A Review of “The Dead Wife’s Handbook”: Moving through grief with the aid of fiction
Book Reviews / British / The Latest

A Review of “The Dead Wife’s Handbook”: Moving through grief with the aid of fiction


I bought this book in the first few months after arriving in Switzerland at the giant English bookshop, that used to be located on the Bahnhofstrasse in Zurich. I was so intrigued by the idea of a dead person narrating a book. The dead couldn’t talk. I tried to read the first chapter of the … Continue reading

Shark Week: Let’s talk about bleeding with Emma Barnett’s new book, “Period”
Book Reviews / British / feminism / nonfiction / The Latest

Shark Week: Let’s talk about bleeding with Emma Barnett’s new book, “Period”


When I talk to fellow humans about the female reproductive system, I am always shocked at the misinformation or blatant ignorance people have. Whether you experience periods or not, the chances are that you know someone who does. And to not know how that system works does a disservice to those who experience periods. Emma … Continue reading

Understanding Black Hair Culture: a review of Emma Dabiri’s “Don’t Touch My Hair”
African / Irish / Nigerian / nonfiction / The Latest

Understanding Black Hair Culture: a review of Emma Dabiri’s “Don’t Touch My Hair”


Emma Dabiri’s part memoir part scholarly investigation of African hair culture in and outside of African countries is close to my research heart. I have always been fascinated by female hair and beauty and the culture around it. So much so, that I wrote my master’s thesis on Black hair. Female hair and beauty are … Continue reading

Making Sense of Loneliness: a review of Olivia Laing’s “The Lonely City”
Book Reviews / British / nonfiction / The Latest

Making Sense of Loneliness: a review of Olivia Laing’s “The Lonely City”


After living in Switzerland for six years, I have been thinking a lot about loneliness and what it means for us humans. I have been thinking about whether loneliness is ever good for us? Are their ways that we could harness our lonely moments to learn more about ourselves? I have wondered about the difference … Continue reading

Women in racing: a review of Clare Balding’s memoir “My Animals and Other Family”
Book Reviews / British / nonfiction / The Latest

Women in racing: a review of Clare Balding’s memoir “My Animals and Other Family”


“Be consistent. Be fair and honest.” p161 Clare Balding’s memoir My Animals and Other Family was first published in 2012. At the heart of it, Balding’s memoir is an exploration of the importance animals can have on our childhoods and our lives in general. Each chapter is a different animal that left a mark on … Continue reading

“Anxiety: the missing stage of Grief”: a review and personal exploration of Claire Bidwell-Smith’s grief self-help book
American / Book Reviews / nonfiction / The Latest

“Anxiety: the missing stage of Grief”: a review and personal exploration of Claire Bidwell-Smith’s grief self-help book


When my father died in 2011, my whole world was flipped on its head. I have spent most of my 20s coming to terms with death, loss, and grief, and this is also evidenced in the types of books I have read throughout this time. This can be seen in my reviews of fiction works … Continue reading

Review of Sayaka Murata’s “Convenience Store Woman”: fitting into the capitalist ideal
Book Reviews / Japanese / The Latest / translation

Review of Sayaka Murata’s “Convenience Store Woman”: fitting into the capitalist ideal


I am a lover of Japanese literature. I studied Japanese in primary school (but it sadly is not one of the languages that stuck in my head), and I have had an affinity for Japanese culture, art, and food. When I came across Sayaka Murata’s work, Convenience Store Woman, I knew I had to get … Continue reading