Last year’s The Traitors was iconic and addictive viewing, with hundreds of standout moments that made a nation gasp. For me, one of the moments that made me laugh the most was when Kieran was accusing Aaron of being a traitor and when challenged for simply following a popular theory, Kieran declared that “no one influences me.” I could forgive the bravado if he hadn’t spent all day listening to Wilfred suggesting that Amanda was a traitor and then voted her out.
I think the idea of influence has been more prevalent than ever in recent months. The strikes across the county, Harry and Meghan’s documentary and the cost-of-living crisis have all generated plenty of media coverage for us to dissect and thus form opinions. For even the most critical of thinkers to declare that no one influences them, I have to call bullshit. While the media may be the most obvious example of shaping our ideologies, we are under the influence of others from the moment we wake up until we go to bed. Our schools, workplaces, family and friends all have an effect on how we think and view the world. With more of us than ever possessing iPhones, we can access information every minute of the day and, in turn, we give a little of ourselves over to the tech giants, which results in targeted content that reflects and reinforces our views. If you follow me on social media, I’m constantly trying to convince people to buy my book (and by mentioning it here, I’m also trying to push it. The Arben Bridge is available on Amazon, by the way. I promise I’ll stop now). I think the most prevalent story that highlights how we can be influenced is Prince Harry and Meghan’s documentary and the former’s new book; snippets of which have been drip fed to the media in the run up to its release. Regardless of your opinion, the documentary highlights how traditional media, the royal family and social media users can make millions of people hold a particular view, whether that’s the intended one or the opposite. Accepting that we’re all open to influence isn’t shameful; changing our opinions on something or looking at it from another viewpoint can be a good thing. How many times have you given to charity because the organisation has produced a powerful piece of media? And, yes, sometimes we may be so influenced by someone or something that we go against our own beliefs and cause harm, which is when persuasion becomes dangerous. I think by accepting that we all have this possibility within us, we can think more critically about what we’re being presented. We don’t have to accept what is given to us at face value; we know someone is trying to engineer our thinking and, perhaps, we agree with them but simply accepting what they propose can lead to difficulty. When we’re in school we’re taught to discuss both sides of an argument to gain those precious exam marks but why is it that some of us lose this ability once we become fully fledged adults? Taking a moment to think and analyse is vital when we’re inundated with so many ideas but it’s equally as important to recognise when we’ve been misinformed and built an opinion upon those ideas. We’re creatures that love to learn and we should be allowed to do that without shame.
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We’ve reached September, which means it’s peak Virgo season and almost my birthday! To celebrate, I’ve compiled a very subjective list of book characters who I think give off distinct Virgo vibes.
Virgos are renowned for being extremely organised, helpful and hard working. However, these traits can also bring a rigidity and sometimes impossibly high standards. As a side note, I haven’t checked birthdays so if it’s canon that these characters aren’t Virgos, please don’t come for me. 1. Violet Baudelaire, A Series of Unfortunate Events Our favourite teenage inventor is methodical, intelligent and will do anything for her family, which makes her a massive Virgo. She’s also the eldest of her siblings, which means she often has to take charge of the awful situations they find themselves in. What makes a bigger Virgo than that? 2. Camila Dunne, Daisy Jones & The Six Let’s be honest, Camila isn’t treated very well for the most part, and, somehow, she’s still a stoic and compassionate woman. You can tell she always has a plan and it’s usually for the benefit of her family. 3. The Darkling, Shadow & Bone Now you can’t say this guy isn’t always plotting and planning and what’s more Virgo than that? He’s a leader who knows exactly what he wants and is constantly analysing people. Look, I didn’t say all Virgos are saints… 4. Peeta Mellark, The Hunger Games I think we can all agree that Peeta is a solid character who’s never been shy of hard work and will genuinely lay down his life for the person he loves. His whole persona is about helping others and holding them to a high standard. Yes, I’m a big old Peeta fangirl. 5. Ariadne, Ariadne Despite her initial naivety, Ariadne has a lot of Virgo characteristics. She’s resourceful and, like most on this list, her family is what drives her. She’s a very loving character yet her mind is constantly ticking away, trying to work out a mystery or her next move. If you’re a woman in the music industry, it’s been well documented for decades just how hard this can be. From volatile relationships with managers, to sexism and to how they are framed by the media; being a female musician is never just about the music.
