In an age where young people would much rather surf the internet than pick up a book, classic literature is increasingly being seen as outdated, irrelevant and a worthless aspect of education. Malorie Blackman’s Project […]
Us, by David Nicholls.
Fans of David Nicholls’ previous books will know he well deserves the recognition of being one of Britain’s best writers, penning many international best sellers, including some that have been turned into blockbuster hits on […]
The Peripheral, by William Gibson
Confused, disorientated and yet entertained. This is the only way to describe how I felt when finishing William Gibson’s new book The Peripheral. Set in two different futures and following two converging storylines, the book’s […]
The New World, by Andrew Motion
Following in the path of his last novel Silver, Andrew Motion’s most recent work, The New World is an adventure story that sweeps readers right back into the age of Stevenson’s Treasure Island. Motion continues […]
Uwe Tellkamp’s ‘The Tower’ is monumental
‘The Tower stands as a monument against forgetting’ claimed Le Monde. A bold statement if ever there was one, and I had my doubts as to whether the novel could really be this powerful. The […]
Russell Brand’s Revolution: He’s not the Messiah
Take the best of Che Guevara, Gandhi and Malcolm X and you have in no way described Russell Brand – the nation’s favourite former addict turned Christ-like revolutionary. Only better, because he wears Raybans and […]
Stranger than Fan Fiction….
Can you imagine Harry Potter falling in love with Voldemort? Edward Cullen in med school? Or even Joffrey Lannister as the troublesome teenager into heavy metal? If so you might have a bright future in […]
Books | Another Crossing, by Khadijah Ibrahiim
Leeds-based poet, playwright and activist, Khadijah Ibrahim, has recently released her debut poetry collection, Another Crossing, in which she explores, through her own personal experiences, the ever-changing identities of the many ethnically diverse communities in […]
Books | And the Nobel Prize for Exclusion goes to…
You only have to look at any English Literature syllabus to see a canon dominated by white authorship. While no one is denying Dickens’ acerbic wit or the ethereal charm of the Romantics, our literary […]
Books | ‘The Establishment’ enlightens readers to the injustices of modern society
In his new book The Establishment: And how they get away with it, Owen Jones attempts to introduce a debate that is ‘long overdue – a debate not just about who rules us, but about […]
Books | An interview with Will Self
Having recently released his new novel, Shark, the subject of his recent event at Ilkley Literature Festival, In The Middle grabbed an interview with the controversial author to find out what he had to say […]
Books | Shark by Will Self: The finest of reading experiences
Set mainly in the 70s, Shark centres around the residents of Concept House in London. Created by Zach Busner, the house acts as a live-action experiment against the use of psychiatric hospitals. The roles of […]