Literature is filled with examples of female characters, actions, and narratives being overshadowed by their novels’ male characters. Whether this is down to the embarrassingly two-dimensional way that women are often written by men, or due to male characters being written a more diverse, interesting narrative. This nearly always involves a heroically masculine end-of-the day…
Books
YA Love Stories
Traditionally, Young Adult fiction has been viewed as a more superficial genre. One where the same tired tropes are paraded around in different clothes, all trying to convince the reader they’ll be different from the array of books sat next to them. However, their greatest success comes in their representation of LGBTQ+ sexualities and gender…
Books
Celebrating Disability Representation
Representation in books has always been important. However, when creating diverse reading lists, people’s minds immediately go to POC representation or LGBTQ+ representation. For whatever reason, I don’t really see much in the way of disability representation. Unless, of course, I look in certain spheres. Before university, I was an ignorant reader, my bookshelves weren’t…
Books
The Importance Of #OwnVoices
Doctor Rudine Sims Bishop’s perceptive article Mirrors, Windows, and Sliding Glass Doors (1990) highlights how minority representation in fiction, particularly for children, is paramount in ensuring readers feel seen, their own lives recognised as an important part of our diverse human experience. In 2015, young adult author Corinne Duyvis created the Twitter hashtag #OwnVoices, to…
Books
Most Iconic Contemporary Women Writers
Whilst there are many iconic contemporary women writers who could easily win the top-spots on this list, there are three British authors dominating my bookshelves this International Women’s Day. Bringing women together, these authors offer comfort and reassurance to their female readers as they spotlight the feminine perspective, raise important issues about womanhood, and forefront…
Books
Talking Romance: An Interview with Talia Hibbert
Talia Hibbert is a New York Times bestselling author of sexy, diverse romance novels. I had the pleasure of interviewing her. It’s safe to say that I fangirled, telling her how much I love her writing. Readers have celebrated Hibbert for her diverse characters, as she celebrates people of all shapes, shades, and sizes. Where…
Books
The Secret History by Donna Tartt: A 1992 Publication
The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt is one of my favourite novels, so when I was recommended The Secret History, I couldn’t wait to start it. I went into the novel optimistic but doubting it would meet the standard of The Goldfinch. I couldn’t have been more wrong. It’s fair to say I was entirely encapsulated…
Books
Anticipated Reads of 2022
2022 has already seen new releases receiving widespread praise, including Yanagihara’s novel To Paradise, which explores an alternative end to America’s Civil War. There are many more exciting reads lined up, here are a couple to look forward to. V.E Schwab’s upcoming YA fantasy, Gallant, released in March, follows Olivia Prior who moves into a…
Books
Lights, Planets, People! – A Graphic Novel About Mental Health
In September, UEA’s Molly Naylor published her graphic novel Lights, Planets, People with artwork from Lizzy Stewart. The graphic novel features Maggie Hill, an astronomer preparing to deliver a lecture to women in STEM, whilst facing her first-ever therapy session. Throughout the novel, we see Hill’s struggle with anxiety, panic attacks, and bipolar disorder, all whilst building up the nerve to conduct…
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