LEIGHTON PARK’S STUDENT LED NEWSPAPER
I S S U E
Featured articles: •
Lucid dream ing
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Fudge in Five Simple Steps
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TS Elliot prize shortl ist review
Inside this issue: Revision Tips: Our Christmas Gift To You
The Acorn
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Recently 3 Read Recommendations
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The Discussion - By Maiya Singh
Reading Festival Is Rubbish The MERL’s (the local museum group made of Reading Museum and the Museum of English rural life) new exhibition on reading festival took place on the 25th of November and showcased the impact of Reading Festival on the environment and wildlife. Set up by the Youth panel, this exhibition showcased the numerous examples of waste left by artists, teenagers and families. The display consisted of numerous items left behind after the Reading festival. This included a tent and a brand new unworn dress (£80), When mentioning ‘Reading festival’ to someone, many will immediately think of the waste left behind by music enthusiasts but the reality is that there's another kind of rubbish that has a long history in the music industry: the waste left behind from music
artists. Despite many fans spending thousands on their favourite artist memorabilia, the amount of guitar pics, drumsticks and used towels left behind from the multitude of bands (specifically Youngblood) was an unexpected sight. Tents are still a leading problem in the aftermath of the Reading festival, but the amount of unused waste is massively overlooked. From unopened beer cans, to full packets of cookies and fake Doc martens to unused dresses the amount of waste that is brand new is a massive issue. A charity organisation WADRA collects rubbish left after the festival and either donates items to the correct places or deals with them in the appropriate manner. When interviewing volunteers, they mentioned an entire campsite left by a family including; children's toys, camping chairs,
From Smash 5 Hits to the Classics
Merry Christmas from The Acorn
All About Alzheimer's
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After a long autumn term, we’ve made it to the most magical time of the year...Christmas!
Puzzles Corner
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Have a wonderful holiday and from everyone at The Acorn, we hope that you have a very merry Christmas! We can’t wait to see you in January for a smashing start to 2024.
tents, a cooler filled with unopened beer cans and many other unused packets of food and drinks. The amount of waste collected has decreased in terms of tents and newer items, but the amount of food waste seems to have increased. WADRA offers free Reading festival tickets to volunteers.
Currently, the Reading council is working to reduce carbon and plastic. They plan to do this by using biofuel, battery powered generators, green electricity from the grid, only using paper cups, water served in cans and all plastic bottles are made from recycled plastic. You can also help to reduce waste left by using the bins and recycling points provided to grab a bag and fill it up to win prizes, just make sure you don't leave any rubbish!
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Awesome Academia - By Charlotte Parker
Revision Tips: Our Christmas Gift To You
Revision can be tricky, but Jenny Powesland has some super handy hacks.
We all know that when it comes to revision it can be hard to get going, so I thought it would be great to get some good tips to help you revise for your next test. I spoke to Jenny Powesland to gain some wisdom. The Golden Rule You need to be ACTIVE for revision to super-glue information into your short-term and long-term memory. Therefore make sure you're DOING something when you revise - answering questions, making mind-maps or notes, colour coding. Just browsing, reading or even reading and
highlighting is not effective. How to bust procrastination 1. Put your phone in another room. 2. Break things up into chunks. 3. Set yourself achievable goals. For example: "I am going to finish revising Topic X in the next 20 minutes" and then take a 5 minute break. After your second 20minute chunk, allow yourself a 'reward', such as a custard cream, 5 minutes on your phone or whatever works for you!
How to hack your memory Spaced retrieval practice is the most powerful tool. Learn 5-10 things, test yourself the next day, test yourself again 3 days later and continue for a week, month or until the test. Can revision be fun? Revising with a friend and asking each other questions is actually a great evidencebacked method of revision, so revise in groups if you agree to stay focused. Recording songs and videos, and sharing them with others, to help yourself remember key information also works really well.
Cocurricular Spotlight - By Millie Easton
Hobby Lobby The new term comes with choosing co-curricular activities. Here are some of the co-curriculars you might not know about and want to join.
Whatever your passions there is a hobby for you!