In recent years there has been an explosion of documentaries centred on the world’s most famous women, shown from their point of view. Beyonce, Taylor Swift, Janet Jackson, Jennifer Lopez and, most recently, Shania Twain have all released films that let audiences peak into their lives, usually during pivotal moments of their career. All of these films have been incredibly popular, not just among the stars’ fanbase, but with wider audiences, too. Documentaries such as these make audiences feel like they are part of pop culture history and gaining a new perspective on something they lived through. For the women who have been performing for decades, they have a particular appeal to millennials and older Gen-Zs who might have remembered the events at the time but not the specifics. For example, the recent Janet Jackson documentary shed a new light on her and Justin Timberlake’s Super Bowl performance; an event that caused huge harm to her career yet Timberlake’s popularity only rocketed. Making us everyday folk feel part of something so impactful in terms of pop culture, not only hits us with a sense of nostalgia, but also invites us to critique these moments through a new lens. When you’re put in that position, it’s easier to relate to the subject matter and what really happened at the time. These documentaries have also given the women a voice that was perhaps previously stifled. The #MeToo movement and projects such as Everyday Sexism have opened up conversations across industries on the misogyny that women have experienced. This has long been rife in the music industry and a central theme that threads these documentaries together. Shania Twain’s success was accredited to her husband, Jennifer Lopez’s relationships have been repeatedly dissected and, of course, all these women have been branded as divas at some point. Admittedly, these types of films can be viewed as a PR but they are still giving a woman’s take on events that may have previously been at the behest of the media. It’s a biased viewpoint but at least it’s hers and audiences can unpick the facts for themselves. After all, don’t we all want to be in charge of our own stories? Romance has been a central part of television programmes for over eighty years, whether its part of a tragic love story where our heroes are destined for doom, or a quirky romcom where a coffee shop meet-cute is the order of the day.
Friendships have also played a key role in these stories but rarely have they been the focus of the story. Think of all the best friend characters you find in the romance genre; how many times are these friendships thoroughly explored? Or is the character’s main purpose to spur on their friend with an acerbic one-liner before downing a glass of wine and disappearing until the emotional finale? There’s nothing inherently wrong with these stories (I’ve made it very clear that I love a rom-com in all its forms) but I’ve recently noticed that romance is becoming secondary to friendship on the small screen and I think it’s brilliant. Programmes such as Derry Girls, We Are Lady Parts, Big Boys and Everything I Know About Love have placed the story focus firmly on the platonic relationships of its main characters. Yes, there are plenty of love stories that play out, too, but the storylines with the biggest emotional arcs are undoubtedly the friendships. We, rightly, assume that romantic storylines will have an engaging emotional journey from the initial meet, to the will-they-won’t-they, to an inevitable betrayal and, finally, the reunion at the end. These relationships obviously provide plenty of opportunities for drama and comedy alike but if you think of your own friendships, couldn’t you argue the same for those? Platonic relationships can be just as messy, emotional and rewarding as romantic ones. In real life, our friendships usually last longer than the majority of our romantic relationships so it’s been surprising to realise that they haven’t had the same exploration as romantic love. The programmes leading the way in these storylines don’t shy away from the complicated emotions that can come from friendships. For example, Maggie and Birdy from Everything I Know About Love have been friends since childhood and as they navigate adulthood the strong bond they formed many years ago is tested. Throughout their story, as they argue and disagree, you can’t help but root for them as you would a romantic couple because you can see that the love they have for each other is so intrinsic to the people they are. Arguably, Friends and Sex and the City led the charge in this genre and both shows had a huge impact on how their viewers interacted with one another in real life. However, I don’t think we’ve had a show since then that has placed such emphasis on friendship and reached an iconic status. I don’t think we’re there yet, either, but it’s probably inevitable with the growth of such programmes. As viewers demand more stories covering a range of experiences, it makes sense that this element of our lives is finally being explored without the lense of romance. Our friendships can be some of the most powerful relationships we will ever experience in our lifetime; teaching us things about ourselves that we may not realise unless we interacted with certain people. The arts are meant to help us explore and appreciate the multitude of elements that make up our lives and I’m glad that this area of our shared human experience is finally taking the spotlight. My local supermarket recently introduced a shelf where you can donate your unwanted books and if a passer-by fancies the look of one, they pop a quid in the charity tin and take the book home. I think it’s a really lovely idea and every week I check the shelf to see if there’s anything new I’d like to take home (even though I have many unread books waiting for me!)
