Navigating life as a singleton can be quite a challenge – for some, the fierce independence that comes with fully being in control of your narrative can be celebrated, while others will view it as a shortcoming, with the failure to attract a potential partner being considered a flaw, and something that should be immediately…
Author: The Postmodern Pelican
The Dead (1987)
“Falling in that lonely churchyard where Michael Furey lies buried. Falling faintly through the universe and faintly falling, like the descent of their last end, upon all the living, and the dead.” Despite being one of the most acclaimed and admired authors in the history of the English language, James Joyce has proven to be…
It’s Raining in the House (2024)
There comes a moment in everyone’s life when they suddenly realise that they are an independent person, perhaps not in terms of financially standing on their own, but rather that they are no longer entirely tethered to their parents and guardians when it comes to the decisions they make or how they choose to live…
The Summer Book (2025)
Something that no one tells you before experiencing the death of a loved one is that there aren’t any definitive guidelines on how to mourn. The act of processing a loss takes many different forms, and it’s impossible to pin it down to a single approach. This includes both the immediate aftermath and the lengthy…
Boys Go to Jupiter (2025)
Growing up is never easy – this seems to be a sentiment that we frequently discuss, which is likely a result of the coming-of-age story being one of the most common narrative structures, primarily because it is somewhat universal. Anyone who has reached adulthood will likely recognise the experience of navigating those wonder-fueled childhood years,…
The Outrun (2024)
Addiction is very difficult to achieve, and almost impossible to get rid of, a lesson that far too many people have learned the hard way. Whether a substance or some other kind of vice, the ability to shed one’s dependency on something that brings them some sense of physical and psychological comfort and euphoria is…
Where to Land (2025)
We all search for meaning. Regardless of who we are or where we come from, each one of us is consistently trying to make sense of our existence, whether we choose to verbalise it or not. Yet, despite some riveting works by philosophers, theologians and scientists alike, we are no closer to understanding the miracle…
Resurrection (2025)
How do you describe a work of art that was created for the specific purpose of avoiding any kind of categorisation or broad interpretation? Bi Gan is a genius and a menace, and has seemingly committed his entire artistic career to exploring the human condition in ways that are both incredibly invigorating and profoundly frustrating,…
Everybody’s Fine (1990)
The great polymath and intellectual Johann Wolfgang von Goethe once famously remarked “there are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children. One of these is roots, the other, wings.”, a statement that has lingered in the minds of many parents as they endure the emotional challenges that come when they realise…
Song Sung Blue (2025)
In an era where just about every musician has undergone a substantial reassessment in which younger generations reclaim these artists as unconventional idols (especially those who were previously labelled as uncool), Neil Diamond remains a bit of an outlier. One of the most popular musicians of his day, but someone who has struggled to maintain…
The Postmodern Pelican 