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Drone club A new addition to the cocurricular program from last term, to design, build and fly drones you make. At the end, you will finish with a drone fully made by you. For years 9, 10, 11, L6th and U6th. From 4:305:30pm on Monday. (Paid club) Pickleball Many are interested in playing pickleball in games so how about after school too? If you can’t do pickleball in games and want to, or if you just want more practice this is a great choice. “The best way I could describe it is a mix of badminton, tennis and table tennis” said Finn Walker. For years 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, L6th and U6th. From 4:30-5:30pm on Wednesday.
Jazz As lots of people are interested in music, practising in a group is a great . There are chances for improvisation and also playing music within a band, letting people meet others that are interested in the same type of music. For Years 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, L6th and U6th. All year groups have a jazz club at lunchtime. LP Winds Another way to play music in school for woodwind instruments including flute, oboe, clarinet, saxophone and bassoon. For years 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, L6th and U6th. from 1:30-2:10pm on Friday. Alter Eco For anyone who wants to help the environment at Leighton Park, this club is amazing to help us reduce carbon emissions and stop climate change. For years 7,8, 9, 10, 11, L6th and U6th. From 4:30-5:30pm on Wednesday.
Stressless art For any Fryer artist, stressless art is a time just to grab some paper and draw your feelings away in a second. For Years 7 and 8, from 4:30-5:30pm on Monday. Quercus Theatre Many LP students are interested in drama and performing in front of people. Quercus theatre creates a play throughout the term, and this term it is ‘Alice In Wonderland’. “Quercus theatre is very inclusive and a place to be your inner self” said Maisie Mole. For Years 7, 8 and 9. From 4:30-5:30pm on Monday and Thursday. School Newspaper And finally, School Newspaper, AKA The Acorn. This is a great coco for any year group, and anyone who wants to report or write for a newspaper. Each new edition comes out before the half term. For years 7,8, 9, 10, 11, L6th and U6th. From 4:30-5:30pm on Thursday.
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Recently Read Recommendations - By Max Cartmill and Livi Randall
TITLE Demon Copperhead - By Barbara Kingsolver (recommended for Year 10 and up)
Appalachia (a region in the Eastern United States) is her current and home territory, meaning she can explore social and political issues regarding a rural upbringing in detail throughout the story.
Although the length of this novel may seem intimidating, the pace will ensure engagement throughout and a relatively quick read. Winner of the 2023 Women's Prize for Fiction, Demon Copperhead tells the brutal and eye-opening tale of Damon Fields, a boy born into a life of poverty and abuse in Lee County, Virginia, during the 90s and early 2000s. Through the compelling story of Damon’s childhood and struggle with substance abuse, Kingsolver takes on a modern re-imagining of Dickens’ David Copperfield, a classic bildungsroman of the 1800s.
From the writing of this book, Barbara Kingsolver achieves a detailed perspective and criticism of both the foster care system and the opioid epidemic America faces as a result of synthetic opioids being prescribed to patients suffering pain-related issues, an issue which started during the time period of the novel: the mid 90s.* I would recommend this book to anyone eager to find something to read, however, the issues discussed throughout are not suitable for younger readers.
and present-day England with gripping conviction. The Booker Prize shortlisted novel is as much about human connection as the historical background that it rests against, and with a unique voice, McEwan creates a symphony of love, war, childhood and the need for atonement. Beginning in the dry heat of summer in rural England, 13 year old Briony Tallis, driven by naivety, boredom and a precocious imagination, commits a crime that will shatter the lives of everyone around her. With exceptional prose and compelling style, McEwan guides the reader through the proceeding decades, into Briony’s adult life and out to the smoking battlefields of France.
