‘… he saw, trailing behind him, the great mistake that had been his belief in himself … ’.[1] Islands of Mercy by Rose Tremain (2020) London, Chatto & Windus. Let’s start with the personal context of a reflexive reader. There are some facts that matter in determining to yourself how you read novels. I am … More ‘… he saw, trailing behind him, the great mistake that had been his belief in himself … ’.[1] ‘Islands of Mercy’ by Rose Tremain (2020) [Self-mount to Twitter].

‘We are all queer. If you say you are not you are outed’. Volume 2 of a life of Lucian Freud: William Feaver (2020) The Lives Of Lucian Freud: Fame London, Bloomsbury. Note on Volume 1 appears in: https://stevebamlett.home.blog/2019/09/16/first-reading-of-william-feavers-2019-the-lives-of-lucian-freud-youth/ In commenting on Volume 1 of this biography I tried to define the way in which … More ‘We are all queer. If you say you are not you are outed’. Volume 2 of a life of Lucian Freud: William Feaver (2020) ‘The Lives Of Lucian Freud: Fame’

‘Writing is routinely described as ‘creative’ – this has never struck me as the correct word. … To plant a bulb (I imagine, I’ve never done it) is to participate in some small way in the cyclic miracle of creation. Writing is control’.[1] ‘Intimations: Six Essays’ (2020): Zadie Smith. London, Penguin. How refreshing it is … More ‘Writing is routinely described as ‘creative’ – this has never struck me as the correct word. … To plant a bulb (I imagine, I’ve never done it) is to participate in some small way in the cyclic miracle of creation. Writing is control’. ‘Intimations: Six Essays’ (2020): Zadie Smith. London, Penguin.

‘The cold renunciatory beauty’ (1933): A poem by David Gascoyne The cold renunciatory beauty of those who would die to hide their love from scornful fingers of the drab is not that which glistens like wing or leaf in eyes of erotic statues standing breast to chest on high and open mountainside. Complex draws tighter … More ‘The cold renunciatory beauty’ (1933): A poem by David Gascoyne

This is a verbatim review summary of a paper I peer reviewed. Details withheld because confidential (author unknown to me anyway). But I felt the matters I covered showed where I stood on some things. chemo-sex is the use of disinhibiting and pleasure enhancing drugs such as G. See https://www.thejournal.ie/chemsex-ireland-4205588-Sep2018/ __________________________________________ This paper reads well, … More Considerations in queer research in mental health & social work

‘The water was cold but it soon warms up when the boys are made of sunshine.[1]  How queer is the love of heterosexual boys?: Andrew O’Hagan (2020) Mayflies London, Faber. Mayflies falls into two parts, the first set in Summer 1986 and the second in Autumn 2017. It tells the story of an interrupted relationship … More ‘The water was cold but it soon warms up when the boys are made of sunshine’. How queer is the love of heterosexual boys?: Andrew O’Hagan (2020) ‘Mayflies’.

‘What people see shapes how they treat you, Ma said again and again’.[1] ‘Sister, one is named, and the other, Brother. Sam swings in, then out, of the trading post’.[2]   Booker 2020 Longlist Selection no. 4: C. Pam Zhang (2020) How Much of These Hills Is Gold London, Virago. It is difficult to write … More ‘What people see shapes how they treat you, Ma said again and again’. Booker 2020 Longlist Selection no. 4: C. Pam Zhang (2020) ‘How Much of These Hills Is Gold’ London, Virago.

Do see this great film! Reflecting on Jane Austen’s Emma after seeing a recent magnificent screen version of Jane Austen’s novel: A film directed by Autumn de Wilde with screenplay by Eleanor Catton. I studied Jane Austen’s novel, published in 1815/16, Emma for A level in the 1960s. It opened my eyes to the link … More Do see this great film! Reflecting on Jane Austen’s ‘Emma’ after seeing a recent magnificent screen version of Jane Austen’s novel.

‘The taxi took the boy through the busy heart of Glasgow, … . They passed the Victorian train station, and he saw lost-looking boys his own age standing in bubble-shaped anoraks and tight denims, loitering around the arcades and amusements that clustered nearby’.[1]   Booker 2020 Longlist Selection no. 3: Douglas Stuart (2020) Shuggie Bain … More BOOKER WINNER: “lost-looking boys his own age standing in bubble-shaped anoraks and tight denims, loitering” Booker 2020 Longlist Selection no. 3: Douglas Stuart (2020) ‘Shuggie Bain’.

Queer ethics and re-reading Vikram Seth’s (1986) The Golden Gate: A Novel New York, Random House & London, Faber and Faber. ‘Ed frowns: “ I can still strive for purity / Of heart – “ “… While in its sweet maturity / Your lovely body dries unused? / Ed, if that’s so, you’ll have abused … More Queer ethics and re-reading Vikram Seth’s (1986) ‘The Golden Gate: A Novel’ New York, Random House.

2020 Booker Shortlist & Longlist below. – The Books I read this year. FINAL update – 16th Sept. (history: 24th Aug, 1st Sept., 2nd Sept, 9th Sept (x 2.), 15th Sept (SHORTLIST DAY). Publication material in italics if NOT on shortlist I’m aiming to keep these lower (perhaps very low) – certainly than the full … More 2020 Booker Shortlist – The Books I read this year. winner IS SHUGGIE BAIN. Yay!

‘… folded up into this language that robs the world of all its honesty. … this oblique shadow-speak’.[1]  Booker 2020 Longlist Selection no. 2: Brandon Taylor (2020) Real Life London, Daunt Book Originals. Brandon Taylor is a black queer writer who feels that some books, like his book, answer a need for black queer men … More ‘… folded up into this language that robs the world of all its honesty. … this oblique shadow-speak’.[1] Booker 2020 Longlist Selection no. 2: Brandon Taylor (2020) Real Life