Duncan Porter
@misterduncan.bsky.social
Environment, nature, tech, music, bikes. Bristol based and born at 330PPM
Just finished reading This Way Up (when maps go wrong & why it matters) by @markcooperjones.bsky.social & @jayforeman.bsky.social
I love maps, so this book was a lot of fun & very interesting. If you really hate maps, probably choose another book.
Vol 2 soon please!
#booksky
I love maps, so this book was a lot of fun & very interesting. If you really hate maps, probably choose another book.
Vol 2 soon please!
#booksky
November 29, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Just finished reading This Way Up (when maps go wrong & why it matters) by @markcooperjones.bsky.social & @jayforeman.bsky.social
I love maps, so this book was a lot of fun & very interesting. If you really hate maps, probably choose another book.
Vol 2 soon please!
#booksky
I love maps, so this book was a lot of fun & very interesting. If you really hate maps, probably choose another book.
Vol 2 soon please!
#booksky
Just finished reading The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak.
It's a simple story about the terrible conflict in Cyprus & the love between Greek & Turkish teenagers, told over three time periods with part of the narrative coming from a fig tree.
It was profoundly moving.
#booksky
1/2
It's a simple story about the terrible conflict in Cyprus & the love between Greek & Turkish teenagers, told over three time periods with part of the narrative coming from a fig tree.
It was profoundly moving.
#booksky
1/2
November 28, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Just finished reading The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak.
It's a simple story about the terrible conflict in Cyprus & the love between Greek & Turkish teenagers, told over three time periods with part of the narrative coming from a fig tree.
It was profoundly moving.
#booksky
1/2
It's a simple story about the terrible conflict in Cyprus & the love between Greek & Turkish teenagers, told over three time periods with part of the narrative coming from a fig tree.
It was profoundly moving.
#booksky
1/2
Just finished reading The Place of Tides by @herdyshepherd.bsky.social
I went in completely cold having enjoyed English Pastoral so much, but this is a very different book, focusing primarily on Eider duck farming (feels like the wrong word) in Norway.
#booksky
1/3
I went in completely cold having enjoyed English Pastoral so much, but this is a very different book, focusing primarily on Eider duck farming (feels like the wrong word) in Norway.
#booksky
1/3
November 24, 2025 at 9:44 PM
Just finished reading The Place of Tides by @herdyshepherd.bsky.social
I went in completely cold having enjoyed English Pastoral so much, but this is a very different book, focusing primarily on Eider duck farming (feels like the wrong word) in Norway.
#booksky
1/3
I went in completely cold having enjoyed English Pastoral so much, but this is a very different book, focusing primarily on Eider duck farming (feels like the wrong word) in Norway.
#booksky
1/3
Just finished reading The Colour Purple by Alice Walker.
A very well crafted & moving novel. It's amazing how many tropes are dodged & how authentic it feels.
Also, it covers so much ground: poverty, racism, colonialism, sexuality, forgiveness.
The last few pages was a lot.
#booksky
A very well crafted & moving novel. It's amazing how many tropes are dodged & how authentic it feels.
Also, it covers so much ground: poverty, racism, colonialism, sexuality, forgiveness.
The last few pages was a lot.
#booksky
November 23, 2025 at 2:11 PM
Just finished reading The Colour Purple by Alice Walker.
A very well crafted & moving novel. It's amazing how many tropes are dodged & how authentic it feels.
Also, it covers so much ground: poverty, racism, colonialism, sexuality, forgiveness.
The last few pages was a lot.
#booksky
A very well crafted & moving novel. It's amazing how many tropes are dodged & how authentic it feels.
Also, it covers so much ground: poverty, racism, colonialism, sexuality, forgiveness.
The last few pages was a lot.
#booksky
Just finished reading Bringing Back the Beavers by Derek Gow.
By far the book that's made me laugh the most this year. Derek is a legend, an inspiration & a great writer.
His knowledge & love of rewilding radiates throughout. It's almost a manifesto for conservation action.
#booksky
1/2
By far the book that's made me laugh the most this year. Derek is a legend, an inspiration & a great writer.
His knowledge & love of rewilding radiates throughout. It's almost a manifesto for conservation action.
#booksky
1/2
November 21, 2025 at 9:33 PM
Just finished reading Bringing Back the Beavers by Derek Gow.
