Pinned
From Celtic fringe to Bible belt | John Self | The Critic Magazine
When is a short story not a short story? Last month, one chapter of a novel won the BBC National Short Story Award, as a stand-alone work of fiction
thecritic.co.uk
"O'Connor once spoke about how, when giving a talk, she was asked 'Why do you write?' and replied, 'Because I’m good at it'. She 'at once felt a considerable disapproval in the atmosphere' — but she was spot on."
Me on three story collections by Cynan Jones, Tim MacGabhann and Flannery O'Connor:
Me on three story collections by Cynan Jones, Tim MacGabhann and Flannery O'Connor:
“I don’t want my mind to go
but if it should do so
then I want to go out like a light
just as soon as I possibly can.”
‘After Depression?’ by Tom Paulin
(from Namanlagh)
but if it should do so
then I want to go out like a light
just as soon as I possibly can.”
‘After Depression?’ by Tom Paulin
(from Namanlagh)
November 15, 2025 at 10:34 PM
“I don’t want my mind to go
but if it should do so
then I want to go out like a light
just as soon as I possibly can.”
‘After Depression?’ by Tom Paulin
(from Namanlagh)
but if it should do so
then I want to go out like a light
just as soon as I possibly can.”
‘After Depression?’ by Tom Paulin
(from Namanlagh)
Reposted by John Self
Reposted by John Self
Reposted by John Self
Feeling peckish after a helping of Wayne Thiebaud 🍰
November 15, 2025 at 7:04 PM
Feeling peckish after a helping of Wayne Thiebaud 🍰
Reposted by John Self
If you need me, tap me on the shoulder. I’ll be happily working all day listening to this on a loop.
November 13, 2025 at 1:49 PM
If you need me, tap me on the shoulder. I’ll be happily working all day listening to this on a loop.
Reposted by John Self
"O'Connor once spoke about how, when giving a talk, she was asked 'Why do you write?' and replied, 'Because I’m good at it'. She 'at once felt a considerable disapproval in the atmosphere' — but she was spot on."
Me on three story collections by Cynan Jones, Tim MacGabhann and Flannery O'Connor:
Me on three story collections by Cynan Jones, Tim MacGabhann and Flannery O'Connor:
From Celtic fringe to Bible belt | John Self | The Critic Magazine
When is a short story not a short story? Last month, one chapter of a novel won the BBC National Short Story Award, as a stand-alone work of fiction
thecritic.co.uk
November 14, 2025 at 4:18 PM
"O'Connor once spoke about how, when giving a talk, she was asked 'Why do you write?' and replied, 'Because I’m good at it'. She 'at once felt a considerable disapproval in the atmosphere' — but she was spot on."
Me on three story collections by Cynan Jones, Tim MacGabhann and Flannery O'Connor:
Me on three story collections by Cynan Jones, Tim MacGabhann and Flannery O'Connor:
Reposted by John Self
Who remembers daylight? Daylight? Light during the day? What were all that about, eh? #nostalgichumour
November 15, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Who remembers daylight? Daylight? Light during the day? What were all that about, eh? #nostalgichumour
[Possible Wordle spoiler]
Interesting solution today. I thought it didn’t include past participles/past tense of verbs (along with plurals etc) as answers.
Interesting solution today. I thought it didn’t include past participles/past tense of verbs (along with plurals etc) as answers.
November 15, 2025 at 4:20 PM
[Possible Wordle spoiler]
Interesting solution today. I thought it didn’t include past participles/past tense of verbs (along with plurals etc) as answers.
Interesting solution today. I thought it didn’t include past participles/past tense of verbs (along with plurals etc) as answers.
Reposted by John Self
Just once, it would be nice if a footballer pointed down after scoring a goal, to dedicate it to a departed loved one they know is in hell.
April 18, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Just once, it would be nice if a footballer pointed down after scoring a goal, to dedicate it to a departed loved one they know is in hell.
Reposted by John Self
You kids think saying numbers is cool? 67? How 'bout 9/11? Still having fun? Didn't think so.
November 15, 2025 at 1:36 AM
You kids think saying numbers is cool? 67? How 'bout 9/11? Still having fun? Didn't think so.
Reposted by John Self
It gets dark early now and the country is raked by rain, so if you're the protagonist in an M John Harrison novel now is the right time of year to take a slow train to an unfamiliar town to check on an old friend who hasn't been doing so well
November 15, 2025 at 12:31 PM
It gets dark early now and the country is raked by rain, so if you're the protagonist in an M John Harrison novel now is the right time of year to take a slow train to an unfamiliar town to check on an old friend who hasn't been doing so well
Reposted by John Self
I got turned away from a charity shop who didn't want my book donations because they said they had too many books. I pleaded with them, as I'd walked for 25 minutes with the heavy bag to deliver them, and then a random customer said 'I'll take them' so I gave them all to him
November 15, 2025 at 12:21 PM
I got turned away from a charity shop who didn't want my book donations because they said they had too many books. I pleaded with them, as I'd walked for 25 minutes with the heavy bag to deliver them, and then a random customer said 'I'll take them' so I gave them all to him
CHARITY BOOKSHOP VOLUNTEERS. Try not to look actively resentful when someone brings in bags of books to donate.
November 15, 2025 at 11:37 AM
CHARITY BOOKSHOP VOLUNTEERS. Try not to look actively resentful when someone brings in bags of books to donate.
