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Lisa See’s 5 star, 5 star, 5 star bibliography

A 5-star book rating is rare, especially from me. I am an extremely fussy reader: the Kindle sample function is my best friend, ensuring that I never purchase a book that I will inevitably put down. Finding a new favourite book is – I thought – impossible, yet in 2024 I have already found three contenders. The first is The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See.

The prose is mature but readable: it holds up among other modern feminist classics, like The Handmaid’s Tale or The Colour Purple. From the brutality of the Japanese colonisers to the gradual fading away of the haenyeo tradition, Lisa See recounts the events of the second half of the twentieth century from an untold perspective: Jeju women. What really elevates her novel, however, is how See develops her story beyond this historical context. See writes brutal depictions of female companionship, outlining the complex ways that a relationship between two inseparable girls can change. Young-sook and Mi-ja’s friendship is at the heart of the story, shifting irreparably when Mi-ja gut-wrenchingly betrays her friend. Young-sook is an expertly crafted protagonist, whose voice fades into the background just enough to make her opinions align with that of the reader’s. Sometimes I even forgot her name for how little it is mentioned! I found myself in agreement with her throughout the novel, a fact that made the resolution all the more impactful. From a blind insistence that Mi-ja is unforgiveable, the reader – alongside Young-sook – comes to a deep understanding of the hurt and tragedy that catalysed her betrayal. Following Young-sook from girlhood to old age, See seamlessly adapts her tone to suit each stage of her protagonist’s life, creating one of the most immersive books I have ever read.

There was no doubt in my mind that I would read all of See’s books: once I find an author I like, I will not stop until their entire bibliography is marked “read” on my kindle. My next read was The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane. Another tale which heavily championed female companionship, Tea Girl focusses on a severed, but lasting, connection between mother and daughter. Again, See introduced me to culture and perspectives I knew very little of: the Akha minorities of China, the production of Pu’er, and the impact of the one-child policy in adoption. The ending was beautifully done – underneath Li-yan’s ancestral tree, fate brings her face-to-face with her daughter. Without words, mother and daughter need only glance at one another to know who they are (I cried, of course). And yet, See does not write their meeting. She leaves us pondering over the tears and hugs and outpourings of emotions that were sure to have been present.

Next, I read her most recent novel, Lady Tan’s Circle of Women. This novel follows the life of a Chinese medical practitioner from childhood to ‘sitting quietly’, exploring the fascinating details of old Chinese medicine. This book sparked a morbid curiosity in foot binding, and how the practice affected both the physical and social mobility of women. The lengthy descriptions of rotting flesh, broken bones, and worn calf muscles were surprisingly fascinating, and, despite what it may seem, elegantly written.

I simply cannot choose which of these three is my favourite. I can, however, confirm that Lisa See is my new favourite author, narrowly surpassing Ottessa Moshfegh. My future reading goals for the year is looking bright: I still have a few of See’s novels to lose myself in. There is no better feeling than that!

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Lore in Elden Ring (and why I love it)

I was previously intimidated by the reputation of games by FromSoftware, a company which is most famous for its production of the Dark Souls series (all of which are known for their difficulty). Before playing for the first time, I was given multiple warnings by FromSoft veterans: let go of expectations, do not worry too much about the story, and be patient. Elden Ring follows a formula which is unlike many other games I have played in the past. This blog post is a personal exploration – a short essay – on these differences, as well as the reasons why I have become so enthralled with The Lands Between.

A lot of people complain that Elden Ring weeds out players who are looking for a more casual experience, as the player must pay extra attention if they want to understand what is happening beyond killing various enemies. Although Elden Ring is not a story-driven game, there is a world of lore waiting to be discovered. It tailors the perfect balance by providing a deep story should the player want it.

