The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker: Devastating Feminist Retelling of the Trojan War

Rating: 5 stars Category: Literary fiction, retellings Synopsis: "Great Achilles. Brilliant Achilles, shining Achilles, godlike Achilles... How the epithets pile up. We never called him any of those things; we called him 'the butcher'" The bards sing of Achilles, hero of the Trojan war, but never the slave who shared his bed, Briseis. Taken from her fallen city, Lyrnessus, she is brought to the Greek camp besieging Troy and given as a prize to Achilles. No woman is better placed to strip bare the true inglorious agonies of war, both on and off the battlefield.

The Testaments by Margaret Atwood: Searingly Plausible Dystopian

Rating: 5 stars Category: Literary fiction, Dystopian Synopsis: Lydia is one of the most feared Aunts in Gilead - but she's about to go rogue with a secret manuscript. Agnes and Daisy are both navigating the trials of coming-of-age - but with one raised inside and one outside Gilead, they might as well come from different planets. These three unlikely women will be brought together to unite against the powerful Gileadean theocracy - challenging every single one of their assumptions about reality in the process.

Questioning the Canon: T.S. Eliot and Adrienne Rich

Questioning the Canon: T.S. Eliot and Adrienne Rich Questioning the Canon is a new feature in which I hope to bring to light lesser-known books about a certain issue, which can be read alongside or instead of infamous 'classics'. Today, I will be comparing the poetry of T.S. Eliot and Adrienne Rich...

Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo: Because One Voice is Never Enough

Rating: 5 stars Category: Literary fiction Synopsis: In Girl, Woman, Other, Bernardine Evaristo intertwines twelve lives - mostly black, British women. Their voices range from Hattie, an ancient mixed-race grandma struggling to keep her family farm and her pride along with it, to Amma, a black lesbian playwright whose radical work is showing at the National Theatre for the first time. Through this lively spectrum of characters, Evaristo explores the nuances of identity, connection, and what it means to be proud of who you are.

Top 10 Non-Fiction Audiobooks to Keep Your Brain Active

If you're looking for some listening material to keep your brain in gear while stuck in lockdown, here is a list of my favourite non-fiction audiobooks!

I've included a varied selection of genres, from true crime to self-help, so whatever your tastes you should be able to find something that intrigues you...

20 Empowering Quotes from Female Authors to Start Your 2020

The whirlwind of New Year's resolutions and endless articles about losing weight, saving money, eating better, finding love etc. can make you feel defeated before you've even begun. To put you in a better mindset, who better to turn to than some of the most inspiring female authors?

From Alcott to Atwood, their words of wisdom are sure to make you feel empowered for 2020...

Eve Was Shamed by Helena Kennedy: Feminist Challenge to an Unjust Justice System

Rating: 4 stars

Category: Non-fiction

Synopsis:

Working as a high-level barrister at the very heart of the justice system, Helena Kennedy is well placed to examine whether this system is working for women. In her book, she draws on extensive experience working with women, both as victims and perpetrators of crime, and the challenges she has faced as one of the only QC female barristers.

Eve Was Shamed is a shocking revelation of how women remain discriminated against by the law. It is also a powerful call for change.

Resilient Verse: Women’s Poetry Recordings

As part of my English Literature degree, I am making a digital project that explores the relationship between literature and digital culture. My project is Resilient Verse, a website dedicated to audio recordings of women's poetry. Why not take a look?

Ethical Gifts for Book Lovers (That Aren’t Books!)

If you're still in need of some last-minute Christmas present inspiration, this list is for you! Not only are these gifts literary-themed, but they're ethical too, so your loved one will get an even warmer feeling when they snuggle up with a good read and some bookish paraphernalia.

From an up-cycled literary print to a charity gift or feminist tote bag, there's something for everyone...

My Sister the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite: Sharp, Provoking Crime Fiction

Rating: 4 stars Category: Crime Fiction Synopsis: "You can't sit on the fence forever." Zorede takes the role of older sister seriously. She protects Ayoola. Takes the blame when she gets in trouble. And - quite literally - cleans up the bodies. Ayoola has now killed three of her boyfriends, and, although she pleads self-defence, Zorede is not convinced. So when Ayoola starts dating the doctor Zorede is in love with, it's finally time for her to pick a side. With family loyalty stretched to the limit, Zorede questions whether she should continue to defend her little sister - no matter what.