On my last few visits, I’ve noticed a faded copy of One Day by David Nicholls has been hanging about the shelf, waiting for someone to choose it. One Day is one of my favourite books and, for some reason, I felt personally attacked that no one felt the same pull to the book that I once did. Yes, the book was slightly worn but for one pound they would get to experience the wonderful story of Emma and Dexter. Why weren’t they leaping across Tesco to grab it?! I do realise that this reaction is a bit ridiculous; just because I love the book, it doesn’t mean that every shopper in the supermarket will. I shouldn’t be offended. But somehow, I was. I’ve mentioned before that One Day is a favourite of mine and I think there’s many layers to why that is. I read the book at a time when my life was moving into some version of adulthood; a time when I was realising that I had been underestimated or misunderstood by my school peers for many years and I had so much ahead of me, which was both scary and exciting. I was at that age where you’re a bit unsure of who you are but you sort of know the direction you want to go in. I had read many books before One Day but as soon as I started reading, it quickly became clear that I related to the character of Emma more than any other character I had ever read. I remember being shocked by the symmetry as I’d often hear people talk about how deeply they relate to characters but I’d never experienced it on that level until then. I completely empathised with her vulnerabilities, frustrations and desires so much that, even though it’s one of my favourite books, I’ve only read it once (and because that famous twist ruined me.) Books are odd in that they are largely written by, and the idea of, one person and then they just hope that the story resonates with other people. Books aren’t a compilation of multiple peoples’ outlooks and feelings, yet each reader will take on that book and it will feel like theirs in a way that they can’t imagine anyone else feeling. Which is why I was so upset when no one wanted to take Emma and Dexter home with them. I suppose it is testament to Nicholls that I feel so strongly about a book I have only read once; that’s a kind of magic few writers manage to conjure and one I can only hope to emulate myself. So, if you do find yourself in Tesco and there’s a battered copy of One Day on its shelf, take pity on me, pop a pound in the charity tin and take it home! Happy Galentine’s Day! Every February 13th I thank the gods and Leslie Knope that she invented this day to celebrate female friendships. I also love that it has, somehow, filtered through from Parks and Recreation into real life and is now a day in its own right. In that vein, I have put together a list of my favourite female friendships from television. 1. Leslie Knope and everyone from Parks and Recreation I have to begin with the queen herself; Ms. Leslie Knope. I know she’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but I will stan Leslie Knope until the day I die. She’s supportive, caring and utterly in love with all her female friends and, in return, they will do anything for her when she asks. Even the moody April can’t resist their sisterly bond! 2. Jane and Petra from Jane the Virgin I loved Jane the Virgin; it was a show filled with twists but also had engaging characters that I was rooting for all the way through. Jane and Petra didn’t get off to the best start and spent most of the show as rivals but, even with the numerous love stories in the show, I think the friendship between these two is the most enduring and loving of them all. By the time you reach the finale, you just know that even though they’re very different people, if one of them is ever in trouble, the other will be there within a second to help. 3. Maeve and Aimee from Sex Education These are another set who seem polar opposites but, somehow, you can’t imagine them ever not being friends. The third series in particular is testament to the writers in creating a realistic and empowered friendship because, despite a big falling out over their different financial backgrounds, it’s clear that the reasons they behave the way they do is because they genuinely want to support the other. It’s so refreshing to see teen friendships depicted this way rather than the bitchy backstabbing of television yore. I genuinely wish I’d seen more of this as a teenager. 