Atonement completely changed my outlook on historical contemporary fiction; the style is so comAtonement pelling that the characters and Ian McEwan themes sat with me far beyond (recommended the end of the novel. Perfect for for Year 10 and fans of Kazuo Ishiguro’s ‘Never Let up) Me Go’ and Sylvia Plath’s ‘The Bell Jar’, I would recommend AtoneSet across three ment to everyone if I could! time periods, Atonement *”What led to the opioid crisis-and how traverses 1930s to fix it” - Howard Koh - Harvard England, wartime Europe
The majority of the novel is focused on Damon’s childhood, as he struggles living with a drug-using teenage mother in a trailer, before his journey through the foster care system. The setting in particular is of personal value to Kingsolver, as
Seasonal Celebrations - By Ella Lake
Three Cheers for the Holidays Spirits are in the air as the colourful and festive season approaches. Students are lucky enough to have a few weeks of holiday off, but filling in the time on either side of the holiday can be difficult. Lucky for you, we have a list of and enjoyable projects for you and your loved ones to join in with. Wreath making What is better than sitting around a table in the cosy warmth and making a wreath for your own front door? All you need is a simple wreath frame,
plants and moss from your garden or local park. Many would recommend collecting holly or dried fruit to give a more immersive feel for the holiday. Christmas and New Years Karaoke It's the most wonderful time of the year to blast a Mariah Carey song with your family and friends! Karaoke can be perfect for a pre-Christmas day build up. Not only is it fun to sing with loved ones but it lets you take the chance to show off your undiscovered talent with the mic.
Make a streetwide Advent Calendar Why do it alone when you can celebrate with your neighbours! Set up a Christmas calendar across your road in the windows of your’s and others’ homes. Decide on the days and one by one watch a new homemade display appear on a neighbouring window. Get as creative as you want and show what Christmas means to you through your depiction of the calendar.
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The Discussion - By Isla Walker
Who Are the Conservative Party? We all must have heard of the Conservative Party, either on the news or just in a conversation, but do you really know who they are?
The Conservative Party was formed in 1834
The Conservative Party (officially The Conservative and Unionist Party or also known colloquially as the Tories) is one of the two main political parties in the UK along with Labour . It is the current governing party, having won the 2019 general election and has been the primary governing body in the UK since 2010. The party
currently has 354 MPs, 260 members in the House of Lords, 9 members of the London Assembly, 31 members from the Scottish Parliament, 16 from the Welsh Parliament, 4 directly elected mayors, 30 police and crime commissioners and around 5647 local counsellors. The Conservatives faced a mountain of challenges in the past four years with two Covid lockdowns, internal discourse and an economic crisis. Many have seen the results of these events as their reasoning behind sup-
porting or leaving the Conservatives. The current leader of the party, Rishi Sunak, seeks to take them to leadership again in the upcoming election season along with his current team that includes most prominently: James Cleverly (Home Secretary), David Cameron (Foreign Secretary) and Jeremy Hunt (Chancellor). Next time: Who are The Labour Party?
The Discussion - By Fin Walker
Israel-Gaza war: A background for violence The Israel-Gaza war has been in the headlines for months, with new developments being made every day. Yet, what the news does not exactly tell us is the background. Why do Israel and Palestine have a deepseated anger towards one another?
The Israel-Gaza conflict has affected thousands of civilians.
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Nearly 100 years ago, after World War 1 and the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, the nation of Palestine became a British colony. Palestine at the time had a minority Jewish population ranging at around 3.2% while 85.5% were Muslim. However, the number of Jews began to rise; migrating from other countries and with it, rising ethnic tensions. This grew to such a large scale, it became an international dispute. The demand for a separate “national home” for the Jews became louder and louder in the British territory, stem-
ming from previous support for British Jews being expressed by the League of Nations in 1917. By League mandates, Britain had to comply but more importantly, the chosen region for the Jews was their ancestral land: Jerusalem. To the Arabs in Palestine, this was blasphemy and justification for hostility to the Jews. 1947, post-World War 2, an influx of Jewish refugees fleeing the Nazis hits Palestine. Hate crimes only increase as both sides escalate their fighting. The newly formed United Nations demanded Palestine be split into separate nations, with Jerusalem becoming an international city. This plan was agreed upon by the Jews but rejected by the Arabs, so it was scrapped, yet resentment continued to escalate. To put an end to the fighting,
Britain decided to cease military action in Palestine and appoint the new nation of Israel from Palestinian territory. Hundreds of Palestinians were forcibly evicted from Israel in an event referred to as Al Nakba, “The Catastrophe”. Neighbouring Jordan occupied land which became known as the West Bank, and Egypt occupied Gaza. Jerusalem was divided between Israeli forces in the West, and Jordanian forces in the East. Because there was never a peace agreement there were more wars and fighting in the following decades. The occupation of Jerusalem fully occurred in 1967, cementing a deep hatred in the Palestinians being forcibly removed from their homes. So a great hatred between the two nations began and continues to this day.
