Ali Benjamin
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Articles by Ali Benjamin
Field Hockey Finishes Season With Two Wins
Villanova field hockey finished its season off with a winning streak, beating Fairfield, 4-3, at home on Sunday, Oct. 27, and claiming a 3-2 victory over Providence on Friday, Nov. 1. The senior day game against Fairfield started with an early lead from Villanova with a goal by senior midfield/forward Emma Schwarz off a wide shot attempt from fifth-year forward Sabine de Ruijter. De Ruijter was fouled during the shot, allowing the ‘Cats to maintain possession.
Field Hockey Claims Win Over Quinnipiac, Falls to No. 7 Iowa
Villanova field hockey started the weekend with its second conference game of the season, hosting Quinnipiac on Friday evening. The ‘Cats remained at home for Sunday’s matchup against No. 7 Iowa. The ‘Cats split the weekend with a 4-2 victory over Quinnipiac and a 2-0 loss to Iowa. Friday’s game began with sophomore Maddi Sears in goal for the ‘Cats, and began with several fast offensive breaks on both sides. Quinnipiac sank its first goal just under three minutes after play started.
Field Hockey Claims Wins Over Georgetown, William & Mary
Villanova field hockey (5-3, 1-0 Big East) claimed two wins over the weekend. Villanova recorded a 6-1 win over Georgetown at home in the team’s Big East opener on Friday, and a 2-1 double overtime win over William & Mary on Sunday. In the Georgetown game, sophomore goalie Maddi Sears and the ‘Cats’ defense held off the Hoya offense for the entire first half. Meanwhile, the first 30 minutes of the game saw five successful scoring attempts from the Villanova offense.
Field Hockey Splits Matches with No. 10 St. Joe’s, La Salle
Following a convincing 9-0 home win over Mercyhurst on Monday, Sept. 9, Villanova field hockey (3-3) faced two City 6 opponents this week. The Wildcats lost, 6-2, at St. Joseph’s (5-1) on Friday, Sept. 13, and beat La Salle (5-1) at home, 2-0, on Monday, Sept. 16. In the first game of the extended weekend, the ‘Cats fell behind the Hawks early. Within the first four minutes of the game, Villanova was down by one. The Hawks led, 3-0, by the close of the second quarter.
Field Hockey Falls to Drexel and Dominates Mercyhurst
The ‘Cats returned to the field with two games during their second week of regular season play. Coming off of a win at home against Sacred Heart on Sept. 1, Villanova lost to Drexel, 3-2, on Sept. 6 and routed Mercyhurst, 9-0, three days later. After an early goal from Drexel in the first minute, the ‘Cats responded with a successful shot on goal by sophomore back Gemma Lysaght just shy of five minutes into the game.
La Salle Transfer Jhamir Brickus Commits to Villanova
The end of the 2023-2024 season brought upon sweeping change for Villanova men’s basketball. With eight of the team’s 14 players either transferring, graduating, or declaring for the draft, head coach Kyle Neptune needed to scout out talent to fill more than half of Villanova’s roster. The most recent addition to this new wave of Villanova basketball is guard Jhamir Brickus from Coatesville, PA.
What does NOVAdance Mean to Villanovans?
Anybody on or around Villanova’s campus on Saturday, March 23 was tuned in to the excitement and energy that is Villanova’s annual dance marathon, NOVAdance, hosted in support of the Andrew McDonough B+ Foundation. The Jake Nevin Field House was completely transformed with raffles, games, food, merchandise and, of course, a dance floor. All of the activities were put in place with hopes of raising money to support families with children battling cancer.
Women’s Swim & Dive Clinches 11th Straight Big East Championship
Villanova women’s swim and dive secured its 11th straight Big East conference championship win on March 3, finishing with 1482.5 points. The men ended the tournament in third, just over one point behind Seton Hall’s 578.5 points, for the second year in a row. The teams traveled to the Natatorium at IUPUI in Indianapolis, ID, where they competed against seven Big East rivals.
