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Sep 10, 2024 | 
bigissue.com | Billie Walker
Since publishers have finally recognised horror as a legitimate art form, the genre has become a necessary acquisition for each publishing house. But the lifting of horror to supposed “literary” heights has had detrimental effects, as publishers aiming for commercial success labelling anything vaguely haunting with the horror moniker. Titles claiming to be literary horror often leave their monsters lurking in the shadows never having the guts to reach out and grab the reader.
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Aug 1, 2024 | 
msn.com | Billie Walker
Microsoft Cares About Your PrivacyMicrosoft and our third-party vendors use cookies to store and access information such as unique IDs to deliver, maintain and improve our services and ads. If you agree, MSN and Microsoft Bing will personalise the content and ads that you see. You can select ‘I Accept’ to consent to these uses or click on ‘Manage preferences’ to review your options and exercise your right to object to Legitimate Interest where used.
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Mar 18, 2024 | 
gaytimes.co.uk | Conor Clark |Sam Damshenas |Billie Walker
Originals With toxic debates about trans people potentially going to dominate the upcoming general election, GAY TIMES asked voters what politicians should be focusing on.
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Mar 12, 2024 | 
moviemarker.co.uk | Billie Walker
Released: 2024Director: Erlingur ThoroddsenStarring: Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson, Ólöf Halla JóhannesdóttirReview By: Billie WalkerIn Nordic noir, a police perspective is typical for the genre. But Cold, with its winks at the paranormal, seeks to investigate crime without the overbearing formula of law enforcement. As our detective Ódinn (Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson) strays further and further from his post in order to get to the heart of the mystery.
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Mar 8, 2024 | 
moviemarker.co.uk | Billie Walker
Released: 2024Director: Cara Mones + Caroline SuhReview By: Billie Walker“This is how you keep the men away” Abby Schachner jokes to the camera as she layers up. A poignant introduction to the insipid misogyny and victim blaming that is rife in the comedy circuit that is the focus of Sorry/Not Sorry.
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Jan 18, 2024 | 
bigissue.com | Billie Walker
BooksThis debut novel creates an air of dread with its apocalyptic backdrop, while human dramas persist in the forefrontAt a time when we are constantly living through unprecedented times, we have for better or worse begun to accept the unprecedented precedent. The constant churn of grind culture invites us to be distracted by our day to day, ignoring the bigger picture. This is something we have in common with the twonarrators of Ali Millar’s Ava Anna Ada.
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Jan 15, 2024 | 
bigissue.com | Billie Walker
BooksThe follow-up to Motherthing explores the dark side of modern parentingPerhaps I am cursed to begin every year with a novel about a woman’s marital struggles. Perhaps every year an author needs to remind us of the archaic heteronormative structure that many still wish to tie themselves to, thinking that their experience is unique enough that they won’t fall into the same patterns of behaviour.
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Dec 26, 2023 | 
bigissue.com | Jane Graham |Doug Johnstone |Barry Pierce |Billie Walker |Annie Hayter |Patrick H Maxwell | +1 more
BooksOur books editor and regular critics choose their favourite books of the last 12 monthsby: Jane Graham, Doug Johnstone, Barry Pierce, Billie Walker, Annie Hayter, Patrick Maxwell, Chris Deerin“This is a moving labour of love, not just for Eileen but for the many women writers a patriarchal literary scene has worked hard to erase” Jane Graham on Wifedom by Anna Funder.
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Nov 26, 2023 | 
bigissue.com | Billie Walker
BooksThis short story collection refuses to gloss over the bleak reality of years of austerityWhat does it take for an author to be named one of Granta’s Best of Young British Novelists? In Camilla Grudova’s case, it is clearly not a romanticisation of Blighty that has earned her recognition. Her body of writing offers far-from-pleasing depictions of a nation, or its miserable citizens.
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Nov 24, 2023 | 
bigissue.com | Billie Walker
BooksReading this book will shift your perspective, as Olah forces us to reckon with the truth behind the nuances of our decision-makingIt should come to the surprise of no one aware of Nathalie Olah’s bibliography that her latest Bad Taste: Or the Politics of Ugliness, is as relentlessly class conscious and anti-capitalist as her priors, Steal as Much as You Can and Class.
