Category: Literature

Literature

Connecting with Poetry: Finding Emotion in Experiences

Sappho – Fragment 147 – Written by: Samira Abbey Sappho’s fragment 147, ‘someone will remember us / I say / even in another time’, resonates with me as more than just a poetic reflection on legacy; it’s a subtle, powerful reminder of resilience. Queer people, who have navigated history often overlooked or erased yet unquestionably present, will find this message especially relevant. Sappho’s words transcend … Continue reading Connecting with Poetry: Finding Emotion in Experiences

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Literature, Live Reviews

Review: A Christmas Carol At The Sherman Theatre

Charles Dickens is renowned for shaping our Christmas experience, so when I went to watch A Christmas Carol, I had high expectations. The show appealing to everyone, brings the festive magic to life with it’s charming humour. Debuting back in 2021, it has now returned and become a performance worth watching repeatedly. Staged at the Sherman Theatre in Cardiff and adapted by Gary Owen, this … Continue reading Review: A Christmas Carol At The Sherman Theatre

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Literature

Remembering Tradition Through Classical Literature

Classical literature serves as a bridge between past and present, offering timeless wisdom, trends and narratives. But what makes these classics relevant to the contemporary era, and what defines a book as classic?  For me, the beauty of classics lies in their invocation of originality and inspiration. While narratives and traits are often inspired by pre-existing works in contemporary literature, classics serve as fundamental blueprints. … Continue reading Remembering Tradition Through Classical Literature

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Literature

Advocating for Literary Freedom: An Interview with Cardiff University Book Club

In the face of growing censorship and threats to literary freedom worldwide, Cardiff University Book Club is leading the charge. By hosting engaging discussions and raising funds for PEN International, the club is committed to championing the right to read, write and share ideas. Krisha (President), Christine (Social Secretary), and Khalid (Reading Group Coordinator) discuss their insights and aspirations. What does the term ‘literary freedom’ … Continue reading Advocating for Literary Freedom: An Interview with Cardiff University Book Club

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Creative Writing

Amelia Wollacott – Short Story Collection.

Amelia Wollacott is currently pursuing a master’s in English Literature at Cardiff University. Amelia submitted a portfolio containing a series of short stories and flash fiction pieces. All of these pieces were written during her undergraduate degree. Here are a couple of pieces that we have selected to give you an insight into Amelia’s literary prowess. Sierra Nevada. The car engine sang to the open … Continue reading Amelia Wollacott – Short Story Collection.

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Literature

Taylor Swift and Her Literary Allusions.

Words by Gabriella Sanders. Whether or not Taylor Swift is at the top of your agenda, it is no secret that SwiftÔÇÖs stardom has taken humanity by storm. With her international Eras tour combining yearsÔÇÖ worth of genre breaking discography into one impressive three-hour performance, her music has something for everyone.   However, it is not simply the sheer diversity of music or performance stamina that … Continue reading Taylor Swift and Her Literary Allusions.

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Creative Writing, uncategorized

Our Journey.

Words by Ksenia Ryadnova. A writer once said “is music getting somewhere?”. A question I sometimes compare with ourselves. A dotted rhythm, a slight crescendo. The idea that one little notation can change the wholemovement of a piece entirely. A slight irregularity can make the conductor feel as if they have failed in their artistry. Failure to provide beauty, knowledge and feeling. I reconcile with … Continue reading Our Journey.

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Literature

Autumn Reads: The Best Books to Read this Season.

Autumn invites us to explore stories that match the seasonÔÇÖs mood. From eerie mysteries to timeless classics, we have created a list of book recommendations that our contributors have suggested. The experience of reading a book in autumn can evoke immense nostalgia as we crave home comforts. We hope you find some inspiration among these recommendations. These autumn reads promises to transport you to captivating … Continue reading Autumn Reads: The Best Books to Read this Season.

