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Pride Month! LGBTQ+ book recommendations – Emma.

Hi everyone! As it is June which is known as Pride month around the UK, I thought that I would recommend some good books that I have personally enjoyed which represent members of the LGBTQ+ community. From all of us at The Quack – happy Pride!

Copyright free picture from Unsplash Photos https://unsplash.com/photos/sAMmA7cUnWk

The Outrage:

William Hussey’s The Outrage is a dystopian style YA (young adult, for those who aren’t familiar with the term) novel. The Outrage is set in an alternate/future version of England, where a government called ‘The Protectorate’ rule, and many things which we enjoy today have been made illegal. Food is rationed, films and books we know and love such as Star Wars and The Wizard of Oz are banned and, horrifically, being gay or transgender, as well as other identities of those in the LGBTQ+ community, is illegal. The book follows the character of Gabe, who falls in love with the son of a Protectorate government official, Eric. As well as the main two characters, the ‘Rebels’ as Gabe and his group of friends call themselves are mostly made up of different members of the LGBTQ+ community. This book has it all, it made me laugh (Gabe is quite funny, helps to add depth to the story), it made me cry, it made me angry and it made me realise just how flawed the Western world still is when it comes to the treatment and rights of LGBTQ+ people. Trigger warning for slurs, homophobia and transphobia, but the novel is really worth a read.

We Set the Dark on Fire duology:

We Set the Dark on Fire and its sequel, We Unleash the Merciless Flame, is another dystopian YA novel which follow Dani and Carmen in a Latin-American setting, a society called Medio. The girls attend a school where they will become the wives of wealthy and influential men – but, very similar to The Handmaid’s Tale, these men each have two wives. One will help run her husband’s household and handle affairs whilst one will bear and raise children. Dani and Carmen slowly grow to love each other, united in their cause against the cruelty and politics of their husband, Matteo. It’s the perfect friends to enemies to friends (again) to lovers read, and the pacing is brilliant. The sequel explores their relationship more and the underground rebellion that the women are a part of. A tale of love, loss, rebellion and freedom – I would 100% recommend.

Hope that you enjoyed reading my recommendations, and enjoy the books as much as I did!

Meet the Editor – Josh

Hi! My name is Josh and I am the newest editor for the Quack. Please allow me to introduce myself.

I am a Second Year, History with Politics and German student. I’ve always had an interest in the obscure. My writing will hopefully reveal Edge Hill’s best kept secrets. As an historian I am particularly interested in the hidden history of Edge Hill. Whether it be the occult such as the Grey Lady of Stanley Halls or the architectural.

Before coming to University I was quite active in creative writing. In particular my passion was for scripts, I wrote my own play for GCSE Drama and a short film for A Level Film Studies. However, I have also written short stories and poems.

Questions and Answers:

Do you have any nicknames?

No… at least I don’t think so.

Where is your favourite place to visit in Ormskirk?

My favourite place to visit in Ormskirk is Mandrakes. What I particularly like about Mandrakes is the sheer randomness of a Harry Potter cafe in a small market town in the North West. Not to mention the Hogwarts Express in the back.

What is your favourite book? (Non-Fiction)

If I had to choose my favourite non fiction book, I would have to go with Courtiers by Lucy Worsley. The figures of George I and George II have traditionally been ignored or else presented as grey and lifeless figures in historical writing. Worsley puts life back into these two and their courts, she explores how disagreement and intrigue between royal family members and their hangers on shaped the opening of the Eighteenth century as well as the toll this permanent state of conflict had on the people themselves. Whether they be the royals or the Peter the Wild Boy, a small boy who had been raised by wolves in the forests of Germany before being adopted by George I.

What is your favourite book? (Fiction)

My favourite fiction book is definitely Breakfast at Tiffany’s by Truman Capote. Holly Golightly is a fascinating figure, she is mysterious, passionate and tragic. As well as reminding me of my ex. The book is only about 100 pages and can be read in about an hour or two. Holly will stay with you as you try and unpack the complex state of her mental landscape. Overall it’s a fascinating exploration of what it means to be a free spirit.

What is your favourite film?

In what my come as a shock to some, my favourite film is Breakfast at Tiffany’s, where the book is quite melancholic and wistful, the film is light, fun and romantic. Holly, as portrayed by Audrey Hepburn is more self assured and more fun loving while maintaining the tragic tinge as she struggle with her impulsiveness and buried tragedy. The ending is different from the book but I personally think it works well.

What is one piece of advice you would give to an Edge Hill Fresher?

Research what you will have to read for your modules before you start, start your reading during the summer while you’ve got no other demands on your time.

Small Businesses at Edge Hill – Part 4

I wanted to start a series on small businesses (starting with those in our university) as supporting small is such an important thing to do. We forget while shopping online that there are small business all around which provide great quality home made bits and many of them may be owned by people you know and have seen before. I am hoping that this article will be the first of many to come… I am planning on featuring a few small businesses a week to get through the list of businesses I have already found. Please go and check out all of their social medias and show some support. Even if you don’t want to purchase their items by showing support you are helping to grow their business and giving other people a chance to see it too…

BLUE GOBLIN CAR CARE

Blue Goblin Car Care is a company run by Peter. Peter is a 2nd Year Film & TV Production student, and he started his business three years ago due to his long standing passion for cars. He decided that he would start a company that would allow him to travel around the country attending different car shows, so that’s what he did! His company is based in Southport but ships all over the UK, so definitely get in contact – here’s how to find him:

http://www.BlueGoblinCarCare.co.uk
https://www.facebook.com/BlueGoblinCarCare
Instagram : @BlueGoblinCarCare

BESPOKE CARDS BY OLIVIA

Bespoke Cards by Olivia is a small business set up by Olivia, a first year English Language student who makes bespoke cards for every occasion. She sells them at fair prices and uses a wide range of colours, themes and patterns. You can find her on Etsy and on Facebooks. She started her business due to her love of making cards and curiosity to see if they would sell.

BYFAYEEMMA

When asking Faye a bit about herself and her business she sent this – “I am a year 2 psychology student who lives and works local to Edge Hill, when I’m not working or studying I’m creating resin pieces and coming up with new product ideas! I started my business in July 2020, after the first lockdown made me realise that life’s too short and I needed to put myself out there and do what I enjoy more often! I’m really proud of how far my small business has come in such a short time and I’m really enjoying learning new things and coming up with new ideas of where I can take it in the future!” So please go and show her some love! Her instagram is @byfayeemma where you can also place orders.

Small Businesses at Edge Hill – Part 3

I wanted to start a series on small businesses (starting with those in our university) as supporting small is such an important thing to do. We forget while shopping online that there are small business all around which provide great quality, home-made bits and many of them may be owned by people you know and have seen before. I am hoping that this article will be the first of many to come… I am planning on featuring a few small businesses a week to get through the list of businesses I have already found. Please go and check out all of their social medias and show some support. Even if you don’t want to purchase their items by showing support you are helping to grow their business and giving other people a chance to see it too…

PROPERGOODBAKES

PROPERGOODBAKES is a small business run by Gracie who is a second year student studying Child and Adolescent Mental Health. Gracie turned her passion of baking into a small business, selling cupcakes, brownies and cookies which all look AMAZING btw… Her Instagram is @propergoodbakes where you can see more of her creations.

MONIQUE MAKES CAKES

Monique is a first year Education and Religion Student who I have had the pleasure learning with this year and she has her own small business baking cakes – I am spoiling you all with these amazing cake businesses. Monique’s business can be found on Instagram and Facebook under ‘Monique Makes Cakes’ and I highly recommend you order some of her cakes, if you are local to her, as they are great!

WOODLANDSILLUSTRATIONS

Tom set up his small business in 2016 after many people requested for him to paint for them. Tom is a 3rd year musical theatre student who runs his small business, which includes drawing, painting and creating amazing art work, alongside his degree. His work can be found on facebook at WOODLANDSJUTEBAGS or on instagram @woodlandsillustrations.

