 2025 slips away. open.substack.com/pub/mookse/p...
Today @bibliopaul.bsky.social and I are giving thanks for the bookish communities that enrich our solitary reading lives. Then we share our holiday reading plans and all the books we hope to finish before 2025 slips away. open.substack.com/pub/mookse/p...
Episode 120: Gratitude and Holiday Reading
In this Thanksgiving episode, we start by reflecting on the bookish communities that make the solitary act of reading feel richer and more connected.
open.substack.com
November 27, 2025 at 2:11 PM
Happy Thanksgiving, friends!
Today @bibliopaul.bsky.social and I are giving thanks for the bookish communities that enrich our solitary reading lives. Then we share our holiday reading plans and all the books we hope to finish before 2025 slips away. open.substack.com/pub/mookse/p...
Today @bibliopaul.bsky.social and I are giving thanks for the bookish communities that enrich our solitary reading lives. Then we share our holiday reading plans and all the books we hope to finish before 2025 slips away. open.substack.com/pub/mookse/p...
After years of trying to track down a copy of this book, I now have two - one preordered months ago from @deepvellum.bsky.social and delivered today, the other discovered a few weeks ago at a favorite local used bookstore. (Yes, I knew I had another one on the way. Yes, I bought it anyway!)
November 26, 2025 at 12:59 AM
After years of trying to track down a copy of this book, I now have two - one preordered months ago from @deepvellum.bsky.social and delivered today, the other discovered a few weeks ago at a favorite local used bookstore. (Yes, I knew I had another one on the way. Yes, I bought it anyway!)
Fresh off of our episode about book culling, here is a stack I’ve picked up over the last month. Am I doing it right, @mookse.bsky.social and @ds228.bsky.social ?
November 15, 2025 at 5:53 PM
Fresh off of our episode about book culling, here is a stack I’ve picked up over the last month. Am I doing it right, @mookse.bsky.social and @ds228.bsky.social ?
This week, @mookse.bsky.social and I joined are by @ds228.bsky.social of @onebrightbook.bsky.social to talk about the difficult, liberating art of culling books. What does it mean to let go of the stories we’ve carried with us? Is it an act of loss, renewal, or self-knowledge?
November 13, 2025 at 8:27 PM
This week, @mookse.bsky.social and I joined are by @ds228.bsky.social of @onebrightbook.bsky.social to talk about the difficult, liberating art of culling books. What does it mean to let go of the stories we’ve carried with us? Is it an act of loss, renewal, or self-knowledge?
I mean, he’s not wrong…
Just a note to say that if you were a supporter of @mookse.bsky.social and @bibliopaul.bsky.social podcast, you could ALREADY listen to my conversation with the boys about getting rid of books.
The rest of you have to wait until Thursday.
The rest of you have to wait until Thursday.
November 13, 2025 at 5:47 AM
I mean, he’s not wrong…
In this on-the-go episode, @mookse.bsky.social and I take the podcast out for a walk. Trevor reflects on how he's lost 40 pounds and discovered ways to bring books into every part of his daily rhythm. From audiobooks on walks to reading as recovery, we explore making reading a full-body experience.
October 30, 2025 at 6:31 PM
In this on-the-go episode, @mookse.bsky.social and I take the podcast out for a walk. Trevor reflects on how he's lost 40 pounds and discovered ways to bring books into every part of his daily rhythm. From audiobooks on walks to reading as recovery, we explore making reading a full-body experience.
Found these beauties during a trip to Boston this week!
October 26, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Found these beauties during a trip to Boston this week!
In our latest episode, @mookse.bsky.social and I talk about losing the plot. Or more precisely, reading slumps
—what they look like, what brings them on, and how to find the spark again. From work stress to life interruptions to simple fatigue, we explore how to rediscover the joy of the page.
—what they look like, what brings them on, and how to find the spark again. From work stress to life interruptions to simple fatigue, we explore how to rediscover the joy of the page.
October 16, 2025 at 11:21 PM
In our latest episode, @mookse.bsky.social and I talk about losing the plot. Or more precisely, reading slumps
—what they look like, what brings them on, and how to find the spark again. From work stress to life interruptions to simple fatigue, we explore how to rediscover the joy of the page.
—what they look like, what brings them on, and how to find the spark again. From work stress to life interruptions to simple fatigue, we explore how to rediscover the joy of the page.
