Let women write fanfiction
Fanfiction gave many, including myself, the space to be themselves. So, we look into the origins and communities behind fanfiction to shed light on why it shouldn’t be dismissed.
Summer Daydreaming: Literary escapes from the winter blues
Why not escape winter with these sun-soaked reads? We offer a few recommendations that unveil the warmth of summer reading regardless of the season.
Recommending a book for each Taylor Swift era
Taylor Swift is now more popular than ever and we can’t get enough, so we recommend a book for each of her albums.
International Women’s Day book guide: Celebrating feminists and feminism
Women’s writing should be spotlighted and celebrated all year round, but in the lead up to International Women’s Day, there’s no time like the present so we recommend some of our favourite books
More than Murakami: What does Japanese fiction have to offer?
Why is Japanese fiction becoming so popular? We give some insight into the rise of modern Japanese literature and recommend some of our favourite reads!
How Goodreads affects my degree: The reality behind reading goals
Alongside the growing popularity of the app ‘Goodreads’, we explore the effects that reading goals and endless tracking within the app really have on reading.
The frazzled Millennial women of literature
The Bridget Jones aesthetic has been preoccupying TikTok recently so we reveal literature’s favourite frazzled millennial women.
Books are a girl’s best friend – Valentine’s edition
Treat yourself this romantic season with a good read – books are much lower maintenance than men
In Memoriam review: Finding solace amongst sorrow
Alice Winn’s debut In Memoriam has become Waterstones’ poster child for both historical fiction and LGBTQ+ romance. It has already been named an ‘instant classic’, but what separates this Great War story from so many others?
The Booker Prize: Empowering or performative?
The Booker Prize’s shortlist has been announced, and as always, each entry is laden with polemical and current societal commentaries. But why does this prize champion liberation? Perhaps due to its colonial past and problematic present.
BookTok’s obsession: Why fantasy novels keep captivating readers
Discover the cultural phenomenon of ‘BookTok’ where a surge of young readers have enthusiastically immersed themselves in the enthralling realms of fantasy novels, heralding a new era in reading habits and literary exploration.
The ultimate Gift Guide: Books edition
Books are the ideal present for anyone, but faced with the overwhelming amount of choice, we offer a few suggestions from the most popular genres.
The Irish literature renaissance: The need for women’s writing
With the emergence of Sally Rooney, the popularity of Irish literature has only increased. We explore why there is now an urgent necessity for contemporary Irish women’s voices in literature.
The best short books you can read in one sitting
If you’re looking to get back into reading during the busyness of term time, here are some recommendations for brilliant short books you could finish in one sitting
Paddington Bear: Celebrating 65 years of Britain’s favourite bear
65 years since ‘A Bear Called Paddington’ first hit the shelves, Paddington Bear has become a national treasure. But why does he mean so much to Brits?
Dystopian hope and the art of feminist retelling: What does Julia hide?
How about “laugh, love, live in a totalitarian state”? Discussing Julia, the promising new feminist retelling of 1984 by Sandra Newman
Demystifying today’s politics: Must-read books
What you should be reading to keep informed on today’s political sphere
Doon Mackichan talks acting, feminism and life lessons at Manchester Literature Festival
From empowerment to activism: here’s everything we should be learning from Doon Mackichan’s appearance at Manchester Literature Festival
Acclaimed author Liu Zhenyun visits Manchester to showcase his latest work
Chinese author and screenwriter, Liu Zhenyun, discusses his latest work at the Manchester China Institute
What in 451°F: How and why do book bans still exist?
Book burning is finally outdated, but book banning is still a stable trend. Why is this still the case and what we can do about it?