#uk literature

[cheftulips]

The last three books I read were all orange. 🍊

[ismahanescorner]

A Dowry of Blood | Book Review

Author: S.T. Gibson

Genre: Historical Paranormal, Gothic Fantasy, Horror

Publisher: Nyx Publishing

Release Date: 31/01/2021

Rating: 4.25/5 🌟🌟🌟🌟

Synopsis:

A lyrical and dreamy reimagining of Dracula’s brides, A Dowry of Blood is a story of desire, obsession, and emancipation. Saved from the brink of death by a mysterious stranger, Constanta is transformed from a medieval peasant into a bride fit for an undying king. But when Dracula draws a cunning aristocrat and a starving artist into his web of passion and deceit, Constanta realizes that her beloved is capable of terrible things. Finding comfort in the arms of her rival consorts, she begins to unravel their husband’s dark secrets. With the lives of everyone she loves on the line, Constanta will have to choose between her own freedom and her love for her husband. But bonds forged by blood can only be broken by death.

Review:

tw//: murder, abuse (physical/psychological) mental illness.

so let me sum up this book, in a short and wonky way… umm!! it’s a retelling of dracula’s three brides story. the novel is told from constanta’s pov and is divided to three parts, no chapters, and each part about one of the brides! part one is about her life with dracula. part two sees the addition of magdalena to the family, and part three is when alexie joins the foray!!

while reading the book, at first, i was like “hmm, it’s prolly just all the hyped books” then i found myself entranced throughout part two, speeding through part three devouring every word of the page! i honestly had no idea i would actually like it this much! the trio are precious to me!

definitely recommend listening to the audiobook as well!!

[peacefulandcozy]

Instagram credit: acalmwalk

[escapismsworld]

Angels descending and climbing the Jacob's ladder.

Built in 1611

📍Bath Abbey, Bath, UK.

[joytri]

summer in a haze

[nostalgicacademia]

Romantic Academia

By: danielapardor

My articles on Dark Academia:

Dark Academia aesthetic

The imaginary of Dead Poets Society

The Secret History a key fandom

[vox-anglosphere]

Oscar Wilde was full of witticisms until the very end..

[she-posts-nerdy-stuff]

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to study English literature A-level in an all girls sixth form with a young teacher then just know that once (and this is a few years ago now) my teacher played the “If the men find out we can shapeshift they’re going to tell the Church!!” video and then asked us what about the video we could apply to studying The Handmaid’s Tale

[disabled-dragoon]

"Why are children's literacy levels dropping? Kids just don't want to read books anymore."

Books can be pretty expensive and we're in the throws of a cost of living crisis

Theres been a steady increase in the policing of children's and young adult literature

Theres been a steady decline in public libraries

It's not a statutory requirement for schools to have a library

Even if schools do have a library, kids don't always have easy access to it/aren't allowed in it

Kids can be cruel. If they're taught to shame reading, they might see fit to shame other kids for reading and continue the cycle.

Shaming or ignoring kids who struggle to or can't read physical books instead of showing them alternatives or helping them find ways to make it easier doesn't help the situation

The problem isn't just the kids. Don't put this all on their shoulders.

[timetravelstudies]

This got long and annoying so its under a cut now

The way in the fight w the museum director insul gets the same big injuries he has given trianon (so far), aand particularly the ones that T thinks back on often as specific sources of fear/humiliation/control (pepper sprayed in the eyes; kicked in the balls; choked with smth small and thin ((wire / car window)))….. im too tired to formulate a proper Thought abt this but the fact this all happens right in front of tjat one painting of dante & virgil in hell + insul and the director are in the exact same pose right as insul is about to die* is obviously so meant to evoke the idea of contrappasso….. at this stage trianon isnt “””strong””” enough (doesnt understand Insul enough and most importantly doesnt fully inhabit himself and his own strengths) to be able to pay back Insul’s violence (as he does later, though not in such a literal way anymore) so tje director will do for now🥰 bc they both need to descend into hell they both need to be subject to physical and psychological violence in order to strip down layers……. so its cool how the director serves that purpose for this phase 1 both in story for insul himself (who eats shit in this fight) and also as a sort of alert for the reader like make no mistake they are BOTH gonna get put thru the ringer. even the top has to wade through cocytus! or smth

