I’ll admit, I found it incredibly difficult to decide which, out of Zing Tsjeng’s Forgotten Women series, book to choose, I eventually settled on The Writers. (That being said, you cannot sleep on any of them. In The Scientists, you’ll not only get to learn about amazing women like Fe del Mundo, the first woman to be accepted into Harvard – simply because the board didn’t realise that Fe was a female, not a male, name – but man’s response to it. For example, in 1986, when Magdalene College at the University of Cambridge finally began accepting women, men held a funeral procession, to “mourn the death of its college”. And men say women are dramatic!) but, as a writer myself, The Writers feels more apt to cover. The Writers – like the entirety of the Forgotten Women series – takes you on a turbulent emotional rollercoaster. Whilst the world largely knows Anne Frank and her diary, Esther “Etty” Hillesum and her diary, who also recorded the fate of the Holocaust in Amsterdam, is largely unknown. She wrote, pointedly, that, “Nazi barbarism evokes the same kind of barbarism in ourselves. [We] must not fan the hatred within us, because if we do, the world will not be able to pull itself one inch further out of the mire.” It feels as if, in today’s world, these words could not be truer. You’ll be inspired while learning of Margaret Cavendish, who declared that “since Fortune and the Fates would give me none, I have made One of my own”, and she did just that. She not only wrote science fiction in 1666, becoming one of the earliest known science fiction authors, but her antics, such as appearing topless in her husband’s plays, gave her the nickname “Mad Madge”. From “The Poet” Sappho (coined such by a name you will most certainly recognise: Homer) to Marguerite Higgins, you’ll feel as I did: Inspired, heartbroken, amazed and heartbroken that these names weren’t taught to you. I am inspired by the strength and tenacity of these women. Their desire to leave a footprint on history, to do what they believe is right; their dedication to write (whether it be novels, poems, essays or journal articles), ignoring all obstacles will always leave me in awe.
'To say this series is "empowering" doesn't do it justice. Buy a copy for your daughters, sisters, mums, aunts and nieces - just make sure you buy a copy for your sons, brothers, dads, uncles and nephews, too.' - Independent
The women who shaped and were erased from our history.
Forgotten Women is a new series of books that uncover the lost herstories of influential women who have refused over hundreds of years to accept the hand they've been dealt and, as a result, have formed, shaped and changed the course of our futures.
I mean, let’s be honest, who doesn’t love dinosaurs? And who doesn’t love the idea of a dinosaur theme park with real, live, actual dinosaurs? As a child, I was obsessed with Jurassic Park (I used to dig for dinosaur bones – under the supervision of my Poppy – in his shed), and when my younger brother found a copy of Michael Crichton’s Jurassic Park in a small, second-hand bookstore, I bought it immediately. I’ve carried this copy with me ever since, and honestly, I don’t think I’ve ever read a book that’s scared me so much. My heart races when Dr Grant, Lexi and Tim are trapped by the velociraptors, and it breaks with how cruel the raptors are (spoilers). The novel, while sharing many similarities with the film, differs immensely, and I suspect you’ll be as scared as I am when Dr Grant’s injecting dinosaur eggs with poison in a bid to outsmart the raptors hunting him.
'Crichton's most compulsive novel' Sunday Telegraph 'Crichton's dinosaurs are genuinely frightening' Chicago Sun-Times 'Breathtaking adventure. . . a book that is as hard to put down as it is to forget' Time Out
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The international bestseller that inspired the Jurassic Park film franchise.
On a remote jungle island, genetic engineers have created a dinosaur game park.
An astonishing technique for recovering and cloning dinosaur DNA has been discovered. Now one of mankind's most thrilling fantasies has come true and the first dinosaurs that the Earth has seen in the time of man emerge.
I love that Tolkien built a world that emulates so much hope. I love that, even in the face of darkness, the hobbits always keep their optimism. I love, in particular, Sam’s love for everything, everyone, and every animal – especially his love for Bill the Pony. I love how Sam is the first to rush to protect Frodo when the Watcher attacks; I love his bravery, and I love how he understands the perils from the first, but that never causes him to waiver. I love that Tolkien, even now, no matter how many times I’ve read his novels or seen the movies, still reminds me of the most important thing there is: Hope. And it’s something you can find anywhere, even when all other lights go out.
One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them
In ancient times the Rings of Power were crafted by the Elven-smiths, and Sauron, the Dark Lord, forged the One Ring, filling it with his own power so that he could rule all others. But the One Ring was taken from him, and though he sought it throughout Middle-earth, it remained lost to him. After many ages it fell by chance into the hands of the hobbit Bilbo Baggins.
When Nola Munroe boards Australian Airlines Flight 180 from Brisbane to Maryborough, she imagines a safe, quick flight. However, within fifteen minutes from take-off, the plane catches fire and is forced to make an emergency landing, killing several people on board and severely injuring Nola. After a few weeks off, she’s required to return to work. Almost immediately, Nola realises she isn't well, and despite what the doctors told her, she isn't getting any better. Will Nola ever recover from the plane crash?
