Talking Books…

Welcome to our ‘Talking Books’ page. This is a place for staff, students, and parents to come for reading inspiration.

Each month  different members of the AGS family will talk about all things reading by either sharing their current reading choices; their recent top reads or even their go to favourites with you.

Take a look each month for some reading inspiration and if you would like to feature on our ‘Talking Books’ page let us know via email at agsliteracy@acklamgrange.org.uk

*Students – Some of the recommendations on this page may not be suitable for younger readers as they may feature adult content so you should discuss your reading choices with your parents or guardians first.

 Talking books with Mrs Bennett-Smith (English teacher)

A Series of Books from My Childhood

The Faraway Tree Collection – Enid Blyton

There are four books in this series and I remember loving them all. The stories centre, unsurprisingly, around a huge magic tree in an enchanted forest. Three children move to a house close to the forest and have adventures climbing the tree and meeting the magical people that live there – including Moon-Face, Silky the fairy, The Saucepan Man, Dame Washalot, Mr. Watzisname and the Angry Pixie! I remember first having the stories read to me on a night and then eventually being able to read them myself. I think my love of magical and enchanted worlds was born in these stories from my childhood, a love that still survives today.

A Book I Was Meant to Read

Pride and Prejudice – Jane Austen

As the novel is set around the Benett family I always feel this was a novel I was meant to read – I know the spelling is slightly different but close enough! The novel was written in 1813 but I feel it still resonates with modern society and ideas. The central protagonist of Elizabeth Benett learns that you shouldn’t be quick to judgement and that people really can surprise you. Elizabeth is one of five sister – something I so desperately wanted but never had. The plot centres around balls, lavish nineteenth century mansions and, of course, Mr Darcy. All of this made for wonderful escapism from late twentieth century Teesside. Whilst at university I re-read the novel and many of Austen’s other works, whilst studying English Literature and it didn’t disappoint in captivating me all over again. I have since re-read the novel many times and every time I find something new to love and remember.

An Author Who Opened My Eyes

George Orwell

Whilst at university I studied a range of English Literature, some were authors and novels I was already familiar with, others by writers I had not read or studied previously. One such author was George Orwell. I read and studied many of his works including Keep the Aspidistra Flying, 1984, Animal Farm, The Road to Wigan Pier and Homage to Catalonia. His writings cover both fiction and non-fiction and often paint a depressing, but important, reflection of society. Of his works 1984 has stayed with me the most and is a novel I have returned to several times. Many of the dystopian ideas contained within its pages mirror modern twenty-first century life and reflect how truth can be manipulated for political gain. As a joint English and History major at university I felt his writing offered an interesting perspective on life both past, present and future.

A Series of Books That Brought Together Many Other Books

The Eyre Affair Series – Jasper Fforde

The first novel in a series of seven, The Eyre Affair centres around Thursday Next – a Literary Detective – with the ability to jump into literature and chase criminals, both real and literary! The story is set in an alternative 1985, where Russia and Britain have continued to fight the Crimean War for over a hundred years. The novel references many other literary works – with characters from fiction popping up in its pages – so much so I often want to read the novels the character come from. As subsequent novels in the series were published I would re-read the previous books, in the series, to remind myself of the often very funny plots. The series genre is hard to define and I think that is what I love most about them – are they thrillers, science-fiction, mystery, romance, fantasy, satire – yes to all and much, much more too. Fforde has become one of my favourite authors and I devour every new offering as soon as it hits the shelves.

A Book Inspired by My Childhood Reading but For My Adult Self

Garden Spells – Sarah Addison Allen

Garden Spells is a twenty-first century novel described as a modern-day fairy tale about an enchanted apple tree – does this remind you of anything? I don’t think the love a fantasy has ever truly left my imagination and this novel certainly re-sparked that fire. The novel is set in North Carolina USA and centres on the Waverly Sisters and the tree whose apples, if eaten, will show you the biggest event in your life. Unfortunately, that event could be good or bad. The story weaves fantasy and romance beautifully, ensuring the reader is transported into a world both realistic and ethereal.

