Society
Society
“When the whole world is silent, even one voice becomes powerful.” — Malala
Why the books on our shelves should be as diverse as our society
When children’s books are six times more likely to contain an animal as a main character than a character from an ethnic minority, diversifying children’s bookshelves is more important than ever.
Interview with Luna McNamara: Author of Eros and Psyche
We spoke to the author of the new feminist retelling of the Greek myth Eros and Psyche about her reasons for adapting the myth in a feminist light.
Activism and Identity: Sheffield’s Sheaf Poetry Festival 2023
WATCH: Last weekend, BLOT Magazine attended Sheaf Poetry Festival and spoke to poets Fran Lock and Tania Hershman about activism and identity through poetry.
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How beauty standards in classic literature are relevant today
From Rebecca to The Colour Purple, classical literature has more parallels to the beauty standards of the 21st century than you might first think.
Paul McVeigh: “Working class authors still don’t have a seat at the table”
In an overwhelmingly middle class, white publishing industry, only 12% of authors hail from working class backgrounds. But why is it still so hard for them to gain representation?
Five frequently banned books that everyone should read
At BLOT we celebrate the freedom to read and so we’ve compiled a list of the best banned books everyone should pick up in their lifetime.
POLL: Should books ever be banned?
With right-wing censorship campaigns sweeping books off American shelves, we’re asking you whether it’s ever ok to ban a book?
Scrounger or Superhero? Exploring the portrayal of single mothers in fiction
From ‘scroungers’ to ‘superheroes’, single mother narratives have always existed in fiction. But why do they deserve better representation?
Which country bans the most books?
The United States gets a lot of attention for its book banning, but which nation has actually banned the most books historically?
“Real or Not Real?”: How The Hunger Games is unlike real-life warfare
War veteran, Paul K Chappell, explains how The Hunger Games is an event far worse than modern-day warfare, and why.
Queen Charlotte: Why do ‘the sides’ not mix, ever?
From bone-chilling ice baths in an attempt to cure ‘madness’ and commands to paint the Queen’s portrait until her skin looks “almost pale”, Shonda...
Penguin Random House and PEN America sue Florida school district over book ban
Publisher Penguin Random House and writer’s organisation PEN America have taken legal action against a school district in Florida due to its book bans.
CENSORED: The sinister truth behind America’s book-banning boom
With right-wing censorship campaigns sweeping books off the shelves, book-banning has reached crisis level in the US.
“Stories rooted in realism are very much needed”: Interview with Cathy Cassidy
From eating disorders (Marshmallow Dream) to family issues (Sweet Honey), best-selling author Cathy Cassidy talks to BLOT about the importance of covering social issues in young teen books.
An interview with author of ‘The Herd’, Emily Edwards
We interviewed Edwards from her home in East Sussex to find out more about how she got into writing and why she has a “strange” relationship with her first two books.
Think piece: Is discrimination necessary for works of fiction?
In a world where you can create things that don’t exist, like dragons and planets where people have fins, why on Earth would you add in a touch of prejudice?
Why crime fiction is fixated on women as victims of violent crime
In a genre dominated by female readers and writers, why are dead women and girls still at the heart of the story?
A new side to the story: Why feminist retellings are on the rise
BLOT talks to Kate Hodges, author of Warriors, Witches, Women: Mythology’s Fiercest Females, about the rise of feminist retellings and why they are so important.
