Deja interviews Renee, an ex-English major and current English Literature doctoral student. The two discuss discuss Renee's path into academia as a mature student, Toni Morrison, as well as the importance of keeping Black literature in the classroom. 

Books Mentioned:

• Scattered and Fugitive Things: How Black Collectors Created Archives and Remade History by Laura E. Helton

• Black Girlhood in the Nineteenth Century by Nazera Wright

In this episode, Deja discusses her entree into English graduate study, blurring the lines between literary criticism and book reviews, and the function of the book review in the 21st century.

Citations

• bell hooks, "The Oppositional Gaze" - https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/arts/english/currentstudents/postgraduate/masters/modules/femlit/bell_hooks.pdf

• "The End of the University and the Future of Criticism," Point Magazine's Substack. https://open.substack.com/pub/thepointmag/p/can-criticism-survive-inside-the?r=5hhw6c&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false

Blog: https://cityofdeja.com

Podcast Instagram: @diaryofanexengmajor

Bonus Episode [From the Archives]. Note: This episode was recorded in January 2024. In this bonus episode, Deja discusses the new age reader aesthetic and social media bookish influencers in the contemporary moment.

Citations

• ​Barry Pierce, “In the shallow world of BookTok, being ‘a reader’ is more important than actually reading.” https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/culture/article/booktok-tiktok-books-community

• ​Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett, “Reading is precious – which is why I’ve been giving away my books.” https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/jan/23/reading-is-precious-but-the-cult-of-book-ownership-can-be-smug-and-middle-class

My reviews of The Atlas Complex and HOFAS have since been published on my blog:

• ​House of Flame and Shadow by Sarah J. Maas: A Lengthy, Cheesy, Whirlwind (Review). http://cityofdeja.com/2024/08/01/house-of-flame-and-shadow-book-review/

• ​Book Review: The Atlas Complex by Olivie Blake. http://cityofdeja.com/2024/03/21/book-review-the-atlas-complex-by-olivie-blake/

Blog: https://cityofdeja.com

Deja interviews Adrienne, an ex-English and Writing double major and current English master's student at the University of British Columbia. The two discuss continuing English education in grad school, the value of studying literature, as well as the importance of being a life long learner.

Blog: ⁠cityofdeja.com

In this season 2 premiere, Deja discusses putting the humanities into practice and conducts a close reading of Taylor Swift lyrics from songs "the lakes" and "All Too Well (10 Minute Version). "

Citations

Blog: cityofdeja.com

Deja interviews ex-Creative Writing major Alyxandria Ang, a podcast host, online content creator, and mental health advocate. In this episode, the two discuss the power of storytelling, shifting career paths, the woes of bookish content creation, and more.

A is for Anxious: A Podcast Diary - https://open.spotify.com/show/0YNCdjhhnEGhLeVASWrW5v

Alyx's Instagram - @alyxandriaang

Alyx's YouTube Channel - https://youtube.com/@alyxandriaang

Deja interviews Ryley, an ex-Journalism major by way of an English department. The two discuss the the process of following your curiosity and creativity, the character building that’s yielded from studying the humanities, questionable BookTok recommendations, and more. 

Spors Girls Club Tiktok: @sportsgirlsclub

Podcast Instagram: ⁠@diaryofanexengmajor⁠

Blog: ⁠https://cityofdeja.com

Deja chats about her 2023 reading thus far, attempts to define the concept of "mood reading," and shares how it affects her reading habits.

Mid-Year Reading Check In Blog Post

Yellowface Book Review

Alone With You in the Ether Book Review

One for My Enemy Book Review

The Atlas Paradox Book Review

Any Way the Wind Blows Book Review

Podcast Instagram: ⁠@diaryofanexengmajor⁠

Deja interviews ex-English major and bookstagrammer Candace from the account @cecepointofview. The two discuss the life skills one can yield from being well read, literature as an art form, the special value of young adult books, and more. 

Candace's Bookstagram: @cecepointofview

Podcast Instagram: ⁠@diaryofanexengmajor⁠

Blog: ⁠https://cityofdeja.com