The Diary of a Bookseller by Shaun Bythell (Profile Books 2017)

FEBRUARY

Would I like to be a bookseller de métier? On the whole – in spite of my employer’s kindness to me, and some happy days I spent in the shop – no.

George Orwell, ‘Bookshop Memories’, London, November 1936

Orwell’s reluctance to commit to bookselling is understandable. There is a stereotype of the impatient, intolerant, antisocial proprietor – played so perfectly by Dylan Moran in Black Books – and it seems (on the whole) to be true. There are exceptions of course, and many booksellers do not conform to this type. Sadly, I do. It was not always thus, though, and before buying the shop I recall being quite amenable and friendly. The constant barrage of dull questions, the parlous finances of the business, the incessant arguments with staff and the unending, exhausting, haggling customers have reduced me to this. Would I change any of it? No.

Hinterland by Chris Mullin (Profile Books 2016)

It was some time before I had any further contact with Blair. Then, in November 1994, he invited me to his office and asked if I would be willing to go on the front bench. This was not the first time I had been asked (I was by now very respectable). As long ago as 1992 John Smith had asked me to be housing spokesman and I had declined in favour of remaining on the Home Affairs Select Committee. Blair talked of ‘pepping up’ the front bench and giving it a radical edge. ‘So many of the left are …’

‘Impossibilists,’ I said.

‘I was going to say “conservative”. Their idea of being radical is to defend the status quo.’ An astute observation and one that was hard to deny. The Labour left at this time had few new ideas beyond repealing the Tory trade union laws (some of which were sensible and popular) and reversing all changes in the management of the NHS, regardless of whether or not they made sense.

Catch-0.22

Some kind soul posted the Euro-Election results for Oxford a few minutes ago. Still no sign of the SPGB surge. Maybe next year, Rodders:

The Clapping Song . . .

 . . . I don't give a four-x for the Pelosi-Trump spat but I'm typing this whilst standing and simultaneously applauding on what is an amazing piece of jiggery-technology-pokery.

BREAKING: Nancy Pelosi moves into the empty space available in Donald Trump's head - and negotiates a life-time, rent-free lease. pic.twitter.com/X9oOYvQMvb

— Paul Lee Ticks (@PaulLeeTicks) May 25, 2019

Conviction by Denise Mina (Harvill Secker 2019)

When we met I was Anna, the new office temp from Somewhere-Outside-of-Aberdeen. I chose Hamish quite carefully. I did love him, I must say that, and I still do, sometimes. But I deliberately picked an older man with money and status. A declamatory man, full of facts and opinions. He was the perfect hide.

Hamish was born in that house and had never lived anywhere else. His family had been on or near the Scottish judiciary for two hundred years. He didn’t much like foreign travel. He read only Scottish writers. That seemed so weird to me. I think I found it a little exotic.

WarGames (1983)

Lock No. 1 by Georges Simenon (Penguin Books 1933)

Berthe gave a heavy sigh. He gave her a baleful look. It was none of her business! He was not worried about either her or his wife!

‘Do you understand, old friend? Oh, say something!’

He walked round and round Gassin, not daring to look at him directly and leaving lengthy pauses between sentences.

‘But all in all, of us two, you were the happy one!’

Despite the chill of night, he felt hot.

‘Shall I give you the dynamite back? I don’t care if I get blown up. But somebody’s got to stay with the kid, on the barge.

Georges Simenon's Maigret

Nicked from wiki. I need this to get back on board my deferred Maigret Read-a-thon. The usual rules: striked out titles means I've already read the book in the series.

List of Maigret novels with date of French-language publication as well as the Penguin reissue dates and titles.^[3]

