You don’t have to be a writer to keep a diary, but there is no doubt that most writers kept extensive diaries during their life times. Diary-keeping serves a number of functions, often unique to the individual. It is a way to record down the happenings of daily life, to express private feelings, to make a record of life as it unfolds.  It is clear that writing a diary can has huge benefits - a way to de-stress, to process big emotions, to bring meaning and understanding to the complexity of life. It can also be a great way to store away memories. Opening up and reading an old diary can be transportive - taking you back years or even...

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When it comes to children’s literature, you can’t beat the classics. Each generation gets a chance to explore the world of Narnia or experience seeing the world through Matilda or Jo March’s eyes. Even if you’re an adult reader, don’t discount the delight of returning to your old favourites - they are classics for a reason!   Read on for our top 5 classic children’s books….     The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett The Secret Garden’s young protagonist is sent away to live with her frosty uncle after the death of her family. Alone in a crumbling mansion in Yorkshire, she is told by a chambermaid of a secret garden, untouched since the death of her uncle’s wife....

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C.S. Lewis wrote one of the most beloved children’s stories of all time, The Chronicles of Narnia, the most famous of which is The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe. Seven fantastical stories full of magical forest creatures and pirates ships. But they were serious books too, dealing with subjects like death, loss and betrayal. They have been adapted into countless plays and films and his books are firmly fixed in the hearts of many young readers. “Narnia” is now synonymous with hidden, fantasy worlds full of wonder and magic. But Lewis was not just a children’s book writer. He also wrote adult books extensively on themes such as death, grief and religion. His interest in these subjects was no...

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