Book mail! The latest Olga Ravn from my New Directions new classics subscription (can’t wait!) and an amazing gift from the always lovely @wendywhidden.bsky.social based on our mutual love of Indian literature!
October 6, 2025 at 11:22 PM
Book mail! The latest Olga Ravn from my New Directions new classics subscription (can’t wait!) and an amazing gift from the always lovely @wendywhidden.bsky.social based on our mutual love of Indian literature!
The books I read (or finished) in September. Several will surely make my end of year list!
Not pictured:
My Heart Is A Chainsaw - Stephen Graham Jones
Not pictured:
My Heart Is A Chainsaw - Stephen Graham Jones
October 3, 2025 at 9:09 PM
The books I read (or finished) in September. Several will surely make my end of year list!
Not pictured:
My Heart Is A Chainsaw - Stephen Graham Jones
Not pictured:
My Heart Is A Chainsaw - Stephen Graham Jones
In this episode @mookse.bsky.social and l are joined by @lorifeathers.bsky.social, using The Portrait of a Lady as our foundation to explore what makes a work abundant. We move through other examples, asking what defines abundance, how it differs from size or ambition, and why these books matter.
October 2, 2025 at 10:33 PM
In this episode @mookse.bsky.social and l are joined by @lorifeathers.bsky.social, using The Portrait of a Lady as our foundation to explore what makes a work abundant. We move through other examples, asking what defines abundance, how it differs from size or ambition, and why these books matter.
This week @mookse.bsky.social and I are joined by translator @maxlawton.bsky.social to celebrate the release of Michael Lenz’s Schattenfroh from @deepvellum.bsky.social. But rather than focus only on this one book, we open the conversation to a wider theme: the joy of reading books that resist.
September 4, 2025 at 7:51 PM
This week @mookse.bsky.social and I are joined by translator @maxlawton.bsky.social to celebrate the release of Michael Lenz’s Schattenfroh from @deepvellum.bsky.social. But rather than focus only on this one book, we open the conversation to a wider theme: the joy of reading books that resist.
The books I read, reread and finished during August Some great ones for #witmonth and two big fellas that will stick with me for years.
September 1, 2025 at 5:04 PM
The books I read, reread and finished during August Some great ones for #witmonth and two big fellas that will stick with me for years.
The eagle (albatross? elephant?) has landed! After spending the past few months reading the e-ARC ahead of our upcoming conversation with @maxlawton.bsky.social , it’s so nice to see the physical book in all its glory.
@willevans.bsky.social @deepvellum.bsky.social
@willevans.bsky.social @deepvellum.bsky.social
August 22, 2025 at 5:12 PM
The eagle (albatross? elephant?) has landed! After spending the past few months reading the e-ARC ahead of our upcoming conversation with @maxlawton.bsky.social , it’s so nice to see the physical book in all its glory.
@willevans.bsky.social @deepvellum.bsky.social
@willevans.bsky.social @deepvellum.bsky.social
This week, @mookse.bsky.social and I tackle the fun—and stressful—task of creating starter libraries. We’re joined by @johnwilliams.bsky.social to each pick 10 books that someone can use as a starter library. We compare approaches, confess struggles, and take our best shots! Which would you pick?
August 21, 2025 at 8:15 PM
This week, @mookse.bsky.social and I tackle the fun—and stressful—task of creating starter libraries. We’re joined by @johnwilliams.bsky.social to each pick 10 books that someone can use as a starter library. We compare approaches, confess struggles, and take our best shots! Which would you pick?
Reposted by Paul Wilson
The smart hosts and big readers @mookse.bsky.social and @bibliopaul.bsky.social were kind enough to have me on their podcast to discuss my subject of choice: starter libraries. What does that mean? I thought I knew until I started completing the task...
What does it take to build the perfect first shelf? This week e’re joined by @johnwilliams.bsky.social, to discuss how to choose ten books that someone can use as a starter library, offering comfort, surprise, and a little stretch along the way. mookse.substack.com/p/episode-11...
Episode 113: Starter Libraries: A Shelf Full of Promises
What does it take to build the perfect first shelf?
mookse.substack.com
August 21, 2025 at 2:40 PM
The smart hosts and big readers @mookse.bsky.social and @bibliopaul.bsky.social were kind enough to have me on their podcast to discuss my subject of choice: starter libraries. What does that mean? I thought I knew until I started completing the task...