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Reviews Segment - By Dillon Sondhi and Hailey Tang
From Smash Hits to the Classics Scott Pilgrim Takes Off Animated series Based on the comic series by Brian O’Malley, Scott Pilgrim Takes Off is an animated series about titular 23 year old Scott Pilgrim, a bass playing freeloader. He meets Ramona Flowers, and the two start a romantic relationship, however, Scott must defeat all 7 of Ramona’s evil exes in order for them to date. There has already been a previous adaptation of O’Malley’s series, 2010 film ‘Scott Pilgrim VS The World’ directed by Edgar Wright was a commercial flop at the time, but has since then become a niche classic. There have been many criticisms of the animated series, one of the main criticisms being that the animated series does not follow the source material. The source material contains many pop culture references, being a key component of the wit and charm of the original comic series. Whilst the new series has such, it is not as cleverly incorporated as the source material, providing points for criticism and comparison. The plot may seem bleak in comparison to the source material, but the same cannot be said for the vibrant
art style present in the animated show.
name, the narrative follows Lucy Grey Bird (played by Rachel Ziegler) as district 12’s tribute for the Animated by Japanese studio 10th annual hunger games. The ‘Science Saru’, the show boasts movie is set 64 years before the well-calculated fight scenes and events of the first hunger games a pop art style that resembles movie. This of course means that the original fluorescent brightpopular characters such as Katness of the O’Malley comic book niss, Peeta and Haymitch are not covers. The original art style by present in the story, however the O’Malley is echoed in the animat- movie does feature an 18-year-old ed series, with the characters President Snow (played by Tom bearing extreme similarities to Blyth) as the mentor of Lucy Grey how O’Malley has illustrated Bird. In contrast to the original them. Hunger Games trilogy, this prequel features Snow as an ally to Overall, Scott Pilgrim Takes Off is our main character rather than an a good watch if you’re into lookantagonist. ing out for good art styles and vibrant colour schemes. It is a The movie also features popular brilliant example of high standactors and actresses such as Viola ard animation, and is up there as Davis as Dr Volumina Gaul and one of the best stylistic shows of Peter Dinklage as Casca Highbotthe year. However, longtime fans tom. As well as the star-studded of the series may be disappointcast, the new movie will be died with the lacklustre plot, as it is rected by Frances Lawrence, who confusing and quite hard to folpreviously directed the 2nd to 4th low even for fans who have an Hunger Games movies. understanding of the original series. The movie was recently released to cinemas on the 17th of NovemHunger ber, 2023 and it quickly topped the Games: The box office during its opening Ballad of weekend, making $98.5 million Songbirds and worldwide. The movie continues Snakes to be successful, pulling people Recently refrom all over the world into their leased film local cinemas to see the latest entry in the franchise. Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is the highly-anticipated prequel to the critically acclaimed dystopian action trilogy. Based on the book of the same
Christmas Recipe: Fudge in Just 5 Simple Steps Christmas gifts can take a lot of thought and preparation (as well as money) but baking is a smart and simple way to solve all your gift-giving issues. These fudge bites are the perfect sweet treat gift for practically anyone! Ingredients 397g Condensed milk 150ml Milk 450g Demerara sugar 115g Butter (you’ll also need a 20cm square tin lined with parchment paper)
1. Place the ingredients in a large non-stick saucepan and melt over a low heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves 2. Bring to a steady boil for 10-15 minutes (or until it reaches 113-115 degrees celsius), stirring constantly and scraping the base and sides of the pan to prevent it from catching (be incredibly careful in this step, it's the hardest to get right!) 3. Remove from heat and leave to cool for around five minutes If you'd like to add any flavouring, like vanilla extract, add it now
4. Beat the mixture until it loses its shine (about 5-10 minutes). The longer you beat it, the thicker and more crumbly the final fudge would be 5. Chill the fudge We hope you enjoy your delicious Christmas Fudge. Feel free to get in touch with a picture of your creation, and you may be featured in our next edition!