A Book I Read in One Sitting

The Thursday Murder Club – Richard Osman

Although this novel is 400 pages I read it almost entirely in one go – simply stopping to eat! This crime novel captivated from the start, some detractors may say it’s an easy read and I would agree, but I don’t see that as a negative. The prose flows, allowing the reader to immerse themselves with the four central characters – residents of a retirement village – who set about solving the murder of a local businessman. As you read the lives of Joyce, Ibrahim, Ron and Elizabeth are unearthed piece by piece and you are taken in by several red-herrings. The second book in the series The Man Who Died Twice was just as enjoyable and captivating. I await the third instalment.

 Talking books with Mrs Craig (MFL teacher)

My favourite author…

Tracy Chevalier in particular Falling Angels but I have read and loved them all.  She has an amazing ability to use historical events to create a magical story and you cannot help but fall in love with the characters and their lives.  She is an author who can truly make you feel like you are in the story witnessing it first hand.

A book I discovered something interesting from…

Traces by Patricia Wiltshire a forensic ecologist.  An absolutely fascinating read which gives real insight into the work of those in forensic science.  The details that these incredible people are able to work out for criminal cases are unbelievable.  Insects that can lead to a crime scene and tell scientists the time of death of a victim.  Seeds, pollen and sap that can narrow down a search area for a crime scene.  For me this book was mind blowing and uses real cases to show how the work impacts on people working to solve an investigation and to both convict and prove the innocence of people.

My favourite holiday reads…

Anything!  My recent most favourite holiday read has been Where the Crawdad’s sing by Delia Owens.   This book is set in the marshes of the deep south – North Carolina in America and a part of the world I knew nothing about.  It tells the story of a young girl let down by her family and the world who becomes accused of the murder of one of the only people she trusted.  The descriptions of the settings in this book and the main character ‘marsh girl’ along with the attitudes towards her are both brilliantly written and shocking in their accuracy.

A book I am glad I was recommended…

Seven Sisters by Lucinda Riley – this is part of a set of 7 original books about each of the sisters, the final book which is about the girl’s father is out in May and I can’t wait to read it.   Each book about a different sister is set in a different part of the world and again has a historical thread running through it.  These 1000+ page books are the ones I have recommended to friends most recently and they have all agreed that they are unputdownable.

A book I would recommend to a student…

Fountains of Silence by Ruth Sepetys, I loved the story and the descriptions of Madrid were so vivid.  The characters are beautifully described and it took me back to living near Madrid and many happy times there in my late teens.

A book that made me laugh and cry…

Eleonor Oliphant is completely fine by Gail Honeyman made me laugh and cry.  You really get to experience life from Eleonor’s perspective and sometimes that is a difficult read.

A book that surprised me…

American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins.  This book has everything from tragedy, to survival and everything in between.  It was a very hard read in parts and sometimes terrifying but I loved it and couldn’t put it down.  Exactly what as a mother you would put yourself and your child through to keep you both safe.  It also really puts into perspective what those who feel they need to flee their countries to feel safe will go through to try to get a better life.

My favourite character is…

Stephanie Plum from a series of books by Janet Evanovich about a female bounty hunter who never quite get’s it right. Stephanie found herself suddenly unemployed and fell into this new role but it isn’t quite what she expected.  Sometimes scary, sometimes silly but also laugh out loud funny we get to know her family, her boyfriends and her colleagues.  Her grandma who is at the age where funerals are her main source of social activity and Rex her hamster who lives in a soup can.  Very easy to read, light hearted entertainment.

A book I would choose to read instead of watching the film…

Any of the Harry Potter series as you can then see how clever J K Rowling’s writing is and not just the storytelling.

A book I enjoyed in school…

Having done English literature for A level I read some fantastic books at school and truly loved all my A level texts, however my favourite was A passage to India by E M Forster.  Together with my English teacher Mrs Malcolm who was amazing, Forster made me feel like I was in India living the lives of all the different characters.

A book I have read lots of times…

I haven’t ever re-read a book as there are too many good new ones to read!

 Talking books with Mrs Lightfoot (Maths teacher)

My favourite character

I wish I developed my love for this character through the books but that would be a lie. It was actually through a TV programme that this particular character was brought to life for me, but watching them encouraged and developed my love for murder mystery novels. At the centre of them was a small Belgian detective with a thick accent and a talent for solving the most complex cases; Hercule Poirot. You may have seen Poirot on TV portrayed by the amazing David Suchet who encapsulates for me the essence of Poirot.

Hercule Poirot is a famous Belgian private detective with a black moustache. He is neat as a pin which is not only reflected in his immaculate dress sense but also in his work to solve murders. What fascinates me about Poirot is his ability to use clever psychology to uncover criminals by using not just the physical evidence but clever questioning to extract information from each suspect. He keeps you guessing all the way through and more often than not I can never guess the killer correctly. This is due to Agatha Christie’s clever writing and broad imagination.

The first Agatha Christie book I ever read was called ‘The Murder of Roger Ackroyd’. I had not seen the televised version of this so I was excited to see if I could solve the case before getting to the end of the book. Safe to say I was not even close! It has an amazing story line with multiple suspects (more than the TV show I would later discover) and a massive twist at the end. My favourite part is the unveil at the end where Poirot calls all the suspects into a room and one by one calls them out on all the lies and deception before revealing the murderer!

A book I would choose to read instead of watching the film…

This book is fantastic. It makes you laugh, cry and reminisce particularly about my time spent at university. ‘One Day’ is the story of Emma and Dexter written as a series of letters to each other over a few decades. They meet at Edinburgh university and form a bond. They are an unlikely pair which is what makes this story so charming and throughout this book you live their lives with them as they progress through each stage. Sometimes they are together and sometimes they are apart living in different cities. I first read this book on holiday and I was in my second year of university so I found an instant resemblance in the setting of the book to my own situation. I watched the film with Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess after reading and found myself disappointed. They miss a lot of content and Anne Hathaway’s Yorkshire accent is at time questionable. They miss the emotion for me in the film and that is the beauty of this book; you feel and react to every emotion they go through together.

A book I enjoyed in school…

I grew up in the golden age of Harry Potter. I lived the excitement of the next book coming out and queuing up for hours to get a copy outside Asda. It was then a race against the clock to get it read before your friends because you didn’t want any spoilers. The day after Harry Potter came out, you would see everybody from your year group sat out on the field in the sun reading ‘the’ book. Not something I would imagine happening now! I had the privilege to recreate this world in my head without any other influence than the book itself. When the films came out it just made the whole series of books even more magical for me. My favourite has to be the Goblet of Fire with Tri Wizard Tournament and the Yule Ball and also the fact the book was huge compared to the last three so you definitely got value for money! This is my favourite series of books because of what it brought to my childhood and my imagination as I moved through school. I think its probably time for me to start reading them all again because they are timeless and I personally cant imagine a world without Harry Potter!

 Talking books with Mr A Hassack (Deputy Head)

My favourite author is probably Dan Brown and his books that stem from The Da Vinci Code.  As a maths teacher I must be naturally drawn to puzzles.  Having honeymooned in Rome it was great to visit some of the places, particularly the Vatican,  mentioned in the books which made me see the books in an even better light.

A book I discovered something interesting from –  Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari.  As someone who is naturally inquisitive the history of Humankind was genuinely really really interesting and quite thought provoking

My favourite holiday reads… are usually non fiction, I enjoy reading autobiographies about famous people. I’ve recently enjoyed autobiographies by Alex Ferguson, Geoffrey Boycott, Sir Bobby Robson, and Brian Lara. I like to know what makes them tick and try to understand why they are so successful

A book that surprised me…was Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein.  I picked it up not realising that it was an old book written in quite an old fashioned way.  That said, I surprised myself by really sticking at it and actually really enjoying it.

A non-fiction book that I would say is worth every child reading is ‘A Long Way Gone’, the story of a child soldier by Ishmael Beah.  That book had quite a big impact on me in terms of understanding the horrors of civil war in Sierra Leone.

 Talking books with Dr A Clements (Science teacher)

I am a science teacher at AGS and I have always loved reading.  As a child you could always find me in the local library on a Saturday!  I’m a huge fan of non-fiction books as I love to hear about people’s real life stories, thoughts and ideas.  I love to understand the world around us and books help to answer my questions about culture, politics, society and science.

A book I discovered something interesting from was Alice Robert’s The Incredible Unlikeliness of Being: Evolution And The Making Of Us. It turns out that cave men or “cave people” as she liked to call them didn’t really live in caves but actually used tents!  I was very fortunate to hear her presentation about her life and work at the Gala Theatre in Durham and she is a wonderfully engaging, knowledgeable speaker.