Good news: I spent a lot of time this weekend in bookstores, trading in and giving away a bunch of books. In other news, these followed me home. My shelves are ... not impressed.
@archipelagobooks.bsky.social @nyrb-imprints.bsky.social @citylightsbooks.bsky.social
@archipelagobooks.bsky.social @nyrb-imprints.bsky.social @citylightsbooks.bsky.social
August 17, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Good news: I spent a lot of time this weekend in bookstores, trading in and giving away a bunch of books. In other news, these followed me home. My shelves are ... not impressed.
@archipelagobooks.bsky.social @nyrb-imprints.bsky.social @citylightsbooks.bsky.social
@archipelagobooks.bsky.social @nyrb-imprints.bsky.social @citylightsbooks.bsky.social
The last two books from my @charcopress.com 2025 bundle arrived this week. Can’t wait to dive in! I’ve said it many times before, but book subscriptions from indie publishers are one of my favorite things. I can’t recommend them highly enough. Wonderful surprises scattered throughout the year!
August 13, 2025 at 11:12 PM
The last two books from my @charcopress.com 2025 bundle arrived this week. Can’t wait to dive in! I’ve said it many times before, but book subscriptions from indie publishers are one of my favorite things. I can’t recommend them highly enough. Wonderful surprises scattered throughout the year!
@mookse.bsky.social and I are back for a favorite time of year: Women in Translation Month! Each August, readers celebrate books written by women and translated into English, highlighting voices that too often go unheard. We each pick 5 titles we’re planning to read this month. How about you?
August 7, 2025 at 7:37 PM
@mookse.bsky.social and I are back for a favorite time of year: Women in Translation Month! Each August, readers celebrate books written by women and translated into English, highlighting voices that too often go unheard. We each pick 5 titles we’re planning to read this month. How about you?
Library sales are dangerous… I mean, what was I supposed to do, not spend eleven bucks?!
August 6, 2025 at 11:44 PM
Library sales are dangerous… I mean, what was I supposed to do, not spend eleven bucks?!
So excited about these two from @dorothyproject.bsky.social ! One is “grotesquely inventive & amusing, like a corner torn from a Hieronymus Bosch painting.” The other resurrects a Gertrude Stein book to “to tell a different story of queer love, life, & artistic collaboration.” Can’t wait to dive in!
August 4, 2025 at 7:46 PM
So excited about these two from @dorothyproject.bsky.social ! One is “grotesquely inventive & amusing, like a corner torn from a Hieronymus Bosch painting.” The other resurrects a Gertrude Stein book to “to tell a different story of queer love, life, & artistic collaboration.” Can’t wait to dive in!
The books I read (or reread) during July.
August 3, 2025 at 8:46 PM
The books I read (or reread) during July.
These have been calling to me for a long time. I held out for quite a while, but...
July 29, 2025 at 7:55 PM
These have been calling to me for a long time. I held out for quite a while, but...
Thanks Tom and Mike for so many wonderful hours, great book discussions, and tons of laughs. I’m not someone who laughs out loud very often and you two always managed to do it. Hope you love whatever is next - I’ll really miss hanging out with you guys.
13 years, 763 episodes, didn't count anything else but a ton of books and great guests and weird flavored snacks and questions about vampire names and everything else between. Recorded the last Book Fight! with @mikeingram.bsky.social today. One of the most rewarding experiences of my life.
July 25, 2025 at 1:14 AM
Thanks Tom and Mike for so many wonderful hours, great book discussions, and tons of laughs. I’m not someone who laughs out loud very often and you two always managed to do it. Hope you love whatever is next - I’ll really miss hanging out with you guys.
For the first time ever, @mookse and I met in person! Join us as we take the show on the road—through bookstores, libraries, and an unforgettable day of literary wandering. We apologize for the audio, but hope you enjoy this day out with us.
open.substack.com/pub/mookse/p...
open.substack.com/pub/mookse/p...
July 24, 2025 at 2:35 PM
For the first time ever, @mookse and I met in person! Join us as we take the show on the road—through bookstores, libraries, and an unforgettable day of literary wandering. We apologize for the audio, but hope you enjoy this day out with us.
open.substack.com/pub/mookse/p...
open.substack.com/pub/mookse/p...