becca mae.

As I drag myself nearer and nearer the finish line of my undergraduate degree, I am starting to feel qualified in my recommendations of a handful of convenient coffee shops, workspaces and bars which make a pleasant change from the dreary, soul-sucking confines of university libraries. As a student of Queen Mary, I feel as if I have experienced basically every caffeine providing spot within a half a mile radius of our Mile End campus. So here is my humble attempt to round up the best undergraduate watering holes in and around East London...

The Coffee Room 

Italian quality with an al fresco nook to match - The Coffee Room does what it says on the tin. Adjacent to Mile End Station, The Coffee Room offers authentic Italian coffee with a selection of deli specials to accompany your revision woes. Although seating inside is limited, Coffee Room redeems itself with its sunk in, patio / wooden garden off the rear of the building. The retractable awning, heaters and blankets allow the outdoor seating to be used rain or shine!

Pro: Quality coffee with a hit of hygee

Con: Wifi on demand / limited indoor seating 

Recommended: Flat White & Raspberry brownie. 

Find:  6A Grove Rd, Mile End, London E3 

The International Comrades Cafe 

With a central island seating, easy use wifi and plenty of plugs, Comrades Cafe will discipline you into actually writing that essay you were meant to start a week ago. With reasonable prices and a set up that is clearly targeted towards the student demographic of Mile End, Comrades can’t be faulted for its practicality. Although it has touches of personality in its mural of an old east end, it's not exactly a spot you will be jumping to add to your IG feed. 

Nevertheless, Comrades name comes from the fundamental belief that 

Pro: Practical and close to QM campus 

Con: Interiors are ... average 

Recommended: The window seat! 

Find: 7 Burdett Rd, Mile End, E3

The Hackney Coffee Company 

Oozing with character and dreamy East London charm, The Hackney Coffee Company serves wonderful speciality coffee, named after notable local areas such as Columbia Road Flower Market and Regent’s Canal. Personally, the high ceilings, leather sofas and skylights won me over. Studying in a pleasant environment does wonders for your mental wellbeing! The long workbench is surrounded by hanging plants and feels like a zen oasis. 

Pro: Beautiful interiors 

Con: On the pricier side 

Recommended: Nabbing a seat at the workbench

Find:  503 Hackney Rd, Bethnal Green, E2 

Hanbury Hall

Space! So much space is such a rarity in London.  This beautiful space was originally built as a Huguenot Chapel in 1719, now it's a great study and working space which promotes creativity. Located just off Bricklane, it’s a great area to feel inspired. The hall offers free wifi which, if we are being realistic, is essential when working out of office. 

Pro: Specifically used as a communal workspace

Con: Considering the size, a few more seats wouldn’t hurt

Recommended: Grab a seat upstairs, it’s a bit lighter!

Find: 22 Hanbury St, Spitalfields, E1

Genesis Cinema

Ok hear me out - Genesis is one of my all-time favourite spots in East London for a few reasons. Firstly, it’s a gorgeous independent cinema that is so charming I don’t know how you would ever justify visiting a vue again. Secondly, it has a really lovely coffee counter, a bar/relaxation area upstairs and plenty of seating. Also, you might be able to motivate yourself to focus for a few hours with the reward of catching a movie after you've completed your essay.

Pro: it’s a vintage cinema... must I elaborate?

Con: It’ll probably be rather noisy as the day goes on 

Recommended: Student tickets are dirt cheap, get that essay done and catch that movie you’ve wanted to see for ages. 

Find: 93-95 Mile End Rd, Stepney Green, E1 

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COPELAND PARK, BUSSEY BUILDING 3PM 

Was the only information provided to the huge crowds of ‘Tyler the Creator’ fans who headed to Peckham Rye, South-East London Saturday afternoon.

Tyler, a figure who was previously banned in 2015 from entering the UK, only released his newest album IGOR two days prior to the event. His popularity is indicated not only by the speed in which his songs are climbing the charts, but also the size of his internet following. With 6.5 Million Instagram followers and 8.4 on Twitter, it isn’t surprising that the venue was overcrowded within the space of an hour.

