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2 weeks ago | 
indiependent.co.uk | Emily Fletcher
For fans of Sayaka Murata, Mieko Kawakami, and translated fiction in general, I can’t recommend Hunchback by Saou Ichikawa enough – I suspect it will be your next fun, short read. Hunchback is the first novel by a disabled author to win Japan’s top literary award and was immediately recognised as one of the most important Japanese books of the 21st century.
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2 months ago | 
th-ink.co.uk | Emily Fletcher
Sara Puhto, known as @saggysara on Instagram, is a body positivity influencer who shares real, raw and refreshingly honest content. Social media bombards us with unrealistic beauty standards, making us question ourselves and our bodies – but Sara is on a mission to change that, one post at a time. Beyond her empowering message, Sara also proudly shows off her bold and beautiful tattoos.
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Dec 13, 2024 | 
indiependent.co.uk | Emily Fletcher
Short story collections have gained incredible popularity among readers in recent years. The rise of BookTok and Bookstagram has further fueled this trend, encouraging more people to embrace these compact, engaging, and entertaining reads. Eliza Clark, whose debut novel Boy Parts achieved significant success within the online book community, has recently published her third piece of work and first short story collection, She’s Always Hungry.
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Nov 10, 2024 | 
indiependent.co.uk | Emily Fletcher
The Inclusive Books for Children (IBC) recently shared their report, Excluded Voices, examining children’s books published in the UK between 2014 and 2023. The study focused on three categories:Baby and Toddler Books (ages 1–3)Picture Books (ages 3–7)Children’s Fiction (ages 5–9)Books were counted based on their most recent year of publication. Out of 1,200 books reviewed through the IBC process, 635 were deemed eligible for inclusion in the report.
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Sep 30, 2024 | 
indiependent.co.uk | Emily Fletcher
The Booker Prizes, The British Book Awards, The Orwell Prizes, The Women’s Prize, The Hugo Awards, Waterstones Book of the Year – the list goes on. With thousands of book awards worldwide, the exact number is hard to pin down. , the world’s largest database of book awards and reviews, tracks over 10,000 awards, and that number continues to grow. But do these awards still hold significance for readers? Does a book’s nomination influence public perception?
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Jul 28, 2024 | 
indiependent.co.uk | Emily Fletcher
When you’ve grown up in a world that dictates how women should act and look, nothing is more refreshing than indulging in a book featuring characters who completely go against these societal expectations. Despite common belief, the ‘unhinged woman’ trope has been around for a while – the unnamed narrator of Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s The Yellow Wallpaper (1892), Bertha Mason of Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre (1847), Lady Macbeth of Shakespeare’s Macbeth (1623)… The list goes on.
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Jul 17, 2024 | 
whenthehornblows.com | Emily Fletcher
For all the 5 Seconds of Summer fangirls, you are in for a treat with this one. Ashton Irwin, the drummer of 5 Seconds of Summer, steps into the spotlight as a frontman outside of the band, in his latest solo album ‘BLOOD ON THE DRUMS’. The album, which Irwin describes as "a metaphor for how much I’ve given to my music," follows his 2020 debut solo album, ‘Superbloom’.
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Jul 16, 2024 | 
th-ink.co.uk | Emily Fletcher
Social media has undoubtedly influenced the tattoo industry, bringing both advantages and drawbacks. A lot of people have found their favourite tattoo artists and styles through online platforms, and smaller tattoo artists are gaining much-deserved recognition through their social media presence. The benefits are huge, making the tattooing world more accessible than ever before. But, what are the downsides? Is social media shaping or breaking the tattoo industry?
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May 25, 2024 | 
ftpunks.com | Emily Fletcher
Fans of Knocked Loose know the band doesn’t gloss over negative feelings, and this single proves it, as the lyrics show:“Haunting pride (morals defied) / Are you conscious behind the knife? / Or is it just another disguise / Drink from me / Take it now, take it now / Everything that I have / Leaving nothing left.”This song is filled with hints of betrayal, frustration, and desperation, through the implications of backstabbing, resentment, and feeling hopeless.
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May 18, 2024 | 
whenthehornblows.com | Emily Fletcher
ENOLA, the artist blending underground genres, returns with a captivating listen - 'It's Not Love', their first single since their popular 2023 EP, 'All Is Forgiven'. In their latest Instagram post, they share: “It’s a song about how we stay in situations & dynamics that don’t serve us, because we have deep rooted bonds and attachments to people, places and the past.” If you find yourself asking yourself why am I doing this? Why am I here? Why am I investing in this person? Does this make me happy?
