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Mhairi McFarlane’s 2020 novel If I Never Met You has been on my ‘to be read‘ list for a while – and I am so happy that I finally got around to it. The story revolves around thirty-six-year-old Laurie. She’s a lawyer, one of the best at her firm. Her partner, Dan, dumps her after […]

Dearest readers, welcome back. Bridgerton series two is out now and if you’re anything like me, you’ll have spent eight hours in bed binge-watching before allowing it to consume your being. (Ha, see what I did there…) If you didn’t do that – worry not, there’s plenty to look forward to. And plenty to think […]

Another day, another J.K Rowling tweet. Yay. The highly successful children’s author has criticised Labour leader Keir Starmer for saying trans women are women, under the Equalities Act. Starmer also added in this interview that a “more considered, respectful, tolerant debate about these issues” is needed. I’m guessing Rowling saw that part and also objected […]

This year’s International Women’s Day was focussed on breaking the gender bias. The organisers called on us all to imagine a world free of prejudice. A world that is free of biases, stereotypes and discrimination against women. The UN’s theme is gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow, focusing on advancing gender equality in the […]

With the release of her latest album Laurel Hell, Mitski has solidified herself as one of the best singer-songwriters of the past decade. From her gorgeously grating 2012 debut Lush, to her critically acclaimed latest work, including the smash hit Puberty 2 and personal favourite Be The Cowboy, the Japanese-American star has paved the way […]

We are six days into the invasion of Ukraine by Russia. While a lot of effort is being made to help Ukraine – from economic sanctions to aid – some efforts have been rather unhelpful. The British Home Office is not waiving visa requirements for all Ukrainians fleeing the conflict, which isn’t surprising. But they […]

Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared war on the eastern European country of Ukraine. Here is everything you need to know about the situation so far. Why Ukraine? Putin has referred to Ukraine as “ancient Russian lands”. He also says the invasion is about the “de-Nazification” of the country, accusing it of committing genocide against […]

The Killers’ latest album Pressure Machine was released August 2021, so soon after their 2020 release Imploding the Mirage. A concept album and ode to frontman Brandon Flowers’ hometown of Nephi, Utah— the ‘Mormon capital’ of the USA— the track serves stories of different people from the town in flash recordings at the beginning and […]

I love a good Netflix documentary – true crime is a guilty pleasure and this one will have you yelling at the screen. The Tinder Swindler tells the story of Shimon Hayut, who used the name, Simon Leviev, a conman who seduced women on Tinder and conned them out of hundreds of thousands of pounds. […]

Mitski is finally back, releasing her sixth studio album Laurel Hell on 4 February. After four years away from the spotlight, her latest release embraces uncertainty and explores typical themes heard in Mitski’s previous work, such as unrequited love and emotional turmoil, but with a greater sense of urgency. The album opens strongly, with the […]

This week in the beautiful town of Cambridge, Massachusetts, an ugly yet familiar tale of abuse in universities emerged. Three Harvard graduates are suing the university for allegedly ignoring the sexual harassment of students by a professor who they said threatened their academic careers if they reported him. The professor, John Comaroff, was sanctioned by […]

On Friday the 11th of February, we celebrate the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. My science teachers have been encouraging us all to write a piece commemorating overlooked women in science.  Nettie Stevens Nettie Stevens was an American geneticist who suggested that chromosomes were responsible for determining sex. Through her studies on […]

It was announced this week that bakery giant Greggs is teaming up with High Street store Primark for a range of goods. The eleven-piece line will be available in 60 of the chain’s stores later this month. While this may not be the more conventional union we are accustomed to such as Nike and Michael […]

Tonight will see the 2022 Brit Awards ceremony taking place at the O2 Arena, in London. Playing host this year is none other than Mo Gilligan and the event will be televised live on ITV for those wanting to watch a who’s who in popular music battle for a coveted award. With performances from the […]

Manchester United football player Mason Greenwood has been arrested on suspicion of rape, with further investigations into sexual assault and threats to kill ongoing. It came after footage was posted on social media alleging incidents of violence. There is a focus on how Mason Greenwood’s career has been ruined by these allegations. It looks at how […]

On the 14th of January, Netflix released Ricky Gervais’ much anticipated third season of After Life. With the first two seasons of After Life becoming extremely popular among Netflix users, does season three live up to the hype surrounding its release? Featuring six new episodes, After Life continues to explore Ricky Gervais’ Tony Johnson as he […]

