Following 2010’s A Visit from the Goon Squad, Manhattan Beach (2017) is a far cry from the time-hopping experimental prose anyone might have expected. It’s a “traditional” historical novel set in Depression era/World War II New York and centred on the Navy Yards. Egan’s melancholic, Noir-esque drama is elegiac and affirmative — which was also true… Continue reading On Manhattan Beach by Jennifer Egan
“This way through night’s magic corridors where our beloved come back to us alive, right here and with no blood tax at the border.” —Hélène Cixous, Dream I Tell You "I have spread my dreams under your feet; Tread softly because you tread on my dreams." —W. B. Yeats, 'The Cloths of Heaven' Picture it, a… Continue reading Hypomnêsis
We spoke again and again, I tried to sleep it off but then, all of a sudden, it had been five days. When I was high I felt euphoria like I had never felt before, and I thought about how I wasn’t thinking of you. You told me about how you had finally realised that… Continue reading Hurry up please, it’s time
Ann Patchett's sprawling domestic novel begins in 60s Los Angeles at a suburban christening party. The reader is immediately planted in the middle of the action and given a panoramic view of the scene. When handsome Bert arrives with a bottle of gin we see an almost comical jump to action as men roll up their shirtsleeves to… Continue reading A Review of Commonwealth by Ann Patchett
This past week I've been on work experience at an advertising firm in London. And I've been doing a really good job! I got off to a sniffly start on account of getting a cold at the worst possible moment and felt very Emily Blunt in The Devil Wears Prada only with less Valentino and… Continue reading April Foolishness
I'm still unemployed! I've uploaded a million CV's online and applied for jobs pretty much everywhere from China to Dubai. I've even (mostly) overcome my fear of escalators as a result of spending some time in London, which has been wonderfully liberating. I'm trying to make the most of my "time off" by engaging with the… Continue reading On The Archers (Sort of)
In peach-lit Miami, Moonlight shows three stages in the life of black-American Chiron. In young adolescence he finds a surrogate father figure in Juan (played by Mahershala Ali). He has abusive slurs thrown at him (including by his mother) without even knowing that they are homophobic. Juan is instrumental in the development of Chiron's character,… Continue reading On Moonlight
I got my first rejection last week! It followed a disastrous interview, but at least I can now cross digital media salesperson off my list of potential career paths. This wasn't much of a surprise considering I never technically learned what a spreadsheet is for [if you're considering hiring me and are reading this I am very… Continue reading On rejection and trying to be Carrie Bradshaw
I wrote these pieces in my second year of university in Brighton (2014). They were published (sort of) in the short fiction anthology that year. Last night someone told me I needed a reality check, and it made me miss this time a lot, which is ironic because at the time I was writing about… Continue reading October/Panther
Letters for Rent 