Gemma Abbott
@gemabbott.bsky.social
Legal Director @thehowardleague.bsky.social. Trustee @dignityindying.org.uk. Views my own. She/her 🏴
Book 71/? - Fair Play by Louise Hegarty
I don’t know if I entirely enjoyed it but I couldn’t stop reading. It’s undoubtedly very clever, weaving together a pastiche of/ homage to golden age murder mystery with a modern telling of the mundane horror of grief. Impressive (if a tiny bit disjointed?)💙📚
I don’t know if I entirely enjoyed it but I couldn’t stop reading. It’s undoubtedly very clever, weaving together a pastiche of/ homage to golden age murder mystery with a modern telling of the mundane horror of grief. Impressive (if a tiny bit disjointed?)💙📚
June 7, 2025 at 9:18 AM
Book 71/? - Fair Play by Louise Hegarty
I don’t know if I entirely enjoyed it but I couldn’t stop reading. It’s undoubtedly very clever, weaving together a pastiche of/ homage to golden age murder mystery with a modern telling of the mundane horror of grief. Impressive (if a tiny bit disjointed?)💙📚
I don’t know if I entirely enjoyed it but I couldn’t stop reading. It’s undoubtedly very clever, weaving together a pastiche of/ homage to golden age murder mystery with a modern telling of the mundane horror of grief. Impressive (if a tiny bit disjointed?)💙📚
Book 70/? - The Coin by Yasmin Zaher
I listened to this on audiobook and was transfixed. It was funny but also so very sad. It left me feeling a bit raw. Loneliness, displacement, class, beauty, nature… it is disgusting at times and moving too 💙📚
I listened to this on audiobook and was transfixed. It was funny but also so very sad. It left me feeling a bit raw. Loneliness, displacement, class, beauty, nature… it is disgusting at times and moving too 💙📚
June 7, 2025 at 9:12 AM
Book 70/? - The Coin by Yasmin Zaher
I listened to this on audiobook and was transfixed. It was funny but also so very sad. It left me feeling a bit raw. Loneliness, displacement, class, beauty, nature… it is disgusting at times and moving too 💙📚
I listened to this on audiobook and was transfixed. It was funny but also so very sad. It left me feeling a bit raw. Loneliness, displacement, class, beauty, nature… it is disgusting at times and moving too 💙📚
Book 69/? - Consider Yourself Kissed by Jessica Stanley
I succumbed to the endless promotion of this (despite the grating name)
It was genuinely funny - and pretty devastating on the furious resentment that can brew between couples when it comes to making space for parenthood 💙📚
I succumbed to the endless promotion of this (despite the grating name)
It was genuinely funny - and pretty devastating on the furious resentment that can brew between couples when it comes to making space for parenthood 💙📚
June 7, 2025 at 9:04 AM
Book 69/? - Consider Yourself Kissed by Jessica Stanley
I succumbed to the endless promotion of this (despite the grating name)
It was genuinely funny - and pretty devastating on the furious resentment that can brew between couples when it comes to making space for parenthood 💙📚
I succumbed to the endless promotion of this (despite the grating name)
It was genuinely funny - and pretty devastating on the furious resentment that can brew between couples when it comes to making space for parenthood 💙📚
Book 68/? - The Unicorn Woman by Gayl Jones
The story-telling is irresistible - it meanders and flows, sometimes almost dreamlike, always interesting
I hadn’t read Gayl Jones before - glad to have realised my mistake
💙📚
The story-telling is irresistible - it meanders and flows, sometimes almost dreamlike, always interesting
I hadn’t read Gayl Jones before - glad to have realised my mistake
💙📚
June 7, 2025 at 8:59 AM
Book 68/? - The Unicorn Woman by Gayl Jones
The story-telling is irresistible - it meanders and flows, sometimes almost dreamlike, always interesting
I hadn’t read Gayl Jones before - glad to have realised my mistake
💙📚
The story-telling is irresistible - it meanders and flows, sometimes almost dreamlike, always interesting
I hadn’t read Gayl Jones before - glad to have realised my mistake
💙📚
Book 67/? - Gunk by Saba Sams
So good - this had me racing to download the author’s first book (Send Nudes). It’s somehow both tender and acerbic - and funny too. Highly recommend 💙📚
So good - this had me racing to download the author’s first book (Send Nudes). It’s somehow both tender and acerbic - and funny too. Highly recommend 💙📚
