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Showing posts from March, 2016

My Top Five... International Women's Day

This International Women's Day, we've chosen five excellent books written by women, focusing on specifically feminist themes and in keeping with the official theme for 2016's IWD - Pledge for Parity.   A global day which focuses on celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women, it also encourages everyone, of any and all genders, to pledge to help achieve gender parity and therefore true equality. Here in the Yeovil College Learning Resource Centre and Quiet Study Area, we've also prepared displays and resources to encourage and inspire our college community to further action and achievement. Here are our Top Five reads for International Women's Day 2016 - all available to borrow from the Learning Centre today. 1) "I Am Malala" by Malala Yousafzai (Quick Reads edition) This incredibly captivating and moving autobiography from a  truly inspirational young women is an absolute must read for International Women'

Reclaiming Survivor Narratives Through Reframed Myths: Emma Donoghue's "Room"

( Possible spoilers and triggers ahead) Emma Donoghue's innovative novel, "Room" is introduced with a quotation from the Greek myth of Perseus and Danae. Danae was a young woman imprisoned in a brass tomb deep below the ground, impregnated by Zeus then cast out to sea shut in a wooden box with her baby. The quote focuses on the purity and innocence of youth, amid horrors that the mother cannot escape nor ignore - indeed is compelled to bear, witness and ultimately survive. That, ultimately, is what Room is about - told from the perspective of five year old Jack, whose entire life has been lived in one sealed room with his mother. Cleverly written and structured, the novel slowly unfolds its secrets at a compelling pace and depth, as both Jack, and the reader, come to realize the truth and urgency of the situation. From the first paragraph, you're hooked.  Unsettling discord appears from the mention of" going to sleep in Wardrobe", and the reader