Ken (D K) Powell

Due to the fact my inbox is full of bots and I haven't had a genuine conversation with a human there in over a year, I've now closed my DMs to everyone except verified users. If you're not one and you want to chat, tell me in a post/comment and I'll message you back.

Saying goodbye to someone very dear to me. The strange joy of seeing my Bangladesh and UK worlds blur together again, and the balmy weather made Britain briefly feel like Bangladesh. This week’s Monday Murmurings: kenthinksaloud.wordpress.com/2026/05/25/mon…

Happy weekend everyone! This week’s Future Friday comes with a special announcement I’ve been keeping secret for weeks — one that makes this edition far more personal than usual and marks the beginning of a very exciting new chapter for our family. kenthinksaloud.wordpress.com/2026/05/22/fut…

The Pukur is a haunting story about a grieving girl sent to rural Bangladesh after losing her parents, where a mysterious pukur slowly draws her into its dark depths. Available on: amazon.co.uk/Pukur-DK-Powel…

@Algor_Mortis1 @maxnotdavid I literally don't care what you think. The bigotry comes from what you said but it matters not 2 hoots to me that you said it, you just amused me. What's interesting is your hypocritical response. How about you take "your lumps"? Can you see your own fingers pointing back at you?

The Guardian has released its list of the 100 best novels, based on the Top 10 picks of 170 writers, critics and academics. Reading is deeply subjective, but lists and reviews can help us discover books worth reading. writeoutloudblog.com/2026/05/17/tho…

Today is my birthday, so Birthdays and Bygone Days is a lighter reflection on growing older, looking back with nostalgia, and remembering that even difficult times will one day become part of the stories we tell. No Wednesday Banker today. kenthinksaloud.wordpress.com/2026/05/20/wed…

@KrisKruijshaar I object to the book more for its attitude to females and and continuing the stereotype that women are ultimately there for the pleasure of men. These are things we shouldn't really be believing in nor normalising.

@kendkpowell I still feel rather attached to 'Lolita' despite its terrible protagonist and antagonist and the presumed but unproven autobiographical elements. Its major flaw might be to have been deemed too 'important' to analyze 80 years on, in undergrad courses and the like.

@DaraghThomas @maxnotdavid Not forbidden but dull, lacking realism and full of racist undertones. Other opinions are available.

@maxnotdavid @kendkpowell And Joseph Konrad forbidden!

@DaraghThomas @maxnotdavid The fact you have no clue about the latter perhaps means you should avoid making a judgement about the former?

@maxnotdavid @kendkpowell I'm guessing Lolita's subject matter means Ken thinks it should be cancelled. No idea about moby dick

@molly__molloy Not really. It is a book that, like Hardy's Tess, continues the male gaze and normalises attitudes towards females that, I hope, are no longer considered acceptable.

@kendkpowell Hating on Lolita because of the immorality of its protagonist. I thought we were over this…

The Good Muslim by Tahmima Anam is a deeply moving story about identity, faith, and the legacy of war that left me emotionally shaken and reflecting long after the final page. writeoutloudblog.com/2015/05/30/boo…

This week’s Monday Murmurings reflects on the need for Britain to confront its own faults and prejudices rather than simply blaming others in order to understand the political changes unfolding around it. kenthinksaloud.wordpress.com/2026/05/18/mon…

Happy weekend everyone! This week’s Future Friday covers unusual crystals from the Trinity test, South Korea’s success in reducing food waste, changing trends in jazz and classical music, and more. kenthinksaloud.wordpress.com/2026/05/15/fut…

Captain Corelli’s Mandolin by Louis de Bernières was difficult to enjoy at first, with a slow start and heavy writing. But it gradually won me over and became a deeply moving and memorable story by the end. writeoutloudblog.com/2015/05/24/boo…

Let’s talk about how Keir Starmer is hanging on by the thinnest of threads, putting his own position ahead of the country’s needs as growing pressure raises serious questions about how much longer he can cling to power. kenthinksaloud.wordpress.com/2026/05/13/wed…

Gora by Rabindranath Tagore is a thoughtful and engaging novel about love, identity, and Bengali culture that feels surprisingly readable despite its age, and it left me with a deeper appreciation of Tagore as a truly great writer. writeoutloudblog.com/2015/06/01/boo…

After visiting Buckingham Palace and seeing Republic’s giant dinosaur, Chuck the Rex, I found myself reflecting on how difficult it can be for those in positions of power to recognise when it may be time to step aside. kenthinksaloud.wordpress.com/2026/05/11/mon…

Happy weekend everyone! This week’s Future Friday covers autism research, new battery breakthroughs in China, blood-filtering treatment for preeclampsia, AI discovering 10,000 exoplanets, and more. kenthinksaloud.wordpress.com/2026/05/08/fut…

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is a timeless and powerful story about prejudice and human nature, with memorable characters and a deeply moving narrative that left me reflecting on who we really are beneath the surface. writeoutloudblog.com/2015/05/14/boo…