June 7, 2025 at 8:54 AM
Book 67/? - Gunk by Saba Sams
So good - this had me racing to download the author’s first book (Send Nudes). It’s somehow both tender and acerbic - and funny too. Highly recommend 💙📚
So good - this had me racing to download the author’s first book (Send Nudes). It’s somehow both tender and acerbic - and funny too. Highly recommend 💙📚
Book 66/? - The Homemade God by Rachel Joyce
I loved this. On siblings, on family, on those tiny resentments and assumptions that might suddenly collapse under their own weight
The indie hardback is a feast for the eyes too - hunt it down if you can! 💙📚
I loved this. On siblings, on family, on those tiny resentments and assumptions that might suddenly collapse under their own weight
The indie hardback is a feast for the eyes too - hunt it down if you can! 💙📚
June 7, 2025 at 8:48 AM
Book 66/? - The Homemade God by Rachel Joyce
I loved this. On siblings, on family, on those tiny resentments and assumptions that might suddenly collapse under their own weight
The indie hardback is a feast for the eyes too - hunt it down if you can! 💙📚
I loved this. On siblings, on family, on those tiny resentments and assumptions that might suddenly collapse under their own weight
The indie hardback is a feast for the eyes too - hunt it down if you can! 💙📚
Book 65/? - The Salt Path by Raynor Winn
I enjoyed the nature writing and it’s set in a favourite part of the world. But I don’t think it goes much further than memoir - eg I found it quite shallow on its broader themes of homelessness (& don’t get me started on her take on refugees 😳)
💙📚
I enjoyed the nature writing and it’s set in a favourite part of the world. But I don’t think it goes much further than memoir - eg I found it quite shallow on its broader themes of homelessness (& don’t get me started on her take on refugees 😳)
💙📚
May 25, 2025 at 3:59 PM
Book 65/? - The Salt Path by Raynor Winn
I enjoyed the nature writing and it’s set in a favourite part of the world. But I don’t think it goes much further than memoir - eg I found it quite shallow on its broader themes of homelessness (& don’t get me started on her take on refugees 😳)
💙📚
I enjoyed the nature writing and it’s set in a favourite part of the world. But I don’t think it goes much further than memoir - eg I found it quite shallow on its broader themes of homelessness (& don’t get me started on her take on refugees 😳)
💙📚
Book 64/? - Water by John Boyne
This popped up on my Audible, one of Boyne’s ‘elemental’ series
I loved the writing as it dealt with nature; I was left a bit cold by the characterisation…
Not sure I’ll read the others but I did like the setting of an isolated and unyielding Irish island 💙📚
This popped up on my Audible, one of Boyne’s ‘elemental’ series
I loved the writing as it dealt with nature; I was left a bit cold by the characterisation…
Not sure I’ll read the others but I did like the setting of an isolated and unyielding Irish island 💙📚
May 25, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Book 64/? - Water by John Boyne
This popped up on my Audible, one of Boyne’s ‘elemental’ series
I loved the writing as it dealt with nature; I was left a bit cold by the characterisation…
Not sure I’ll read the others but I did like the setting of an isolated and unyielding Irish island 💙📚
This popped up on my Audible, one of Boyne’s ‘elemental’ series
I loved the writing as it dealt with nature; I was left a bit cold by the characterisation…
Not sure I’ll read the others but I did like the setting of an isolated and unyielding Irish island 💙📚
Book 63/? - The Names by Florence Knapp
I succumbed to the unrelenting coverage of this, which made me - wrongly - think this was going to be light and fun. It’s not! It’s much more interesting, and harrowing, than I expected - and better for it 💙📚
I succumbed to the unrelenting coverage of this, which made me - wrongly - think this was going to be light and fun. It’s not! It’s much more interesting, and harrowing, than I expected - and better for it 💙📚
May 25, 2025 at 3:39 PM
Book 63/? - The Names by Florence Knapp
I succumbed to the unrelenting coverage of this, which made me - wrongly - think this was going to be light and fun. It’s not! It’s much more interesting, and harrowing, than I expected - and better for it 💙📚
