Behind the Scenes at Kemptown Bookshop
Earlier this year, after gift shopping in the Lanes, I took a bus over to Kemptown to visit one of Brighton’s most established bookshops. With no essays due and the…
Mad Women and the Legacy of Female ‘Insanity’ in Literature
There is a particular kind of woman who appears, again and again, in literature: beautiful, untameable, and mad. She is Bertha in Jane Eyre, confined to an attic. She is…
From Pages to Person: How What We Read Changes Us
University isn’t just about lectures and deadlines, it’s also about the stories that stay with us. In this article, four Badger writers share the books they discovered during their time…
Inside the Mind of Emma Jane Unsworth: An Unfiltered Conversation
Award-winning author Emma Jane Unsworth has returned with Slags. This bold and emotional new novel explores fractured sisterhood, the power of memory, and the evolution of female identity from adolescence…
The Price of Prestige: The Secret History and Academic Elitism
What if intelligence was not a virtue, but a weapon? At first glance Donna Tartt’s ‘The Secret History’ (TSH) is a thrilling murder mystery consisting of eccentric characters and their…
Absolute Martian Manhunter #1 Review
Absolutely Amazing – ★★★★ DC’s Absolute line of comics has so far been stellar, but their best comic may be here with Absolute Martian Manhunter. I shouldn’t have expected any…
The Spark Behind the Story
Asked what inspired her new novel The Rest of You, Maame Blue recalls a vivid image from her memories of early 2020 while living in Melbourne: a young woman dancing…
The House of Mirrors: Erin Kelly’s Journey with Karen Through the Ages
Erin Kelly’s novel The Poison Tree explored the generational impact of trauma in a dark thriller, taking its name from a William Blake poem on the same subject. Her new…
The aesthetics of reading
It is argued that some people concern themselves with looking like a reader, rather than focusing on the reading experience itself.
A Dip into Greek Mythology
Whether you’re drawn to the classic texts or modern adaptations, there is an abundance of literature on Greek mythology, and a rich sub-genre of fresh, often feminist perspectives exploring these…
A Guide to Brighton’s Hidden Gem Bookstores
In the heart of Brighton, Afrori Books is more than just a bookshop – it’s a vibrant community space dedicated to celebrating Black voices, culture, and literature. Specialising in books…
A Dip into Greek Mythology
Filled with tales of tragic heroes, wonderful creatures and capricious gods, Greek mythology has captivated readers for centuries. Whether you’re drawn to the classic texts or more modern adaptations, there…
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Is It Black and White?
“GOOD GOD MAN! YOU ALMOST GOT THE CHEESE TOUCH,” we all shout in unison as our friend cracks open a baby bell in year 6 (at least I did, I…
Classics With Modern Relevance
Animal Farm – George Orwell This list would not be complete without mentioning Animal Farm, published in 1945 by George Orwell. With the farm animals teaming up together against their…
“The Evolution of Feminist Literature: From the Classics to Today”
Words by Isabel Cattermole Feminist literature has long been used as a weapon for change, urging readers to question ideas about gender, power, and identity. From Simone de Beauvoir’s The…
Must-Reads to Gift This Season
Dante’s Divina Commedia La Divina Commedia (The Divine Comedy) by Dante Alighieri is an Italian narrative poem composed between 1308 and 1320, published just before he died in 1321. Split…
Voices Across Continents: The Impact of Influential Black Authors
My literary journey began with fairytales that, in retrospect, were predominantly white, a common experience for many Nigerian children. In secondary school, I was introduced to the works of writers…
Beyond the Bestseller List: Hidden Literary Gems
In a world where the latest bestselling books dominate shelves and screens, some of the most compelling stories are often overlooked. Beyond the popular bestsellers, there’s a world of underrated…
Books About University Life
Normal People “Normal People” is a coming-of-age novel published in 2018 by Sally Rooney. The story portrays the ever-growing and changing relationship between Marianne Sheridan and Connell Waldron, originally two…
Breaking the Silence: The Impact of Banned Books
Although a recent prolific increase in the number of books being banned in the United States has made the conversation mainstream, book banning, censoring, and altering is nothing new. The…