Small Businesses at Edge Hill – pt.2

TENDERFOOT THEATRE

Tenderfoot Theatre was established in 2019 out of the uni’s drama department. They make sustainable theatre productions, using ecological methods of design, and invest their efforts into developing more sustainable ways to be creative. They were set to debut their first show ‘Balance’, a post-apocalyptic balloon debate dispelling the myths of the population crisis, at the Edinburgh Fringe last summer, but of course it was called off for Covid, so that’s on pause for now! For now they are writing new material and putting together a series of exhibitions, they don’t have any ‘products’ per se, the products will be tickets as soon as they are available.
Their socials are:
Facebook- Tenderfoot Theatre
Instagram- @tenderfoot.theatre
Twitter- @tndrfoottheatre

Tenderfoot theatre feature work from illustrator Angie Thompson throughout their grid posts due to working with her in partnership – you can also find her page on Instagram under @angiethompson_illustrator

SNAPSBYCHRISSIE

This small business is run by Christina; a 3rd Year Drama student who started her business because she found herself starting to take more photos and videos as a hobby. To start she just wanted somewhere to document them as a portfolio, but then it just blossomed into this wonderful little business from it over the past 2 years. The business is a small photography/videography business which has been struggling over the pandemic so it would be great if we could offer some support for her. Everything can be found using her instagram handle @snapsbychrissie

DOODLES BY JAI

“My business Doodles by Jai has recently gone through a rebranding and I am now selling my own artwork on Etsy as prints. I hope to eventually branch out, putting my designs onto hoodies etc too. At the moment, my artwork is primarily catered towards an alternative aesthetic. But, if you drop me a message I’m more than happy to talk about commissions and I’ll see what I can do for you. As a uni student myself, I understand the need for affordable decor/gift items, so all of my products are priced with that in mind too.” – Jaimie, a second year criminology and psychology student who started her business because of her art hobby

Etsy store – Doodles by Jai Instagram – doodles_by_jai

Top 10 things to do over your summer break…

Now that many univeristy and school terms are coming to an end shortly it means that we now have the summer ahead of us so us girls got together to share some of our best summer plans with you! (not in any particular order)

1) A cheap way to enjoy your summer is to find a good walk. Find your spot and make sure it has instagrammable sunsets!

2) Similarly, head to the nearest park or beach – whichever is closer – and take a picnic. Picnics are one of the most underrated summer activities but it provides entertainment for the whole day

3) To go with (2) you could spend a day baking. Get some of your friends around and have a bake-off – then you can even take your goodies to your picnic with you

4) Away from food you could get a group of friends together to work out together – outdoors or indoors. There have been many published studies to suggest exercise is great for mental health! One of my fave workouts is @emkfit on YouTube… her workouts are great fun and you do burn those calories!

5) Sticking with your group of friends – find one with a car and ROADTRIP – make a collaborative playlist and sing your hearts out for hours and hours

6) End the roadtrip at a theme park – good choices are Alton Towers, Lightwater Valley, Thorpe Park etc. etc. – just find the one that’s right for you

7) Find some concerts – probably outdoor concerts (especially this summer) and get tickets!

8) Book a weekend away – get yourself to a new city, a small village or go camping! Go and explore another part of the UK (or further afield – if COVID restrictions allow)

9) Find a new hobby: Start a small business; read a book collection; take up a sport; get a gym membership – use 2021’s summer to learn something new

10) Make a summer bucket list! – you have at least a month take make this summer worthwhile – take some of ideas, make up your own…

Feel free to share your summer bucket lists with us by tagging us @thequackmagazine

Small Businesses at Edge Hill – Pt. 1

TITSANDBITS

Instagram: @titsandbits_x

Facebook: @titsandbitsx

Tiktok: @titsandbits_x

Tits and Bits is made up of Jade and Emilia. Two 18 year old students based across Peterborough, Gateshead and Ormskirk. Jade is a Creative Writing student and Emilia is an Education and English student.

“We sell beautiful pieces of artwork to promote body positivity in young women of all ages, shapes and sizes. We also do custom prints, totes and canvases to whatever design you want. We set up our business to promote a positive outlook on all bodies no matter their shape or size.”

LIVSLUXE

Run by Olivia, an Early Years Education Student. She set up her business to bring affordable, trendy clothing to Ormskirk and give herself a hobby which has now turned UK wide!