My favourite holiday reads are more light-hearted. This summer I read Put a Wet Paper Towel On It: The Weird And Wonderful World Of Primary Schools by Adam Parkinson and Lee Parkinson.  My best friend is a primary school teacher and I spent a lot of time helping out in my local primary school with literacy, numeracy and extra-curricular activities when I was deciding to become a teacher.  I follow the authors on social media and they never fail to make me smile when I read their posts.  The book also made me challenge some of my own thinking and when I watched the Netflix documentary Blackfish as a result, it made me question if it’s right to keep highly intelligent animals in captivity for human entertainment.

A book I am glad I was recommended is The Day We Met by Roxie Cooper. This was recommended to me by Miss Weldrake as it was written by one of her friends and it explores relationships and emotions in situations that we all might find ourselves in one day. It was very thought provoking and enjoyable.

A book I would choose to read instead of watching the film are any of the books from Philip Pullman’s trilogy His Dark Materials. The pictures you can create in your head from his style of writing are far more engaging than any of the adaptations I’ve seen on screen.

A book I enjoyed in school was the Shakespeare text we studied and in my school it was Macbeth. I really enjoyed finding out all the hidden nuances of his language and the characters were so vivid. I was also lucky enough to go and see it on stage at the Barbican Centre in London with Derek Jacobi in the lead role and it was an experience that has stayed with me to this day.

 Talking books with Mr A Bruce (History teacher)

 Talking books with Miss S Coyle (Assistant Head of English)

Miss Coyle is Assistant Head of English at Acklam Grange and she is a great fan of books from the gothic genre. If you are looking for reading material that is a little spooky as we head towards Halloween take a look at Miss Coyle’s journey through Gothic Literature.

My love for the gothic, I clearly remember, began when I was just in primary school. Whilst looking through my brother’s books, I glimpsed one with a vibrant red colour and grabbed it out. I know they say you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but this one had a picture the likes of which I had never seen before: a pale creature with high cheekbones, fearsome eyes and sharp-pointed teeth glistening in the moonlight. A vampire. I devoured the book over the next few days and completely fell in love with the genre; I adored the archaic settings, spooky weather, eerie atmospheres and the supernatural mysteries hidden from the majority of the world.

After encountering Dracula, I was then introduced to Edgar Allan Poe via a film I saw entitled, ‘The Pit and the Pendulum.’ The film completely terrified me… so obviously I wanted more. I read a book of his short stories, meeting the vengeful spirits of creatures passed, exploring chambers with unknown horrors and examining bizarre occult objects. Rather than simply stories of monsters and evil spirits, Poe showed me the complexity of human nature and the darker thoughts and feelings that people can experience in difficult circumstances. Horror was no longer only what could be hiding in the dark, but what could be hiding in the minds of those around me… 

Then, when I was in my 20s, a friend of mine handed me a thick tome from his bookshelf and asked, “Ever read this?” H.P Lovecraft. A brilliant author who has created a plethora of hidden worlds hovering horrifyingly on the edges of our existence. The one I always remember most vividly is Cthulhu: an ancient creature lurking beneath the ocean, biding its time until it is unleashed upon the world by a sinister cult. I loved his idea that there could be different dimensions where preternatural beings resided – and all it would take is one incantation to rip the veil between worlds and send them tumbling into our realm.  

Of course, all these gothic novelists are men – and we cannot neglect the talent of women! One evening, I went to a play, based on a book by Susan Hill, entitled, ‘The Woman in Black.’ I remember being a bit sceptical about it at the time. “A play can’t be scary,” I said naively… About thirty minutes later, I was flinching away from the aisle in wide-eyed terror as a malevolent ghost stalked past me on its way to the stage. Naturally, I couldn’t get my hands on the novel quickly enough and finished it in a day. I still enjoy reading it on cold, wintery nights when I’m tucked up safely in bed.  

Hopefully, I still have many more gothic delights to find. I’m always on the lookout for new material. In fact, just this month, I read a modern novel, ‘The Haunting of Aveline,’ which has many shades of the gothic: a remote seaside setting, rain and storms, a wronged spirit seeking revenge. That’s why this genre is so magnificent: it’s completely timeless. People have always had a fascination for the supernatural – and I’m certain they always will.  

