I’m tempted to swing by Leicester Sq to check out the new library at the W London hotel, which opened a few weeks ago. Journalist Damian Barr curated the collection of 100 books by asking 10 writers to recommended 10 books each – all are inscribed with a handwritten introduction by the authors, explaining why they made their choice. You can also sit and read in the (W)riter’s Library with a cocktail – an idea I can really get behind. That’s not the kind of behaviour my local library really endorses, although I appreciate that I still have a local library at all.

As for the line up of writers at the W – Bret Easton Ellis, David Nicholls, Geoff Dyer, Jake Arnott, Alex Preston Naomi Alderman, Ned Beauman, Craig Taylor, Hephzibah Anderson and Sloane Crosley – I’ve read the work of one of them, which makes me feel poorly read and not in a position to judge. I’m still more than happy to point out what irks me about it though: That list includes just two female authors. Would it have killed to try and even out the balance Damien Barr?

Allow me to point you in the direction of inspiration. Some limited edition Virago books that Mr MFH bought me one Christmas, each one by a female author and introduced by female personalities in the arts – including Julie Burchill and Ali Smith (each book also has a jacket cover based on work by female artists and designers from past and present, including Lucien Day).

My favourite read of all was Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston, which was made even more powerful by Zadie Smith’s heartfelt introduction.

W Hotel, take note and up your female contributors. The campaign starts here.

I urgently need…

Excuse my bluntness but I’m just here before falling into bed in post-Zumba agony. So I’ll just mention how urgently I need one of these*… * Not the cat, I have one And also some of these… All by Klaus Haapaniemi, an artist and designer using traditional weaving and printing techniques. Love the mice in […]

Spare room to nursery

Here is my spare bedroom, which needs to be turned into a nursery asap. Something I want to do in a few killer moves. Ie nuts, I am running out of time. Thus, the bird wallpaper stays, the big bed is outta there, probably with the map too, and I need to add some light-blocking […]

Whose house?

When I bought my flat my mum’s best friend, a long-time London dweller, was really excited about one thing. The fact that I lived close to an old house she’d been fascinated by for years. I am also now fascinated with it, and it seems I’m not the only one. This picture is from Vanessa […]

Dreaming of lidos

In three weeks time I’ll be meeting my second born, so its exciting times here. But, I only tell you this so that I can briefly moan about the heat in London yesterday and its effects on my ankles, and to explain why I am now pouring over pictures of the UK’s best – and […]