4. Jane, Kat and Sutton from The Bold Type I have no doubt that these characters wouldn’t exist if it wasn’t for Sex and the City, however, I love that Jane, Kat and Sutton understand the value of female friendship while they’re in their twenties. Like Maeve and Aimee, the assumption is that characters of this age are going to be more like frenemies than friends (because why would women like each other, right?!) but that’s never the case in The Bold Type. I must admit, when I first started watching this show I assumed it would be a stereotypical look at young women in New York, trying to make it in the media world, but it’s so much more than that. You can see how close these friends are from the get-go and that they want to learn from each other’s differences, rather than vilify them. 5. Eloise and Penelope from Bridgerton I like to think that if these two lived in modern-day London, they would be sharing a grubby flat after rejecting their families’ expectations and swigging whatever prosecco is on offer in Tesco that week. It’s clear that these two have been close from a young age and are more like sisters than friends. Again, they do have different outlooks on life (although I would argue not that different after the last episode) but it’s obvious that their bond and familiarity trumps any disagreement they may have. Oh, to spend an afternoon promenading with these two would be a dream! As 2021 (finally) draws to a close, we are inundated with lists rounding up the best of the best of this year, and I’m joining in. This year I wanted to read more Greek mythology retellings or stories set in the ancient world and I’m very pleased with those I managed to get these under my belt. However, I also found myself reading a lot of romcoms this year because my brain needed something funny and comforting during these unprecedented times (sorry, couldn’t help myself.)
This year I’ve read more books than ever, so deciding on five that I loved the most was no easy feat but here they are, and I’d love to know what you think if you’ve also read them. N.B These are five books I read this year, not all of them were released in 2021 1. Circe, Madeline Miller I obviously have to start with a Greek myth retelling! Circe is a character that pops up in quite a few myths but, from what I’ve learnt so far, she doesn’t play a central role in her own story. Miller changes that and puts her at the forefront of a story that intertwines with so many famous characters from myths such as Odysseus, Hermes, Medea and more. This is a definite must-read for any myth lovers out there! 2. Men Who Hate Women, Laura Bates It took me a while to read this book as it’s scarily insightful and not an easy read but it’s definitely worth preserving. Men Who Hate Women is a non-fiction book that documents Bates’ research into the world of incels, pick-up artists and other so-called communities that make up the ‘manosphere.’ Given the horrendous headlines we’ve witnessed this year in regards to violence against women, I honestly think that everyone aged twelve or over should read this. Incel culture is increasingly seeping into the mainstream and Bates opened my eyes as to how and why. 3. The Road Trip, Beth O’Leary I loved O’Leary’s debut novel, The Flatshare, so I was really excited about The Road Trip and, thankfully, it did not disappoint. The story focuses on two exes who find themselves squished into a Mini Cooper on a long drive to the wedding of a mutual friend. The story switches between the present and past to show how they fell in love, what led to their break-up and how they ended up squeezed together with three other people in a very tiny car. I loved the characters in the book; O’Leary has such a knack for writing both funny and heart-breaking characters that makes this book so much more than a fluffy romance. 4. Lore, Alexandra Bracken I had heard so many good things about Lore that I was almost scared to read it in case it didn’t live up to the hype! Of course, a book about Greek myths, a tenacious central female character and lots of action was always going to be in my wheelhouse. The premise of Lore is that every seven years the Greek gods lose their immortality for a week and if they are killed during this time, their killer takes on their powers. The book has some really dark moments but it’s brilliantly written characters and action sequences meant I struggled to put it down. It’s such an original concept and, again, if you love Greek myths is a must-read. 5. The Wolf Den, Elodie Harper The Wolf Den is set in the brothel of Pompeii during the Roman Empire and follows Amara, one of its newest workers, as she navigates her new life as a prostitute in a new country. She’s a slave who dreams of being freed and, which means that she has to make some difficult and, at times, dangerous decisions throughout the story. Despite the historical setting, it’s so easy to make connections with today’s society, which is why it was so easy to devour. Harper makes this ancient world so accessible that it’s easy to forget that this story is set thousands of years ago. The book is the first in a trilogy, so it’ll be interesting to see if the next one makes my 2022 list! Writing a novel is hard. Writing anything is hard. You want to convey a very specific idea or scenario and so you pray that the words you use elicit the same vision you’re imagining within your readers. I’ve enjoyed writing for most of my life and I’ve tried several times, both seriously and not-so-seriously, to write a novel. I recently uncovered a handmade ‘novel’ that I created in school aged ten and, given that it was only five A5 pages long, I think we can safely put a strong emphasis on those inverted commas.