Although I am not a linguistics fanatic, I am a literature lover, and FromSoft have a development team that love to utilise the intricacy of language. With very few visual cutscenes, most of Elden Ring’s lore is revealed through item descriptions and written dialogue. This lends to the open world game design, by emphasising self-discovery and adventure. One example of this is the use of Dickensian-esque nomenclature. The Limgrave region (limb + grave) is governed by Godrick the Grafted, an evil ruler who severs and transfers the limbs from his subjects to himself.

This kind of analysis is useful in garnering a deeper understanding of every area, enemy, boss etc in the entire game. A more complex example of this is the boss, Praetor Rykard. Rykard’s tragedy is one of a man who turned his back on his mother and father’s beliefs, only to be overtaken by the ambition of an evil Serpent-Lord, whom he eventually sacrifices his followers – and himself – to. His name is a derivative of Richard, drawing comparisons to Shakespeare’s Richard III, another ruler with good intentions who descends into madness. The Praetor Rykard fight is only discoverable behind a hidden wall after engaging in a dialogue exchange with one of his old followers, introducing themes of secrecy and betrayal before the player even meets him. The player can only damage him with a specific weapon, which is held by a corpse (seemingly a sacrificed follower) in the boss arena. The description of The Serpent Hunter weapon reads as follows…

“Weapon that serves as both greatsword and spear. Thought to have been used to hunt an immortal great serpent in the distant past, it manifests a long blade of light when facing such a creature. When their master’s heroic aspirations degenerated into mere greed, his men searched for a weapon with which they might halt their lord.”

While Rykard’s lore is not fed to the player in a traditional sense, the information is readily available.

The “tarnished” narrative lends well with this inherent learning curve, both in fighting and discovering/interpretating lore. You begin the game as a “lowly tarnished”, who enters The Lands Between with a lofty goal. In order to become Elden Lord, you, as a player, must die countless times in order to understand enemy mechanics and improve. You also must get lost, confused, and turned-around countless times before you grasp any semblance of lore. Much like many things in life, you get from Elden Ring what you want from Elden Ring.

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To the Spider in My Bath

Today I feel like a small child, compelled to ask endless “why”s. Why do we grow such long hair on our heads? Why are there so many stars in the sky? Why do people hate spiders? I am never satisfied with the answer.

I am told that they do not have faces or an acceptable amount of legs. They don’t look at all like babies. They scuttle. They are unpredictable. They don’t activate the right part of our brains. They are “cool” at best; never “cute”. 

I do not like this truth. I like it even less that I agree with it. And yet, humans have always pushed back against the nature of things: for better or for worse. My mother’s friend houses a rescued snake for her daughter. She also houses a pug, a dog that has been bred to choke and splutter for the privilege of its squashed little nose. She tells me how disgusting the snakes’ dead, frozen mice are while her dog heaves and snots on her leg. Our hospitality and our cruelty is never consistent.

This is why I choose to take a deep breath when I see you in my bathtub. I will not wash you down the drain, or even take you outside to die. I will not hate you or wish you away. Against all odds, we will exist in peace.

ps. I will turn the light off for you. I heard you like the dark.

Unveiling the Magic: A Novice’s Guide to Conquering the Gathering

At university, I attended board game society. Every Monday, me and my friend would go on a mission to find the weekly building, which was always changing and never consistent. We would spend hours with likeminded people, playing risk or masquerade or some other niche game that a sweaty first-year brought from his own collection at home (these were always the most fun). From this society, I found both my DnD group and my closest university friend, who I still see regularly.

On those same Mondays, there was a different leg of Board Game Society, stationed in an adjacent room: the Magic: The Gathering players. Their game, a fantasy TTRPG with similar mechanics to Pokémon or Yu Gi Oh cards, interested me. It had the same charm as Pokémon, which I had played plenty, but with beautiful art and more engaging strategy. However, at the time I enjoyed attending board game night with my friend (he had no interest in Magic), and so I never felt particularly inclined to deviate from my regular Monday evening plans. It wasn’t until three years later, when my current boyfriend took an interest, that I decided to truly immerse myself in the game.