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Reviews Segment - By Leander Bartsch
TS Elliot prize shortlist review
The books that have been shortlisted for the prestigious poetry prize
"More Sky" by Joe CarrickVarty is a debut poetry collection that explores the impact of addiction, domestic violence, and trauma on a person's life. It is divided into two parts. The first part consists of discrete poems in various forms, while the second part is a single poem titled 'sky doc,' divided into sixty-four eight-line poems. 'sky doc' explores childhood events, layered with an adult's understanding of inherited trauma. The repetitive nature of the poem reflects the difficulty of escaping trauma, as it intersects with multiple time spheres— the past, the present, and the eternal present. "More Sky" is not just about trauma but also about the enduring father-son bond, portraying the complexity of love. The collection, according to reviews, captures the relation-
ship between identity and time, offering glimpses of the possibility of something outside time through the enduring love between father and son. "Standing in the Forest of Being Alive" by Katie Farris is a poetry collection that delves into the complexities of diagnosis and treatment for breast cancer at the age of thirty-six. The poems are set against the backdrop of a time marked by a pandemic and political upheaval. It is comical and strikingly honest, aiming to capture the paradox of finding moments of joy and beauty within the midst of adversity. It is ‘a memoir in poems’, written to allow for a full range of emotions. "Balladz" by Sharon Olds is a poetry collection that re-
flects on various aspects of life, ranging from intimate moments to the contemplation of mortality. Sharon Olds continues to maintain her distinct voice and explores new dimensions in this collection. Despite her long writing career, Olds expresses a sense of her own privilege and an extended empathy for the suffering of others. The collection includes a section titled "Amherst Balladz," which pays homage to the poet Emily Dickinson. Olds attempts to write in Dickinson's style, creating a poem in homage to the famous poet. However, Olds injects her own modern touch with the use of "z" in "Balladz." The risk is admirable, and effective. Continued on page 8
Medical Musings - By Saarvi Sarawagi
Lucid Dreaming
Teenagers need around 8 hours of sleep per night
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Dreams: what are they? The Oxford Dictionary defines dreams as ‘a sequence of ideas, pictures, and feelings that pass through a person's head while they are asleep.’ Psychologists have always been captivated by the idea of dreaming. There are several explanations, but they are still being contested. One scientific explanation is the rapid eye movement, or REM, that takes place during sleep. Perceived dreams can occasionally be influenced by one's desires, the final thought before bed, or the way one's day went. Dreams provide a resolution for those who go to sleep with unsettling thoughts. However, there are different types of dreams that occur throughout the night. One of the types that has researchers puzzled is lucid dreaming. People who experience lucid dreaming become aware that they are dreaming and have the ability to "change"
their dreams. For instance, individuals may wish to live out their wildest dreams that are unattainable in the actual world. Researchers think that activation in the brain's prefrontal cortex is what causes lucid dreaming. To investigate lucid dreaming further, researchers can detect eye movements and activity in a specific region of the brain using different equipment when the participants are sleeping. When in a lucid dream, the activity in the prefrontal cortex (working memory, reasoning, and planning) is the same amount as there is when someone is awake. That could be a reason why one might gain consciousness. Normal dreams can occur at any point of time during the sleep cycle. However, according to Keith Hearne, lucid dreams specifically occur during REM. There are many techniques
which can be used to induce lucid dreams. Using the Mnemonic Induction of Lucid Dreams approach, participants must be able to distinguish between dreaming and waking states. Every five hours, they are woken up from sleep and informed that they should be aware that they are dreaming. (MILD). Another method that is comparable to the previous one is Wake Back To Bed, which requires them to wake up in the middle of the night (WBTD). Remembering your dreams should be your initial step if those tactics appear too strenuous. A dream journal could be kept in order to do so. Make sure that you are more aware of your surroundings. Do some reality checks when awake and in the dreams which will help keep the brain active and differentiate between reality and imagination. Continued on page 8
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Medical Musings - By Tanvi Garha and Lilia Abassi