I succumbed to the unrelenting coverage of this, which made me - wrongly - think this was going to be light and fun. It’s not! It’s much more interesting, and harrowing, than I expected - and better for it 💙📚
Book 62/? - On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong
I’ve been meaning to read this for a while, prompted by his new book arriving. It’s poetry masquerading as a novel, and it’s both agonising and beautiful. I loved it 📚💙
I’ve been meaning to read this for a while, prompted by his new book arriving. It’s poetry masquerading as a novel, and it’s both agonising and beautiful. I loved it 📚💙
May 25, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Book 62/? - On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong
I’ve been meaning to read this for a while, prompted by his new book arriving. It’s poetry masquerading as a novel, and it’s both agonising and beautiful. I loved it 📚💙
I’ve been meaning to read this for a while, prompted by his new book arriving. It’s poetry masquerading as a novel, and it’s both agonising and beautiful. I loved it 📚💙
Book 61/? - Days of Light by Megan Hunter
I listened to this on audiobook - beautifully written, lyrical & evocative. I found myself a bit frustrated by the passivity of the main character - & the religious underpinnings didn’t really chime from my atheist perspective. But I enjoyed it anyway! 📚💙
I listened to this on audiobook - beautifully written, lyrical & evocative. I found myself a bit frustrated by the passivity of the main character - & the religious underpinnings didn’t really chime from my atheist perspective. But I enjoyed it anyway! 📚💙
May 25, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Book 61/? - Days of Light by Megan Hunter
I listened to this on audiobook - beautifully written, lyrical & evocative. I found myself a bit frustrated by the passivity of the main character - & the religious underpinnings didn’t really chime from my atheist perspective. But I enjoyed it anyway! 📚💙
I listened to this on audiobook - beautifully written, lyrical & evocative. I found myself a bit frustrated by the passivity of the main character - & the religious underpinnings didn’t really chime from my atheist perspective. But I enjoyed it anyway! 📚💙
Book 60/? - Flesh by David Szalay
I read a review that advised not to “pigeonhole Flesh as a novel about masculinity…” - but I’m not sure I found much universality in the experience of the unemotional, unflinching, strangely passive protagonist
Excellent, but not a pleasure 💙📚
I read a review that advised not to “pigeonhole Flesh as a novel about masculinity…” - but I’m not sure I found much universality in the experience of the unemotional, unflinching, strangely passive protagonist
Excellent, but not a pleasure 💙📚
May 9, 2025 at 9:28 PM
Book 60/? - Flesh by David Szalay
I read a review that advised not to “pigeonhole Flesh as a novel about masculinity…” - but I’m not sure I found much universality in the experience of the unemotional, unflinching, strangely passive protagonist
Excellent, but not a pleasure 💙📚
I read a review that advised not to “pigeonhole Flesh as a novel about masculinity…” - but I’m not sure I found much universality in the experience of the unemotional, unflinching, strangely passive protagonist
Excellent, but not a pleasure 💙📚
Book 59/? - Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner
Another audiobook, which I thought was excellent, if pretty tough to listen to (I hadn’t quite realised I was embarking on a story about motherhood and death - I’d have done so *much* less casually had I known)
Beautiful though
💙📚
Another audiobook, which I thought was excellent, if pretty tough to listen to (I hadn’t quite realised I was embarking on a story about motherhood and death - I’d have done so *much* less casually had I known)
Beautiful though
💙📚
May 3, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Book 59/? - Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner
Another audiobook, which I thought was excellent, if pretty tough to listen to (I hadn’t quite realised I was embarking on a story about motherhood and death - I’d have done so *much* less casually had I known)
Beautiful though
💙📚
Another audiobook, which I thought was excellent, if pretty tough to listen to (I hadn’t quite realised I was embarking on a story about motherhood and death - I’d have done so *much* less casually had I known)
Beautiful though
