About ReadySteadyBook
ReadySteadyBook is an independent book review website, working in association with The Book Depository, which is devoted to reviewing the very best books in literary fiction, poetry, history and philosophy. It was described by the popular and prolific author Christopher Fowler as having "a professionalism ... that would put most broadsheets to shame."
One of the Guardian Unlimited Books' top 10 literary blogs ("a home-grown treasure, this one, with smart, serious analysis") and recently described as "fast becoming Britain's premier literary website", ReadySteadyBook was called "unfailingly resourceful and informative ... day after lively day" by award-winnning Irish poet Dennis O'Driscoll. Publisher and writer Dennis Loy Johnson (of Moby Lives and Melville House books) said it is "one of Great Britain's truly great blogs" and the writer Anthony Rudolf called RSB "a significant contribution to serious writing about serious writing."
ReadySteadyBook, described by one regular reader as "oasis of thoughtfulness ... I find things here I wouldn't find anywhere else", has contributors who include radical geographer, and expert on Henri Lefebvre and Guy Debord, Andrew Merrifield, Dai Vaughan (described by the Review of Contemporary Fiction as one of the most skilful writers of our age), writer and environmentalist Ken Worpole, Lee Rourke, the Managing Editor of the cult online journal Scarecrow, the writer Leora Skolkin-Smith, the poet, publisher, academic and critic Michael Schmidt, acclaimed writer and classical music expert Paul Griffiths, and the award-winning translator Robert Chandler.
The RSB robot was designed exclusively for RSB by the wonderful Tom Gauld. The many "interviews" on the site are carried out via email.
(Please note that through the Amazon.co.uk Associates Programme, RSB earns a small commission on any sales completed using a link from the site. The books that we discuss and review on the site are never influenced by any of the links we provide (most of the books are sent to us gratis as is usual for any reviewing journal). In the New Year, I shall become the managing editor of The Book Depository website and so RSB links from then on will be pointing towards The Book Depository and not Amazon. RSB's editorial independence will not change one whit. Google adverts that appear on RSB are inserted by Google, not RSB, and are based on words appearing on the page. We do not necessarily endorse their content.
If you would like to contribute a donation to RSB to ensure its ongoing survival and growth, please get in touch.)
More praise for ReadySteadyBook
"Well designed, highbrow, and full of good, judicious reviews." Sam Leith, Daily Telegraph
"Mark Thwaite's superb UK book blog ... is a daily goldmine of fascinating reading and should be on everyone's must-read list." Mark Sarvas, The Elegant Variation
"Unusually clear, unpretentious and open-minded reviewing." Robert Chandler, translator of Pushkin, Chekhov, Platonov
"[R]eal value: it is stylish in the best sense, both in design and in presentation." Michael Schmidt, critic, poet and publisher
"One of the most useful and informative literary blogs I know of." Pierre Joris, poet and translator
"Honest and perceptive reviewing" Emma Hargrave, managing editor, Tindal Street publishers
"[T]he standard by which British litblogs should be judged" Buzzwords Deux
"[A] terrific British Lit blog attached to a terrific site" The London News Review
"[A] fine literary blog" spikemagazine
"[T]he peerless ReadySteadyBook" Long Sunday