Reposted by John Self
If the UK is on the brink of civil war, as Musk claims, it follows that in 300 years time there will be be a new generation of civil war re-enactment societies.
"Geoff,you defend Laurence Fox. Can you guys shout outside a hostel. Brian, i need you to relentlessly slag off Nish Kumar on Facebook."
"Geoff,you defend Laurence Fox. Can you guys shout outside a hostel. Brian, i need you to relentlessly slag off Nish Kumar on Facebook."
November 15, 2025 at 9:12 AM
If the UK is on the brink of civil war, as Musk claims, it follows that in 300 years time there will be be a new generation of civil war re-enactment societies.
"Geoff,you defend Laurence Fox. Can you guys shout outside a hostel. Brian, i need you to relentlessly slag off Nish Kumar on Facebook."
"Geoff,you defend Laurence Fox. Can you guys shout outside a hostel. Brian, i need you to relentlessly slag off Nish Kumar on Facebook."
Listening to Nick Cave's Nocturama
November 15, 2025 at 9:56 AM
Listening to Nick Cave's Nocturama
Just out at the shops, anyone need Christmas butter?
November 15, 2025 at 9:45 AM
Just out at the shops, anyone need Christmas butter?
There's a poster on here who is regularly RTed into my timeline and whose stuff is v funny, but I get a shudder of distaste every time I see his profile pic because he uses David Shrigley's Kingsley mascot for Partick Thistle - a quintessentially British thing - AND HE'S AMERICAN.
November 15, 2025 at 8:57 AM
There's a poster on here who is regularly RTed into my timeline and whose stuff is v funny, but I get a shudder of distaste every time I see his profile pic because he uses David Shrigley's Kingsley mascot for Partick Thistle - a quintessentially British thing - AND HE'S AMERICAN.
Reposted by John Self
*shakily removing glasses*
November 14, 2025 at 11:21 PM
*shakily removing glasses*
Reposted by John Self
Saturday in hospitality
November 15, 2025 at 7:59 AM
Saturday in hospitality
Reposted by John Self
Could we stop being quite so silly about this? Compensatory damages depend on evidence of actual harm and Florida caps punitive damages at $500,000.
Buckle up - because this now amounts to a direct and deliberate attack on our country and its cultural sovereignty. Which side our politicians take - Trump's or the BBC's - over the coming days and weeks will speak volumes about their patriotism.
Trump says he will sue BBC for at least $1bn over Panorama edit
The US president confirmed he intends to sue the broadcaster for at least $1bn over the Panorama edit of a 2021 speech.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 15, 2025 at 7:51 AM
Could we stop being quite so silly about this? Compensatory damages depend on evidence of actual harm and Florida caps punitive damages at $500,000.
Shocked to hear of the death of Rachel Cooke at 56 — I didn’t even know she was ill. I always enjoyed reading her reviews and features: she brightened any page of the paper.
Remembering Rachel Cooke | The Observer
observer.co.uk
November 14, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Shocked to hear of the death of Rachel Cooke at 56 — I didn’t even know she was ill. I always enjoyed reading her reviews and features: she brightened any page of the paper.
Reposted by John Self
Sorry if this comes across as snide but I'm saying it with kindness: a lot of you need to chill out with the urge to add a threaded reply saying "some of the replies to my original post are annoying to me".
November 14, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Sorry if this comes across as snide but I'm saying it with kindness: a lot of you need to chill out with the urge to add a threaded reply saying "some of the replies to my original post are annoying to me".
Reposted by John Self
Gulley Jimson is a superb creation, and for my money the best fictional artist. Carey reportedly based him on this chap www.victoria-king.com/the-existent...
The Existential Magician: Gerald Wilde | Victoria King, artist and writer
www.victoria-king.com
November 14, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Gulley Jimson is a superb creation, and for my money the best fictional artist. Carey reportedly based him on this chap www.victoria-king.com/the-existent...
Reposted by John Self
Much like in the Pinochet regime, spouses of suspended posters pin printouts of their profile pages to their breasts and dance the Cueca
She's claiming she was "disappeared" because she couldn't post for 72 hours.
November 14, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Much like in the Pinochet regime, spouses of suspended posters pin printouts of their profile pages to their breasts and dance the Cueca
"O'Connor once spoke about how, when giving a talk, she was asked 'Why do you write?' and replied, 'Because I’m good at it'. She 'at once felt a considerable disapproval in the atmosphere' — but she was spot on."
Me on three story collections by Cynan Jones, Tim MacGabhann and Flannery O'Connor:
Me on three story collections by Cynan Jones, Tim MacGabhann and Flannery O'Connor:
From Celtic fringe to Bible belt | John Self | The Critic Magazine
When is a short story not a short story? Last month, one chapter of a novel won the BBC National Short Story Award, as a stand-alone work of fiction
thecritic.co.uk
November 14, 2025 at 4:18 PM
"O'Connor once spoke about how, when giving a talk, she was asked 'Why do you write?' and replied, 'Because I’m good at it'. She 'at once felt a considerable disapproval in the atmosphere' — but she was spot on."
Me on three story collections by Cynan Jones, Tim MacGabhann and Flannery O'Connor:
Me on three story collections by Cynan Jones, Tim MacGabhann and Flannery O'Connor: