Firstly let me say that violin solo is everything, the soundtrack sounds absolutely amazing and I am beyond excited to see the next instalment of this fantastic series.
And now, but, but, Nagini! Given how many animagi are in the original Harry Potter series, I shouldn’t be all that surprised that the snake that become a horcrux was originally a person, a woman at that. In the trailer you see Nagini in her human form transforming into snake, we’re hoping it’ll be explained how she ended up being trapped in snake form.
Read More
We’ve been waiting patiently for the full trailer and now, less than a month until the show launches, it’s here. The adaptation of Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House is a modern reimagining of the iconic horror story about five siblings who grew up in America’s most haunted house. It’s available on Netflix from October 12th, and here’s that trailer… if you dare!
It’s over 50 years since the original film adaptation with Julie Andrews in the starring role. This time Emily Blunt is picking up the mantel as Mary Poppins returns to London to help the Banks’ family once more.
Here’s the trailer, what do you think?
The story follows a group of young Asian people (the book tells the story through each of their perspectives) and is centred around the wedding between Singapore’s most eligible bachelor, Colin Khoo, and a fashion icon, Araminta Lee. The author was inspired by family members, particularly his paternal grandparents who showed Kwan how to live a life of quiet confidence and elegance. Despite some cynicism from his editor about the lavish displays of wealth in the book, Kwan defended his descriptions, noting: “truth is stranger than fiction when it comes to details”.
The adaptation of Crazy Rich Asians is a sumptuous feast for the eyes as well as a classic tale of boy-meets-girl-his-mother-does-not-approve-of, all wrapped up in a bow of traditions and rituals of families in Singapore. Directed by Jon M. Chu under Warner Bros. Pictures- check out the trailer below.
As a Doctor Who fan and a fantastic writer, Malorie had already been asked 5 years ago to write a short story based on the Seventh Doctor series with Sylvester McCoy and Sophie Aldred (hear an extract).
Speaking in 2013, about her original short story, Blackman wrote:
“I have always loved Doctor Who. From the time I was a child and the Daleks used to make me run and hide behind the sofa, to Saturday morning pictures when I first saw the Doctor Who films featuring Peter Cushing, right up to the current Doctor with Matt Smith.”
The bosses at Doctor Who couldn’t have made a more perfect choice!
The latest series of Doctor Who will hit our screens this Autumn with many of the writers hidden from the public until now. Malorie Blackman is joined by writers Pete McTighe (Wentworth), Ed Hime (Skins), playwright Vinay Patel, and Joy Wilkinson (The Life And Adventures Of Nick Nickleby).
Both writers are treasures of the literary world- particularly with the younger readers- so gaining knowledge from them about their work and motivation is invaluable.
Malorie Blackman has written over sixty books and is one of our most compelling writers for young people. Awards received for her writing, include the Red House Children’s Book Award, Eleanor Farjeon Award, Fantastic Fiction Award, and a shortlisting for the Carnegie Medal. In 2008 Blackman received an OBE for services to children’s literature and was the Children’s Laureate 2013–2015. (Find out more here)
Michael Rosen has been writing since the 1970s and has so far written over 140 books and was Children’s Laureate from June 2007 to June 2009. He writes fiction, articles for newspapers and magazines, and poetry. Rosen appears at UK schools, libraries and theatres to perform his poetry, helps teach children how to write, or to talk about reading and writing. A staunch supporter of children’s literacy, Rosen appears regularly on radio and TV, either reading books, or talking about books. He also teaches at universities and runs workshops about children’s literature and poetry. (Find out more here)
A group of 12 men emboldened by extreme right-wing rhetoric, one wearing a Donald Trump mask, entered Bookmarks bookshop as staff were closing up, intimidated staff, destroyed displays and magazines while shouting far-right slogans.
In a show of support and solidarity, crowds gathered outside the bookshop on Saturday to hear poets and writers speak out against racist, violent, and extreme rhetoric from the far-right.
Hughes’ terse yet powerful use of language, coloured by his West Riding dialect, created a hard energy to his work- emphatic but evocative, and never self-indulgent.
Watch below for a wonderful reading of The Crow by the poet himself.