So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed by Jon Ronson My rating: 4 of 5 stars Really interesting. Read this as a way to stay off twitter as much as possible. Ultimately the cases of public shaming Ronson gets into are very interesting and ones I remember from when they occurred. The link between twitter and the idea of a dark ages mob justice is interesting and … Continue reading REVIEW: So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed – Jon Ronson
The Taxidermist The squirrel had been in the freezer for weeks, wrapped up tightly in Tesco bags wedged between the frozen fish and quorn. His evening was just beginning, giving me a quick kiss whilst putting on his rubber gloves. The bathroom was soon heavy with blood and borax. He used a scalpel and nail scissors to slip out the organs and to tease muscle … Continue reading Poem: The Taxidermist
The Naked Civil Servant by Quentin Crisp My rating: 5 of 5 stars This was my second reading of this book, first reading for was a few years ago. I came back to it because I have been craving more queer voices and I have a great love for the early to mid twentieth century queers whose struggles we all need to remember are close … Continue reading REVIEW: The Naked Civil Servant by Quentin Crisp
The Fish Can Sing by Halldór Kiljan Laxness My rating: 5 of 5 stars What a beautiful and complex book. It takes in themes of nationhood, the role of parents and grand parents, heroes and the complexities attached to being a creative person. The book works in a funny, meandering way where we learn a lot about the people of Iceland in the form of … Continue reading REVIEW: The Fish Can Sing – Halldór Laxness
Vogue Whitney Houston, Eartha Kitt Gladys Knight and Bessie Smith. Ellen, Björk, and Britney Jean on the cover of a magazine. George Eliot, Austen, Jane Intellectuals, eternal fame. Nicki Raps, Madonna’s grand Beyonce and Babs Streisand They have style, they have grace Nichelle Nichols explored space. Michelle Obama, Malala too, Hillary Clinton, we love you ! Ladies with an attitude Women that are in the … Continue reading Poem: Vogue
Call Me By Your Name by André Aciman My rating: 5 of 5 stars A universal and beautifully real novel which runs along so easily and wonderfully. Narrated by Elio, the younger of the two, you feel his fears, the thrill of his growing obsession with Oliver and, at moments, his fantasies made real. The novel has a few differences to the film (which is … Continue reading REVIEW: Call Me By Your Name – Andre Aciman
Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen My rating: 5 of 5 stars I love Austen. Her wit and wry humour is something I have enjoyed immensely for a number of years. Knowing her other novels well, this one does have a slightly different atmosphere and tone at moments. For the first half of the book, it feels very much like a standard Austen, a witty comedy … Continue reading REVIEW: Northanger Abbey – Jane Austen
