Alom Shaha

It changed my life when I read it aged about 14 in a way no other books have. I think I vaguely disproved of racism before it, but I hadn't really felt it on a visceral level before, and it set me on a new path of learning and understanding. I will now read it again, thanks for reminding me!

Also, the 'dress up' tradition narrows the range of books children engage with by highlighting recognizable characters. So many are actually film characters

Oh but if you "upcycle" items destined for the recycling by adding PVA glue and glitter then... <checks notes> ah.

I flat out refused to ever do costumes. It's just landfill in waiting. 😡

I’m grateful that such books exist, because as much as I’d like to be a writer, I’m glad to be a reader first.

Sadly, I often experience the feeling of “this book is so good and I’m never going to write anything approaching its genius so what’s the point?”

kind of crazy that if you have enough money and don't like what you see in the media, you can just buy up every film studio, news station, and social media app and change it

Lots of great reasons to read, but as a writer, books can offer either Type 1 & Type 2 inspiration.
Type 1: wow! This is amazing. I will spend my life aspiring towards these artistic heights
Type 2: wow! This is rubbish. I can easily do better than this. Maybe being a writer *is* a realistic goal

Currently reading “Beloved” by Toni Morrison and “Jolly Foul Play” (no.4 in Murder Most Unladylike series) with daughters. Happy World Book Day and good luck to all parents and carers getting their children dressed up this morning. Also, my love to all the authors who won’t sell a single more book.

I can’t believe it’s taken me this long to get round to it. Been on my “to read” pile for YEARS.

Currently reading “Beloved” by Toni Morrison and “Jolly Foul Play” (no.4 in Murder Most Unladylike series) with daughters. Happy World Book Day and good luck to all parents and carers getting their children dressed up this morning. Also, my love to all the authors who won’t sell a single more book.

Global economy must stop pandering to ‘frivolous desires of ultra-rich’, says UN expert Olivier De Schutter says new economic agenda needed to tackle crises of rising inequality and ecological collapse

Global economy must not pander to “frivolous and destructive demands of the ultra-rich”.

They fund political parties, profit from socially and ecologically destructive growth.

UK example - deregulation, regressive taxation, concentration of wealth, inequalities, sewage in rivers.

Fines for UK financial crime nosedive to ‘pitiful’ lows Penalties from the FCA drop by 78% in five years as it prepares to take on a new role as 'super-regulator'

Fines for UK financial crime nosedive to ‘pitiful’ lows.

Penalties from the FCA drop by 78% in five years.

Regulator now has a duty to promote growth of the sector. It is a race to the bottom.

Financial crime not investigated. Bankers bonuses will increase from illicit financial flows. To

Young adults face unemployment, low wages, debt.

Govt can help, adopt Scottish policies
No university tuition fees.
No prescription charges (also in Wales)
Free bus travel for the under-22s, many on low minimum wage.

Treating young adults in England as second class is a political choice.

If true this is an amazing breakthrough in an area that has been very difficult. And will have vulture capitalism that profits from both over-indulgence and addiction very worried.

We can dream.

Maybe you should get a proper job and let someone else look after the kids like a real man?

I feel like my daughters school hits a good balance. A whole-school book swap and trips to the library and local indie bookshop with their vouchers; on the day they can come dressed as a WORD, so 'colourful' or 'football' (but there's still scope in that for people who want to go all out)

Surely not, there must be things which bring joy to the unhappy and stressed? A sunny bank holiday. Free school lunches for everyone. Libraries.

France dumps Zoom and Teams as Europe seeks digital autonomy from the US European governments are moving away from U.S. tech giants, opting for domestic or open-source alternatives.

Just caught up with this:

France is dumping Zoom and Teams. So are soldiers in Austria. And bureaucrats in Germany.

They are seeking digital sovereignty, autonomy from the American tech oligarchs.

apnews.com/article/euro...

Not everywhere. It’s up to the teachers and head teachers to change it back to be about books, reading and the joy a good story brings. #WBDisaboutreading

Hey gang!

It's #buyastrangerabook day.

@mags121.bsky.social is offering to buy one of you any book you like up to £15!

So, if there's a particular title you're after, let us know.

It's that simple!

UK only

US strikes on Iran ‘outside international law,’ says Macron Macron joins Spanish PM Pedro Sánchez in calling the legality of the strikes into question.

After four days of hesitating, the president of France has joined the prime minister of Spain in saying that the 🇺🇸🇮🇱 attack on Iran is a violation of international law.

But they are still the only 2 EU leaders to have done so. Will others join?

The worst thing about WBD is that I know of a school where the parents who get a kick out of it have stopped the school from making it easier for those who don’t. Gotta love parent power and “democracy”.

Our son’s school doesn’t do dress up. They have a storytelling evening with teachers reading stories for kids and a book fair. And usually a reading-related activity like making bookmarks in class. A brilliant approach IMHO! #WBDisaboutreading

Think James may have nailed it.

Doesn't it tend to bring joy to people who already have joy, and bring stress to people who already have stress? If so then I think the balance is clear

The story of the origin of World Book Day was on Radio 4 the other day. So charming and heart-warming…but now we have this existential nightmare once a year

1 of my kids HATED the costume aspect - we always had to carry school uniform with us to school on World Book Day too to reassure kid. Made it v stressful. And we always went for simple homemade costumes (as did most at primary school eg lots of boys in dresses etc)

We've got "come as a word" this year. Mr 7 is being 'carnivore' in a shark t-shirt. Miss 5 is 'tropical' in a t-shirt with a jungle full of monkeys on it. (I had forgotten about the whole thing until about half an hour ago).