Finally, I will leave you with a quote from the very talented Lovecraft: 

“The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear, and the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown.” 

 Talking books with some of our ‘AGS Read To Succeed Stars’.

Throughout the month of September our students have made a great start with their ‘Read Around The World’ challenge so we are sharing some of their thoughts on their favourite reads of the month.

The Dollmaker of Krakow – R.M Romero

Karolina, who is from the land of the dolls where a war is brewing, gets sent away to a lonely dollmaker in Krakow, Poland during World War Two. Together, they make and deliver dolls until one day they meet a Jewish family – the Trzmiels. Immediately they bond and the dollmaker even helps Rena, the daughter, study when schools are shut down. Eventually, Jozef and Rena get taken away to a camp. After saving Rena the dollmaker gets taken far away to another camp, where he and Karolina are separated. The dollmaker gets executed while Karolina is left to rot. When she fully rots away, she gets sent back to the land of the dolls by the kind wind, who showed her a glimpse of Rena, who was finally safe. When Karolina returns, the war is over. Just like the war in Krakow.

Penelope May Yates Y7

Born To Run by Michael Morpurgo

This is my favourite boo. It is about a dog that is saved by a school boy as a pup and the school boy eventually persuades his parents to let him keep it. However, whilst playing fetch with his owner in the local park the dog is kidnapped and taken to a farm where other greyhounds race and the dog meets other greyhounds and a girl that helps him escape. Then the dog meets a man and right at the end is a happy but also sad reunion.

 Eshan Bashir Y9

Julius Caesar The Curse Of The Gods by Caroline Corby

My favourite part in the plot was when Julia and his brother went to watch the gladiator games and it shows a hint of him pitying someone who was part of a lower class than him. My favourite character was Julius because he was the only person who you really get an insight into his thoughts. I would definitely recommend this to a friend because it is very informative yet presents it in an easy to understand way. I chose this book because it had an interesting cover. It’s blurb also made you want to read more of it. The most interesting fact I learnt is that they beloved the Gods cursed them. I discovered lots of new things about the culture. One of these was that slaves who had ran away and had then been caught where forced to become a gladiator.

Jessica Doyle – Year 8

The Runaway Girls by Jacqueline Wilson

This book was based around two young girls who are called Lucy Alice May Browning and Kitty young 9 year old Lucy’s mum sadly passed away when she was born which left her to be kept and looked after by her very own dear nurse as her father was always away on business trips. One day when Lucy’s father was away on a business trip he met a fine young woman who is now Lucy’s step-mum. Lucy’s step-mum hates Lucy and Lucy hates her step-mum. As Lucy comes from a very rich family she has to dress modestly wearing fancy dresses and petticoats with nice bows and bonnets in her curly hair. Lucy’s loving nurse got sent away and Lucy felt like at home she was not loved. One day when looking out the window Lucy decided to secretly run away and this is when she met Kitty, who had no family, they became best of friends and went through good times and bad times together as many serious events occurred for example they got sent to workhouses performed at the great exhibition got taken to the police station met a loving family(who weren’t really kind).got taken to perform at a circus. I would really recommend this book called The Runaway Girls by Jacqueline Wilson and would rate this book and amazing 10/10.

Amelia Yaqub Year 8

Rowley Jefferson’s Awesome Friendly adventure by Jeff Kinney

This book was about a boy named Rowley Jefferson and he goes on a trip to find his mum who has been trapped in a ice castle, on the way there he finds the following new friends; a cow man, Sherlock Holmes, Garg (he had been friends with Greg for a long time), an elf, a vampire and a one eyed wizard. When he gets there he realises that the one eyes wizard put a spell on his neighbour to make her tell Rowley that his mum had been taken away by Santa but it was all a spell, Santa and the one eyed wizard we’re actually brothers and disliked each other but just then his mum came in and saves them all from the fight and they all went  home and Greg (In the ‘real’ world) didn’t like Rowley (in the ‘real’ world) story because it was too babyish and made some not very nice improvements and the in the story they all went home because Santa took them on his sleigh and that was the end.