💙📚
Book 58/? - Detransition, Baby by Torrey Peters
A bit trite to say perhaps but this book made me both laugh and cry. It’s brutal at times; I realised I kept on taking breaks when reading to catch my breath
Has anyone read Torrey Peters’ new book, Stag Dance? It’s gone straight on my list! 💙📚
A bit trite to say perhaps but this book made me both laugh and cry. It’s brutal at times; I realised I kept on taking breaks when reading to catch my breath
Has anyone read Torrey Peters’ new book, Stag Dance? It’s gone straight on my list! 💙📚
May 3, 2025 at 11:04 AM
Book 58/? - Detransition, Baby by Torrey Peters
A bit trite to say perhaps but this book made me both laugh and cry. It’s brutal at times; I realised I kept on taking breaks when reading to catch my breath
Has anyone read Torrey Peters’ new book, Stag Dance? It’s gone straight on my list! 💙📚
A bit trite to say perhaps but this book made me both laugh and cry. It’s brutal at times; I realised I kept on taking breaks when reading to catch my breath
Has anyone read Torrey Peters’ new book, Stag Dance? It’s gone straight on my list! 💙📚
Book 57/? - My Name is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout
Working my way through Elizabeth Strout’s works to get to her most recent on the Women’s Prize shortlist! I listened to this on audiobook and really enjoyed it. I love the simplicity of her storytelling - it’s so humane and compassionate 💙📚
Working my way through Elizabeth Strout’s works to get to her most recent on the Women’s Prize shortlist! I listened to this on audiobook and really enjoyed it. I love the simplicity of her storytelling - it’s so humane and compassionate 💙📚
May 3, 2025 at 9:55 AM
Book 57/? - My Name is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout
Working my way through Elizabeth Strout’s works to get to her most recent on the Women’s Prize shortlist! I listened to this on audiobook and really enjoyed it. I love the simplicity of her storytelling - it’s so humane and compassionate 💙📚
Working my way through Elizabeth Strout’s works to get to her most recent on the Women’s Prize shortlist! I listened to this on audiobook and really enjoyed it. I love the simplicity of her storytelling - it’s so humane and compassionate 💙📚
Book 56/? - Perfection by Vincenzo Latronico
No need to add to The Discourse on this. It’s a short read, sharp and unrelenting in its skewering of a gentrifying, hipster generation. Deadpan and ultimately quite depressing, I’m not sure I quite enjoyed it as much as admired it… 📚💙
No need to add to The Discourse on this. It’s a short read, sharp and unrelenting in its skewering of a gentrifying, hipster generation. Deadpan and ultimately quite depressing, I’m not sure I quite enjoyed it as much as admired it… 📚💙
May 3, 2025 at 9:51 AM
Book 56/? - Perfection by Vincenzo Latronico
No need to add to The Discourse on this. It’s a short read, sharp and unrelenting in its skewering of a gentrifying, hipster generation. Deadpan and ultimately quite depressing, I’m not sure I quite enjoyed it as much as admired it… 📚💙
No need to add to The Discourse on this. It’s a short read, sharp and unrelenting in its skewering of a gentrifying, hipster generation. Deadpan and ultimately quite depressing, I’m not sure I quite enjoyed it as much as admired it… 📚💙
🧵Black children are significantly over-represented in youth custody - especially those on remand (i.e. awaiting conviction or sentencing)
April 25, 2025 at 10:36 AM
🧵Black children are significantly over-represented in youth custody - especially those on remand (i.e. awaiting conviction or sentencing)
🧵 Govt’s own evaluation on the use of force - published yesterday - states “prisoner behaviour does not fully account for the levels of PAVA or Baton use experienced by black men in prison”
April 25, 2025 at 10:26 AM
🧵 Govt’s own evaluation on the use of force - published yesterday - states “prisoner behaviour does not fully account for the levels of PAVA or Baton use experienced by black men in prison”
🧵 When Govt researchers spoke to people in prison about the use of force by officers, some identified “disgusting” targeting towards those from racialised minorities
“They’ll go for the Black guy first”
“They’ll go for the Black guy first”
April 25, 2025 at 10:22 AM
🧵 When Govt researchers spoke to people in prison about the use of force by officers, some identified “disgusting” targeting towards those from racialised minorities
