We’ve had a lot of island lit in the last few years - think windswept landscapes, homespun clothes, taciturn fisherman and craven visitors.

Could Elizabeth O’Connor’s Whale Fall, bought in a 10-way auction, feel fresh and live up to the hype? My review:

thetimes.co.uk/article/whale-…

Question from Times Books desk: which novels have you most enjoyed reading in your book club? Ones which have generated good discussions, been popular among all members etc

My review of Tim Shipman 'No Way Out' for The Times.

An epic study in failure.

thetimes.co.uk/article/no-way…

And we’re off! I chose a baker’s dozen of Proms from the new season announced today. 💥

thetimes.co.uk/article/9533ed…

Please spread the word as widely as possible. Calling all English teachers but everyone else too! Theme: A Secret. Judge: Philip Pullman

The mad woman in the attic, the comic Hamlet, the story of Crusoe's castaway companion, and the Narnia book that might never be published: I wrote about spin-off novels, to tie in with Percival Everett's James:

thetimes.co.uk/article/how-th…

460 years after his birth, always worth seeing this Shakespeare infographic again… 🥧

Interviewed David Nicholls about his new novel You Are Here (it's ace) and of course One Day
thetimes.co.uk/article/david-…

Love, death and pirates! It’s this month’s historical fiction round-up in Times Books thetimes.co.uk/article/new-hi… Starring Elizabeth Buchan Francesca Haig/Francesca de Tores Tim Hodkinson Katie || writer || The Devil to Pay out now 🌈⚓ and Joad Wren.

First prize I’ve won since I got the Good Friend award in 4th grade. That’s still a life peak, but this is pretty nice too! Genuinely ASTONISHED

Revealed: Tory MP allegedly demanded campaign cash to pay ‘bad people’

thetimes.co.uk/article/28f948…

“At its worst it reads as if the publisher Biteback, which paid Truss an almost disrespectful advance of just over £1,500, asked ChatGPT to imagine Keith Joseph and Richard Littlejohn reading Wikipedia to one another.”

thetimes.co.uk/article/liz-tr…

Ten Years to Save the West: actually quite compelling on its author’s spectacular downfall. Shame about the rest. Review in The Times and The Sunday Times

thetimes.co.uk/article/liz-tr…

I read Salman Rushdie's memoir Knife - an intense, revealing and sometimes funny book - and present some things we've learned from it for your enjoyment:

thetimes.co.uk/article/seven-…

Gay Shame by Gareth Roberts review — is the trans movement homophobic? ⁦Times Books⁩

thetimes.co.uk/article/gay-sh…

I did one of those biological age tests, and learnt I'm three decades older than I thought.

Luckily the shock was somewhat cushioned by learning James Marriott is close to death too.

thetimes.co.uk/article/d8f9dd…

Six sacks of books! We forgot to empty the sacks yesterday and now the books have started to reproduce ... Times Books

Hello publishing people, what paperbacks have you got coming out in April? Compiling Times Books monthly pbk round-up. Don't be shy. . .

On fifty years of Stephen King thetimes.co.uk/article/horny-…