Author Archives: Beth Wren
Review: Washington Black, Esi Edugyan
From the front cover and blurb, I had a feeling that Washington Black was going to be just my cup of tea. The Man Booker Prize nominated novel from Canadian author Esi Edugyan spans years and continents, from the atrocities of Faith Plantation in Barbados, to inspiring and unbelievable adventures on the high seas and […]
Three things I’ve learnt from my Creative Writing MA
I’ve nearly completed the first year of my Creative Writing MA at Royal Holloway, University of London and although I still have a year left to work on my dissertation and big creative writing project, my taught classes are already over. I think one day I’ll find the words to write more about this whole […]
A Guide to North West Scotland
In case you missed it: I’m sharing my recent roadtrip around Scotland with a series of mini guides to the places we went. You can catch up on the whole trip with this post, and see why we loved the Isle of Skye so much here. The North West of Scotland is about as wild […]
Review: Saltwater, Jessica Andrews
I’ve spent the past week posting my pictures and thoughts on Jessica Andrews’ stunning debut Saltwater and I guess it’s about time that I share the love and explain exactly why I loved this lyrical and fragmented book so much. Written in short, sharp and intense paragraphs, Saltwater follows Lucy as she leaves her home […]
How to spend 3 nights on the Isle of Skye
For our full Scottish roadtrip itinerary, take a look at this post. Out of all the places we visited on our recent trip to Scotland, the Isle of Skye was by far our favourite and the most magical. Joined now to the Scottish mainland by a bridge, the island still feels very separate and different, […]
Travel Diaries: Scotland Roadtrip
It’s been a while since I returned from our roadtrip around Scotland, and I guess you could say that I’ve been procrastinating on writing this blog post since then, only because I have just SO. MUCH. CONTENT. Our two-and-a-half-week roadtrip starting and ending in Edinburgh and encompassing much of the famous North Coast 500 was […]
A Trip to Kew Gardens
Last week on a blustery-but-sunny-nearly-Spring day, we headed to Kew Gardens so I could practise taking some photos on my camera. I absolutely love Kew Gardens – it’s one of my favourite places in London and definitely somewhere that never fails to make me feel happy. For too long I’ve been taking photos on my […]
Review: The Transit of Venus, Shirley Hazzard
Caro, gallant and adventurous, is one of two Australian sisters who have come to post-war England to seek their fortunes. Courted long and hopelessly by young scientist, Ted Tice, she is to find that love brings passion, sorrow, betrayal and finally hope. The milder Grace seeks fulfilment in an apparently happy marriage. But as the […]
Travel diaries: Amsterdam
Amsterdam has been on my list to visit for ages, and it feels like everybody I know has been there recently and had lots of recommendations of places to go and, most importantly (always), where to eat. With a close friend currently studying in Rotterdam, there was no better time to reassemble the university friendship […]
Review: Americanah, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Ifemelu and Obinze are young and in love when they depart military-ruled Nigeria for the West. Beautiful, self-assured Ifemelu heads for America, where despite her academic success, she is forced to grapple with what it means to be black for the first time. Quiet, thoughtful Obinze had hoped to join her, but with post-9/11 America […]
Bethany Wren 