‘What society gives us as youth, it bites them it bites them in the ass when we wild out’. Sixteen-year-old Starr has carefully managed to balance the two worlds she inhabits – the poor neighbourhood she grew up in and the posh, suburban high school she attends. Until one night, on her way back from … Continue reading
Ever read a novel that’s beautifully written but horrifying, disturbing and heartbreaking, and yet so riveting that you can’t put it down, even during the very worse parts. That’s how I felt reading An Untamed State. I had all the feelings from page to page. Fear, anger, despair, anxiety, hope, relief, joy all jostled for attention as … Continue reading
Initially I had mixed feelings about Minaret by Leila Aboulela but on the whole I did like it. It’s a fascinating glimpse of Sudanese culture, politics and Islam. These elements of the novel I thought were well written in way that wasn’t attempting to ‘teach’ the reader or explain or justify. Therefore, any aspects I didn’t … Continue reading
I’ve had Isabel Allende’s debut novel sitting on my shelf for about five years or so. I’d started to read it and then stopped a few pages in for reasons I can’t remember. When I started reading it again, I half suspected I was going to give up on it again, but I persevered and soon … Continue reading
I first came across the web series The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl about four years ago on YouTube and was immediately hooked. Not only was it hilariously funny, but in J,the awkward black girl of the series (played by Issa Rae), I had found my awkward hero, someone I definitely related to and at … Continue reading