Mitchell and de Ruijter Back for Fifth Years
The 2023 Villanova field hockey season produced extreme success for the Wildcats, with an even, 9-9 record and a team total of 49 goals scored. Of those 49 goals, seniors Meghan Mitchell and Sabine de Ruijter contributed 16 and nine, respectively. It is because of both their outstanding athletic ability and demonstration of team leadership that the Villanova field hockey program is fortunate enough to officially welcome Mitchell and de Ruitjer back for a fifth year of eligibility.
25 Inspiring and Inclusive Books Like Wonder for Kids
Books Home›Books›25 Inspiring and Inclusive Books Like Wonder for Kids By Matthew Lynch February 23, 2024 0 Spread the love Introduction: Wonder, the best-selling novel by R.J. Palacio, has inspired countless young readers with its message of empathy, kindness, and acceptance. If your kids loved Wonder and are looking for more inspiring reads that open their eyes to diverse perspectives, check out these 25 inclusive books for children. 1. Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper 2. El Deafo by Cece Bell 3.
Swim & Dive Prepares for Big East Championships
The men’s and women’s swim and dive teams will travel west next week to compete in the Big East Championships meet at the IUPUI Natatorium in Indianapolis, IN. The meet will begin on Wednesday, Feb. 28, and events will continue until Saturday, March 2. Villanova is one of seven teams that will be competing for the conference champion title, alongside athletes from Butler, Xavier, Seton Hall, Georgetown, Providence and UConn.
Villanova Shuts Down Georgetown, 70-54
Villanova traveled to Washington, DC on Friday evening to face off against Georgetown, leaving with a 70–54 win. The Hoyas hold an 8–17 record and are 1-–3 in the conference, putting them in 10th place. Villanova is ranked seventh in the Big East with an even 7–7 conference and 14–11 overall record. A win in this matchup between the Wildcats and the Hoyas was crucial with conference championships on the horizon.
Swim and Dive Finishes Regular Season
The Villanova swim and dive team traveled to University Park, PA for their final dual meet of the regular season on Friday evening, Feb. 2. After many hard-fought races, the Wildcats eventually fell to the Nittany Lions with the women finishing behind 196–100 and the men losing 224–74. “We do that dual meet every year at Penn State, a great Big Ten program,” head coach Rick Simpson said.
Men’s and Women’s Swim Compete in West Virginia
Villanova faced West Virginia University and Iowa St. in a tri-meet at West Virginia on Saturday. The Wildcat women defeated Iowa, 180-119, but fell to WVU, 125.5-173.5. The men’s team also lost to WVU, 234-66. The ‘Cats had seven first-place finishes and a tie for first in the 200 free from junior Molly Benson. Benson also finished first in the women’s 500 free with a time of 4:57.18. One win belonged to the men, with junior Charlie Hinckley touching first in the 500 free with a time of 4:31.12.
Meghan Mitchell Completes 38-Point Senior Season
Villanova field hockey forward Meghan Mitchell has grown to become a star and fan favorite in her four years as a Wildcat. Mitchell attended high school at Notre Dame de Namur in neighboring Radnor, just two-and-a-half miles from the center of Villanova’s campus. Villanova was an easy choice for Mitchell when it came time for her to take the next steps in her field hockey career.
Field Hockey Ends Season in Big East Semifinals
Villanova’s field hockey team’s season came to an end on Nov. 3 with a loss to No. 7 Liberty. The Flames defeated the ‘Cats in the Big East Championship semifinals, 3-2. The ‘Cats ended the season with a 9-9 overall record and a 4-3 record in conference play. The ‘Cats scraped into the Big East Championship bracket as the No. 4 seed after a win against Providence on the last day of the regular season. However, their matchup against the No. 1 seed Liberty proved to be a feat too difficult to overcome.
Villanova Hillel Hosts Israel Vigil
The attacks on Israel by terrorist group Hamas that began on Saturday, Oct. 7 alarmed both Jewish and secular communities worldwide. The chilling reports of brutal attacks on innocent civilians caught in the crossfire continued, getting worse by the hour, and have yet to improve in the weeks since. Many who have visited Israel in recent history remember her beauty, her sacredness and the overwhelming sense of love and belonging felt within her borders.