As a self-professed Magic newbie with lots of experience playing other strategic board games (I even have a few Twilight Imperium wins under my belt, and that is no small feat), my situation is very common. Given my own journey, how should others in a similar position approach this daunting game?

Although playing Magic can drain your bank account, it doesn’t have to. I first tried out the online game – which is free to download – to see whether I enjoyed the mechanics. This helped me get a basic grip on rules and strategy. Although there are so many words to learn – shroud, mill, lifelink, menace, to name a few – you can always refresh the rules on the internet. More complex interactions between cards invariably need googling, mainly to avoid an argument between players.

While online play is fun, the best way to gauge whether you enjoy the game is to play against preestablished players. All over the country, not just in my university, Magic players meet up to play Commander. This format is the most social, the most casual, and the most popular. Unless you live in a very rural area, it is likely that there are groups near you, with people who are willing to lend you one of their decks to try out the game. Commander is a great way to make friends, and it is great for competitive people (like me). Since you play against three people who all oppose one another, losing does not feel bad, and, equally, winning feels amazing. For any women feeling intimidated by the male-dominated fanbase, I can (anecdotally) confirm that the community is a welcoming one. I urge any board game fanatic to give Magic a chance: it may just be your new obsession.

Pink Bunny Ears: Video Game Skins and Microaggressions

My boyfriend and I play Halo Infinite almost every night. The transition from living together at university to living separately – two painful hours away – had us both desperate to share in an activity together. As a couple who love to play games side-by-side, we graduated to playing games together online.

Unfamiliar with FPS (first-person shooter) games, there was certainly a learning curve for me. It was not long before I began climbing up the leaderboard in our online games by finding tactics that worked around my weaknesses. I do not have the years of practice and good aim that many other Halo players have: instead of shooting to kill, I often dodge and melee attack. As my aim has improved over time, I have been able to move away from these tactics, but I still use them when against a particularly talented shooter.

Although I am a decent player, often scoring just above average, I get harassed the most. T-Bagging is extremely common for me, even when the other team is losing badly. Defined by Urban Dictionary as “the natural act of a man dipping his ball sack into either a woman’s or defeated opponents’ mouth as if it were a Tea-bag”, it is “most often used in the gaming community as a victory move.” My boyfriend, of course, does not get the same treatment, even when he has a rare bad game.

Can you guess why I get treated this way? Hint: my character wears a garish bubble-gum pink armour, complete with light-up bunny ears. Ever since I equipped a stereotypically girly skin, I am treated as a loser when I am winning.

This is only a small example of the hostility that women face in gaming circles, and, luckily, as someone who does not use voice chat, the worst I have personally experienced. Nevertheless, it should be easier to report and punish players who engage in these microaggressions against strangers. After all, jokes can very easily become a reality.

Four Successful Movie Adaptations *is* Possible

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is Susanne Collins’ gripping prequel, released 12 years after her hit trilogy The Hunger Games. The roaring success of The Hunger Games trilogy, which was later adapted into film in 2012, set the precedent for this equally enthralling prequel. It follows the character of Coriolanus Snow, known in previous novels as President Snow – yes, that President Snow – as he joins a mentorship programme in the 10th hunger games, where he is assigned the district 12 tribute, Lucy Gray Baird.

Like any other prequel, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is full of references that will make old fans squeal: the origins of The Hanging Tree Song, the Mockingjay symbol, and Snow’s red roses. But Collins’ prowess extends beyond just that: the real star quality of this book is her treatment of the character of Coriolanus.

This novel is written on the perfect timeline, balancing politics and history with the gimmick that drew fans into the series in the first place – the Games. Set 10 years after the war that split Panem into its infamous districts, the Hunger Games is in its juvenile stages, and the political unrest from the district 13 uprising is still felt across the country. Coriolanus is 18 years old, dealing with many typical teenage problems, among others that are not so typical: first loves, proving himself to his peers, and government sanctioned death games.

