Blind in the mind – what it’s like to read with Aphantasia
Blind in the mind – what it’s like to read with Aphantasia. “I describe it thus: think about walking through your house in the middle of the night when all…
literature
The halo effect in Eliza Clark’s ‘Boy Parts’
In this article, Kirsten discusses the psychological term 'the halo effect' in relation to Eliza Clark's debut novel 'Boy Parts.'
The tragedy of Ophelia: Breaking her silence
It came to my attention while sitting in an English lecture on Shakespeare’s Hamlet, in which my lecturers dove into Hamlet’s existentialism and quest for revenge, that this play was…
Literary ‘kung fu pandas’: the Chinese wuxia genre and why Westerners don’t know it (Part II)
‘Without the trials and travails of stormy waves, no jianghu can be formed'—in Part II of this article, Audrey Wong continues to unpack the cultural barriers for Western readers of…
Shakespeare’s sonnets and the complexities of being in love
Originating in 13th century Italy, the sonnet is a 14-line poem typically consisting of 10 beats per line – known as being written in Iambic pentameter. The rhythm of iambic…
The joys of judging a book by its cover
Eleanor Strain makes the case for appreciating and valuing book covers as an intrinsic part of the reading experience.
The disturbing reality behind the ‘happily ever after’
Tales of beautiful Princesses, of magic and talking animals, of good triumphing over evil – fairy tale stories recounting the wholesome tales of true love and happy endings have been…
Literary ‘kung fu pandas’: the Chinese wuxia genre and why Westerners don’t know it (Part I)
In Part I of this article, Audrey Wong introduces the genre of Chinese wuxia novels and their sociocultural importance, and begins to explore the reasons behind their lack of traction…
Autumn alchemy: the perfect book and tea pairings
Amy Whitaker crafts the ideal book and tea pairings for a cosy autumn.
‘Otherwise, you live’: what Louise Glück tells us about death
In light of the great poet's passing, Audrey Wong examines how Glück's own words provide consolation about mortality.