The US rapper tweeted the location after suggestively filming himself jumping about outside Buckingham Palace earlier that morning with the caption ‘LONDON, IGOR, 3PM’. Quickly reaching over a million views, Tyler demonstrated that his British popularity still remains. The excitement from these tweets was visceral, many people like myself were ready to buy tickets at a moments notice.

But that was unnecessary.

Instagram - feliciathegoat

Like many others travelling south, I rode the overground which was filled with young people in La Fleur and bright clothing, excitedly chatting about the mystery of what would be awaiting them. Peckham Rye station was flooded with fans streaming towards Copeland Park. It was instantly evident that there would be an issue, despite arriving in the first hour, I was unable to get throughout into the park itself, being caught just outside the main road. With seemingly no organisation, security, tickets or preparation it is unsurprising that the gig was forced to shut down. Locals were rightly confused, traffic came to a standstill and the road was totally blocked by loyal fans waiting in the hope of getting inside the venue.

Shortly after 3PM, Tyler shared a post on his Instagram story telling everyone that the gig had been cancelled due to rowdiness and people climbing over gates. Being amongst the midst of this group, ‘Rowdy’ didn’t seem to match the attitudes of the people waiting. People were climbing on signs and traffic lights to asses the situation, however, everyone surrounding me despite being claustrophobically squeezed together were largely polite and respectful. People were pushing and chanting, but as is to be expected from such a large crowd. Ripples of information spread through the crowd, claims that there was no security, that the venue was being manned by the few employees working within Copeland Park and that it had been them, not the police who had called off the gig.

Crowds Waiting at Copeland Park 

In hindsight, this failure was inevitable and the fault of the event planning. I respect the vision, hence jumping on the first train from East London. There was an adrenaline hit when I realised I would be able to get there in time, and that excitement rivals any gig I have been to before. Nevertheless, with such a large following, events such as these require trained staff to prevent serious injuries from overcrowding. Through even releasing a ballot selected tickets, the event wouldn’t have spilt out onto the street and prompted the arrival of the police.

Tyler later tweeted,

Backtracking on the earlier accusation of the ‘rowdy’ Londoners, Tyler calls back to his days of Odd Future, the internet-based alternative hip hop group including members such as Frank Ocean, Syd and Earl Sweatshirt. The collective was successful in its ability in marketing, using the platform Tumblr to generate a widespread loyal fanbase. The group made music, designed and produced branded clothing and made a television show called ‘Loiter Squad’. The pure youth energy and rejection of conventions were the backbones for OF, this same energy was clearly running through the Londoners on Saturday. Through the power of social media, in a matter of hours, Tyler was able to call together hundreds if not thousands of fans. This social media, self-marketing generation of young artist demonstrates the mass potential of the internet. It gives influencers a level of power which certainly also requires responsibility.  The days of the ‘do it yourself’ methods of creative management and freestyling seem to no longer be a possibility for Tyler.

Fans slowly dispersed, many stayed until much later clinging to the hope that Tyler would emerge from the building. It was evident that there would be no show. I like many others dispersed into the surrounding pubs to grab a pint and commiserate.

From 10am every Sunday, Gore Road in the middle of Victoria Park, East London, becomes a local trade market. With vendors selling hot food, local cheeses, flowers and fresh veg; it certainly makes for a pleasant stroll at the end of the week. 

Whilst visiting, we took some photos of the aesthetic stalls, grabbed an oat latte and some food. The food was a ‘philly cheeze steak’ from Jake’s Vegan Steaks. As a vegetarian, I am more than willing to try out vegan fast food, especially when it smelt as good as Jakes! Furthermore, the variety of vegan and vegetarian food on offer on many of the hot food stalls (which made up a large majority of the market) was impressive. Many of the hot food ranged from between £6 to £10 - which isn’t cheap but also not particularly surprising for a market in London. 

However, I was disappointed with the size of the market. We slowly pondered up and down the length of it twice which took us less than twenty minutes. Having anticipated visiting VPM for a few months, it felt anticlimactic. 

With this in mind, I suggest that the market is a lovely addition to a sunny morning walk around the park, but not a trip or a date in itself.  I would still recommend having a browse of the locally sourced and produced foods to support local businesses if you happen across it.