My first real attempt at a novel came when I was sixteen; the plot was centred on a village with an evil mayor who wouldn’t let its citizens leave and everything they did, from their careers to where they lived, was decided by the government. Hardly original and the plot was a mess. I had a very rough idea of the direction of the plot and I just planned as I wrote. Unsurprisingly, I eventually ran out of steam, and it all came to nothing. I tried again during my first year of university as I’d had an idea centred around people who could see the future through their dreams. Again, I appreciate this wasn’t a completely original concept but sometimes you get an idea and you just have to write it! I made the mistake, once again, of not planning and so gave up after a few months. I eventually picked it back up as the idea wouldn’t leave me and set out a plan for the whole plot, including character profiles and backstories. My plan was for this to be the first in a trilogy and I think that was my first mistake, which then dictated the whole process; I was writing to a formula. I wanted to create a series that would fit in amongst The Hunger Games and The Mortal Instruments but in doing so my writing was filled with tropes and plotlines that had been created many times before. Even though I decided not to pursue this series, it still holds a place in my heart as it taught me a lot about the novel writing process, and I still love the characters. When it came to writing The Arben Bridge I had a completely new outlook on the process thanks to these failed attempts. I decided from the start that even though I would create a full plot plan, which I did, I would also write instinctively. If an idea popped up mid-paragraph or I thought a character should go in a different direction, I just did it. Despite it taking me a lot longer to write, re-write and eventually publish the book, I’m so glad that I decided on this approach because it feels exactly like the book I set out to write. The Arben Bridge is available now in paperback and e-book right here. I know a lot of us bookworms wish that our favourite characters were real so that we could interrogate/hug/laugh/cry with them. Can you imagine what a treat that would be?
If you’ve ever been to one of those ‘fun’ or ‘informal’ interview settings where they ask who your dream dinner guests would be, I bet you already have a line up of book characters planted in your head. For me, I sometimes wonder who I’d love to just sit down and have a few drinks with. There are plenty of characters that I feel could fit the bill but I’ve limited it to five for the sake of time! Evelyn Hugo, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo The book that Evelyn hails from follows her life from glamorous 1950s Hollywood to the present day and I’d happily have a drink with Evelyn from any of these eras. She’s such a forthright character with plenty of stories to tell, and certainly knows her way around a cocktail menu, so I know I’d have a brilliant night in her company. Haymitch Abernathy, The Hunger Games trilogy If you’ve read The Hunger Games, I think you’ll agree that it’s best Haymitch and I go for a coffee rather than a beer. Nevertheless, I’m sure he’d be as snarky and miserable as he is in the books, and I’d still love him for it. He’s always been one of my favourite characters in fiction for his witty one liners and I’d happily put up with him hating me if it meant an afternoon to talk to him. Aziraphale and Crowley, Good Omens I know this is two characters but can you really expect me to go for a drink with one and not the other?! I wouldn’t even have to talk; I think I would just enjoy being in their presence while they lovingly bicker with each other. It would be HEAVEN (get it? If you don’t, please go read the book and then watch the tv series asap.) Johanna Morrigan, How to Build a Girl I love Johanna so much. She’s wild, hilarious and completely her own person, which are all traits I admire in a person. She also loves to chat and drink, which are two traits that have been used to describe me so, all in all, I think we’d have an awesome night that we might not be able to remember the next morning. Tarley Hillis, The Arben Bridge Yes, this is my own character from my own book but hear me out. I’ve spent a very long time creating Tarley and wondering if she’s ready to be released into the wild; being able to talk to her would be mind blowing on so many levels. I’d also like the chance to apologise for everything I’ve put her through and maybe have a mumsy word with her about how much she likes white wine. I love writing (even if you’ve seen a recent social media post of mine which suggests otherwise, I promise, I do love it) and although my main focus at the moment is to promote my book The Arben Bridge, I also enjoy screenwriting.
