For years now, I have had a loose new year’s resolution to get better at reading diversely. Back in 2012, I read an article by a woman who had read a book from every country in the world (193 according to the United Nations, plus two sovereign states). At the time, I counted that I […]Read More
The start of a new year can mean many different things, with some people viewing it as a chance for a new start. Personally I love the start of a new year because it brings with it a year of new books to get excited for. With so many books coming out this year, from […]Read More
Sally Rooney, author of Normal People, will be releasing her third novel in September. Rooney’s UK publisher Faber announced on Tuesday that the novel will be titled Beautiful World, Where Are You. It will follow the story of friends Alice and Eileen, as they navigate their twenties and an uncertain political and economic climate. Faber […]Read More
If there’s one positive to come out of a global pandemic (and admittedly, there are few), it’s that – like many across the nation – I’ve had plenty of spare time to rediscover my love of reading, and catch up on some of the books I’ve been meaning to read for years. 2020 was also […]Read More
The arts are far more entwined than many will ever realise – artists of all forms know this. As a music student I couldn’t help but wonder how influential music was to 2019 Booker Prize winner Bernardine Evaristo. Born in South London, she is currently professor of creative writing at Brunel University London and President […]Read More
Getting lost in stories, learning about new topics or people and discovering new perspectives are some of my favourite past-times. And what better way to do that than reading new books? Unsurprisingly, there are quite a lot of books on my Christmas wish list this year. Some of them are there to challenge me, some […]Read More
Nestled in Britain’s oldest recorded town, Colchester is Red Lion Books – an independent bookshop in the heart of the high street. Amidst the hustle and bustle of the school run and shoppers, Red Lion books provide the town with not only books but is a significant community hotspot. Although Colchester is known for its […]Read More
Harry Houdini. Henry Ford. John Pierpont Morgan. Booker T. Washington. Emma Goldman. Archduke Franz Ferdinand. These are just some of the real-life figures who appear in E. L. Doctorow’s historical novel, Ragtime (1974). Through a blend of fact and fiction, Doctorow depicts New York at the turn of the twentieth century when social, political and […]Read More
I often think there are a number of ways you can categorise people, small things that reveal more telling personality traits. Do they brush their teeth before or after breakfast? Do they drink instant coffee or only the barista standard? Do they use recipe books or make it up as they go along? I realised […]Read More
As the nation turns to reading to escape the uncertainty and stresses of living through a global pandemic, the multinational giant, Amazon, has seen a boom in sales. Ordering books at the click of a button and having them delivered to your doorstep has never been so easy. However, the culmination of the first lockdown, […]Read More
Having finished Emily Maitlis’ autobiography Airhead for a second time, I felt compelled to pen my thoughts into a review. I use the word autobiography reluctantly, as it’s not a compendium encapsulating her childhood and personal trials, but rather a polished set of professional anecdotes and tales from her journalistic journey. Each chapter contains a […]Read More
Trigger warning: rape, assault Let’s play a word association game, shall we. If I say ‘model’, what’s the first thing that comes to your mind? Perhaps you think of a tall, leggy Victoria’s secret model. Maybe you think of transgender model Munroe Bergdorf and her racism row with L’Oreal. Or maybe your mind goes to […]Read More
Bookshops have always been a solid source of happiness and comfort in my life. Taking those spontaneous trips to a bookshop on a dull day to browse and wander is something many of us have done and love doing. It’s what made me fall in love with reading, the possibilities of a bookshop. However, there’s […]Read More
Grime’s against-all-odds success story is one I’ve followed pretty closely. My little brother even bought me a matching JME mug and coaster for Christmas last year. Having said that, Dan Hancox, the journalist behind Inner City Pressure, takes knowledge of the genre to new heights. His 2018 book covers so much depth, it’s obvious he […]Read More
Why have myths and a fascination for mythology stood the test of time? Perhaps because they speak to us on two levels; the spiritual and the psychological. Whilst showing us the ethereal beauty of Gods and mythical creatures alike, myths seek to emphasise the sheer resilience of humanity. The hero succeeding against all odds, the […]Read More
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