All About Alzheimer's Disease Perhaps you have acquired a first hand experience of the debilitating effects of AD through witnessing a close family member or friend deteriorate? With 1 in every 79 people in the UK living with AD, we look into the complexity of this neurodegenerative disorder. As a result of the highly complex nature of this disease, scientists continue to unravel the intricacy of the brain changes involved in Alzheimer’s. Scientists have discovered that changes in the brain may begin a decade or more before symptoms appear. During the very early stage of Alzheimer’s, toxic changes are taking place in the brain, including abnormal buildups of proteins. The damage initially appears to take place in the hippocampus and the entorhinal cortex, which are parts of the brain that are essential in forming memories. As more neurons die, additional parts of the brain are affected and begin to shrink. By the final stage of Alzheimer’s, damage is widespread and brain tissue has shrunk significantly. The symptoms of Alzheimer disease progress slowly over several years, which makes it hard to diagnose. These symptoms also often get confused with other symptoms related to old age. On top of that, the progression rate of symptoms
varies between individuals. Other health conditions such as infections, strokes or delirium can affect the range of symptoms for worse. There are 3 different stages of symptoms of Alzheimer disease. The first stage includes the early symptoms. In this stage, the main symptom is memory lapses. Patients often forget recent conversations and events. They also may misplace items or forget the names of places and objects. Other signs often include mood changes, such as periods of confusion or just general increased anxiety. Although the sole cause that triggers AD remains unknown, a myriad factors are known to increase the risk of developing the condition. The most significant factor is age. The likelihood of developing Alzheimer's disease increases by a whopping 2 x every 5 years after you reach 65. Scientists are learning how agerelated changes in the brain may contribute to Alzheimer’s damage, include atrophy (shrinking) of certain parts of the brain, inflammation, blood vessel damage, production of unstable molecules called free radicals, and mitochondrial dysfunction (a breakdown of energy production within a cell). As their condition progresses, a person with dementia may start to behave in ways that are challenging and distressing, both for themselves and those around
Game Recommendation:
Big Ambitions
Big Ambitions is a game where you can do (almost) anything. The game hasn't been fully released yet but promises to be great. You can start a business, a gift shop, a cafe, a fast food shop...The possibilities are almost endless. You can invest in real estate or buy a car and drive around the wholesalers looking for the best deal. https://store.steampowered.com/ app/1331550/Big_Ambitions/ By Thomas Battye
them. For example, a person with dementia may become restless or agitated; shout out or scream; become suspicious of others and follow someone around; ask the same question repeatedly. These out of character traits can occur because the person has a need that isn't being met and they cannot communicate it. Relationships often change when someone has dementia. People with dementia can easily become isolated or avoided by those around them. They may lose contact with friends and family, who may not know how to react to them. You can help by remembering they are still the person and friend you may have known for a long time and including them in group conversations; asking them their opinion and not assuming you know what they want; being sensitive, for example, understanding and supporting their approach to living with the condition; Supporting them to continue to enjoy their hobbies and interests as much as possible. What do Alzheimer’s sufferers suggest? Here are some quotes from individuals who have had AD: “I’m still the same person I was before my diagnosis.” “Don’t pull away. It’s OK if you don’t know what to do or say. Your friendship and support are important to me.”
Christmas Recipe: Chocolate chip S’more cookies: Ingredients
1 cup all-purpose flour ½ a teaspoon baking soda A pinch of salt ½ tablespoons unsalted butter ½ granulated sugar ½ brown sugar 1 egg ¾ cup of chocolate chips Marshmallows Method Put the oven on 190 degrees celsius
gether Add the brown sugar until creamy and combined (about 30 seconds)
Then add the egg Now add the dry ingredients Add the chocolate chips Roll the dough into separate balls, press lightly on them when placed on the baking sheets, make sure they are evenly spread out and then place a marshmallow on top
Whisk all the dry ingredients
Scoop out another piece of dough and place on top of the marshmallow, covering them completely
In a separate large bowl, add the butter and the granulated sugar and whisk to-
Refrigerate the cookies for half an hour, then place in the oven for 11-13 minutes.