I am sure that everyone has some recollection of the carefree days of their own childhood; when days would seem longer, our imaginations were endless and when our ideas seemed “awesome” all of the time despite it sometimes being a tiny bit dangerous. In a way, it was as if every day was a new […]

A Monster Calls is one of the most renowned books of the 21st century. Patrick Ness, its author and flame-carrier, is just as renowned. There is a reason for that. A Monster Calls is one of the most moving, brilliantly executed, and informative novels I’ve read in a while. I’m possibly too old to be considered the target […]

One of the most loveable beer brands, BrewDog, is facing fresh scrutiny after BBC’s Disclosure documentary revealed many shocking things about the company. It seems a revolutionary Scottish beer brand that has posed itself as the rockstars of craft beer and an amazing place for many young people to work, is nothing more than a […]

The fashion world lost one of its most iconic contemporary designers this week. Thierry Mugler, 73, was ‘the’ designer who overstepped boundaries and adorned some of the most recognised bodies in popular culture. Lady Gaga, Kim Kardashian, Beyonce, David Bowie, Demi Moore and countless more called on him throughout his tenure as a designer. His […]

Amy Winehouse needs no introduction. As the most recent addition to the 27 Club, the songstress established herself with her debut album Frank and went on to seal her musical significance with her second album, Back to Black. While the media honed in on her off-stage antics during her short-lived career, there was no denying […]

I may sound like an incessant English teacher– but reading really is so beneficial for everyone. Reading for just 30 minutes per day can help reduce stress, improve your memory, and increase your vocabulary. The escapism that novels can offer is comforting, and through reading, you truly learn so much more about yourself and the […]

Following the lifting of lockdown restrictions, charity shops have been overwhelmed with donations flooding in. Households had plenty of time to have a thorough sort out of their old or unwanted possessions. January is also a good time to consider having a proper tidy up of your room. Christmas time can often be a bit […]

During the pandemic, the impact of Covid on schools, students and education has been a constant concern. It’s not only education that’s taken a hit. Covid has affected relationships, mental health and the way students view their learning over the last two years. Online Lessons The first lockdown came as a bit of a surprise, […]

Yet another young woman has been murdered. Ashling Murphy was a 22-year-old school teacher and strangled to death last week on the banks of the Grand Canal, Tullamore, County Offaly. The phrase “she was just…” has been a notable slogan used in response to the murders of women. “She was just walking home,” echoed after […]

Recently, social media influencer Molly-Mae Hague has come under fire for her beliefs on hard work and material wealth. In a podcast episode of Diary of a CEO, Hague shares shares that she believes “we all have the same 24 hours in a day” and, therefore, the onus of how our lives shape up to be […]

As with every new year, 2022 has brought with it an onslaught of hope and motivation for self improvement. Energised by this fresh start, 1 in 7 of us have decided to set ourselves a new year’s resolution or two. Right now, in the middle of January, we’re witness to the rare sliver of time […]

It has been an interesting few weeks for tennis’ world No1, Novak Djokovic. Usually, we would be discussing the odds of him winning the Australian Open. But now we’re discussing if he will be even allowed to compete. Bear with me, it’s a long story with a lot of twists and turns. Last week, he […]

The Color Purple feels strange to write in American English. It would feel somehow wrong and a disservice to such a touching, thoughtful, and pure novel to add that “u” into the title, though. So, I won’t. Alice Walker’s writing is uniquely American, in the same way that Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird carries that […]

Colour is everywhere. Aside from those who are legally blind or monochromatically colour blind, the overwhelming presence of colour may seem obvious. That is how light works after all. However, a lot of the colours we see in everyday life are not accidental – someone engineered them for a purpose. The bold, energetic colours of […]

Having been vegan for over two years, I feel I have to say something to encourage people to try veganism or at least consider reducing their meat consumption. This year, my mum has decided to take part in Veganuary, something she admits is going to be challenging, despite having been a vegetarian for over 30 […]

Arsenal F.C. will debut a custom, all-white kit as part of a collaborative anti-knife crime campaign called ‘No More Red’. The team will play in the kit for the first time this Sunday, during their FA Cup match against Nottingham Forest. No More Red is described by Arsenal as a “long term commitment… to tackle […]

Starring Jeremy Renner, Hailee Steinfield and Florence Pugh, 2021’s Hawkeye series was no exception in Marvel’s mission to enhance our love for some of our favourite characters, as well as seamlessly introducing new ones. Set in and around the holidays, we see Clint Barton attempt to live a normal life despite the tragic aftermath of […]