★★☆☆☆ 

Nearest Tube Stations: Mile End & Bethnal Green (Central Line) 

56-57 Gore Rd, South Hackney, London E9 7HN

http://victoriaparkmarket.com/

https://jakesvegansteaks.com/

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Photo: Jasmine Gray - 

Organic vegan coffee shops, flashy flats and the infamous image of the hipster young professional: In the last decade, East London and gentrification have seemingly become synonymous. The phrase is one which every Londoner is well acquainted with; however many of us are misguided on both its definition and the real-life implications on the communities we live in. Being students of Queen Mary, we are witnessing, and to some extent participating in, a social and economic transition. But what are the consequences? And how can we understand such a weight and ever-evolving phenomenon?

Gentrification was first coined by Ruth Glass in direct reference to London. She used it in her 1964 study, ‘London: aspects of change.’ to describe the displacement of the native working-class in their urban neighborhoods by the middle classes or “Urban Pioneers”, young professionals or artists with a bohemian lifestyle. Through this act, the economic and cultural elements of the area are altered, causing a wave of social cleansing which further alienates the original occupants of the community.

This issue primarily seems to originate in housing.  Areas which were once economically disinvested in by councils and businesses experience a wave of property investors, developers, and private landlords after being recognised for unique qualities. Traditionally these areas are occupied by artistic or bohemian communities, bringing with it a cultural shift. Have you ever wondered why you are paying eye-watering prices for a three bed, ex-council maisonette? With this financial incentive of non-working class buyers, the council sells social housing causing an overall increase in rent prices, forcing those who have often lived in their council-owned homes for decades to either buy them or be relocated further away from their communities. This replacement unfairly forces out local, working-class citizens to be replaced by usually white, young ‘creatives’ who can ‘just about’ afford to pay out the unreasonable rent.

Recent studies from UCLA suggest that public investment increases the rate of gentrification considerably. Transport, public schools, parks and general amenities all alter the social perception of an area, making it more appealing to the upper middle classes. An example of this can be represented through the local areas such as Hackney Wick, found between Victoria park and Stratford. The location, once known for its industrial production and transport along Hertford Union Canal, is now in the midst of rejuvenation similar to the one Shoreditch has experienced in the last twenty years. With an overground station which is not only now open 24 hours on weekends, but is also only one stop away from the internationally connected Stratford; Hackney Wick is now an appealing and somewhat affordable spot for the common commuter. Large scale builds such as ‘The Bagel Factory’ and ‘Fish Island Village’ aren’t limited to new homes but instead curate entire communities. These provide curbside appeal, presenting a cookie cutter clean and safe community equipped with the ‘essentials’ such as coffee shops and communal work spaces. Often supported by the government scheme ‘Help to Buy’, there isn’t anything necessarily wrong with these modern, professional communities. Nevertheless, it prompts us to reflect on which socio-economic demographics are being invested in and the broader consequences for those who can not afford the new £450k apartments.

However, it would be too simple to suggest that gentrification is caused by a villainous, greedy group of young rich people. Many move to boroughs such as Tower Hamlets, Hackney, and Newham as they offer the possibility to rent a bedroom for under £600 a month whilst remaining close enough to the city. Can you blame these people for living where they can afford to in a city which costs more and more each year? There is a glimpse of home through the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan’s latest promised strategy to deliver ‘genuinely affordable homes’ across the capital, yet it is still unclear if this will have a notable effect on the rates of gentrification.

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Roman Road is the beating heart of Bow, East London. Stretching from Old Ford to Bethnal Green, the road is home to its fair share of coffee shops, eateries and pubs. They range from classic East End ‘pie n mash’ shops to expensive, Instagram worthy brunch spots. 

It’s half past ten on a Thursday morning, or more specifically, Valentines day morning. Elbow to elbow with another couple, I sat down at one of the two people tables to take in the decor. Cafe East feels like a collaboration of these distinctly opposing worlds; the old-timer meeting the hipster. Boldly garnished with a baby-pink storefront and red-lettered sign, the restaurant’s face is both warming and attractive. Entering into the premise, it’s popularity is proven by the packed tables and buzzing atmosphere. 