Field Hockey Falls Twice Over Weekend
This past weekend, Villanova’s field hockey team went 0-2, losing to Temple, 4-0, in Big East play and Drexel, 4-1, in a non-conference matchup. On Friday, the Wildcats traveled to Howarth Field for a conference matchup against the Owls. The game had an exciting start, with three shots on goal within the first three minutes, and Temple got on the board early in the first period.
The Thing About Jellyfish | Drama
After Suzy's former best friend is lost from a drowning accident, Suzy knows something isn't right. Franny was the best swimmer Suzy ever knew. She embarks on this incredible journey and lea... Read allAfter Suzy's former best friend is lost from a drowning accident, Suzy knows something isn't right. Franny was the best swimmer Suzy ever knew.
Field Hockey Remains Undefeated in Big East Play
This past weekend started off well for Villanova field hockey as it beat UConn 2-1 for the first time in over a decade. The win also marked head coach Joanie Milhous’ 250th career win. The Wildcats continued their success this weekend with a second win over James Madison, 5-4 in overtime. The team is now 7-4 and 3-0 in the Big East. “I was just so excited for our team to be able to beat UConn because that feeling is definitely a major memory for all of these girls,” Milhous said.
Field Hockey Goes 1-1 In Two Road Games
Coming off of consecutive wins against Georgetown and Saint Francis, the Villanova field hockey team entered a weekend of games in Connecticut. The Wildcats defeated Quinnipiac, 4-3, but dropped a 2-1 decision to Fairfield. On Friday, Sept. 22, senior forward Meghan Mitchell scored all four of Villanova’s goals against Quinnipiac in the first game of the weekend. With assists from junior midfielders Anne Drabbe and Raina Smolij, Mitchell helped the team maintain its undefeated conference status.
Women’s Soccer Remains Unbeaten
Villanova’s women’s soccer team played two matches against Ivy League teams this week, both of which ended in 1-1 ties. Villanova started its weekend Thursday, Sept. 14, at Penn. After a slow start, the first shot on goal of the match was by Penn senior forward Paige Kenton a little over 12 minutes into the first half. Villanova took its first scoring attempt nearly ten minutes later in the 21st minute with junior midfielder Maddie Fried taking a try.
Trials and Tribulations of Freshman Year
On August 18th, roughly 1,700 new students arrived on Villanova’s campus. Trunks were filled to the brim with an endless amount of under-bed storage, more clothing than one person could ever wear and all the necessary supplies to survive in a communal bathroom.
Kavanaugh in the Suburbs – - Mark Judge
The Smash-Up, a new novel by Ali Benjamin, can be considered in two ways. In purely technical terms it is a magnificent achievement, a story where plot, characters, dialogue, and suspense work together provides a richly engrossing reading experience. On a different level, The Smash-Up is a commentary on America’s current political situation.
February 2021 | Bookanista
Runaways and free spirits “Every landscape needs a figure in it, perhaps especially a figure that is only intermittently visible, that is mysterious and alert,” observes a gardener in Jane Smiley’s The Strays of Paris who spies a beautiful racehorse roaming freely in the middle of the French capital. The racehorse is Paras (short for Perestroika). She became a... Bit by bit by bit What happened? Everyone asked the question, had been asking since the election.
Review: Oracle by Julie Anderson
arts Last year I had the pleasure of reading Julie Anderson's Plague - a captivating story introducing readers to the sharp and shrewd protagonist, Cassandra Fortune, who, despite her name, seems rather prone to misfortune. The skilled writing of Anderson depicted a complex crime thriller, infused with politics, corruption and scandal.
Review: You Let Me In by Camilla Bruce
arts You Let Me In is the extraordinary debut novel by the writer Camilla Bruce. Born and raised in Norway, next to an Iron Age mound, it seems only fitting that she should bring an element of folklore and perhaps even dubiety to her debut: a book that is a gothic horror, a fairytale infused with a dose of noir. I say noir in as much as the protagonist appears to lack a moral centre, to steal a definition from Dick Lochte, but also in that it brings suspense, and illusion.
The Imposter by Anna Wharton: A Review
arts The Imposter is the chilling debut novel from the print and broadcast journalist Anna Wharton. At its thematic heart is the human need for connection, the need to belong somewhere, to someone, and the depths of despair we encounter through loss, fear and ultimately, deception. The central protagonist is Chloe, a newspaper archivist who would rather exist out of sight, buried in her preciously recorded newsprint, living vicariously through the stories of those who have come before her.
