Rónán Hession

Very grateful for their support. We're lucky to have them 💛

Wonderful to catch up with @literatureireland.bsky.social

Brilliant supporters of writing and writers.

FYI - @ronanhession.bsky.social

No.

Well, let's find out.

I have that one too. Might read that next, so.

Yup.

I have another half dozen of his to read so hoping I discover a new favourite writer.

Book cover. The letter S in various sizes, a mix of orange and yellow, all blurred in together.

Now reading Blindness by Nobel Laureate, Jose Saramago, translated from Portuguese by Giovanni Pontiero.

I was given a €100 book voucher a couple of years ago and sought the advice of Twitter RIP re spending it on one writer I hadn't read. From a longlist I suggested, Saramago won.

Maybe they're rehearsing for next week's St Patrick's Day parade.

Bluesky has the same definition of "Popular with Friends" that my mother had, when I was liked by only one or two friends.

I'd have gone for Kung Flu if I were them.

Good morning from London.

About to head off to The London Book Fair.

We have some brilliant stories to share with the world.

From Hebden to Nuuk, Tahiti, West Atlantic , Berlin, Brunei, India.

Magic.

@thebookseller.com
@bookcornerhx.bsky.social
@foylesforbooks.bsky.social

There's only one

PANENKA

THE FA CUP

@bbcnewsnight.bsky.social

I must read it. Should I read Brideshead Visited first?

You can be very proud. A genuinely deep book. Any writer would be honoured to be read so well.

And it has unlocked Heaney for me. I had resisted his classical allusions that I find alienating; his wisdom-on-tap; his being over-referenced in political sound bites.

I have a better appreciation of his labour, the depth of his roots, what his poetry cost him.

Am reading The Spirit Level now.

... these feel like insights that have been arrived at and refined after living with the work and its geography over a long time. It isn't fawning – Heaney is called out where he is too much himself.

And, of course, Nicholas writes beautifully – and confidently, which is important. No fanboyism.

Book cover: charcoal sketch of Heaney's face by Colin Davidson

Finished Late Heaney by @dedalusdenaries.bsky.social a careful and perceptive reading of post-Nobel Heaney. Even allowing for the bias of my pre-existing affection and respect for Nicholas, this was hugely impressive.

This is not simply an analysis or a dissection ... (contd.)

Good to see that footballers are still not reading my book.

Nor are they reading interviews with the great man himself. He says that the Panenka technique requires a long run up – starting outside the box – to dupe the keeper into diving. Trotting up completely misses the point (and the penalty).

I hear it's good to eat a 1kg tin of beans before yoga.

Traveling to York, Berlin and Leipzig over the next week or so for writing events. My cold sore has come up, so sorry guys – no kissing.

Yes, thankfully.

In bizarre unexpected vegetarian revenge for this post,while prepping my dinner this evening I got stung by a wasp trapped in the broccoli.

Sure you may as well keep going to Easter.

One or two naysayers with GIFs etc, but you have to expect a little bit of that #notallmen

On the special Whatsapp group for all men earlier and good to see everyone upbeat about International Women's Day, bin day and Mother's Day all falling in the same week. "Hope they enjoy it," is what they were saying. Pleasantly surprised.

Quorn is Qurder as Morrissey once so famously said.

The other 5% on leather jackets.

So disappointed to find out that the guy who owns the Quorn company spends 95% of his private income on raw meat.

Brilliant - from the ever brilliant @tomgauld.bsky.social