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Alan’s 2024 Year in Books
Take a look at Alan’s Year in Books, including some fun facts about their reading.
Alan Beard’s Followers (191)
1,625 books
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324 friends
2,257 books
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289 friends
1,034 books
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29 friends
4,278 books
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4,950 friends
79 books
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930 friends
1,457 books
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185 friends
2,293 books
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91 friends
2,780 books
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2,618 friends
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Alan Beard
Goodreads Author
Born
in Birmingham, The United Kingdom
Twitter
Genre
Influences
Alan Sillitoe, Henry Green, Raymond Carver
Member Since
December 2007
URL
https://www.goodreads.com/takingsky
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Alan Beard
when you finish that difficult story, when it all slots into place.
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The New Abject: Tales of Modern Unease
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published
2020
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2 editions
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The Book of Birmingham: A City in Short Fiction
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published
2018
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2 editions
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You Don't Have to Say
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published
2011
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Taking Doreen Out of the Sky
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published
1997
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3 editions
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Night Time Economy
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published
2024
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The Heebie-Jeebies
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published
2009
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Going the Distance
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published
2003
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Background Noise
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published
2009
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Afternoon Drinking
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![[(Trade Finance Handbook )]...](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1696063336i/160502046._SX50_.jpg)
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[(Trade Finance Handbook )] [Author: Alan Beard] [Jan-2006]
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Alan’s Recent Updates
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Alan
wants to read
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Alan
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Alan
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"the brilliant observer of significant trifles and hopeful, defeated shufflings
updating Zola with a lovely, breezier air" |
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"A very sweet read..."
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"This is everything I love in literature. A first person narration with short chapters, and a self-pitying introspective character who fails to recognise his own limitations but sees them, bright and vibrant, in everyone else. And best of all, a book "
Read more of this review »
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Alan
started reading
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Alan
rated a book really liked it
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Alan
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| ‘Stuff’ is sensational. | |
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“When he got up to shuffle to the kitchen he moved as if Rebel Rebel was still playing even though the music had stopped and she followed to the room where little sunlight penetrated but which seemed sun-filled now. It had leaked in from the angels who were dissolving away in the other room. She tapped his shoulder and touched his side, was to the front of him, to the side of him, helping him with cups and kettle and turning on taps, tutting at his fridge, moving with jar and spoon as if she'd often done that here. As if he'd opened his eyes in a place where things persisted.”
― The Heebie-Jeebies
― The Heebie-Jeebies
“For some of us, books are as important as almost anything else on earth. What a miracle it is that out of these small, flat, rigid squares of paper unfolds world after world after world, worlds that sing to you, comfort and quiet or excite you. Books help us understand who we are and how we are to behave. They show us what community and friendship mean; they show us how to live and die.”
― Bird by Bird
― Bird by Bird
“A story is a way to say something that can’t be said any other way, and it takes every word in the story to say what the meaning is.”
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Graham Greene
— 184 members
— last activity Nov 01, 2025 07:00AM
A group dedicated to the extraordinary life and work of Graham Greene.
Short Story lovers
— 410 members
— last activity Oct 13, 2024 01:51PM
For people who especially love short stories, and don't care who knows it! ...more
Goodreads Librarians Group
— 301468 members
— last activity 3 minutes ago
Goodreads Librarians are volunteers who help ensure the accuracy of information about books and authors in the Goodreads' catalog. The Goodreads Libra ...more
The Extra Cool Group! (of people Michael is experimenting on)
— 159 members
— last activity Aug 27, 2013 12:21PM
*Note: This group, although it lives on in a sense, like a photograph, capturing a moment so people can look back later and go, "Oh, wow, you looked s ...more
Press 53's 53-word story contests
— 16 members
— last activity Sep 08, 2012 04:54PM
Every week we post a new 53-words story at our Press 53 blog http://press53.tumblr.com/ each week with a new theme. I create the weekly contest and j ...more
Comments (showing 15-64)
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Just a heads-up for all my fans (2 at the last count): I have a new book out in November, 2025. It is my third short story collection and it is called Afternoon Drinking. (I have a lot of experience in this area). Published by Floodgate Press. More information coming.
My friend and fellow writer Joel Lane has died aged 50. Can't believe it. RIP Joel.
Ken wrote: "Thanks for the the tip on Volt and The Heyday of the Insensitive Bastards."They're both brilliant. I also liked 'Daddy's'.
Hi Kinga,that's a start! You should also buy Best British Short Stories 2011 (Salt). I'm not saying this just because I'm in it of course.
Al
Hello,To support you in your ASSP Campaign I went to an independent bookshop yesterday and bought The Penguin Book of Modern British Short Stories.
This way I support independent bookshops and short stories!
Just ordered your new book! Thanks for the link!
Jessica wrote: "thanks for joining the GG group, Alan!"not sure I'll have time to add much though. I see you're reading Brighton Rock - I still remember reading it back in the late 60s when i was a teenager. I hope they don't cock up the remake of the film.
Nathalie wrote: "I am full of cold, coughing and spluttering - doubt I'll make tonight. Hope it goes well"
OK Nathalie. Did go fairly well - sold 3 books!
I am full of cold, coughing and spluttering - doubt I'll make tonight. Hope it goes well
notgettingenough wrote: "Hey Alan. If I can come on Monday night can I bring a non-goodreads friend? I haven't checked tickets, haven't checked if it is okay to stay at my friend's place...And will I get to personally sa..."
Fabulous! Bring who you like - it's free, don't worry about tickets. Don't know how it will work out but I'm sure there will be drinks after somewhere. Trouble is I've got to get the train back to Brum at 9:45 (work the next day), so won't have that much time.
A few GRers are coming it will be nice to see everyone instaed of talking to avatars.
