Stephen Dilley

55. Mother Mary Comes to Me by Arundhati Roy
Stunning memoir from the #WomensPrize non-fiction, in which Roy traces the lifelong influence of her mother: "my shelter and my storm."
@womensprize.bsky.social

54. Daughters of the Bamboo Grove: China's Stolen Children and a Story of Separated Twins by Barbara Demick
Outstanding read from the #WomensPrize non-fiction longlist - an incredible true story exploring the complexities of international adoption.
@womensprize.bsky.social

My favourite book so far this year too - I was delighted to see it made the WP longlist and hope it goes all the way!

53. Finding Albion: Myth, Folklore and the Quest for a Hidden Britain by Zakia Sewell
An illuminating exploration of Britain's folk culture in order to search for a more inclusive past - another great title from the #WomensPrize non-fiction longlist. @womensprize.bsky.social

52. Nation of Strangers: Rebuilding Home in the 21st Century by @ecetemelkuran.bsky.social
Profound and poetic reflections on fascism, displacement and dispossession, written as a series of letters from one stranger to another - from the #WomensPrize non-fiction longlist. @womensprize.bsky.social

Any of these!

What an interesting longlist - I'm thrilled for Susan Choi, Megha Majumdar and @wednesdayerskin.bsky.social whose books I have read and loved, and am looking forward to discovering other titles!

51. The Romantic Tragedies of a Drama King by Harry Trevaldwyn
Final book on the #BranfordBoase Award longlist - a laugh-out-loud funny queer romantic comedy with a flawed but lovable narrator and a totally believable self-absorbed narrative voice.
@branfordboaseaward.bsky.social

50. Odd Girl Out by Tasneem Abdur-Rashid
Powerful and illuminating YA novel from the #BranfordBoase Award longlist, exploring identity, belonging and Islamophobia through the experiences of a 16-year-old girl who moves from Dubai to Essex.
@branfordboaseaward.bsky.social @dfbstoryhouse.bsky.social

49. The Doughnut Club by @krahim.bsky.social
Sweet and heart-warming story from the #BranfordBoase Award longlist which sensitively explores the experiences of donor families and children.
@branfordboaseaward.bsky.social @nosycrow.bsky.social

48. Early Morning Riser by Katherine Heiny
Re-read for book club - Heiny writes the best sentences and offers more laughs per page than almost any writer I can think of, but this is also a beautifully warm and poignant novel.

Last chance to support #ReadItForward today! Stock up on great books and support @booktrust.org.uk & @scottishbooktrust.bsky.social with @bookshop-org-uk.bsky.social 📚#booksky

47. Gloam by Jack Mackay
Brilliant middle-grade horror story from the #BranfordBoase Award longlist - genuinely TERRIFYING but full of bravery and heart too.
@branfordboaseaward.bsky.social @rocktheboatnews.bsky.social

Looking through some old PowerPoint slides to prepare for a workshop in a couple of weeks, I came across this - which I rather like

I like this too - gets to the heart of what is important when teaching fiction, similar to our more recent discussions about the fiction effect.

Love Forms - Claire Adam Flashlight - Susan Choi Cape Fever - Nadia Davids The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny - Kiran Desai The Benefactors - Wendy Erskine Chosen Family - Madeleine Gray The Pretender - Jo Harkin Minbak - Ela Lee A Family Matter - Claire Lynch A Guardian and a Thief - Megha Majumdar Ripeness - Sarah Moss Celestial Lights - Cecile Pin Endling - Maria Reva Good People - Patmeena Sabit Jamaica Road - Lisa Smith A Private Man - Stephanie Sy-Quia

I'm very excited about the #WomensPrize for Fiction longlist announcement next Wednesday. Here are 16 books I've read and loved in the last year which I hope will make it!
@womensprize.bsky.social

Becoming a Teacher Judge - UK Literacy Association UKLA are now looking for Teacher Judges for the 2027 Book Awards in Manchester!

Applications to become a Teacher Judge for the UKLA 2027 Book Awards are now open! This year we're looking for teachers within travelling distance of MANCHESTER!

Interested? Follow the link to find out more.

ukla.org/ukla-book-aw...

46. Gone for Good by @sarahcrossan.bsky.social
Another superb offering from the doyenne of YA verse novels - this is a psychological thriller inspired by America's Troubled Teen industry that will be hugely popular with teenage readers.

45. As If by Isabel Waidner
Bizarre, surreal novel about two doppelgängers who swap lives with each other which explores identity, performance and the roles we all play. The novel is rather fittingly set in and around the confusingly labyrinthine Barbican Estate.

44. Your Life Without Me by James Meek
A strange, beguiling and engrossing novel which is ostensibly about an attempt to blow up St Paul's Cathedral but is primarily a devastatingly sad and tender family drama about loss and silence. Read in a single sitting and will definitely stay with me!

YouTube video by Aurora Orchestra - Topic Dowland: Third Booke of Songs, 1603: II. Time Stands Still (Arr. Muhly)

And secondly, this beautiful reinvention of Time Stands Still by @nicomuhly.com, sung by the wonderful Iestyn Davies with the Aurora Orchestra: www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8ao...

YouTube video by Vivid Consort John Dowland - Can She Excuse My Wrongs｜Vivid Consort & David Bergmüller

In (slightly belated) honour of the John Dowland 400th anniversary, here are two of my favourite versions of his music.
Firstly, phenomenal recorder pyrotechnics in this rendition of Can She Excuse My Wrongs by the Vivid Consort: www.youtube.com/watch?v=LB9U...

43. Minbak by Ela Lee
A stunning and riveting novel about the choices and sacrifices made by three generations of Korean women, alternating between South Korea in 1985 and London in 2008.

42: To Exist As I Am: A Doctor's Notes on Recovery and Radical Acceptance by @gracespencegreen.bsky.social
Another excellent title from the #WomensPrize for Non-Fiction longlist - a powerful and honest account of the author's experiences of disability.
@womensprize.bsky.social

41. A Beautiful Loan by Mary Costello
A reflective and poignant novel in which a 45-year-old woman from Ireland looks back on her past decisions and relationships and the effect these have had on her. The novel includes interesting explorations of Islam and of Jungian psychology.

40. Hotel Exile: Paris in the Shadow of War by Jane Rogoyska
Longlisted for the #WomensPrize for Non-Fiction, this is a fascinating, compelling and moving history of Paris before, during and after WW2 telling the story of one hotel and three different groups of exiles.
@womensprize.bsky.social

39. Shadow Thieves by @peterburnsauthor.bsky.social
Terrific adventure story from the #BranfordBoase Award longlist - brilliant world-building, death-defying escapades, genuine emotion and written with such swagger and brio.
@branfordboaseaward.bsky.social @farshorebooks.bsky.social

Not necessarily for assemblies, but all of these picturebooks have something to offer secondary readers as well as primary.

38. The Wicked Lies of Habren Faire by Anna Fiteni
Compelling YA fairy romantasy from the #BranfordBoase Award longlist drawing on Welsh history and folklore in very interesting and original ways.

37. Grumpfort by Jamie Hammond
Entertaining adventure story for younger readers from the
#BranfordBoase Award longlist, featuring the world's worst monster hunter and some very cute and silly monsters, with a lovely message about learning to embrace our differences.
@branfordboaseaward.bsky.social