Two things have made my day today. One was a five year old girl who asked me how she could join the library and how many books she could borrow. When I said how many she literally gasped. It was like a Matilda moment only I was Miss Honey. Well Mr Honey, sort of.
Would someone like to buy me this old library? In all seriousness I would love to take on something like this and turn it into a bookish event space, shop and retreat. Maybe I should crowd source?
The fact
@MattHancock
can’t even be bothered to ‘sign’ his full name on these letters really, really, really grates on me. It’s lazy, whilst over familiar and I don’t care for it.
So here is my exciting news, as of March I will be working in Liverpool Libraries (all 19 of them) leading their partnerships, building on their fantastic events, developing their retail offers & more. I am SO excited. Dream job. And my office is here...
First day back at work today after the burglary and look what my colleagues (
@starkey_annie
being the ringleader I believe) have don’t to my office to cheer me up! Roses everywhere.
Now all our nearest and dearest know, we can share some news!
@ohchrissavidge
and I have been recommended by the powers that be to start the adoption process. Eek.
#TwoDads
So far this week I’ve been spending my lunch breaks and evenings sorting my shelves in readiness for 2021. It’s done. Culled... 463 books. Painful. Painful. Painful. But look, spaces!
Second thing was spending an afternoon with prisoners talking very frankly about what they would like from a library. They were so keen, engaged, occasionally challenging in a good way. They’ve really made me think about libraries, books, information and literacy. What a day!
Writers need readers. And readers need libraries. I wouldn’t be the reader I am today without libraries in my early years (with my mum) and libraries in my mid twenties (after 6 years not reading). Fact. We need to keep them all, and open more.
The news is out. I am THRILLED to be joining
@libsconnected
as Project Manager for the
@bbcarts
Novels That Shaped Our World Libraries Events Programme all over the country over the next year. So many libraries doing so many wonderful things.
@ace_national
#loveyourlibrary
I feel like I can say this from a calmer place on a Saturday for some reason. But can people PLEASE stop moaning about working from home. You all still have jobs. Have a word. Thank you.
Two weeks since this absolute ginger king turned up in the garden, scared and jumpy… now look at him. He has no chip, so looks like this stray is here to stay.
Honestly who does he think he is. Some kind of telly presenter? I still can’t believe any of this is real. It’s lovely though obviously. Back on tonight at 7pm.
#NewProfilePic
.
@SavidgeReads
says goodbye to
@Liverpoollib
to take charge of logistics for the
@BBC
’s Novels That Shaped Our World libraries events programme! More about the move here:
I’ve been rubbish at sharing what I’ve been reading on here for yonks, so new decade (my 4th) new start. I’ll be sharing everything I read, my thoughts (good and bad) on here from now on again. Promise. And here’s where I will be doing most of that reading.
I’m intrigued by this news
@ITV
. I hope they do it really, really, really well. And don’t make it all about celebs. Make it about books and booky people and it’ll be embraced. We need a good book tv show.
Random question this morning BUT when you put books on your shelves do you ever think how the books or the authors would get on with each other? I was thinking this yesterday when I started sorting these.
We’ve just had a pretty stressful 48 hours. Oscar was rushed into the vets yesterday morning but thanks to brilliant vets and science he is home. Now a pirate cat but home and desperate for cuddles.
Let’s help out our indie bookshops & loved ones... If you’re an indie bookshop who can deliver books here, there & everywhere (or just locally) please comment below & say where you are & what your website is. Let’s get ordering books for loved ones & ourselves. I’ll retweet all.
Home. For a whole week. Going to spend the afternoon reading in here before I pick my aunty up from the train station. I would try the garden but I’ll only get hot and bothered.
Wow. Just got a DM saying ‘I got your out of office and I know you’re on holiday… but thought I could catch you here about work!’ Erm, nope. This is not acceptable.
I love you
@ohchrisburton
. I love you more today than yesterday & tomorrow I’ll love you even more. I’ll support you, enable you and retweet you. I’ll take care of you, I’ll cherish you and I’ll even share your badly lit selfies.
#280CharacterVows
#WeMetOnTwitter
Lots of you asked why I haven’t done a Man Booker Prize shortlist video. Well, I have been keeping a little secret and that is that I will be doing the live BBC Man Booker show from the ceremony on the 16th, so want to keep you guessing until then. I’m so excited.
It’s really happening. January 12th 2022
#TurnUpForTheBooks
will launch on
@BBCSounds
with
@IrenosenOkojie
,
@bastilledan
& me plus lots of fabulous guests all talking books, reading & LIBRARIES… for 10 whole weeks! Can’t wait for you to hear it, I can’t wait to hear it either.
Exciting, yet slightly teasing, news. I will be launching an actual in real life book club (with a twist), with actual in real life authors next Spring, in actual in real life London. I am very excited. Proper announcement in December. Eek.
