The Attic on Eighth — The Attic On Eighth

In Defence of Non-Fiction: Five Books to Make You Think

Contributor Tilly Nevin reclaims reading non-fiction for enjoyment and shares five books that made her think as she moved from Oxford to Germany to France.

LiteratureTilly NevinApril 21, 2019Tilly Nevin, contributor post, Contemporary Literature, non-fiction, contributor postsComment

What We're Reading, Vol. 8

With April already halfway through, Attic editors and contributors sit down to discuss what it is they’re reading this month.

LiteratureThe Attic On EighthApril 15, 2019April 2019 reads, April 2019, current reads, What We're Reading, Olivia Gündüz-Willemin, Georgia Andrews, Raquel Reyes, Eliza Campbell, Lauren Olmeda, Rory Mara, G.K. AndrewsComment

Bookshops of the World, Vol. 5: Washington, D.C.

In the latest “Bookshops of the World,” Olivia and Raquel tour the American capital through its bookshelves.

Twelve More Books to Read on a Twelve Hour Journey

Following up her earlier piece on more classic books to read on long journey, EIC Olivia Gündüz-Willemin shares twelve books that are perfect to read on a plane.

Literature, TravelOlivia Gündüz-WilleminApril 7, 2019Olivia Gündüz-Willemin, literature, good travel books, Contemporary Literature, good books to read on long plane rides, books to read on planes, travel, Contemporary LitComment

Modern Penelopes: Crafting as an Act of Self-Care

Turning to mythology and art history, contributor Milena Le Fouillé channels the craft and textile work of Penelope into self care and a twist on meditation, through the repetitive peaceful act of knitting.

Lifestyle, Creative, LiteratureMilena Le FouilléApril 3, 2019self care, art history, Penelope, The Odyssey, The Penelopaid, mythology, knitting, textiles, Arts and Crafts Movement, Milena Le FouilléComment

High Heel and the Solidarity of Women

Summer Brennan’s High Heel shares history, folklore, and politics surrounding not only one of our favorite accessories, but the act of being a woman as well. A forever student of Fashion History, Raquel Reyes shares her thoughts on the title.

Fashion, LiteratureRaquel ReyesMarch 22, 2019High Heel, Summer Brennan, Raquel Reyes, aesthetics, fashion, theory, philosophy, bloomsbury, object lessons, fashion history, Fashion EssaysComment

Facing the Future in Ali Smith’s Spring

Days before its much-anticipated release, Rachel Tay delves into Ali Smith’s Spring

Literature, Book ReviewsRachel TayMarch 22, 2019Ali Smith, Spring, Ali Smith's Spring, Seasons Quartet, Ali Smith's Seasons Quartet, Spectres of Marx, Jacques Derrida, Derrida, Derrida in contemporary lit, Contemporary Lit, literature, Rachel Tay, contributor post, contributor postsComment

What We're Reading, Vol. 7

Halfway through March, Attic writers and contributors discuss what it is that they’re reading in preparation for spring.

LiteratureThe Attic On EighthMarch 15, 2019What We're Reading, The Attic on Eighth, M.A. McCuen, Annie Jo Baker, Olivia Gündüz-Willemin, Rachel Tay, Raquel Reyes, books, literature, contemporary lit, James BaldwinComment

So You Want to Read Some Edith Wharton?

EIC and junior Edith Wharton scholar, Olivia Gündüz-Willemin helps you decide where to start when it comes to reading Wharton and her novels and social satires.

LiteratureOlivia Gündüz-WilleminMarch 11, 2019Edith Wharton, literature, American literature, where to start with Edith Wharton, lit, classic literature, winter of Wharton, popular Comments

Life Lessons from Odd Places: Anaïs Nin & Chronic Pain

Annie Jo Baker delves into Anaïs Nin’s and comes to terms with holding multiple conflicting ideas in your head at the same time when dealing with the realities of chronic illness and pain.

Culture, LiteratureAnnie Jo BakerMarch 10, 2019Anaïs Nin, Anais Nin, chronic pain, fibromyalgia, depression, mental health, mental health awareness, mental illness, literature, mental health medication, popularComment

Eight Books by Women

For International Women’s Day 2019, we come together and list a few of our favorite books that have shaped us, while honoring women of the world today.

LiteratureThe Attic On EighthMarch 8, 2019International Women's Day, International Womxn's Day, reading lists, popular, Raquel Reyes, Olivia Gündüz-Willemin, Lauren Olmeda, Rory MaraComment

Overcoming Asymmetry

“There is no answer, and I have no answer. That it is the beauty and, I believe, the strength of Asymmetry. None of it fits together. It is asymmetrical. It poses more questions than it answers about different dynamics and experiences, questions of authorship and authority and politics and culture[, and] despite this, it gives to the world and adds to its definitions of humanity.”

LiteratureOlivia Gündüz-WilleminFebruary 26, 2019Asymmetry, Lisa Halliday, Contemporary Lit, Contemporary Literature, literature, Olivia Gündüz-WilleminComment

In Defence of Marie Kondo – What Does It Mean to ‘Spark Joy’?

Inspired by Marie Kondo, Jessica Armstrong considers what it means to “spark joy” by turning to literature and other aspects of life before tidying up.

On Reading Goals and Reading Women

Vesna Curlic considers the effects of setting reading goals and looks at what happens when, for an entire year, she only picked books she wanted to read.

Literature, CultureVesna CurlicFebruary 16, 2019literature, lit, reading women, reading goals, Vesna Curlic, contributor post, contributor posts, popular Comment

What We're Reading, Vol. 6

Midway through February and most of the way through winter, some of the Attic’s writers discuss what it is they’re reading this month.

LiteratureThe Attic On EighthFebruary 15, 2019winter, Olivia Gündüz-Willemin, Mishka Hoosen, Eliza Campbell, What We're Reading, current reads, literature, Rory Mara, Lauren Olmeda, Raquel Reyes Comment