What I’m reading: Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

I give it: ****

This book turns out to be like marmite, you either love it: "A lush debut; Owens delivers her mystery wrapped in gorgeous, lyrical prose." Alexandra Fuller, author of Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight says. Or hate it: “Utter Claptrap” Elizia on Amazon reviews says.

The book follows Kya ‘Marsh Girl’ as she’s abandoned by her family members and eventually left alone as a child. A lot of the negative reviews I’ve read have suggested that this is “unrealistic.”

I would love to hear what those reviewers think of Harry Potter and what they think fiction is? This book is heartbreakingly beautiful, following Kya living off of nature, figuring out how to grow up alone, and the few people she lets in.

The language of the book takes a little while to get into reading. It’s dense poetic prose at times, which is the way the author, Delia Owens, writes. It took me longer to read the heavy description of nature and the world. This is worth taking the time to indulge yourself in. It does become easier to read. Owens is normally a non-fiction nature writer which is why I think she writes in this way. It’s a lovely switch up from the language used in other novels. This being Owens first fiction novel, I think she did an exceptional job and created something beautiful from non-fiction and weaving her fiction in between her deep knowledge of nature.

I loved it and hope this author decides to write more fiction. The book has recently been adapted into a film with Daisy Edgar-Jones from Normal People playing Kya. I’ll be keeping my eyes pealed for this one.

What I’m watching: To All the Boys: ‘Always and Forever’ on Netflix

I give it: ****

The third and final film of the series adaptation of Jenny Han’s books To all the Boys I’ve Loved Before. It was perfect timing for the Valentines weekend. This film will come as no surprise for those who have read the books, as we close the chapter on Lara Jean and Peter when they must decide where to go to university. Will they follow their heart or their brain?

This film makes a logical final chapter for this series, as all great high school romances must face the challenge of picking a university for location or the course. The trailer for this film gives the main plot away very quickly as we see Lara Jean isn’t accepted to Stanford. This throws a spanner in the works for her and Peter’s plan to go to college together. We follow Lara Jean’s dad fall in love and get engaged, and more fun antics with her sisters.

This film is a feel-good lockdown watch, full of colour and style, like its other series. If you haven’t already seen it, I highly recommend you go watch them all.

What I’m playing: Super Mario All Starts on the Nintendo Switch

I give it: ****

Nostalgia is what I wanted. Nostaligia is what I got!

Nintendo Switch have released all three Mario games from previous devices for the switch, including Super Mario 64, Mario Sunshine and Mario Galaxy. There is something comforting about playing these games again and being transported back to the 1990’s playing a Nintendo 64. My only criticism is that, for the price of the game, they haven’t been in anyway remastered. Some of the controls are a little fiddly on the switch. It could have been a nice feature to make some of the games multiplayer too, or for there to have been an online feature.

Rachel Hynds is a MA Creative Writing student at QUB

CULTURE - February's Culture Round-up