Eating Animals: a review of “Killing It” by Camas Davis
American / Book Reviews / nonfiction / Opinion Pieces / The Latest

Eating Animals: a review of “Killing It” by Camas Davis


In the world of food I often feel like there is very little compromise. There is a big divide, which is social, cultural, and moral that forces people to make ultimatums between vegetarianism/veganism or an omnivorous lifestyle. People who don’t eat meat do so for many different reasons, but a lot of them do so … Continue reading

“Middlesex” a review: gender identity
American / Book Reviews / Opinion Pieces / queer / The Latest

“Middlesex” a review: gender identity


Jeffrey Eugenides’ novel Middlesex is a breathtaking inter-generational novel that addresses issues of the complex history of Eastern Europe, Greek identity, Greek-American identity, growing up in the U.S., and intersex and other LGBTQA identities. It would be easy to talk all day about the complexities of this novel as well as Eugenides’ exquisite prose writing, … Continue reading

The ethics of crime solving and privacy: a review of “I’ll Be Gone in the Dark”
American / Book Reviews / crime / nonfiction / The Latest

The ethics of crime solving and privacy: a review of “I’ll Be Gone in the Dark”


If you are a fan of true crime writing, you will be well aware of Michelle McNamara’s work: I’ll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman’s Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer. It is a truly chilling, terrifying, unsettling, and complicated story that spans decades. Since its release, the cold case also became extremely … Continue reading

Frankenstein’s monster by any other name: a comparative review of Ahmed Saadawi’s and Mary Shelley’s monsters
Book Reviews / Classic / The Latest / translation

Frankenstein’s monster by any other name: a comparative review of Ahmed Saadawi’s and Mary Shelley’s monsters


Mary Shelley wrote her novel Frankenstein in 1818, which tells of the young scientist Victor Frankenstein who experiments with nature and biology to reanimate a human. Frankenstein’s monster is a combination of body parts. He is hideous in form, yet cannot escape the universal human desire to love and to be loved. Frankenstein’s monster is … Continue reading

Learning How to Accept Gifts: a review of Lisa Dempster’s travel memoir “Neon Pilgrim”
Australian / Book Reviews / nonfiction / Opinion Pieces / The Latest

Learning How to Accept Gifts: a review of Lisa Dempster’s travel memoir “Neon Pilgrim”


Gifts are complicated things. The simple premise of giving someone something they need, love, or want is what actually complicates the definition of a gift. Gifts, before anything else, function like a contract that requires the exchange of goods and/or services until someone dies, or decides to break off the relationship with the gift giver. … Continue reading

Geography and Conversations About Race: a review of Reni Eddo-Lodge’s “Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race”
Book Reviews / British / feminism / nonfiction / Opinion Pieces / The Latest

Geography and Conversations About Race: a review of Reni Eddo-Lodge’s “Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race”


Talking about race is exhausting. It is emotionally draining, stressful, awkward, painful, scary, and sometimes really dangerous. To have a conversation about race, or any hard topics like gender, sexuality, and class, requires a level of vulnerability that demands patience and practice. People from different sides of the spectrum often come to the table with … Continue reading