Collins gives the readers room to dislike Coriolanus, all the while forcing us to root for him, since Lucy’s victory is his victory. Then, as Lucy begins to fall in love with Coriolanus, we do too. However, it is impossible to forget that something must go wrong for him to become the big bad villain. This tension drives the plot forward, even in the novel’s slower points.

What I love about this book is how seamlessly Collins incorporates it into the main series, accommodating both new and old readers. It’s very easy to fall into the trap of writing traumatic backstories for tragically misguided characters. Collins does the opposite: Coriolanus’ descent into evil is a slow burn, fuelled by paranoia and determination to come out on top. She never offers any kind of justification for his actions: he is humanised, given depth and dimension, but never excused.

On the same vein, Collins doesn’t strip away the parts of Snow that are recognisable. He is arrogant, scheming, and in a position of privilege compared to the district children. Yet, by making him less privileged than one may have thought – on the brink of starvation, unable to afford the same luxuries as his peers – he is still a victim of the system, forced to push others down to pull himself up. This, and his romantic relationship with the district 12 tribute, effortlessly explains the complex relationship he and Katniss have in the main series.

It is clear why I am hopeful for the upcoming film adaptation. For one, the main series’ films were faithful adaptations of the books in a way that not many directors get right. Both the casting and the trailer point to a similar outcome for the prequel. Hunter Schafer is the perfect Tigris, and Rachel Zegler/Lucy Gray Baird’s bow is an exciting reference to Katniss. The Hunger Games fans should anticipate a whole bunch of other easter eggs. I will see you all in theatres on the 17th November!

Mindfulness of Cats

“Worrying does not take away tomorrow’s troubles. It takes away today’s peace.” – Anonymous

My family and I have two shelter-adopted kitties. They were born in a shed, where one of their siblings was killed by a fox. Brought to cats protection, we adopted them to give them a new start.

Humans have a tendency to allow a small inconvenience to ruin a day, or even a week. We also have the tendency to feel sorry for ourselves, shifting blame onto others and avoiding deeper, more psychological explanations to our behaviours. We love to analyse others but hate to be analysed.

My cats do not dwell on their rough start to life, they do not look at themselves and see something undesirable. Their deepest concerns do not continuously flick back to the past or forward to the future, but (mainly) reside in the present happenings of their surroundings. They do think forward to when their next meal may be- I know this because they’re always waiting outside my door at 7 am, and make a great fuss if I’m not up by 7.15. However, these thoughts are positive and productive, and allow them to schedule their outdoor exploration time so as to not miss breakfast.

Next time I have an important presentation, I’ll think of it like my lunch. It’s perfectly okay to consider what I may be eating for lunch, and even prepare the delicious elements in advance. However, making myself worried and stressed over eating it is just ridiculous.

Animals live, in essence, for the current moment. Some people may argue that this is due to lacking mental capacity or a true understanding of the world. But I refute by quoting a famous saying: ‘ignorance is bliss’. There’s no harm in pretending that you are optimistic, think the best in the world, and have upmost confidence in yourself. Pretend to be ignorant, pretend to not care, and eventually you won’t.

After all, if things go wrong, you can always try again.

The Ethics of Zoos

“Let us remember that animals are not mere resources for human consumption. They are splendid beings in their own right…” – Marc Bekoff

I have always had an affinity for zoos; the speechlessness that overwhelms me whenever I see a striking animal is unbeatable. I usually visit various zoos a few times each year, and I went again just yesterday.

Although I greatly enjoy visiting a zoo, I have always had a tiny thought at the back of my head that tells me they are unethical. I know there are people who disagree with the concepts of zoos entirely, but because of my love of exotic animals I had never conducted my own research- for fear that my support for them should cease. My blissful (and fully conscious) ignorance will end now, in hopes that I feel morally just when cruising around the enclosures.