What Cafe East lacks in space, it makes up for in character. The exposed brick walls, classic R&B records and local artwork which adorned the interior make Cafe East feel more like a communal dining room than many of the ingenious and pretentious eateries which can be found further down the road. The care that has been invested in this business can be seen in the details of the menu, both its contents and its appearance. The extensive brunch menu offers up American style pancakes, classic, vegan or vegetarian fry-ups and eggs any-way. The standard day time menu is a re-working of the classic cafe; jacket potatoes, bagels and burgers. Each plate is presented beautifully, with garnishes of salad and fruit which goes above and beyond what you would expect in London for such an affordable price point. 

We ordered ourselves eggs royale on sourdough, with a side of hash browns and avocado. Additionally, we both had freshly squeezed orange juice and a flat white. This order came to a total of £25! 

Cafe East is certainly a spot I will be returning to. It’s affordability and charm is it’s primary draws, however I do believe that a little more room to breathe would imporve customer satisfaction and the overall experience. 

★★★☆☆

Location: 426 Roman Rd, London E3 5LU

Nearest Tube Stations: Mile End, Bethnal Green (Central Line) Bow Road (District Line) 

Find Online at https://www.instagram.com/cafeeastbow/?hl=en

* Thank you for reading, if you enjoyed please check out my youtube channel, my instagram or twitter *

Photo: Jasmine Gray 

Roughly a year ago I found myself in a sort of financial no man's land. I was a second-year university student living in the most expensive city in the country, I was unemployed. I was in a fortunate enough position in that my parents could help me cover my loan’s shortfall on my rent, but I was still left without any disposable income. I applied for jobs, acquired a few temping positions but nothing that was A. sustainable alongside my studies and B. that my mental health didn’t clash with. This isn’t a pity party by any stretch of the imagination, I am aware that for many people not working because of ill-mental health isn’t an option. 

I was scouring Indeed when something jumped out at me; Nannying aimed at undergraduates. Throughout my childhood, my mother has worked in both a preschool and as a childminder, with such an insight I point blankly rejected childcare as a career from a young age. However, as I read through the company, ‘Koru Kids’ slick website, I realised that I may have found a position which matched up to what I was looking for. 

Koru Kids feels a little like Tinder for nannying. University students enter in a profile about themselves, what they study and their experience looking after children, and then Koru matches them with families which are geographically and socially best matched with them. Although terrified, I visited the family and met the children. Being renowned for being somewhat forgetful and very clumsy, I was convinced that I wasn’t ‘adult’ enough to be responsible for a living, breathing human. After some ongoing reassurance from my flatmate,  I began the process in August and began working for my family in September. I was a little reserved and totally unsure about myself; I even remember having nightmares about losing the kids in the park. But as time went on, I developed confidence in my abilities. My role involves picking the children up from school, helping them with their homework and then cooking them dinner. Most evenings, we finish these tasks before the parent’s get home so we have enough time to play board games. 

I can honestly say that this is the first part-time role I have worked in that doesn’t fill me with a sickening sense of dread knowing I have a looming shift. In fact, knowing that I have to spend an afternoon away from my studies, away from the glare of my laptop screen is somewhat inviting. Spending time with children re-introduced me as an adult to a different way of thinking; spending half an hour ranking dog breeds and being told why ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ is the best film ever made is a throwback to being 8. Although sometimes challenging, (mainly when my cooking fails and their disappointment is loudly declared), I stand by this being the perfect student job. 

Koru Kids - 

https://www.korukids.co.uk/

* Thank you for reading, if you enjoyed please check out my youtube channel, my instagram or twitter *

A comprehensive review of days out, date ideas and things to do in London.

Personally, Comedy Clubs have never explicitly excited or appealed to me. The potential of being called out and publically humiliated, or watching some poor newbie comic crash and burn with failing flat jokes overrides the possibility of a night of hilarity. However, the Top Secret Comedy Club crushed my fearful expectations and made for one of the best evenings in London I have experienced in the past three years. Priding itself on being one of the most authentic and highest rated comedy clubs in the city, Top Secret champions acts from an immense demographic of British and international comedians, including Jack Whitehall, Romesh Ranganathan, Russel Howard and Katherine Ryan to name a few.

