By Stevie Buckley The creator of the famous Harry Potter wizarding world, J.K. Rowling, recently revealed some information about Dumbledore that put my childhood into turmoil. As a child, I was gripped by the simplicity of the hero/villain dualism, but it turns out that Dumbledore and his enemy, Gellert Grindelwald, were in a ‘passionate’ sexual relationship in the past of … [Read more...] about Fantastic beasts – the crimes of J.K. Rowling
Literature
Marie Kondo and me: the life-changing magic of detoxing your wardrobe
By Catherine Taylor On 1 January, Netflix debuted Tidying Up with Marie Kondo, a reality show based on her bestselling self-help book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organising. The programme follows Kondo as she helps families whose houses have fallen victim to clutter reinvigorate their living spaces, emphasising … [Read more...] about Marie Kondo and me: the life-changing magic of detoxing your wardrobe
Book review: Michelle Obama’s Becoming
. By Áine Kenny This Christmas, I was hoping someone would get me Michelle Obama’s memoir. She was a woman who I had long admired for her grace, strength and wisdom. It mustn’t be easy having a charismatic husband, let alone being the First Lady. I wanted to find out more about her life. Luckily, my dad prevailed and bought me a copy. The book is quite long, 421 … [Read more...] about Book review: Michelle Obama’s Becoming
173 years later and the poignancy of ‘The Little Match Girl’ remains
By Sarah Gill In 1845, Danish poet and author Hans Christian Andersen published the incredibly moving and vital tale of The Little Match Girl. The story takes place on New Year's Eve as the heaviest of snows falls. A young, poor girl is roaming the empty streets in the hopes of selling some measly match sticks. Her head is bare, her feet are naked and not one person has … [Read more...] about 173 years later and the poignancy of ‘The Little Match Girl’ remains
Reeling in the years, 1970: the iconic year that kicked off the ‘Me Decade’
By Caileigh Ryan In contrast to the heavily political 1960s, 1970 arrives, toning things down a notch. People are bettering themselves and shifting their focus to individual satisfaction. A quote by President Kennedy, “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country,” defined the previous decade. But things are changing. The 1970s are all about … [Read more...] about Reeling in the years, 1970: the iconic year that kicked off the ‘Me Decade’