“They’ll go for the Black guy first”
“They’ll go for the Black guy first”
🧵 Govt’s own data also shows that you are MUCH more likely to have PAVA spray (and batons) used against you in prison if you are young
April 25, 2025 at 10:17 AM
🧵 Govt’s own data also shows that you are MUCH more likely to have PAVA spray (and batons) used against you in prison if you are young
🧵Racial disproportionality in the use of PAVA spray in prisons is profound - you are MUCH more likely to be pepper sprayed if you are Black than white
(A reminder - these stats are from the MoJ’s use of force evaluation published yesterday)
(A reminder - these stats are from the MoJ’s use of force evaluation published yesterday)
April 25, 2025 at 10:15 AM
🧵Racial disproportionality in the use of PAVA spray in prisons is profound - you are MUCH more likely to be pepper sprayed if you are Black than white
(A reminder - these stats are from the MoJ’s use of force evaluation published yesterday)
(A reminder - these stats are from the MoJ’s use of force evaluation published yesterday)
🧵 Yesterday Govt published an evaluation of the use of force - including PAVA spray - in adult prisons from 2018 to 2023
It shows - starkly - the fact that you are significantly more likely to have force used against you in prison if you are Black than white
It shows - starkly - the fact that you are significantly more likely to have force used against you in prison if you are Black than white
April 25, 2025 at 10:12 AM
🧵 Yesterday Govt published an evaluation of the use of force - including PAVA spray - in adult prisons from 2018 to 2023
It shows - starkly - the fact that you are significantly more likely to have force used against you in prison if you are Black than white
It shows - starkly - the fact that you are significantly more likely to have force used against you in prison if you are Black than white
Book 55/? - Confessions by Catherine Airey
I listened to this on audiobook and really enjoyed it. Sometimes I find it jarring to move between narrators but I liked (most of) the voices and how revelations were unfurled gradually and from different perspectives 💙📚
I listened to this on audiobook and really enjoyed it. Sometimes I find it jarring to move between narrators but I liked (most of) the voices and how revelations were unfurled gradually and from different perspectives 💙📚
April 18, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Book 55/? - Confessions by Catherine Airey
I listened to this on audiobook and really enjoyed it. Sometimes I find it jarring to move between narrators but I liked (most of) the voices and how revelations were unfurled gradually and from different perspectives 💙📚
I listened to this on audiobook and really enjoyed it. Sometimes I find it jarring to move between narrators but I liked (most of) the voices and how revelations were unfurled gradually and from different perspectives 💙📚
Book 54/? - Universality by Natasha Brown
This is smart and thoughtful but I was glad it was so short, when everyone was so utterly unbearable 😆
💙📚
This is smart and thoughtful but I was glad it was so short, when everyone was so utterly unbearable 😆
💙📚
April 18, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Book 54/? - Universality by Natasha Brown
This is smart and thoughtful but I was glad it was so short, when everyone was so utterly unbearable 😆
💙📚
This is smart and thoughtful but I was glad it was so short, when everyone was so utterly unbearable 😆
💙📚
Book 53/? - Greta and Valdin by Rachel R Reilly
I absolutely loved this. It’s funny, smart, moving and interesting. It’s mostly about relationships - with family, partners, places, self. Highly, highly recommended
💙📚
I absolutely loved this. It’s funny, smart, moving and interesting. It’s mostly about relationships - with family, partners, places, self. Highly, highly recommended
💙📚
April 18, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Book 53/? - Greta and Valdin by Rachel R Reilly
I absolutely loved this. It’s funny, smart, moving and interesting. It’s mostly about relationships - with family, partners, places, self. Highly, highly recommended
💙📚
I absolutely loved this. It’s funny, smart, moving and interesting. It’s mostly about relationships - with family, partners, places, self. Highly, highly recommended
💙📚