I visited on a Tuesday evening on their ‘New Material’ night; the comedians of the evening included Nigel Ng, Matt Green and Nathan Caton. Not knowing what exactly to expect, we walked down a street just off Covent Garden to find an inconspicuous entrance dwarfed beside the bright and garish theatre next door. It became increasingly clear as the night continued that this is symbolic of the club; Its authenticity means that they don’t have to rely on gimics or any of the latest fads which circulate the city. 

For us as students, entry was free! For standard entry, the evening only costs £1. With pints starting at £3.50 and wine at £6, the venues all around affordability sets this experience apart from many London activities through making it accessible for a wide audience. 

The venue is comprised of two stages, the smaller one upstairs (where we were sat) holds a maximum capacity of 145. The space is opened up through dividing black curtains according to demand, meaning it never feels empty or underattended, only intimate. Downstairs in the basement is a bigger room, holding over 200. The sets are divided into 20-minute segments, meaning the comedians are running up and down stairs and can be seen sat working on their acts in the stairwell. 

With acts on throughout the week and special surprise celebrity appearances on the weekends, a great night is guaranteed. 

★★★★★ 

Nearest Tube Stations: Covent Garden and Leicester Square (Picadilly Line), Holborn and Tottenham Court Road (Central Line) 

170 Drury Lane, London, WC2B 5PD

A comprehensive review of days out, date ideas and things to do in London. 

Proudly sitting on the busy Mile End Road of East London; Genesis Cinema announces itself with a retro neon sign and a lightbox banner offering ‘Movies, Mochas and Martinis’. On entering the building, the nostalgic tone is continued through the plush leather sofas, the period ‘pick n mix’ stand and huge movie posters which hang from the exposed concrete walls. The atmosphere alone sets the experience aside from the average trip to your local Cineworld or Vue. 

It’s a weekday night and we’re here to see Yorgos Lanthimos latest release ‘The Favourite’ staring Oliva Colman, Rachel Weisz and Emma Stone. Arriving half an hour early, we had a bit of time to kill before heading into the ‘luxury’ screen 5 which we had preordered tickets for. Heading up the double staircase, besides the main classical theatre style main screen, is a bar and food stall providing an intimate, low lit space, to sip on cocktails and chow down on a slice of pizza before the movie. 

After picking up a £4 box of popcorn, we headed into the screen. Genesis’s Studio screens 4 & 5 make for a romantic twist on the classic date night. At under £10 per person, you are able to reserve a double sofa for you and your partner to cosy down into. Equipped with pillows, a blanket, a small table and footrests, it’s easy to forget you aren’t in the comfort of your own home. 

With a price point of under £10, the studio experience at Genesis makes for a relaxed and low-pressure date night. Catch either the latest releases or one of their independent screenings any day of the week, with the cheapest rates between Monday - Wednesday. 

★★★★☆ 

Nearest Tube stations: Stepney Green & Whitechapel (District Line) 

93-95 Mile End Road, London, E1 4UJ

https://genesiscinema.co.uk

It’s reached that point of the year; The period in which old winter coats are pulled out of hibernation and people keep mentioning how ‘the nights are drawing in’. Everyone seems to be craving their bed’s, to have somebody in their bed, and obviously Netflix binges. 

It’s actually Halloween as I write this and I fittingly haven’t changed out of my PJ’s yet. The perfect time to reflect on a series I have almost finished in the duration of two sittings. This week I have re-immersed myself in the depths of trending television and realised that everyone is raving about either Sabrina The Teenage Witch or The Haunting of Hill House. Presuming it would follow the recently popularised ‘conjuring-esque’, ‘over the top’, ‘this is so ridiculous, I’m not really scared anymore’ horror, I chose the latter. 

Yes, Hill House has the classic tropes of any horror production; Shadows in the hallways, dead people popping out of graves and slow turning door knobs. But it doesn't limit itself to overly erratic music and overproduced gory figures. 

Hill House focuses on the story of the Craine Family. In the beginning, an almost sickeningly lovely family of seven; Parents Hugh and Olivia are the fair and warm beacons guiding their five children. The first episode opens with the sudden suicide of Nelly, the family’s youngest member. From this point on, the narrative leads us between different times and places to explain her death. 