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Creative Writing

What Was Left Behind

By Tash Sood And when she left,She left you the sky,The shadows under leaves,The pins holding down the world,And the secret to pulling them outto set it all free. She hid the will behind the curtainIn a yellow envelopeIn blue ink. She left me the smell of rain,The shock of lightning,The roots of the trees that reach under housesTo tear at the foundationsand bring it … Continue reading What Was Left Behind

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Literature

Cheltenham Literature Festival: Women in Orwell’s World

Words by Katie Storrie Casting a new light on how women in OrwellÔÇÖs worlds should be recognised and celebrated. Sandra Newman and Anna Funder discuss their new publications at this yearÔÇÖs Cheltenham Literature Festival. Orwell himself will always hold credit to his extraordinary work. I was first introduced to Animal farm and then 1984 during my teenage years and I became highly immersed in the … Continue reading Cheltenham Literature Festival: Women in Orwell’s World

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Creative Writing

Artefacts

Words by Martha Godivala. Someone is agonisingOver the artefacts inHer Museum of Ancient History. There, is a showcase:A preserved corduroy hat andSome posed photographs of happy peopleDates handwritten on the back.Delicate remains of shrivelled up flowers with thorny stems and crunchy petals.*DO NOT TOUCH*┬áA note once secretly passed in a classroom, and┬áPoems a dead boy wrote. What a display! Stayed there for years, never changed.Perfectly … Continue reading Artefacts

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Literature

Friendaholic by Elizabeth Day: A review

Words by Annie Tallis ÔÇÿI have such a crush on her, but like a friend crushÔÇÖ, I overheard one woman confess in the queue into Cheltenham Townhall. There is a distinct feeling that the over 1000 of us that turned out at 6pm on a Sunday evening feel a similar sort of love for Elizabeth Day. We all wait in anticipation for her words on … Continue reading Friendaholic by Elizabeth Day: A review

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Creative Writing

Egg Box

By Caitlin Wildgoose-Davis Every girl is an egg box. A container.  WeÔÇÖre all born with the potential to grow life, but this might not happen when weÔÇÖre girlfriends or wives.  Our lives might not match up,  might not be in line with the moment in time ÔÇô  the moment in time that  it happensÔǪ  that our bodies become homes.   We might be teenagers, babies ourselves. We might not yet … Continue reading Egg Box

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Large black shelves filled with books
Literature

The Value of the Book itself: How Second Hand Books Bring People Together.

Words by Josef Swindell In the process of reading or purchasing a second hand book you will make a connection with another human. Second hand books are valuable due to this as you gain an association with a book that could have easily been neglected or thrown away. You could even learn the thoughts of previous owners due to a books annotations. These are only … Continue reading The Value of the Book itself: How Second Hand Books Bring People Together.

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Literature

(Not So?) Happily Ever After: The Depiction and Evolution of Marriage in Literature

Words by Anushka Kar Whether itÔÇÖs in Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility or any of her other novels, you can always rely on Jane Austen to advocate marriage, love, and the intermingling of the two in a taboo-esque manner of the nineteenth century. For Austen, marriage could not simply be an economic ordeal; it had to have that mutual attraction in order for it … Continue reading (Not So?) Happily Ever After: The Depiction and Evolution of Marriage in Literature

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Literature

Working Towards A Better Future: Union in Literature

Words By Molly Chambers A novel I find particularly interesting and hooking in the way that it explores unions and political pressures is Animal Farm by George Orwell. The intriguing nature of the novel stems from the setting of a farm and a collection of animals to communicate a story structured around changing levels of dictatorship and democracy, in hopes of a better environment for … Continue reading Working Towards A Better Future: Union in Literature

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Literature

I Read Picture Books At 20 And This Is Why You Should Too

Words by Alexa Price ChildrenÔÇÖs literature, especially picture books, are increasingly ignored upon reaching the age where youÔÇÖre simply ÔÇÿtoo matureÔÇÖ to read them. While thatÔÇÖs understandable (why would you read a book aimed for five or seven year olds at the age of twelve?), these days I can recognise that childrenÔÇÖs literature is its own type of artform. I know that I was a … Continue reading I Read Picture Books At 20 And This Is Why You Should Too

Alexa Price
Literature

Colleen Hoover – Worth the Hype?

By Mia Coley Colleen Hoover. If you are on TikTok or have any interest in books you will have heard her name. She is a number one New York Times bestselling author of seventeen novels and novellas (as of Jan 2023) and has sold millions of copies globally. Her books tend to fall under the romance genre, filled with steamy sex scenes complete with intimate … Continue reading Colleen Hoover – Worth the Hype?

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Literature

Pen is Envy? I DonÔÇÖt Think So.

By Lucia Cubb ÔÇÿThe pen between my fingers is sensuous, alive almost, I can feel its power, the power of the words it contains.ÔÇÖ (Margaret Atwood, The Handmaid’s Tale) For years, the world of writing and literature was dominated by the male hand: to write was considered an inappropriate and unsuitable activity for women, leaving females forced to publish anonymously or behind the pen name … Continue reading Pen is Envy? I DonÔÇÖt Think So.

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