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Reviews Segment - By Leander Bartsch
TS Elliot prize shortlist review
Continued from page 6
"Self-Portrait as Othello" by Jason Allen-Paisant is a poetry collection that engages with the character of Othello, placing him in the contemporary urban landscapes of London, Paris, and Venice. The poems envision the kinds of narratives Othello might tell about his intersecting identities, an "immigrant" and "Black,” in the modern world. The collection is described as a poetic memoir and ekphrastic experiment. It is innovative, and demonstrates the enduring impact of Othello’s character.
themes of intimacy, failure, and the challenges of language and connection. The poems explore the spaces between vertigo and hyperextension. Rather than directly addressing what intimacy is or looks like, the poems delve into the failures of language, the lack of meaningful or mutual connection, and the limitations of analytic approaches to understanding human relationships. Abigail Parry's language is described as ambitious, with the collection featuring sound effects and playful elements.
"School of Instructions" by Ishion Hutchinson is a poetry collection that focuses on the experience of West Indian volunteer soldiers serving in British regiments during the First World War. The collection also weaves narratives of the soldiers with the story of Godspeed, a young schoolboy living in rural Jamaica during the 1990s. The collection is described as a visionary collision, utilizing a form coined: "contrapuntal versets", to unsettle time and events. The poems aim to reshape grand gestures of heroism in an elegiac and odic way, addressing the legacy of imperial silencing.
"A Change in the Air" by Jane Clarke is a poetry collection that explores contemporary and historic rural life in Ireland. The poems delve into the crafts, traditions, and landscapes that shape the identity of individuals and communities. A wide range of themes is covered, including accounts of queer love in a changing Ireland. It is moving and true, with each word described as being chosen meticulously.
"I Think We're Alone Now" by Abigail Parry is a poetry collection that explores
"The Map of the World" by Eiléan Ní Chuilleanáin is a poetry collection that delves into the ways one might confront misfortune, disaster, and the weight of history. The poems are characterized by Ní Chuilleanáin's trademark style of presenting
tales that are half-told or hinted at, a quality for which her poetry is widely admired. The poems within the collection cover a range of themes, and already celebrated pieces like 'St Brigid’s Well' and 'Muriel Gifford After Her Fever' are included. These wellknown poems are woven together with lines inspired by the works of poets like Milton and Marvell, as well as artists Nano Reid and Helen Moloney. Eiléan Ní Chuilleanáin's poetry is described as coruscating, distinct, and unlike any other. "The Ink Cloud Reader" by Kit Fan is a poetry collection that explores themes of mortality, illness, and the chaos of the contemporary world, particularly in the context of Hong Kong. The poems take significant linguistic, formal, and visual risks to engage with the news of a sudden illness and the threat of mortality, set against the broader backdrop of a tumultuous Hong Kong and the challenges faced by the planet. The collection is noted for its boldness and maturity, with Kit Fan using metaphors of reading and writing to explore the fundamental themes. The language is lucid and elegant, and Fan's virtuosity in form is highlighted, as no two poems in the collection look the same.
Medical Musings - By Saarvi Sarawagi
Lucid Dreaming Continued from page 6 According to research, lucid dreaming has both positive and negative implications. Therefore, people should try these techniques at their own risk. Some benefits include overcoming a nightmare which is usually related to PTSD, anxiety, stress, sleep
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disturbance, medication, etc. They also help to improve motor skills and boost creativity skills. Lucid dreaming can have negative implications on someone’s mental health as well in the long term as it might disrupt their sleep due to higher activity levels. The
disruption could influence emotions throughout the day. It might even lead to having a blurred line between reality and fantasy. Lucid dreaming is an interesting phenomenon that still requires a lot more research to find the cause of it.
By George Verry and Thomas Battye.
Feel like testing your brain? Want to get your mind in a muddle? Welcome to Leighton Park’s very own…