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Reflections

I Joined a Bookclub: And Why you Should Too

At the end of 2024, I joined a bookclub! Actually, I joined two! A couple of years ago, I remember having the conversation with a few friends about whether or not reading, specifically physical books, was a dying hobby. It seemed like fewer and fewer people were readers and finding a group of people who enjoyed loosing themselves in a fictional world for hours at a time was a challenge. When I did go around looking for bookclubs, either I struggled to find friends who read fiction (at least the same kind of fiction I read), or, as was the…

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Reflections

LGBTQIA+ in Media: A History of Struggle & Progress

Throughout history, literature and film have served as mirrors to society, reflecting the complexities of human identity, love, and struggle. Within this vast cultural landscape, LGBTQIA+ voices have long fought for visibility, often facing censorship, discrimination, or erasure. Yet, these voices persist, shaping narratives that challenge norms, inspire activism, and provide a sense of belonging for countless individuals. LGBTQIA+ in Cultural History LGBTQIA+ representation in literature can be traced back centuries, albeit often hidden in subtext or coded language due to societal restrictions. Writers like Oscar Wilde, whose novel The Picture of Dorian Gray subtly addressed themes of queerness, and…

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Reflections

The Rise of Celebrity Biographies

A New Chapter in Self-Promotion? Today’s post is a bit more of a reflective one as I delve into a topic that has been on my mind recently. In recent years, the literary landscape has seen a significant surge in celebrity biographies and memoirs, and not just from stars who have been in the public eye for decades. Even relatively young celebrities—such as pop star JoJo (formally known as Joanne Marie Levesque), former Nickelodeon actress Jennette McCurdy, and, most recently, pop icon Britney Spears—are publishing tell-alls that often top bestseller lists. This trend extends to high-profile figures like Prince Harry…

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Books

The City of Tears by Kate Mosse Book Review

Love, Loss, and the St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre: A Closer Look at The City of Tears and Its Shifting Historical Lens Title: The City of TearsAuthor: Kate MossePublisher: PAN MACMILLANThemes: Forbidden love, Religious persecution, Family loyalty, Survival amidst conflict, Identity and belonging In The City of Tears, the second instalment of Kate Mosse’s trilogy on the Huguenot diaspora, Mosse picks up the story of Minou and Piet amid one of the most turbulent events of the 16th century—the St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre. Building on themes of survival, faith, and the harrowing toll of religious conflict introduced in The Burning Chambers…

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Books

The Burning Chambers by Kate Mosse Book Review

Exploring Faith and Survival in The Burning Chambers: A Historical Dive into the Huguenot Rebellion Title: The Burning ChambersAuthor: Kate MossePublisher: PAN MACMILLANThemes: Forbidden love, Religious persecution, Family loyalty, Survival amidst conflict, Identity and belonging “You well know that if a lie is repeated often enough, in the face of the clearest evidence to the contrary, even the most level-headed of men start to believe in it. Falsehood easily becomes accepted truth.” A good book recommendation is like a little gift, especially when it comes from one of your favourite people who knows exactly what you’ll love. The Burning Chambers…

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Books

“Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow” by Gabrielle Zevin

Friendship, Ambition, and Second Chances Through the Lens of Gaming and Identity Title: Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and TomorrowAuthor: Gabrielle ZevinGenre: Literary FictionPublisher: Knopf (2022)Themes: Friendship, Creativity, Identity, Video Games, Ambition, RedemptionTW: Death, Trauma, Guns, Ambiguous Consent “What is a game?” Marx said. “It’s tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow. It’s the possibility of infinite rebirth, infinite redemption. The idea that if you keep playing, you could win. No loss is permanent, because nothing is permanent, ever.” Gabrielle Zevin’s Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow was one of those books that had me completely obsessed from the first page. The novel offered a…

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