Review: The Emotional Impact of Pale Blue Dot
March 5, 2020
In times of stress or worry, I think it’s important to read literature that puts things into perspective. I am always drawn to “YOU ARE HERE”, a chapter in Carl Sagan’s Pale Blue Dot, the most reflective and emotionally impactful work of non-fiction I have read. The chapter describes the journey NASA’s Voyager was making …
Bittersweet Symphony – my ode to being a final year English student
February 27, 2020
It seemed that as soon as I arrived back to University after Christmas, all fresh-faced and bushy tailed, the prospect of (gulp) graduating and (gulp) leaving Nottingham, hit me like a tonne of bricks (or should I say books?). I have become so accustomed to my routine as an English student at Nottingham. Weekdays are …
Old Books vs. New
February 21, 2020
I have always been somebody who loves nothing better than a brand new book. As well as the excitement of fresh reading material, I love the clean-cut edges, the crisp smell of the pages, and the feeling of a factory-made object not yet sullied by human hands. A controversial opinion, I admit, but one which …
Life-lessons from F.R.I.E.N.D.S.
February 14, 2020
Still one of the most watched TV shows, ‘Friends’ has somehow remained relevant. It’s popularity among younger audiences is undeniable, and has become a go-to when it comes to binge-watching a comfort programme. It is one that our generation has grown up with and makes us nostalgic for a time before us. I have recently …
Ask a Busy Person
February 10, 2020
“How do you find the time?” I’m asked this often. I’ve worked full-time in heritage for 20 years, I’m a trustee for a local charity and I have a side hustle. Nothing unique about that, but there’s a saying in my network that if you need something doing ask a busy person. To be honest …
How Seeing Plays Helped My English Degree
February 6, 2020
Starting my English Degree at the University of Nottingham, a course in which you are thoroughly taken out of your comfort zone if you expect anything resembling a ‘dry degree’, nothing terrified me more than one looming module: Drama, Theatre and Performance. There is something uniquely evil in taking a shy student and forcing them …
A Student’s Search for Presence
February 3, 2020
When we establish a routine, it almost feels like nothing in the world could ever disrupt our rhythm. The rhythm of lectures, seminars, workshops. The rhythm which binds us on a set journey towards a certain career. Some time ago, I would have shunned this rhythm. This monotony. Yet, I realise that none of it …
Review: Ted Chiang’s Short Story Collections
January 30, 2020
Reading short stories is a satisfying use of leisure time for when you’re busy or just have a short attention span. It’s also vital to getting through the Creative Writing module. For me, there is no greater master of short stories than Chinese-American sci-fi author Ted Chiang. One of the most prestigious, least prolific authors …
A Guide to Fresher’s Fear
January 27, 2020
Freshers week. A few months ago these two simple words would make me feel an all-encompassing sense of dread. Even voicing the phrase was enough to make my mouth dry up a little. However, at present, I can proudly state I am a true survivor of this worrisome week and am offering to share some …
Reading: A Guide for Undergraduates
January 22, 2020
With most English undergraduates taking six modules per year, and each module carrying its own hefty reading list, it can be difficult to know how best to stay on top of such a daunting workload. Most of us are taking this course because we love to read, but finding time to read for pleasure can …
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