By far the book that's made me laugh the most this year. Derek is a legend, an inspiration & a great writer.
His knowledge & love of rewilding radiates throughout. It's almost a manifesto for conservation action.
#booksky
1/2
By far the book that's made me laugh the most this year. Derek is a legend, an inspiration & a great writer.
His knowledge & love of rewilding radiates throughout. It's almost a manifesto for conservation action.
#booksky
1/2
Love to @jayforeman.bsky.social & @markcooperjones.bsky.social for shitting on Kensington & Chelsea cycling infrastructure in the Map Men Map Men Map Map Map Men Men book 👌
November 20, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Love to @jayforeman.bsky.social & @markcooperjones.bsky.social for shitting on Kensington & Chelsea cycling infrastructure in the Map Men Map Men Map Map Map Men Men book 👌
Just finished reading Boy Parts by Eliza Clark.
A brilliantly written, but increasingly uncomfortable book. It's hard to really clarify who's a victim, who's exploited or exploiting, what's real, What's a distortion, a bad memory or fiction.
#booksky
1/2
A brilliantly written, but increasingly uncomfortable book. It's hard to really clarify who's a victim, who's exploited or exploiting, what's real, What's a distortion, a bad memory or fiction.
#booksky
1/2
November 20, 2025 at 1:29 PM
Just finished reading Boy Parts by Eliza Clark.
A brilliantly written, but increasingly uncomfortable book. It's hard to really clarify who's a victim, who's exploited or exploiting, what's real, What's a distortion, a bad memory or fiction.
#booksky
1/2
A brilliantly written, but increasingly uncomfortable book. It's hard to really clarify who's a victim, who's exploited or exploiting, what's real, What's a distortion, a bad memory or fiction.
#booksky
1/2
Just finished reading Jamaica Inn by Daphne du Maurier.
I don't think I'd have read this ten years ago, but I genuinely really enjoyed this.
The atmosphere & the tension were great. Mary was a genuinely interesting & strong character.
Full of surprises.
#booksky
I don't think I'd have read this ten years ago, but I genuinely really enjoyed this.
The atmosphere & the tension were great. Mary was a genuinely interesting & strong character.
Full of surprises.
#booksky
November 19, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Just finished reading Jamaica Inn by Daphne du Maurier.
I don't think I'd have read this ten years ago, but I genuinely really enjoyed this.
The atmosphere & the tension were great. Mary was a genuinely interesting & strong character.
Full of surprises.
#booksky
I don't think I'd have read this ten years ago, but I genuinely really enjoyed this.
The atmosphere & the tension were great. Mary was a genuinely interesting & strong character.
Full of surprises.
#booksky
Very kind of Cloudflare to topple the web services house of cards just as UK pubs are opening 👍
Can't even check Down Detector as it use's CF's captcha service 😅
Can't even check Down Detector as it use's CF's captcha service 😅
November 18, 2025 at 12:02 PM
Very kind of Cloudflare to topple the web services house of cards just as UK pubs are opening 👍
Can't even check Down Detector as it use's CF's captcha service 😅
Can't even check Down Detector as it use's CF's captcha service 😅
Just finished To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.
Another classic lit book I skipped in my youth, but I wish I'd read it long ago.
Loved every moment of how this story unfolded. Captivating writing & a fascinating cast of characters that creates something really special.
But...
#booksky
1/3
Another classic lit book I skipped in my youth, but I wish I'd read it long ago.
Loved every moment of how this story unfolded. Captivating writing & a fascinating cast of characters that creates something really special.
But...
#booksky
1/3
November 14, 2025 at 1:10 PM
Just finished To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.
Another classic lit book I skipped in my youth, but I wish I'd read it long ago.
Loved every moment of how this story unfolded. Captivating writing & a fascinating cast of characters that creates something really special.
But...
#booksky
1/3
Another classic lit book I skipped in my youth, but I wish I'd read it long ago.
Loved every moment of how this story unfolded. Captivating writing & a fascinating cast of characters that creates something really special.
But...
#booksky
1/3
November 12, 2025 at 9:19 PM
Just finished reading Trust Exercise by Susan Choi.
I looked at reviews after reading this & could see it's a bit of a love it or hate it book. I thought this book was incredible. Susan's prose is remarkable. The structure was critical to the narrative.
