Oxford's oldest student newspaper

Independent since 1920

Books

A literary map of Oxford

Below is the perfect afternoon dawdle, chasing the ghosts of literary greats through the town.

Should we judge a book by its cover?

Maybe we need to start giving a chance to the books we wouldn't usually take a second glance at. 

Reinventing the epistolary novel

It looks like, then, the epistolary novel isn’t dying out completely—just reinventing itself.

Review: May We Be Forgiven by A.M Homes

Weird and wonderful. Heavy at times, strange throughout, but uplifting to the end. An incredible read.

The best books I read this summer

In a desperate attempt to extend the holiday, here are the best books I read this summer...

Book Recommendations from the Editors’ Desk

Read our book section editors' Michaelmas book recommendations: Rufus Jones on Daniel Keyes' Flowers for Algernon, Ananya Parakh on Henry Miller's Tropic of Cancer,...

Harry Potter as Therapy

'I am 25 years old, and I have reread the Harry Potter books 10 times, but in this review I want to introduce you to something truly special'

Faulkner’s As I Lay Dying: Tracing the Atmospheres of the 1918 Influenza Pandemic

'When the pandemic hit Ontario, William Faulkner was a cadet in the Canadian Royal Air Force. Writing home to his parents, he would bemoan the lengthiness of his base’s lockdown, and the protracted sense of time it engendered.'

Embracing the Echoes: The Significance and Allure of Literary Retellings

'The concept of reimagining an existing story is relatively new in the context of storytelling, emerging more prominently in recent years.'

For the Love of Libraries: The Taylorian

'Although its exterior may not be as striking as the RadCam, the Taylorian's interior is breathtaking and sure to leave a lasting impression on any visitor.'

She’s Glad Her Mom Died. And I understand why.

'In a sea of celebrity memoirs, I'm Glad My Mom Died stands out as one of the most poignant releases of 2022.'

Rabelais’s Gargantua: Formulating Free Will in the Twenty-First Century

"It can feel, at times, that various sources are all fighting to influence you. Not Rabelais."

Give a Book, Give a Smile!

"If it were up to me, I would make every day International Book Giving Day."

Dahl in the Dock; or, the publishing industry and its consequences 

"Modern editors aim to unanchor texts from their historical moorage."

Frankenstein and Me

"The important ethical issues and imaginative storytelling are more than enough to stimulate your mind in the middle of a dreary academic workload."

The Death and Resurrection of Z-Library

"Z-Library opened up doors for people who were barred by too many locked doors."

Of Libraries, With Love

"Here we are in a city of libraries, and it is never enough."

My Favourite Childhood Book: Anne of Green Gables

"Anne is such an iconic figure in children’s literature that I’m sure many relate to my enjoyment of her character"

On Russian History

"The concern with history as a way of understanding the past purveys much of this book."

Follow us