Television programmes have increasingly become ‘events’ over the past ten years and the quality of writing continues to astound me, so much so that there are a few shows that I admire so much I just wish they had been my idea and I’d been able to write them. What We Do in the Shadows Based on the film of the same name, this show follows a group of vampires residing in Long Island as they try to live undetected while also feeding their vampiric appetites. The show follows the film in a mockumentary style format, which I think is a genius idea for a fantasy based show. The characters are not only hilarious but completely believable, with my favourite episodes being those where their old-world clashes with the modern one. The main reason I love this show is because it feels completely original and that’s a trait I’m always striving for in my own writing. Killing Eve I could talk for hours about how great the writing is on this show but I’ll try to be concise-ish. The story follows MI6 agent, Eve, as tries to track down international assassin, Villanelle, resulting in more oh-my-god moments that I can count. The first series just blew me away with how it effortlessly blended its twists and gore with its comedic elements, which are genuinely funny and not simple moments that give you a smirk. On the surface it feels like these various elements shouldn’t work, or be more akin to a horror comedy like Shaun of the Dead, but in Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s hands, it becomes a slick and addictive show that I wish had come from my brain. WandaVision I am a huge fan of the MCU and so when it was announced that Disney+ had commissioned original television programmes, I was very excited for what WandaVision would bring. The show follows the characters of Wanda Maximoff and The Vision as they re-enact classic sitcoms throughout the years but, of course, all is not as it seems. I was hooked from the start on this one and the way the zany world of WandaVision is not only revealed but, almost painfully, slowly unravelled is the closest thing to perfection I’ve watched all year. There are so many genres at play in WandaVision and they are all executed perfectly, with an outstanding performance from Elizabeth Olsen in particular. Again, the originality and attention to detail of the show leaves me in such awe that, once again, on the off chance anyone from Marvel is reading this: I AM AVAILABLE. The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel The concept of this programme immediately piqued my interest. The story follows Mrs. Miriam Maisel as she navigates her place as a newly single mum in wealthy 1950s New York society while also aspiring to be a comedian. Sounds suitable quirky, right? The quick and witty dialogue is note perfect throughout while the audience also gets to follow Miriam as she discovers that there is a vastly different life outside of the privileged one she has grown up in. The characters are both frustrating and funny with enough touch of pathos that it grounds the story without treading too far away from the genre. I’m also a huge fan of this era of fashion, which may or may not also be why I want to write for this show… Brooklyn Nine-Nine I don’t feel like this is a genre I’d be adept at writing for but I have such admiration and love for this show, I had to include it. The programme is a sitcom set in a police precinct in Brooklyn and is a masterpiece in character writing; each one is defined and their development throughout the series is relevant, and surprisingly poignant, to their characters. There are very few American sitcoms that I physically laugh at but ever since I discovered this show I have always found something to make me howl. The mix of outrageous situations and heart-warming storylines makes it seem almost plausible that this world exists. This is one of my comfort shows and I think any T.V series that touches people like that would be amazing to work on. |
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