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John McMurtrie

@johnmcmurtrie.bsky.social

Nonfiction editor, Kirkus Reviews.

692 Followers  |  271 Following  |  40 Posts  |  Joined: 10.07.2023  |  1.6138

Latest posts by johnmcmurtrie.bsky.social on Bluesky

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Best of 2025 | Kirkus Reviews

Happy to share with you Kirkus’ Best Nonfiction Books of the Year: www.kirkusreviews.com/best-of/2025...

17.11.2025 17:29 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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The beauty of Oakland

08.11.2025 00:52 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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4 New Nonfiction Books That Will Bring You Joy | Kirkus Reviews Enough with the bad news and doomscrolling. These new releases are guaranteed to lighten your mood.

Some nonfiction books to counter the dread:
www.kirkusreviews.com/news-and-fea...

14.10.2025 22:03 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Such a thrill to present Scott Anderson with the 2025 Kirkus Prize for Nonfiction last night in New York.
You can read about all the winners here.
www.kirkusreviews.com/news-and-fea...

09.10.2025 13:39 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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A midnight blue LaSalle, circa 1940

27.09.2025 22:14 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

I’m biking on a beautiful afternoon, the trees alive with the setting sun, and I see an older man in saffron robes on the sidewalk, his gentle gait and head held low making me think, β€œThis guy gets it.” Then, passing by him, I see his forefinger, just as gently, scrolling down the face of his phone.

16.09.2025 02:11 β€” πŸ‘ 7    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Here are the finalists for the 2025 Kirkus Prize. Today, Kirkus Reviews announced the 18 finalists for the 2025 Kirkus Prize, in the categories of Fiction, Nonfiction, and Young Readers’ Literature. Finalists are chosen from the pool of writers wh…

Behold the 2025 Kirkus Prize finalists!
lithub.com/here-are-the...

27.08.2025 14:45 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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β€˜A mighty redwood of a man has fallen.’ Remembering Malcolm Margolin, founder of Heyday books Writer, editor and publisher Malcolm Margolin, who promoted Indigenous cultural renewal across California, died Wednesday. He was 84.

So many of us are indebted to Malcolm Margolin, who did much to celebrate the culture and history of California. I’ll miss his passion, his wisdomΒ and his wit β€” and his endearing Boston accent. May his memory be a blessing.
www.berkeleyside.org/2025/08/20/m...

21.08.2025 01:04 β€” πŸ‘ 12    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 3
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Farewell to a master satirist. #tomlehrer

27.07.2025 19:39 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Pride Month Reads: 5 New LGBTQ+ Nonfiction Books | Kirkus Reviews These essential titles shed light on queer lives, past and present.

Kirkus Reviews nonfiction editor @johnmcmurtrie.bsky.social recommends "More Butch Heroes" in a Pride Month round-up of new standout LGBTQ+ titles:

01.06.2025 23:28 β€” πŸ‘ 14    πŸ” 5    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1
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These lines from Dawn Staley’s β€œUncommon Favor” (Atria/Black Privilege Publishing, May 20):
β€œEvery fiber of my soul screamed sports, sports, sports. Before long, my family nicknamed me β€˜Dirt’ because it became clear I’d rather play ball than bathe.”

19.04.2025 00:16 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Wayne Thiebaud’s delicious β€œNine Books,” 1991-92, at the Legion of Honor in San Francisco.

07.04.2025 01:39 β€” πŸ‘ 11    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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San Francisco beach artist (with rake)

29.03.2025 22:32 β€” πŸ‘ 6    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Hanging out with my buds.

11.03.2025 01:25 β€” πŸ‘ 39    πŸ” 4    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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Randomly met this beauty today: a 1968 CitroΓ«n DS.

08.03.2025 02:19 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Oakland

06.03.2025 01:19 β€” πŸ‘ 6    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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The Women of the Black Panther Party Mural, Oakland

01.03.2025 22:25 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Beautiful day in the neighborhood

20.02.2025 23:55 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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MORE BUTCH HEROES | Kirkus Reviews Living as themselvesβ€”and often punished for it.

"A creative resurrection of people around the world who broke gender norms." β€” Kirkus Reviews

Ria Brodell's ingenious project celebrating queer lives continues in "More Butch Heroes," coming this April:

18.02.2025 00:40 β€” πŸ‘ 11    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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I found a redwood branch that fell during a storm. I brought it home, where it now shines.

13.02.2025 01:48 β€” πŸ‘ 7    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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And the best book title of the year (so far) goes to…

29.01.2025 23:42 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Pico Iyer Talks About the Power of Silence | Kirkus Reviews In his latest book, β€˜Aflame,’ the peripatetic writer extols the virtues of the contemplative life.

I so enjoyed speaking with Pico Iyer about his outstanding new book, β€œAflame: Learning From Silence.” @Riverheadbooks.bsky.social is publishing it today.
www.kirkusreviews.com/news-and-fea...

14.01.2025 17:15 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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The richness of redwoods at sunset.

14.01.2025 01:42 β€” πŸ‘ 9    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Rest in peace, Jimmy Carter. I had the honor of interviewing him twice. He was lighthearted and laughed easily and was as warm as anyone I’ve ever met. In 2015, he played along with me for this photo I took of him.

29.12.2024 22:46 β€” πŸ‘ 24    πŸ” 4    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 1
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Joyeux Leon!

24.12.2024 23:07 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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RAISING HARE | Kirkus Reviews Made more humane by a hare.

Raising Hare, by Chloe Dalton, is an extraordinary book. Here’s the Kirkus review. www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews...

12.12.2024 23:27 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Solid!

04.12.2024 20:02 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Keeping up with the kids. #spotify

04.12.2024 19:23 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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Fire in the neighborhood

04.12.2024 00:13 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

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