Title	Date	Penguin UK Reissue Date	Reissue #	Reissue Title	Other English title(s)
Pietr-le-Letton	1931	7 Nov 2013	1	Pietr the Latvian	The Strange Case of Peter the Lett The Case of Peter the Lett Maigret and the Enigmatic Lett
Le Charretier de la Providence	1931	6 Feb 2014	4	The Carter of La Providence	The Crime at Lock 14 Maigret Meets a Milord Lock 14
M. Gallet décédé	1931	5 Dec 2013	2	The Late Monsieur Gallet	The Death of Monsieur Gallet Maigret Stonewalled
Le Pendu de Saint-Pholien	1931	2 Jan 2014	3	The Hanged Man of Saint-Pholien	The Crime of Inspector Maigret Maigret and the Hundred Gibbets
La Tête d'un homme (L'Homme de la Tour Eiffel)	1931	5 Jun 2014	9	A Man's Head	A Battle of Nerves Maigret's War of Nerves
Le Chien jaune	1931	6 Mar 2014	5	The Yellow Dog	A Face for a Clue Maigret and the Concarneau Murders Maigret and the Yellow Dog
La Nuit du carrefour	1931	3 Apr 2014	6	Night at the Crossroads	Maigret at the Crossroads The Night at the Crossroads
Un Crime en Hollande	1931	1 May 2014	7	A Crime in Holland	Maigret in Holland
Au Rendez-vous des Terre-Neuves	1931	5 Jun 2014	8	The Grand Banks Cafe	The Sailors' Rendezvous Maigret Answers a Plea
La Danseuse du Gai-Moulin	1931	7 Aug 2014	10	The Dancer at the Gai Moulin	At the Gai Moulin Maigret at the Gai Moulin
La Guinguette à deux sous	1932	4 Sep 2014	11	The Two-Penny Bar	Guinguette by the Seine Maigret and the Tavern by the Seine Maigret to the Rescue A Spot by the Seine The Bar on the Seine
L'Ombre chinoise	1932	2 Oct 2014	12	The Shadow Puppet	The Shadow in the Courtyard Maigret Mystified
L'Affaire Saint-Fiacre	1932	6 Nov 2014	13	The Saint-Fiacre Affair	Maigret and the Countess Maigret Goes Home Maigret on Home Ground
Chez les Flamands	1932	4 Dec 2014	14	The Flemish Shop	Maigret and the Flemish Shop The Flemish House
Le Port des brumes	1932	5 Feb 2015	16	The Misty Harbour	Death of a Harbour Master Maigret and the Death of a Harbor Master The Port of Shadows
Le Fou de Bergerac	1932	1 Jan 2015	15	The Madman of Bergerac
Liberty Bar	1932	5 Mar 2015	17	Liberty Bar	Maigret on the Riviera
L'Écluse nº 1	1933	2 Apr 2015	18	Lock No. 1	The Lock at Charenton Maigret Sits It Out
La femme rousse	1933				The Redhead
Maigret	1934	7 May 2015	19	Maigret	Maigret Returns
La Maison du juge	1942	6 Aug 2015	22	The Judge's House	Maigret in Exile
Les Caves du Majestic	1942	2 Jul 2015	21	The Cellars of the Majestic	Maigret and the Hotel Majestic The Hotel Majestic
Cécile est morte	1942	4 Jun 2015	20	Cecile is Dead	Maigret and the Spinster
Signé Picpus	1944	3 Sep 2015	23	Signed, Picpus	Maigret and the Fortuneteller
Félicie est là	1944	5 Nov 2015	25	Félicie	Maigret and the Toy Village
L'Inspecteur Cadavre	1944	1 Oct 2015	24	Inspector Cadaver	Maigret's Rival
Maigret se fâche	August 1945	3 Dec 2015	26	Maigret Gets Angry	Maigret in Retirement
Maigret à New York	March 1946	7 Jan 2016	27	Maigret in New York	Inspector Maigret in New York's Underworld Maigret in New York's Underworld
Les Vacances de Maigret	November 1947	4 Feb 2016	28	Maigret's Holiday	A Summer Holiday No Vacation for Maigret Maigret on Holiday
Maigret et son mort	January 1948	3 Mar 2016	29	Maigret's Dead Man	Maigret's Special Murder
La Première enquête de Maigret, 1913	October 1948	7 Apr 2016	30	Maigret's First Case
Mon ami Maigret	February 1949	5 May 2016	31	My Friend Maigret	The Methods of Maigret
Maigret chez le coroner	July 1949	2 Jun 2016	32	Maigret at the Coroner's
L'Amie de Mme Maigret	December 1949	4 Aug 2016	34	Madame Maigret's Friend	Madame Maigret's Own Case The Friend of Madame Maigret
Les Mémoires de Maigret	September 1950	1 Sep 2016	35	Maigret's Memoirs
Maigret et la vieille dame	December 1950	7 Jul 2016	33	Maigret and the Old Lady
Maigret au "Picratt's"	December 1950	6 Oct 2016	36	Maigret at Picratt's	Maigret and the Strangled Stripper Maigret in Montmartre Inspector Maigret and the Strangled Stripper
Maigret en meublé	February 1951	3 Nov 2016	37	Maigret Takes a Room	Maigret Rents a Room
Maigret et la grande perche	May 1951	1 Dec 2016	38	Maigret and the Tall Woman	Inspector Maigret and the Burglar's Wife Maigret and the Burglar's Wife
Maigret, Lognon et les gangsters	September 1951	5 Jan 2017	39	Maigret, Lognon and the Gangsters	Inspector Maigret and the Killers Maigret and the Gangsters
Le Revolver de Maigret	June 1952	2 Feb 2017	40	Maigret's Revolver
Maigret et l'homme du banc	1953	2 Mar 2017	41	Maigret and the Man on the Bench	Maigret and the Man on the Boulevard The Man on the Boulevard
Maigret a peur	March 1953	6 Apr 2017	42	Maigret is Afraid	Maigret Afraid
Maigret se trompe	August 1953	4 May 2017	43	Maigret's Mistake
Maigret à l'école	December 1953	1 Jun 2017	44	Maigret Goes to School
Maigret et la jeune morte	January 1954	6 Jul 2017	45	Maigret and the Dead Girl	Inspector Maigret and the Dead Girl Maigret and the Young Girl
Maigret chez le ministre	August 1954	3 Aug 2017	46	Maigret and the Minister	Maigret and the Calame Report
Maigret et le corps sans tête	January 1955	7 Sep 2017	47	Maigret and the Headless Corpse
Maigret tend un piège	July 1955	5 Oct 2017	48	Maigret Sets a Trap
Un échec de Maigret	March 1956	2 Nov 2017	49	Maigret's Failure
Maigret s'amuse	September 1956	7 Dec 2017	50	Maigret Enjoys Himself	Maigret's Little Joke None of Maigret's Business
Maigret voyage	August 1957	4 Jan 2018	51	Maigret Travels	Maigret and the Millionaires
Les scrupules de Maigret	December 1957	1 Feb 2018	52	Maigret's Doubts	Maigret Has Scruples
Maigret et les témoins récalcitrants	October 1958	1 Mar 2018	53	Maigret and the Reluctant Witnesses
Une confidence de Maigret	May 1959	5 Apr 2018	54	Maigret's Secret	Maigret Has Doubts
Maigret aux assises	November 1959	3 May 2018	55	Maigret in Court
Maigret et les vieillards	June 1960	7 Jun 2018	56	Maigret and the Old People	Maigret in Society
Maigret et le voleur paresseux	January 1961	5 Jul 2018	57	Maigret and the Lazy Burglar	Maigret and the Lazy Burglar Maigret and the Idle Burglar
Maigret et les braves gens	September 1961	2 Aug 2018	58	Maigret and the Good People of Montparnasse	Maigret and the Black Sheep
Maigret et le client du samedi	February 1962	6 Sep 2018	59	Maigret and the Saturday Caller	Maigret and the Saturday Caller
Maigret et le clochard	May 1962	4 Oct 2018	60	Maigret and the Tramp	Maigret and the Dosser Maigret and the Bum
La colère de Maigret	June 1962	1 Nov 2018	61	Maigret's Anger	Maigret Loses His Temper
Maigret et le fantôme	June 1963	6 Dec 2018	62	Maigret and the Ghost	Maigret and the Ghost Maigret and the Apparition
Maigret se défend	July 1964	3 Jan 2019	63	Maigret Defends Himself	Maigret on the Defensive
La Patience de Maigret	March 1965	7 Feb 2019	64	Maigret's Patience	The Patience of Maigret Maigret Bides His Time
Maigret et l'affaire Nahour	February 1966	7 March 2019	65	Maigret and the Nahour Case	Maigret and the Nahour Case
Le voleur de Maigret	November 1966	4 April 2019	66	Maigret's Pickpocket	Maigret's Pickpocket Maigret and the Pickpocket
Maigret à Vichy	September 1967	6 June 2019	68	Maigret in Vichy	Maigret Takes the Waters Maigret in Vichy
Maigret hésite	January 1968	2 May 2019	67	Maigret Hesitates	Maigret Hesitates
L'ami d'enfance de Maigret	June 1968				Maigret's Boyhood Friend
Maigret et le tueur	April 1969				Maigret and the Killer
Maigret et le marchand de vin	September 1969				Maigret and the Wine Merchant
La Folle de Maigret	May 1970				Maigret and the Madwoman
Maigret et l'homme tout seul	February 1971				Maigret and the Loner
Maigret et l'indicateur	June 1971				Maigret and the Flea Maigret and the Informer
Maigret et Monsieur Charles	February 1972				Maigret and Monsieur Charles