Review: Bright Burning Things By Lisa Harding
arts Bright Burning Things is a beautifully crafted insight into a dark world, full of trepidation, leaving the reader at times almost fearful to turn the next page.
Review: The Smash-up By Ali Benjamin
arts The Smash-Up is a timely novel for those, like me, who observe the world around them with disbelief, forcing personal expectations to flex in anticipation of the next peculiar occurrence. The book is best described as an honest attempt to process the absurdity of the modern world, injecting truth, honesty, humour and despair into the analysis. The opening words, "What happened?", set the scene.
Girl In The Walls By A.J. Gnuse - A Review
arts Girl in the Walls is the debut novel from New Orleans-based writer A.J. Gnuse. It’s the story of Elise, who literally is a girl in the walls, occupying her former home in Louisiana, but out of sight. Can she exist? Does she exist? At first the reader wonders whether she is in fact a spirit; she remains nameless, unidentified in the opening chapters. Recorded episodically, we are introduced to her existence, the house she occupies and the family she observes.
The Last Snow by Stina Jackson (9781786497345/Hardback)
LoveReading View on The Last Snow A beautifully written, smart yet dark novel novel of suspense and tension. A family from a small nearly abandoned village in northern Sweden find themselves a target when rumours suggest that they own a fortune. I absolutely raved about Stina Jackson’s award-winning debut, The Silver Road, and this her second novel hits the just the right notes too. She has the ability to inject moments of light and hope within the darkness that holds the story in its grasp.
Smoke Screen by Thomas Enger, Jorn Lier Horst
LoveReading View on Smoke Screen An incredibly smart, taut, and pacy crime thriller set in Norway. An unsolved kidnapping thrusts itself back into play when police officer Alexander Blix and investigative journalist and blogger Emma Ramm are caught up in an explosion on New Years Eve in Oslo. The Blix and Ramm Series is a blast of pure reading entertainment from Jorn Lier Horst and Thomas Enger, internationally best-selling Norwegian authors who joined forces to create this series.
Win a Signed Copy of NICK plus Extra Gatsby Goodies from No Exit Press and Well Read.
To celebrate the publication of No Exit Press' lead 2021 fiction title, NICK by Michael Farris Smith, No Exit has teamed up with the literary gift brand Well Read to offer one lucky LoveReading subscriber the chance to win some Gatsby goodies, along with a SIGNED first edition copy of NICK. NICK is a moving prequel to The Great Gatsby, in which narrator Nick Carraway steps out of the shadows and into the spotlight - Well Read is a celebration of literature and reading.
Between Two Kingdoms by Suleika Jaouad
LoveReading View on Between Two Kingdoms In Between Two Kingdoms, Saleika Jaouad traces her journey from her diagnosis of a rare form of leukaemia at a young age to remission and beyond. This deeply moving book is dark, raw and honest. The first half follows her experiences of the cancer treatments and how these affected her own identity, as well as her relationships with loved ones.
Win a Wordsworth Collector's Edition Bundle of Classics
We have a bundle of the new, clothbound, hardback editions of classic titles from Wordsworth Editions to win. Included in the bundle are: Black Beauty, The Little Prince, Peter Pan, Wind in the Willows, Treasure Island, The Secret Garden and Emma.
Bit by bit by bit
“An incandescent meteor of a novel, blazing through the preoccupations of our time with wit, originality and compassion. Timely, risky and dazzling.” Polly Clark What happened? Everyone asked the question, had been asking since the election.
The Children God Forgot by Graham Masterton
LoveReading View on The Children God Forgot Oh wow, this is a stunningly readable supernatural crime horror. DS Jamila Patel and DC Jerry Pardoe investigate suspicious and unexplainable happenings in the sewers below London. The Children God Forgot includes the policing team from Ghost Virus, though you can easily read this as a standalone, which in my opinion is always the mark of a great book within a series.
