Happy Halloween! For this Halloween’s Book Versus Film, we’re visiting one of fiction’s premier haunted houses. It has stood for sixty years, and might stand for sixty more. Within, walls meet at odd angles, floors don’t lead where they should, and doors shut by themselves; and whatever walks there… well, if you’re brave enough to…
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Favourite Books We all have our favorite books and novels, but every once in awhile, we come across a book that boasts a strong, lasting impact on society. This happens for a couple of reasons. Maybe the story wins several awards, a huge fan base in involved, history comes to life, or the book generates…
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Why Read Fantasy? Fantasy is an amazing genre for novels, with the power to transport you into new worlds, new universes. A big part of the appeal of reading novels is escapism, the ability to take yourself out of your own life and look through the window into the lives of others from places and…
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My Review WRITING FICTION: A USER-FRIENDLY GUIDE is a fun book about the writing of novels. It is laid out in accessible and straightforward way, taking its reader from considerations like ‘What is fiction, anyway?’ through to stuff like characters, plotting, language use and show versus tell. The book also covers some considerations about editing…
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It’s Banned Books Week Books have been seen as dangerous since we first started writing them. And in 2019, governments around the world continue to censor them. From American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis (Australia) to The German Girl by Armando Lucas Correa (Cuba) to all works by political activist Liu Xiaobo in China, including…
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Most people love the occasional thriller, albeit a novel or a movie. The genre’s popularity in recent times is unrivalled, as a number of books have become cultural phenomena: think Gone Girl or The Girl on a Train. Whether you are looking for something before bedtime, or something to bring with you on holiday, a…
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Murder Mystery Books If you’re the sort of person who loves a good thriller, you certainly aren’t alone! Mysteries and thrillers are among the top books sold across the globe. Every year, hundreds of great stories are added to this genre. That means that finding the real gems among them can be a challenge. There…
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Book Versus Film If you go down to the woods today, you’re sure to encounter one book, two films, three empty graves and foreshadowing to make you weep. Let’s bury Stephen King’s Pet Sematary in that ancient MicMac ground, and see what rises victorious. Grab your shovel, take my hand, and tread carefully: there are spoilers…
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“Non-fiction books are so boring. Who likes to read real stories when there are things like Game of Thrones and all the best sci-fi books?” Do you have that thought when someone mentions non-fiction? That can mean only one thing: you haven’t read non-fiction at all. When you start reading it, you’ll realise that real…
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If you’re an avid reader, you likely grew up reading everything you could get our hands on. From fairytales to wild fantasies, no page was left unturned. However for many, there is one type of story that is read less frequently than others: tales with empowered, clever, and independent female role models. These stories can…
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