14/10/2022
Image description: a square poster with a baby pink gradient background that is a darker shade of pink at the bottom and gradually gets lighter as it moves to the top. At the centre of the poster are three rectangle portrait frames rounded at the corners. The frames each contain a poster. Poster one on the left is the pink book cover of Where The Crawdads Sing. Poster two is of the Fate: The Winx Saga season two Netflix poster, featuring four main characters and a dark blue background. Poster three, on the right, is the book cover for the novel Wahala which has a portrait of a woman with purple lipstick who is covering her eyes with her interlaced fingers. At the top of the poster in bold yellow text is the phrase ‘Top Picks’ all capitalised. At the bottom left corner of the post is our logo which is a black capital ‘P’ enclosed in a white transparent circle.
The Marsh Girl by Stefanie Gold
Where The Crawdads Sing is a stunningly written novel that contains some of the most captivating nature descriptions I have ever read in any novel. It’s not surprising that author Delia Owens won the John Burroughs Award for nature writing. These immersive nature descriptions envelope Kya- The Marsh Girl who has spent her life in the quiet marshlands of North Carolina. Kya’s characterisation captures the reader, taking us on a journey with her as we experience her coming of age and her perception of the murder that has engulfed the small town and marshlands she lives in. This beautifully written novel places you in nature as Kya captivates your heart.
Next level by Jasmyne Tzitziras
This month I watched Fate: The Winx Saga season two and I have to say I am nothing but impressed. The writers took the show in a direction that clearly showed they listened to the feedback they were given from the previous season, and honestly there are a few things added that I believe watchers of the original Winx Club cartoon will enjoy. Although I admit back when the first season came out I was disappointed with how different it was. I have highly enjoyed every moment, even the cheesy ones.
A reality TV show and soap opera love child by Nyalat Pel Kun
If a reality TV show and soap opera had a baby that was then magically transformed into a novel – it would be Wahala. Nikki May did the dang thing when writing this novel, and as a first generation African (Sudanese-Australian to be specific) I found the characters and their personal dilemmas so relatable. I’ve been made to feel invisible in my natural hair by my white counterparts and magically become a tangible and approachable human being when a ‘weave’ was installed into my head. I have definitely been overzealous in embracing my cultural identity at the expense of my personality. I felt seen and at home with the characters; at least at the start of the novel. At the start of the book I wanted to integrate myself into the trio’s friendship group. At the end of the book I was grateful for my boring life and simultaneously on the edge of my seat as the drama started to ramp up. I highly recommend that you run to your nearest bookstore or library to pick up a copy of Wahala. I promise you will not regret it.
Paper Road Magazine 