So Little Time: The Lit-Lover's Guide to VCE English

Hands-down one of the most beautiful and lusciously written books we've ever read, this Pulitzer Prize-Winner had us from page one. We deconstruct whether Nazi soldiers are deserving of forgiveness, debate the meaning of 'entropy'  and admit our long-suppressed desire to be old, sassy and French in the 1940s. Hopefully this episode helps you to  'see the light' on how incredible this text really is. 

In light of the horrifying and utterly unacceptable displays of police brutality and white supremacy we have seen over the past week, this episode is a little bit different. We are departing from the VCE syllabus for an exploration of Maya Angelou's 'Caged Bird' which, in our opinion, really encapsulates the division that white privilege and historic oppression create in our society. Black Lives Matter and literature is one of the greatest means we have of understanding the experiences of those who are suffering injustice right now. If you aren't listing to this one on the run, we'd highly recommend you google the poem and read along with us. 

In light of recent and absolutely unacceptable displays of police brutality and white supremacy in the US and Australia, this week's episode diverts from the VCE curriculum a little bit to give air-time to Dr Maya Angelou's The Caged Bird. This poem really encapsulates the division that white privilege and the legacy of discrimination create in our society while reminding us that the narrative is far from resolved. If you're not listening to this while on the run, we highly recommend you google a copy and read along with us. Black Lives Matter and in our opinion, literature is one of the best tools we have for raising awareness and empathy so we can begin to break these injustices down. 

Sylvia Plath's Ariel, written just before her untimely death, is a collection of poetry like no other. Her works express the anger, wonder and struggle of being a female artist in a time when repression and dissatisfaction was the norm - and we love her for it. Dive into this incredible work with us as we deconstruct the language, history and intense emotion underpinning it. 

Follow us on Instagram @solittletime.podcast !! 

Bust out your bonnets and brush up your Collin Firth impersonations, because this episode deconstructs the Regency Period magical masterpiece that is Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice! Featuring insights from the incredible Jan Bailey, press play to learn about snobbery, country mansions and why Disney's Frozen is the Aldi version of Jane and Lizzy.  

This week's deep dive is into Alfred Hitchcock's suspenseful masterpiece Rear Window - featuring the first-hand VCE experience of the incredible Ben Harms plus lots of Grace Kelly fan-girling. This film makes not being able to leave the house sound a whole lot more exciting than we thought: maybe we''ll catch a murderer while self isolating too? 

Delve into Joan London's pandemic-themed masterpiece with us as we get overly emotional over polio survivors and war poetry. Yes, we know it feels all too real right now given the current situation. No, we will not let it ruin the book ok?