Saturday night's alright for shiting it . . .

6-0, you say? Cue the music:

Someone won the internet today . . .

I understand that The Thick of It writers have had their lawyers slap an injunction on the 2019 Euro Elections for copyright infringement:

Knocked Up (2007)

Watching Knocked Up again.

Gunshots.

Fuck sake. There goes the neighbourhood.

This one's going out to all the teenage boys out there . . .

Does this qualify as a reworking of that Stephen Jay Gould quote for the culture wars?

Time out from taking the plunge . . .

My fourth 180 this week. I'll take it  . . .  especially after my evening.

Saturday night's alright for flighting . . .

See what I did there? Shit, innit?

This post was sponsored by the new Elton John biopic, 'Rocketman':

Third 180 this month. I'll take it.

Another Day, Another SPGB In-Joke . . .

. . . only four . . . maybe five . . . people in the world will get this SPGB in-joke. Which, for the SPGB, is practically a quoracy:

The dartboard of the sixth happiness.

Another 180. You beauty. Never gets old. Never stop posting them. Liverpool has nothing on me.

Sink 180 on Cinco de Mayo . . .

. . . I'll get my coat.

#StephenFryGroaned

Knock Down the House (2019)

250/124

• 250/124 (days)
• 25,000 darts
• 2 dartboards (the 'nicer' one crashed on me.)
• 5 180s
• Switched darts more out of necessity than choice.
• Countless shredded flights
• Not as many busted shafts
• Am I getting better? Fuck knows.