Deity by Matt Wesolowski
LoveReading View on Deity Bold, provocative and thought-provoking, this is the fifth of the Six Stories series, however you can actually read Deity as a standalone. Scott King investigates the rumours and accusations against a pop star after his death. Each novel stands as an individual tale, though of course reading the first book, Six Stories, sets the scene beautifully and there are links to be found through the series.
Execution by S. J. Parris
LoveReading View on Execution A smart, enthralling historical thriller with real attitude, this LoveReading Star Book is the sixth in the Bruno Giordano series. Bruno is tasked by Sir Francis Walsingham to go under cover after he arrives with information about a plot to kill Queen Elizabeth and replace her with Mary, Queen of Scots.
Beautiful Books - Wordsworth Collector's Editions
These new compact hardbacks are cloth-bound, with matching coloured end papers, embossed gold and coloured blocking to enhance their beautiful, bespoke cover illustrations. The latest series for people that love beautiful books. For nearly thirty years Wordsworth Editions have been bringing classic literature to people around the world in quality paperback editions at the lowest possible prices and are now bringing the same quality and value to ‘collectable’ hardbacks.
All the Tw*ts I Met Along the Way by Carolyn Hobdey
LoveReading View on All the Tw*ts I Met Along the Way Shot-through with the kind of humour suggested by its title, All The Tw*ts I Met Along The Way is an engaging, chatty, no-holds-barred account of a woman’s experience of life’s challenges, to put it mildly. When it comes to suffering bad boyfriends, less-than-satisfactory sex, coercive partners and passionless marriage, Carolyn Hobdey has been there, done that and bought the t-shirt.
Sharing Diverse Voices
We Are All Birds of Uganda Author: Hafsa Zayyan Format: Audiobook Release Date: 21/01/2021 Often eye-opening and heart-wrenching, always elegant and absorbing, Hafsa Zayyan’s We Are All Birds of Uganda is an outstanding debut that crosses continents, cultures and generations.
6 Literary Love(r)s Whose Work Moved the Earth
A writer’s life can be pretty turbulent - both for the writer, and for their nearest and dearest. Their relationship with writing can be every bit as consuming as an amorous connection, their work-in-progress occasionally the literary equivalent of a needy other half. So, it’s perhaps little wonder that many remarkable writers have coupled-up - who better to understand a writer’s highs, lows, ebbs and flows than another writer?
3 Things to Do When You’ve Finished Writing Your Novel - Your Path to Publication
If you’re reading this because you’ve finished writing your novel, huge congratulations. Pop the cork, bring out the bunting, sing from the rooftops! Having an idea for a novel is exciting. Starting it is exhilarating. Reaching the finish line is something else - an accomplishment to be truly proud of. Of the gazillions of people who have an idea for a novel, only a small proportion put pen to paper, and fewer still make it halfway, let alone complete it.
Putting Authors in the Picture #28: Graham Masterton
Graham Masterton has written over a hundred books crossing a range of genres since his debut horror novel The Manitou in 1976. His books have become best-sellers, been adapted for film and TV series, and he has won a number of awards.
80+ Humorous Novels - from Wry and Sly Observations to Outright Chuckles and Laughter.
Humour can come in many different forms in literature, from boldly declaring itself from the very beginning to keep you smiling with feel-good emotions, right through to arriving with stealth and making you blurt with laughter while almost blushing at your own audacity. Laughter can be used to ease pain, highlight experiences and topics, or simply give you a welcoming hug. And of course, it is subjective, one person’s guffaw is another’s momentary cringe.
The Foreign Girls by Sergio Olguin
LoveReading View on The Foreign Girls Sequel to The Fragility of Bodies, Sergio Olguin’s The Foreign Girls is loaded with edgy cliff-hangers, underpinned by an exposure of femicide and political corruption, and propelled by the fearless drive of a headstrong, bourbon-drinking investigative journalist.
The Reluctant Heiress by Dilly Court
LoveReading View on The Reluctant Heiress Another truly lovely and heart-warming romantic saga from the award-winning Dilly Court. When Kate arrives back in London from India in 1858, she determines to help the poor and opens a soup kitchen however rival gangs place her life in danger. Dilly Court opens up a world and allows entry for your reading pleasure as the settings come alive under her pen. Kate is bright, courageous, and determined to do the very best she can.
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