The show is formulated around the individual family members, each episode giving us a rounded insight into their private psychology and pasts. This style means we as the audience are slowly drip-fed context, revealing new clues towards the mystery shrowding Hill House. This unraveling happens in a flitting between the ‘then’ and ‘now’ gathering glimpses of narrative from the varying perspectives. We are taken on a road of clever manipulation, causing the viewer to double guess the meaning behind every new revelation. 

I found that the characters and their development are the major hooks of the show. Consequently, it succeeds where many horrors fail; It doesn’t depend on tacky jump scares and uncreative cookie cutter story arcs. The ghosts of the Craine family are two-faced. They are the bone-chilling figures which creep towards their beds in the middle of the night, but they are also traumas. These traumas stick to the now adult Craine children. The eldest, Steve, is so adamant in his refusal of the supernatural, he uses the family horrors as a stimulus for his best selling ‘fictional’ novel. Shirly rather darkly rationalises death in a literal manner by training as a mortician and opening a funeral home. Theodora who is incredibly ‘sensitive’ to other people’s emotions gets a Ph.D. and becomes a child psychologist. Then finally the twins, Nelly and Luke, who are the youngest of the Craine clan, fall into the depths of addiction and mental illness. Speaking simply, the show retells the children living in a haunted house and then as adults suffering from the repercussions. 

I found myself unbelievably invested in the characters by the final few episodes. As I became more invested, the possibility that the fates of these characters may still tragically fall apart (in classic, gory, horror movie style) grew more and more horrific. Additionally, this show used one of the eeriest devices I have ever seen, one which becomes more creepy when you go back and rewatch the show. If you look closely in the dark corners, mirrors and door cracks throughout the show you will notice LITERAL GHOSTS (even in the welcoming, daylight scenes, take a look here, https://www.buzzfeed.com/jennaguillaume/haunting-hill-house-hidden-ghosts) The director quoted that there are more than 12 secret ghosts in every episode, Making it the best thing to binge until 3am all alone in bed.

Is there happiness in Hygge?

Hygge is a term which has begun to permeate the British and American vocabulary in recent years. Google clearly translates the word to English as ‘fun’, however many Danes would argue this to be inaccurate. The true meaning of the term cannot be reduced so simply.

Hygge originates from a Norwegian word meaning ‘well being’ appearing within the Danish vocabulary around 1800. Despite the minor linguistic barrier, the sensation is one we can all relate to; The successful blog HyggeHouse defines it as ‘Hygge (pronounced hue-guh not hoo-gah) is a Danish word used when acknowledging a feeling or moment, whether alone or with friends, at home or out, ordinary or extraordinary as cosy, charming or special.’ The popularity of the blog is indicative of the global rise of Hygge in recent years, cosy coffee shops and pinterest worthy bedroom nooks are a recurring images subliminally pushed upon us in day to day media. From my personal dappled understanding of Hygge, coziness seems to be the central idea for understanding the unique atmosphere. In Meik Wiking’s top selling book ‘The Little Book of Hygge: The Danish way to live well’ he uses an anecdotal memory to encapsulate it;

‘We were all tired after hiking and were half asleep, sitting in a semi-circle around the fireplace in the cabin, wearing big jumpers and woolen socks. The only sounds you could hear were the stew boiling, the sparks from the fireplace and someone having a sip of their mulled wine. Then one of my friends broke the silence. ‘Could this be any more hygge?’ he asked rhetorically. ‘Yes,’ one of the girls said after a moment. ‘If there was a storm raging outside.’ We all nodded.’

Undeniably this sounds lovely, yet I cannot help but wonder if the authenticity was misplaced during Hygge’s cross country passage to our dreary isles. Lights, warmth and comfort food. Are these the elements which make the sum of Hygge? Objects such as candles and blankets can be easily bought at any homeware store and we can google recipes for Danish baked goods. Nevertheless I find it hard to subscribe to the idea that such simple material additions can equate to the sum of the hygge feeling, let alone be powerful enough to drastically change somebody’s life.