#booksky
1/3
I looked at reviews after reading this & could see it's a bit of a love it or hate it book. I thought this book was incredible. Susan's prose is remarkable. The structure was critical to the narrative.
#booksky
1/3
November 12, 2025 at 9:56 AM
Just finished reading Trust Exercise by Susan Choi.
I looked at reviews after reading this & could see it's a bit of a love it or hate it book. I thought this book was incredible. Susan's prose is remarkable. The structure was critical to the narrative.
#booksky
1/3
I looked at reviews after reading this & could see it's a bit of a love it or hate it book. I thought this book was incredible. Susan's prose is remarkable. The structure was critical to the narrative.
#booksky
1/3
Just finished reading Death and the Penguin Andrey Kurkov.
A satire about post-Soviet Ukraine in the 90s, about a writer creating obituaries for the not yet dead.
I wanted to like it, but I found it a bit flat & empty. I felt like I was missing some absent context.
#booksky
A satire about post-Soviet Ukraine in the 90s, about a writer creating obituaries for the not yet dead.
I wanted to like it, but I found it a bit flat & empty. I felt like I was missing some absent context.
#booksky
November 10, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Just finished reading Death and the Penguin Andrey Kurkov.
A satire about post-Soviet Ukraine in the 90s, about a writer creating obituaries for the not yet dead.
I wanted to like it, but I found it a bit flat & empty. I felt like I was missing some absent context.
#booksky
A satire about post-Soviet Ukraine in the 90s, about a writer creating obituaries for the not yet dead.
I wanted to like it, but I found it a bit flat & empty. I felt like I was missing some absent context.
#booksky
Why is my willow branch grey? An infection?
Closer look: giant willow aphids!
The wasps seemed very interested in them.
Closer look: giant willow aphids!
The wasps seemed very interested in them.
November 8, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Why is my willow branch grey? An infection?
Closer look: giant willow aphids!
The wasps seemed very interested in them.
Closer look: giant willow aphids!
The wasps seemed very interested in them.
Just finished reading Black Rain by Masuji Ibuse - a novel based on factual accounts of the bombing of Hiroshima.
An incredible piece of work, but it broke me. Anyone who advocates for nuclear weapons should read this.
#booksky
An incredible piece of work, but it broke me. Anyone who advocates for nuclear weapons should read this.
#booksky
November 6, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Just finished reading Black Rain by Masuji Ibuse - a novel based on factual accounts of the bombing of Hiroshima.
An incredible piece of work, but it broke me. Anyone who advocates for nuclear weapons should read this.
#booksky
An incredible piece of work, but it broke me. Anyone who advocates for nuclear weapons should read this.
#booksky
Sell people hope & a promise to try to improve their communities & lives, rather than a slightly bluer shade of the same politics.
November 5, 2025 at 11:01 AM
Sell people hope & a promise to try to improve their communities & lives, rather than a slightly bluer shade of the same politics.
Just finished reading Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead by @emilyraustin.bsky.social
I connected with this book in ways I never expected. It was warm, funny & had an unusual heart to it.
It was an amazing portrayal of anxiety, depression & chronic people pleasing.
#booksky
1/2
I connected with this book in ways I never expected. It was warm, funny & had an unusual heart to it.
It was an amazing portrayal of anxiety, depression & chronic people pleasing.
#booksky
1/2
November 4, 2025 at 8:23 PM
Just finished reading Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead by @emilyraustin.bsky.social
I connected with this book in ways I never expected. It was warm, funny & had an unusual heart to it.
It was an amazing portrayal of anxiety, depression & chronic people pleasing.
#booksky
1/2
I connected with this book in ways I never expected. It was warm, funny & had an unusual heart to it.
It was an amazing portrayal of anxiety, depression & chronic people pleasing.
#booksky
1/2
Just finished reading English Pastoral by @herdyshepherd.bsky.social
An absolute must read for anyone managing land or involved in ecology in the UK. I was blown away by the honesty & pragmatism in this book.
#booksky
1/3
An absolute must read for anyone managing land or involved in ecology in the UK. I was blown away by the honesty & pragmatism in this book.
#booksky
1/3
November 3, 2025 at 1:47 PM
Just finished reading English Pastoral by @herdyshepherd.bsky.social
An absolute must read for anyone managing land or involved in ecology in the UK. I was blown away by the honesty & pragmatism in this book.