My first thought before diving into the internet is the importance of animal conservation. With so many species’ labelled as threatened, keeping animals in captivity can prevent extinction of the earth’s most precious and best loved animals. For example, the South China Tiger now only exists within zoos. As the AVMA website mentions, “zoos support conservation by educating the public, raising money for conservation programs, developing technology that can be used to track wild populations, conducting scientific research, advancing veterinary medicine, and developing animal handling techniques.” As you can see, zoos don’t only contain threatened species, but with research and funds they help conservation in many other ways too.

The badges on my bag that I bought for £1 each, promising to aid in various conservation acts for different animals.

How ZSL helps in vital education that saves the lives of tigers in Indonesia.

Countering this thought, however, is the nature of humankind. Our damaged relationship with the earth has lead many animals towards extinction- loss of habitat for cattle farms, pollution of the ocean with oil spills and landscape scarring from raw material extraction are a few worthy examples of how our world is continually deteriorating.

Does limiting the freedom of an animal redeem the damage we have inflicted on their habitats? Are zoos an attempt at conserving biodiversity, or a selfish excuse to continue wiping out wildlife without true remorse? Can we ever respect our earth if we refuse to allow it’s other inhabitants to roam freely?

Zoos have moved away from the branding of a means of entertainment: an attempt to separate themselves from the blatant cruelty of dancing bears and caged elephants in circuses. However, a significant argument is the basic fact of life: animals have a right to freedom. In some ways I have always believed that zoos subvert rules of nature. Natural selection and evolution recoil at the sight of a polar bear on a 25 degree, rainy August day in Britain. Somehow, I always have looked at the polar bears and felt an ache for them to return to the wild, more than for any other animal. But why can I dictate that polar bears aren’t suitable for zoos yet otters, for example, are?

Overall, I feel extremely conflicted. I am very aware of my internal hypocrisy, and the more I research, the more I confuse myself. I’m not sure where I stand on the ethics of zoos, and I doubt I ever will be.

If you want to read on this topic further, here are some useful websites from different points of view:

Eluxe Magazine

Oxford Research- Environmental science

Finding your passion

When I was 14, my English GCSE required a speaking presentation in front of my class. It could be about “Anything you want! Whatever you are passionate about.”

I heard a general consensus sweep over the class. ‘Education’, ‘social media’ and ‘teenage body image’ were generally popular choices. A few people chose highly controversial topics. None of them seemed to appeal to me. I sought out my friends for help, who suggested I present a topic related to animals in some way. I considered ‘animal testing’ or ‘animal abuse’, but they both felt too separate from my daily life, as well as too agreeable. I mean by this that I wanted to teach the class about something that they may not even realise was an issue- something close to each person in the room.

Eventually, I had a realisation (after talking to my closest friend about the price of her new puppy). I chose a topic that nobody else even considered- not just in my class, but in the whole of my year.

I chose to educate my class on the benefits behind adopting an animal rather than buying a bred pedigree. Although we were able to take cue cards with us, I was so excited and passionate that I had learnt my whole 10 minute presentation off by heart. I felt as though I had truly found my niche: caring about animals in a way that is not entirely obvious or advocated for.

When the time to present came, I was nervous: it did not go as well as I had hoped it would. The class did not appreciate my message, or believe it as important as the fifteen speeches on abortion. I was frustrated by the class’s lack of questions compared to other topics.

Years later, the masses of career and university talks began to dwell on me. I didn’t know what I wanted to pursue. I started to think about the things that make me genuinely happy: my love for my two cats and excitement at visiting various zoos didn’t originally connect as something I could pursue. Sometimes your path doesn’t make sense. Sometimes you have to give yourself time to make the connections in your head! Once I did, everything linked together, and my path became obvious to me.

When I had found my passion, whether it be my affinity for playing loud music while creating a collage or debating the benefits of animal adoption with pedigree lovers, I felt like I had found my way.

Even though my English presentation didn’t go well, don’t let the message of this post be lost on you! However bizarre, quirky, strange or un-obvious your passions are, pursue them. Just because you don’t love maths or geography doesn’t mean your passion isn’t out there, waiting for you to grab it.