I'm still reeling from the Guardian review yesteday - nice to have all that space, but can't stomach that 'not quite fresh'!
caved in and ordered the newest Galgut as well...
oh, jealous, jealous, jealous, now I have to order that as well too!yes, I love him. Though his last one disappointed me.
Jessica wrote: "your book arrived today from amazon.co.uk--yay!!!!"Hope you like it Jessica. It picked up a nice little review in the Times recently. Just finished the new Galgut (I know you like him) - excellent.
your book arrived today from amazon.co.uk--yay!!!!
have no idea what's with the links...it still takes me to the Trump book....what kind of message am I getting?!
Jessica wrote: "how strange! your link takes me to a review of Donald Trump's book, How to Get Rich... !"bloody hell, a lot of the links have gone weird on me too. What's happening man?
feel free to post your list on my comments page, I'd love to see it!
how strange! your link takes me to a review of Donald Trump's book, How to Get Rich... !
Paul Bryant challenged me to do a top fifty stories and I had to include Joel's one about Charles Beaumont called 'The Quiet Hours' http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
(scroll down to see my top fifty stories..)
Oh I love Shirley Jackson! will check out Lane...
oh yes - Lane is my mate, in my writers' group, so I'm biased, but his novella 'The Witnesses are Gone' just won a Shirley Jackson Novella award, so it's not just me.http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/63...
Donovan - I only know one book of his, a collection of stories (naturally), and it was a prize from The Short Review. I was knocked out by one partidular story.
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38...
James Hanley is an uneven writer, bit weird, intense and strange. I liked Sailor's Song and Boy.
at the moment only a launch is planned, but the Press do a lot of readings at festivals etc, so I expect stuff to happen. My problem is full time work! There's posters and stuff done with the proper cover- I'll try and post it.
My favourite authors? If you mean Henry Green and James Hanley you should read them .. there's one you know quite well though - you.
p.s. why have I not heard of any of your favorite authors?
Very much looking forward to reading it Alan! it's exciting--Will you be doing any books promo? readings, tours?
Thanks, Alan. i guess it's sort of like the odds of getting cast in a major motion picture.
Alan wrote: "I've posted a photo but it's not the same day - it's from about 6 years later, both of us. I'll have to get back with the pic of Clare from '73..."yes found it - I haven't told Clare I'm putting her pic up but still. The photo was taken just before mine - see what I mean about the same hairstyle. Same sunglasses too - we were mucking about.
W. wrote: "I never read your bio before Alan. Now I feel neglectful. I'll definitely pick up some books by you in the near future. (Sad to say you won't see any royalties since my cheap lifestyle demands I us..."There's only one book by me really - '..Doreen..', the other one mentioned I edited. I do have a collection coming out soon though.
I don't get royalties anyway - Picador pulped the book before it reached my advance. It's only available second hand anyway.
I have read one or two of your poems, but I will buy Ants Dissolve in Moonlight cuz I love the title (reference to something probably)..
I never read your bio before Alan. Now I feel neglectful. I'll definitely pick up some books by you in the near future. (Sad to say you won't see any royalties since my cheap lifestyle demands I use ABE.com. Soz mate.) But Picador. Swank. Seriously.
I've posted a photo but it's not the same day - it's from about 6 years later, both of us. I'll have to get back with the pic of Clare from '73...
cheers ceridwen & mp - I'll have a go... need to find the file first..
Alan wrote: "Ceridwen wrote: "That would be sweet!"it's just posting the thing - dunno how to do it. I could stick it on my profile and I could be female for an hour.."
If you click on your profile pic, it will take you to a page showing larger version of the pic and there should be an 'add more photos' link on top right of the page, I think.
Ceridwen wrote: "That would be sweet!"it's just posting the thing - dunno how to do it. I could stick it on my profile and I could be female for an hour..
Ceridwen wrote: "Awwwwww."I know - sickening isn't it. I took a photo of her at the same time I'll see if I can post it...
Ceridwen wrote: "I love the new picture. Where was this taken?"It was taken in 1973 in Weston Super Mare by my (very) new girlfriend - now my wife.
weird ain't it.. what happened to 1.38%? I want them back!
I've just compared books with myself and although I'm 100% the same on ratings you (me) and yourself (myself) have 'only' 98.62% books in common. Now here I am writing to myself. As I said to Jen I'm going senile (55 next month). It's Friday afternoon and work ends in 10 minutes - hence this shite.
Jessica wrote: "November 2010!great news, Alan!"
yes but maybe I shouldn't have said anything yet, might hex it
Ben wrote: "I'm excited for your reaction to Winesburg. I know it's had a lot of hype, but I do think you'll at least appreciate it. Cheers.".. I read 'Hands' this morning on the train to work. Yes, I think I'm going to like this. A lot.
Had some great news this morning too - my book has been brought forward and will now be out (or should be) in Novemeber 2010..
I'm excited for your reaction to Winesburg. I know it's had a lot of hype, but I do think you'll at least appreciate it. Cheers.
Ben wrote: "Congrats on the good review! He really analyzed it well, it seemed. Cheers."Yes I'm flattered and happy that Abailart took such trouble with it, and liked my stories too..
Congrats on the good review! He really analyzed it well, it seemed. Cheers.
Jessica wrote: "ah, sorry about that.Yes, I did indeed promise a review...and I fell down on the job.
But...I will do it, soon as I climb out from under the semester's course load.
soon I hope."
don't worry Jessica leave it. I know this time of year is so busy for academics (and us Uni librarians but I don't take my work home). It's such a bastard about Meg. Maybe she'll come back.
ah, sorry about that.Yes, I did indeed promise a review...and I fell down on the job.
But...I will do it, soon as I climb out from under the semester's course load.
soon I hope.