[ismahanescorner]

Heartstopper (Vol. 4) | Book Review

Author: Alice Oseman

Genre: Graphic Novel, Young Adult, Queer Romance

Publisher: Hachette Children’s Group

Release Date: 06/05/2021

Rating: 4/5 🌟🌟🌟🌟

Synopsis:

Charlie didn’t think Nick could ever like him back, but now they’re officially boyfriends. Charlie’s beginning to feel ready to say those three little words: I love you. Nick’s been feeling the same, but he’s got a lot on his mind – not least coming out to his dad, and the fact that Charlie might have an eating disorder. As summer turns to autumn and a new school year begins, Charlie and Nick are about to learn a lot about what love means.

Review:

tw//: mental illness, eating disorder, mentions of self-harm.

this series holds a special place in my heart!! i really loved the commentary on mental illness in this volume. i appreciate that the author/illustrator found a way to tell/show Charlie’s struggles without including depictions of self-harm and disordered eating! really excited to see where the series goes in the next volume!

[peacefulandcozy]

Instagram credit: polly.florence

[kanchelsis]

⚠️ ATTENTION UK COMRADES ⚠️

never in my life did i think i would be making a post like this but here goes.

what's happening in the university of brighton?

during the past week, the university of brighton has announced 110 staff redundancies in a bid to save almost £18m.

meanwhile, senior management have recently shelled out an almost identical sum of money to buy out the lease of a sports facility on campus - a decision which nobody asked for or wanted.

these redundancies will be finalised at the end of june and will have a catastrophic impact on learning conditions, which rely on the expertise of our lecturers. though the ripples of this decision will be felt throughout the university, it explicitly and disproportionately targets 'non-profitable' degrees such as humanities, arts, social sciences, etc.

for the staff made redundant, it could mean the end of their academic career due to a surplus of unemployed academics as a result of sector-wide lack of funding for teaching and research. this is also happening during a cost of living crisis.

lecturers on work visas could be forced to leave the country and may not be able to support their families. those who aren't made redundant will suffer from increased workload, larger class sizes, inability to conduct research and more students per member of staff.

the university of brighton offers a fantastic range of unique, interdisciplinary courses in the heart of the uk's queer capital, allowing our vibrant student community to benefit from intimate seminars that immensely benefit our learning. with some of our departments being cut by more than half, the loss of these will be absolutely devastating.

in the e-mail the student body were sent, we were told the redundancies 'wouldn't affect us', with zero acknowledgement of the relationship students build with their lecturers.

this is an attack on the job security and dignity of our valued body of educational staff. the vice chancellor, who takes home around £250,000 a year, said she 'needs to pay the gas bill'. we say human beings over buildings.

the student body cannot allow this. this sets a dangerous precedent for workers all over the country.

so what can we do to help?

let them know that this not okay. voice your concerns to the vice chancellor debra humphris, who can be contacted at d.humphris@brighton.ac.uk

spread information. tell your friends. kick up a fuss. stand in solidarity with staff and students. contact your local representatives and encourage them to offer support. jeremy corbyn has already given his!!

consider following @ uobsolidarity on instagram to stay updated.

here is a petition you can sign and some relevant news articles. here's how to find your mp.

SOLIDARITY FOREVER. FUCK GREED. PLEASE BOOST!!!

[escapismsworld]

📍Holly Village, UK,

[newvision]

Joy Sullivan via @7oranges // Edward Hopper, Compartment C, Car 293, 1938 // Mary Oliver, The Summer Day

[nostalgicacademia]

Cottagecore

By: deerly_dreamer

PS: Here you can download my Dark Academia article in PDF "link".