Shielding lessened at midnight last night so people can cuddle again. Guess who crept into my room at 5am this morning as he was DESPERATE for cuddle o’clock? Ha.
Happy 50th (yes, really) birthday to the person who makes me laugh every day, my husband pants
@ohchrissavidge
. This man is the kindest person I know, endlessly funny, supports every daft thing I do and loves me flaws and all… and there’s plenty of flaws.
I won’t lie. My anxiety about going to sleep tonight after last night is through the roof. Thank you for all your lovely messages today though. In a day where some individuals made us feel like utterly devastated, so many of you made us feel utterly loved. Means a lot.
So sad to hear
#JillMurphy
has died. Without The Worst Witch, Mildred Hubble, I wouldn’t be the book lover and reader I am now. Facts. The first series of books I would read to myself over and over, I feel like reading them all again this weekend. I know I won’t be the only one.
We aren’t allowed to talk about politics online where I work, so even though I’m leaving I’m saying nothing about the election. I would just love to remind you all how much I love Billie Piper though and everything she stands for as an actress, pop princess and fashion ICON 😃
I literally just had a weep, this book does this for all the best (and heartbreaking) reasons!!!! I’m so pleased for
#MaggieOFarrell
and
#Hamnet
. What a fabulous book by a fabulous author from a truly FABULOUS shortlist.
@WomensPrize
And without further ado, we’re delighted to reveal that the winner of the 25th
#WomensPrize
for Fiction is Maggie O’Farrell with Hamnet.
Huge congratulations, Maggie!
Today I am on my way to spend a day in a prison talking about books, libraries and all sorts. I’m slightly nervous but mainly really hoping to get everyone engaged and get some exciting projects started.
I am not back in it until tomorrow... but my office is looking gorgeous!
@ohchrissavidge
has done a corking job and all the books I’ve read and kept are very happy in their new abode. As is Mildred.
Very excited to share the news I’m heading back to
@SkyArts
for the new Sky Book Club Live with the amazing
@andisn16
& the wonderful
@elizabday
. Sunday nights this October & November. An autumnal treat. So excited. 📚📺
We are not in Italy as planned. But we have made a Little Italy in our dining room & are thinking of everyone out there & hoping to get there once all this madness is over. 🇮🇹
Hallelujah. Well done America. And thank you to the CNN presenters who I’ve now seen for more hours than any of my family this year. Finally 2020 pulls something brilliant out the bag. About bloody time too.
Some exciting news! I’m going to be appearing on the bookish bits of
@bbc5live
’s new late night delight
#TheSarahBrettShow
when it starts later this month. I’ll be chatting about recent reads I’d recommend and joining in with the book club. Very, very excited. More soon.
I donated lots of books to my library today. They shall find many, many lovely new readers. If you’re thinking of having a book cull do check if your library takes donations.
Just had an interview with the Metro about my ‘home style’. I mean WHAT? I’ll share it when it’s live, there’s a lot of discussion of nanna chic. Ha. For now here is the picture they’re using. Which I love. New profile pic?
Today I got to chat to Kate Atkinson, which has been a dream of mine for years, she was brilliant, funny and lovely. There was lots of wry smirking & lots of bookish chatter. Video live next Thursday.
#TranscriptionBook
I have some BIG news. I am SO excited to be joining the fab team at the magical
@StoryhouseLive
as their Associate Literary Curator. An absolute dream role!
Lots of the author events I was hosting have been cancelled for obvious reasons BUT I’ve been thinking... as people need company and some chat while their at home (I know I do) maybe I could host them ‘live’ remotely on YouTube instead? What do you think? Is that a bonkers idea?
This is so gross. I think her publishers should be ashamed. I am for them. This is blatant. I haven’t read this series. I won’t be. The ones I had have gone in the bin.
Guess who has been recording a pilot podcast for the BBC? Guess who needs a name for it? It’s all about libraries, books & people’s stories... Suggestions welcomed. Hint, hint.
Third anniversary on the third of the third. Can’t believe it’s three years since
@ohchrissavidge
spent the entire day crying, with happiness I think/hope, I had to dance in public & we got married in front of the third biggest organ in Europe. Apt. Hahahaha.
Gutted to say I won’t be at Harrogate Festival this weekend. Sadly we were broken into and burgled last night; keys, wallets, laptops, the car, bags, mementos, medication and even books have all been taken. Pretty horrific.
@ohchrissavidge
, the cats and I are shaken but fine.
It is a truth universally acknowledged, that the state of my library mirrors the state of my brain... an absolute (if neat) mess and one of the bulbs has gone. Says it all.
So it appears I’m not the only one who loves the new rainproof outdoor reading nook (I need a better name for it than that) as it’s now a sun lounger for a new local friend 🦊
After 3 weeks of on/off cold from hell & a week of one of the worst cases of anxiety I’ve had in years am having a few days off from it all. No socials, no filming, no phone. Just chilling & treats. Starting with pancakes with lashings of maple syrup. See you in a couple of days.