The idea of Harry Potter was born on a train journey from Manchester to London, and the first book, The Philosopher’s Stone, was penned in Rowling’s London flat. So, where better to experience all the magic and majesty that the wizarding world has to offer than all the best Harry Potter sites in London? Whether …
Willow Heath
I love linguistics. I’ve studied (though never become fluent in) Japanese, Chinese, Korea, French, and German. I’m one of those people who becomes fascinated with ‘untranslatable’ words, etymology, and the evolution of languages. I love accents, dialects, and how language can be so malleable and ever in flux. I’ve had arguments with people who get …
Many of us were disappointed when that letter never came. You know the one. But being part of the Harry Potter world, wearing Harry Potter clothes, visiting the studios and theme parks, rereading the books and discussing them with friends — all of this is just as magical as heading to Hogwarts yourself. And far …
What do we mean when we talk about traditional Lithuanian food; food that you’ll find at any Lithuanian restaurant when you’re considering what to eat in Vilnius. Well, let’s start with the bread. It’s a popular mantra amongst locals in Vilnius that Lithuania has four religions: Christianity, basketball, beer, and bread. Christianity simply because it’s …
How do you know if your story is worth telling? This is something I’ve always mulled over when it comes to memoirs. We each of us have lived a life that’s unique and, given the right skills of execution, couldn’t we all have a story worth telling? It’s a big question, maybe, but when you’ve …
One Part Woman is an intense and gripping examination of the power of ritual, tradition, and ceremony. Examination, you might say, or perhaps condemnation. Perumal Murugan’s most celebrated novel considers the dangerous and illusory sway that invented superstitions and traditions can have over a community or an individual. And the madness it might bring. It’s …
Berlin is the arts and culture centre of Europe. Writers, artists, and performers from the world over flock to Berlin to be part of its vibrant and colourful art scene. And that vibrance spreads to the world of tattooing as well. Here are the best Berlin tattoo artists to check out right now. The Berlin …
Ellen’s father was a man psychologically damaged. And though the details of that damage are never made clear, it had a grave impact on his family — on Ellen, her actress mother, and her older brother. That is, until his sudden death which occurs in his sleep in a hospital bed. Ellen blames herself for …
Saul Adler is an unlikeable protagonist, which is a rarity in modern fiction. When I first read Wuthering Heights, upon my partner’s request, I complained about how everyone is unlikeable. She pointed out that it’s part of the fun, and I began enjoying the book from a different angle. The same cannot be said about …
If there’s one TV show that captures the tone, atmosphere, and grandeur of high-class living in pre-modern Britain, it’s Downton Abbey. The show encapsulated not only the day-to-day lives, relationships, and dramas of the English gentry of the time, but also the lives of their servants, cooks, and drivers. It blended real-world events with political …