Yet the evidence suggests it’s worth trying; Danish people are believed to be some of the happiest people on the planet. In addition to the strong welfare state, emphasis on respect and equal rights within the community, Wiking believes that Hygge may also be the reason for the countries general happiness. It is suggested that hygge feeds into the positive attitude of the liberal society. The World Happiness Report of 2018 outlines that ‘All the top countries tend to have high values for all six of the key variables that have been found to support well-being: income, healthy life expectancy, social support, freedom, trust and generosity.’ Although ranking a respectable nineteenth on the survey, we trailed far behind many other northern european countries such as Finland, Norway, Iceland and the Netherlands who all placed within the top ten positions. This leaves us wondering why our neighbours have seemingly cracked the code.

Unsurprisingly, the outlined aspects of happiness correlate closely with the attitudes of Hygge. Wiking’s ‘Hygge Manifesto’ is grounded in the ten points: Atmosphere, Presence, Pleasure, Equality, Gratitude, Harmony, Comfort, Truce, Togetherness and Shelter. In reading a variety of sources, it is clear that focusing on these authentic experiences and avoiding commercialised gimmicks is the most effective way to capture the danish lifestyle. Returning once again to Hygge House, The blog’s author Alex pulls away the perpetuated facade that you can buy into the hygge experience, and I believe summerses the core of the illusive Hygge.

‘It’s not a thing and anyone telling you different either doesn’t understand it or is literally trying to sell you something that has nothing to do with the concept. You can’t buy a ‘hygge living room’ and there are no ‘hygge foods’ to eat.

It literally only requires consciousness, a certain slowness, and the ability to not just be present – but recognize and enjoy the present. That’s why so many people distill ‘hygge’ down to being a ‘feeling’ – because if you don’t feel hygge, you probably aren’t using the word right.’

- Publication taken from QMSU’s newspaper The Print 

This summer I have *tried* to be organised about the looming shadow of the dreaded dissertation. It’s been a good few months and I still don’t really know what I’m doing.

I do know that it will be gay. I really liked my Queering Utopia module and I accept that it’s also probably due to some deep-seated narcissism. Anyway, with this drive behind me I checked out four books from the library: Hotel World by Ali Smith, Girl Meets Boy also by Ali Smith, Carol by Highsmith and Orange’s are not the only fruit by Jeanette Winterson. 

I engulfed the latter in the space of a few hours. In the wake of Desiree Akhavan’s new film ‘The Miseducation of Cameron Post’, religiously enforced sexuality conversion seemed like an interesting place to start. 

Oh my, this book is bleak. 

Exorcisms, disownment, radical religion and the backdrop of Northern England in the 60′s. If you haven’t heard of the story, it follows a young girl named Jeanette and how the Pentecostal church and her overpowering mother influenced her upbringing. She is homeschooled and denied the typical interactions with other children and adults outside of her church bubble. 

Personally, I believe to dub this a ‘lesbian love novel’ would be wrong and simplistic. If anything I think that this semi-biographical novel comments more specifically on religious love and devotion than queerness: How religion and power interact through the disguise of love. The tension between Jeanette and her mother builds gradually as the readers are slowly exposed to the extremities of her mother’s devotion. Aged seven, another church go-er highlights Jeanette’s difficulty in communicating and responding in conversation suggesting it may be linked to her hearing. Her mother outwardly dismisses this query, arguing that Jeanette was in a constant state of rapture caused by her faith. Jeanette is taken into medical care and it is confirmed that she is in fact deaf. This is an example of the small incidents of abuse the protagonist is subjected too throughout her life. Her sexual identity is only the catalyst that triggers her mother’s total rejection of her. 

However, I struggled with the last sections of the novel. The story turns to fables in order to explore Jeanette’s situation. The myth of Sir Perceval is recalled, hinting towards a homoerotic undercurrent between his relationship with King Arthur. The tale also foreshadows some of the struggles the protagonist has left to face. Personally, I dislike it when fiction adopts this ‘story-time’ style. Symbolism in these cautionary tales falls short and feel ineffective and cliche. 

Nevertheless, it’s a classic which I don’t regret taking the time to read. It tackles difficult themes and causes the reader to re-evaluate their own belief system. Watching the protagonist age and gain autonomy over her fate creates a satisfying ending which carries weight considering this is directly influenced by the author’s lived experiences. 

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