The Department for Education announced on 1 January that masks will be mandatory in classrooms for secondary school students. While people were expecting new rules after the Christmas break, many are angry about this new measure, and perhaps rightly so. While mask-wearing is something we’ve all had to get used to over the last two […]

Last week, Ghislaine Maxwell was found guilty of trafficking and grooming multiple young women, assisting the notorious paedophile and child trafficker Jeffery Epstein. This trial was the culmination of her dodging the police and FBI after Epstein’s death and accusations that she had been his right-hand woman in his trafficking of young, vulnerable girls. But […]

The long-awaited third instalment of Tom Holland’s Spider-Man trilogy, No Way Home, has exceeded all expectations. Starring alongside Holland is Zendaya, Jacob Batalon and Benedict Cumberbatch, with Marvel allowing audiences to fall further in love with their favourite characters. No Way Home follows on from the 2019 release Far From Home, in which villain Mysterio reveals Spider-Man’s […]

Here at Beep/Bringing Words to Life, we pride ourselves on providing a platform for young writers to nurture their writing skills, which obviously encouraged our final list to feature our top stories of the year. Whether it be reviewing the latest blockbuster or tackling issues that really resonate with our writers and in turn educate […]

As you have all heard by now, at the South College, Durham University, Christmas Formal, principal Tim Luckhurst invited columnist Rod Liddle to speak, with little warning to students. In his speech, Liddle is reported to have made a number of statements that were transphobic, racist and classist. Very festive. In response to student concerns, […]

The sporting world was put on hold following global Covid-19 restrictions last year – it’s no surprise that athletes were hungry to return to victory in 2021. The postponed events provided the perfect backdrops for what are to become infamous instances of bravery, heartbreak, and aggression. It’s difficult to highlight only 10 moments, but we […]

It’s best to tackle Christmas gifts early, making lists and budgeting, or even scheduling time to make homemade gifts. But if Christmas has suddenly crept up on you, no need to fear, here are some last minute gift ideas to save you some stress.  1 – Sweets or chocolates Found literally everywhere and with lots […]

2021 has been a non-stop year for the music industry, with artists having nothing but time to spend writing new material. This year has been defined by soul-bearing albums and iconic re-records by Taylor Swift – and here is my top ten ranking. 10. Kacey Musgraves – star-crossed With a slight shift into the pop […]

With Christmas soon approaching, many people may be picturing Finland’s Lapland in their heads. Though a small country by population, Finland has a large global presence. This list aims to showcase ten things you didn’t know about Finland, 10. F1 Drivers Despite having a small population, Finland has produced a number of Formula One drivers. […]

Plenty of people have hit the headlines this year. But here’s the ten who made them for all the best reasons. 10. Regé-Jean Page Actor Regé-Jean Page had us all talking about him – for the right reasons – back in January after the release of Netflix Original series Bridgerton. Starring as The Duke of […]

When it comes to television drama, there is a vast ocean of content to keep up with these days. From streaming services to conventional television there are loads to watch. One show which feels overlooked this year is Your Honor. Your Honor follows Bryan Cranston’s Judge Michael Desiato, a well-respected judge whose moral compass becomes […]

From pop, to rap, to rock, there’s been some great musical releases this year. With albums from iconic artists such as Doja Cat, Lil Nas X, Taylor Swift, and Billie Eilish, it’s been difficult to narrow down the top ten songs of the year – but here are the tracks that made a lasting impact. […]

It is a discussion which almost always ends in an argument. The biggest difficulty in ranking Radiohead’s best albums is how varied their offerings are. With major stylistic changes always appearing between albums, Radiohead rarely fails to surprise listeners. With the anniversary of Kid A and Amnesiac, This listing will explore Radiohead’s decade-spanning career and […]

2021 has been a year of fantastic films. After the lockdown of last year, the cinema has been a pleasing place to go. So has my Netflix queue (I haven’t changed that much). Here are the top ten films that I watched in 2021. 10. No Time to Die The highly anticipated Bond film that […]

Doctor Who: Flux finally reaches its drawn-out conclusion. The Vanquishers, as it is titled, promises to wrap up all loose ends and tie up every plot thread that stuck out like multiple sore thumbs throughout the season in a satisfying way… Only kidding. This is Chibnall’s writing we’re talking about. Remember Vines? Those little six-second […]