#booksky
1/3
An absolute must read for anyone managing land or involved in ecology in the UK. I was blown away by the honesty & pragmatism in this book.
#booksky
1/3
11am on Sunday & I receive this from the Homework app the school insists that we use - a regular occurrence & added stress, anxiety & noise for parents & students.
It can get in the sea as far as I'm concerned.
#enshittification
It can get in the sea as far as I'm concerned.
#enshittification
November 2, 2025 at 11:13 AM
11am on Sunday & I receive this from the Homework app the school insists that we use - a regular occurrence & added stress, anxiety & noise for parents & students.
It can get in the sea as far as I'm concerned.
#enshittification
It can get in the sea as far as I'm concerned.
#enshittification
Just finished reading There Are Rivers in the Sky by Elif Shafak.
A tremendous book, following three main narratives linking water (physically, culturally & metaphorically) with the deep history of Mesopotamia & the Yazidi people of that area.
#booksky
1/3
A tremendous book, following three main narratives linking water (physically, culturally & metaphorically) with the deep history of Mesopotamia & the Yazidi people of that area.
#booksky
1/3
November 2, 2025 at 9:01 AM
Just finished reading There Are Rivers in the Sky by Elif Shafak.
A tremendous book, following three main narratives linking water (physically, culturally & metaphorically) with the deep history of Mesopotamia & the Yazidi people of that area.
#booksky
1/3
A tremendous book, following three main narratives linking water (physically, culturally & metaphorically) with the deep history of Mesopotamia & the Yazidi people of that area.
#booksky
1/3
Just finished reading Vermilion Sands by JG Ballard.
A collection of short stories based in a future desert community. I enjoyed the writing & some of the futurism, but the wealthy, privileged characters & the plots left me cold.
#booksky
A collection of short stories based in a future desert community. I enjoyed the writing & some of the futurism, but the wealthy, privileged characters & the plots left me cold.
#booksky
October 31, 2025 at 1:15 PM
Just finished reading Vermilion Sands by JG Ballard.
A collection of short stories based in a future desert community. I enjoyed the writing & some of the futurism, but the wealthy, privileged characters & the plots left me cold.
#booksky
A collection of short stories based in a future desert community. I enjoyed the writing & some of the futurism, but the wealthy, privileged characters & the plots left me cold.
#booksky
The last paragraph.
I don't really care if he doesn't have a title in a celebrity family anymore, but I do care that he isn't facing criminal charges.
RIP Virginia Giuffre.
I don't really care if he doesn't have a title in a celebrity family anymore, but I do care that he isn't facing criminal charges.
RIP Virginia Giuffre.
October 30, 2025 at 10:30 PM
The last paragraph.
I don't really care if he doesn't have a title in a celebrity family anymore, but I do care that he isn't facing criminal charges.
RIP Virginia Giuffre.
I don't really care if he doesn't have a title in a celebrity family anymore, but I do care that he isn't facing criminal charges.
RIP Virginia Giuffre.
When will Labour wake up & start listening to the people, instead of the polls, the focus groups & the lobbyists?
www.bristol247.com/opinion/your...
www.bristol247.com/opinion/your...
October 30, 2025 at 1:52 PM
When will Labour wake up & start listening to the people, instead of the polls, the focus groups & the lobbyists?
www.bristol247.com/opinion/your...
www.bristol247.com/opinion/your...
Just finished reading Trustee from the Toolroom by Nevil Shute.
Another rec from the folks (they're big fans). Very very much of its age. I enjoyed it for what it is, but Shute seems uninterested in the big character development opportunities & female characters.
#booksky
1/2
Another rec from the folks (they're big fans). Very very much of its age. I enjoyed it for what it is, but Shute seems uninterested in the big character development opportunities & female characters.
#booksky
1/2
October 29, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Just finished reading Trustee from the Toolroom by Nevil Shute.
Another rec from the folks (they're big fans). Very very much of its age. I enjoyed it for what it is, but Shute seems uninterested in the big character development opportunities & female characters.
#booksky
1/2
Another rec from the folks (they're big fans). Very very much of its age. I enjoyed it for what it is, but Shute seems uninterested in the big character development opportunities & female characters.
#booksky
1/2