Instagram: @Livsluxeinsta

Facebook: @LivsLuxe

Twitter: @LivsLuxe

TikTok: @LivsLuxe

Website: www.livsluxe.co.uk

They are also on asos marketplace @LivsLuxe

“LivsLuxe is a small online boutique that came about as I noticed there wasn’t anywhere to get new clothes or last minute night out dresses without going to Liverpool or ordering online. I started just before lockdown. It is run by me, a third year teaching student, with the help of other students who have been amazing helping, modelling etc. We sell a range of products from dresses to loungewear but our main focus is now hoodies, sweatshirts and tees that are designed and printed in my little uni house.”

FINAL TOUCHES

Final Touches is run by Emma Ferneyhough, 1st year. Joint honours student doing Drama & English Lit.

“I started my small business during the first lockdown (April to be exact) it was a few days after my birthday and I just thought “you know what, I want to invest my money into something I love” and so I did. I would like to consider myself a creative person and I’ve always been into fashion so I started to look into the latest trends and at this time ‘y2k fashion’ had just made its come back. So, I took inspiration from being a 2000’s kid myself and mixed that with the month surrounding me; Spring and it has stuck ever since! I knew that I wanted to create something that was affordable, as I am a student myself, and I loved the idea of people wearing something that was mine, hence why I started creating jewellery. The next step for me was finding a name for my brand (this wasn’t easy). I wanted it to be catchy… something that would stick in people’s minds ah! I thought to myself… what do you call it when you put a whole outfit on but need to spice it up a bit? I thought for days until…that’s it! Final touches. It was in this moment that final touches was born!”

Sarah Everard Series – Emma Butler.

Hello everyone, the Quack team thought that after the recent events and attention around the tragic murder of Sarah Everard, that we should use the platform that we are so lucky to have to speak up. Therefore, we have chosen to publish a series of posts about our reflections and experiences regarding the tragedy. We have also published a series of safety apps on our Quack Instagram to help raise awareness around personal safety. Thank you for reading.

I think the best way to describe my reaction to the attention resulting from the tragic murder of Sarah Everard was shock. Anger and shock. I was shocked to hear that 97% of women aged 18 to 24 in the UK have faced sexual harassment. I was shocked that even now, the hashtag #notallmen was being used when we as women know it’s not all men, we just don’t know which men. I was shocked that people victim-blamed Sarah, but did not condemn the man that killed her. I was shocked and angry at all of these things, but let me tell you now, I was in no way surprised. I fall into that category of that 97%, probably even in ways that I can’t recall. Even now writing this, it’s strange to think just how ‘normalised’ it is that women are made to feel this way. It’s little things, as well as big.

It’s being made to feel uncomfortable by male peers who are ‘just joking’, it’s been made to feel unsafe walking past groups of guys on bikes in broad daylight. It’s having a weird inappropriate comment made at you when you’re just trying to get on the train. I walked home from sixth form and uni with my key in my hand, ready to let myself in when it was dark outside at 4pm. Just in case. It was just something that I had to do, and it made me feel a little bit better. These are sadly almost everyday things that I have experienced, and I don’t want it to carry on. I’m sick and tired of constantly being the one who has to ‘be careful,’ when it should be on all men to make sure that they also think about women’s safety. At the end of the day, it is all women who share these experiences, even if it is not themselves but a friend or family member.

Sarah, may you rest in peace.

Maybe someday, it will be better. Let’s make it better.

Meet the editor- Abbie!

Hi guys! My name is Abbie Smith and I am new to The Quack, so I wanted to make a quick post to introduce myself to you lovely readers!

I am a second year Creative Writing student at Edge Hill University and writing is my passion. My favourite things currently to write are poetry (mainly lovey-dovey, angsty poems) and non-fiction articles/reviews. I am also the non-fiction editor for a magazine as part of one of my modules, so I have some experience in this field. You can find me on Instagram @abbiesmithwrites!
Also, I have co-written on short films and scripts for university and outside projects, something I enjoy doing. I also have a part-time job which I enjoy and it keeps me busy at weekends, so I can’t complain!

People would describe me as quite shy until you get to know me. Then, once I am comfortable, I have been told that I am caring, sometimes unintentionally funny and very opinionated. If something bothers me or someone I love, you are going to hear about it!! Also, I do not stop talking about things I enjoy.

As well as this, I am an avid reader. My bookcase is stacked full of books, either ones I have read or ones that are on my ever-growing To Be Read list. My favourite genres are crime/thriller and contemporary, so I enjoy a range of different authors and stories. My current top 3 books are ‘An Unwanted Guest’ by Shari Lapena, or ‘They Both Die at the End’ by Adam Silvera, and ‘Swimming in the Dark’ by Tomasz Jedrowski. I thoroughly recommend those amazing works of fiction to anyone who is even remotely interested in reading. They are wonderful!

Quick Q&A!

What is your favourite TV show?
This one is a hard question- I’ll have to do my top 5.
1. Coronation Street
2. Elite
3. The Walking Dead
4. Killing Eve
5. Benidorm

Favourite song?

Currently, I would have to say either ‘Heartbreak Weather’ by Niall Horan, ‘Sweet Melody’ by Little Mix, or ‘Only Angel’ by Harry Styles- those 3 are my favourite artists!

Favourite food?

Definitely a chicken curry or a roast dinner- you can’t beat either of them!!

What do you like to do in your spare time?

I love football. I support my local team and I used to go matches often before lockdown, and I hope to go again in the future! I love watching both club and country! I also love going to the gym with my family- I know, bizarre bonding activity-, spending time with my family and friends, and listening to music.

Thank you for reading, and thank you to the team for letting me join. I can’t wait to get started!

Book Review: Five Years From Now by Paige Toon

By Rebecca Hodge

Five Years From Now is a warmly emotional and twisty novel. Set in Cornwall, this story captures the beauty of nature, innocence of childhood adventures and much more…
The story begins in the present, with a 40 year-old woman comforting her injured and emotionally wrecked 15 year-old son in a hospital bed. She tells him “One day, maybe five years from now, you’ll look back and understand why this happened”, something that she once heard when she was young and has stuck with her to this day. The story is wrapped around this phrase and as she reminisces, you are absorbed into the world of Nell and Vian.

Each chapter tells a different age of Nell’s life, in five year jumps. With 5 year-old Nell’s parents separated and her Dad living far from her London home, she only stays with him on school holidays; enjoying summers at his tranquil cottage by the river, surrounded by beaches and wheat fields. She longs to stay in Cornwall with him, but one day she finds herself staring at an unfamiliar, curly brown-haired boy sat on her bed. Why is this boy here and is he here to stay?

Paige Toon uses such gorgeously written metaphors that her style often feels slightly poetic; as though she is painting the story rather than simply telling it. Her descriptions are beautiful and I could picture certain scenes and characters so crisply. She creates a day-dreamy feel that has frequent meetings with reality! It’s a story of friendship, love, separation and new beginnings. She not only writes about the difficulty of these things with such poignancy, but creates twists that surprise you (sometimes even shock you) within a world of artistic dreams and a whole lot of sentiment.

The only thing I found difficult about this book at first was the length of the chapters- I like to be able to read in chunks, choosing whether to continue on to the next part or have a quick break and maybe make a coffee, or speak to a friend, and then pick it back up. Understandably, though, most chapters were hefty as each one told of a significant part of her life. I did get used to their length, and if anything, the longer chapters meant I was completely drawn in and dedicated to the story. I particularly love that Toon created characters that the reader is able to follow throughout the years. Life’s experiences become memories, some regretted, some treasured, as the characters learn the complexity that comes with growing up.

A read of surprises, packaging an array of emotions, Five Years From Now is a cosy, heartfelt novel. Paige Toon balances the devastation of distance and loss with wild devotion and honest desires of the heart.

I can’t recommend this novel enough, so below are a couple of links to both new and used copies of this brilliant book for you to get your hands on…

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2047675.m570.l1313&_nkw=five+years+from+now+paige+toon&_sacat=0

https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/36254649-five-years-from-now