Bethany Brydon Year 8

 Talking books with Ms J Rogers

Books…I can’t help but turn into a bit of a Gollum and think: “my precious”. Just the feel of a book in my hands…The smell…That delicious moment when you crack open and peel back the front cover to delve into a new story. What’s not to like?

For me, books have always been a bit of an escape. It’s a very similar experience to that of watching the tv or going to the cinema. Books take you on a journey. You meet new people, go to different places and undertake an adventure (imaginatively but emotionally too). I remember once trying to describe to a class how for me, reading was the same as a motion picture: that I could ‘see’ and ‘hear’ in my head, like watching something on the screen…some thought I was bonkers but then when I read aloud and ‘did the voices’, they got it.

I think all of this stemmed from one experience of hearing a book brought to life. It was George’s Marvellous Medicine on Jackanory (those of you in your 40s will nod along here. Those of you who are younger need to know this was a programme where famous people read a story aloud…don’t roll your eyes, it was amazing!) The Roald Dahl classic was read by the great, late Rik Mayall. Honestly, just thinking about it gives me goosebumps. George’s plan to make a ‘medicine’ for his truly vile grandma has you laughing out loud.  That story began a total love affair with Dahl and led me to my favourite: Danny Champion of the World.

Danny Champion of the World is a beautiful story that revolves around a poor young boy, Danny, and his father and how they come up with the greatest plan ever. It really does create a lump in the throat. The beauty of Dahl is the simplicity in which he writes so that even the struggling reader can access his stories. That and the imagery – his characters literally jump off the page. “I was glad my father was an eye-smiler. It meant he never gave me a fake smile because it’s impossible to make your eyes twinkle if you aren’t feeling twinkly yourself.”

And, if you haven’t read either of these then I insist you do! I don’t care how old you are.

Roll forward a couple of decades to Philip Pulman’s Ruby in the Smoke. This is the first in a series of books set in Victorian London (anything Victorian and crime/detective thriller and I’m all over it) and follows the female protagonist Sally Lockheart. She’s on a mission to solve the death of her father and discover the disappearance of a mysterious Ruby. Now, whilst Sally and her helping hand of Jim are great characters, and the plot is twisty and turning to keep you gripped throughout, it is the evil character Mrs Holland who is my winner. She is devilishly fabulous! Pulman brings her to life and you can’t help imagining her threatening to bury orphans under the back yard pavement or whipping her dead husband’s teeth from the teapot and popping them in her mouth. Disgustingly fiendish. ‘So I think she’d better have an accident… One look at the paper tomorrow and you’ll do whatever I want.’

My love affair with something a bit Gothic is probably rooted in Dracula which I remember reading whilst doing my A-levels. Recently I read the prequel Dracul by Dacre Stoker (the great nephew of the Bram Stoker) and it blew my mind. The plot focuses on the origins of the most famous evil vampire of all time. We follow Bram Stoker from his sickly childhood and his mysterious ‘nanny’ to his adulthood and the hunt for the legendary creature. This thriller has so many links with the world of Victorian Bram Stoker it’s like an historical adventure as well as a supernatural spine chiller. What I especially loved was the fact that the novel was written based upon the notes Bram Stoker had left behind and the archived first editions of Dracula which are locked away in a high security vault. I’m a sucker for a conspiracy theory, and the idea that the original is secured away because the government needs to hide the ‘truth’ just fans my heart. “I sometimes think we must be all mad and that we shall wake to sanity in strait-waistcoats.”

“Everything seems simple until you think about it.”

Something a little bit different is The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. This book honestly broke my heart. I read it one summer whilst holidaying in Mexico and must have looked like a right state… I sat sobbing on my sun lounger, with the ends of the towel tucked beneath my sun-glasses to catch the tears. The story focus on a couple: Henry and Claire. Their relationship is tested by Henry’s spontaneous disappearances and ability to travel through and across time…not your average relationship and definitely a whole different concept to ghosting. Seriously though, this book is beautifully written and I defy you to not get caught up in the couple’s adventures and love.

My final choice is one of my all-time favourites. Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, for me, stands the test of time. I have lost count of the occassions I have read this book either in its entirety or as a go-to for snippets. It is a book that says everything about human beings and our capacity for both good and bad. It centres on the character of Pip and how he grows into adulthood from a poor orphan boy to an entitled London-dwelling gentleman. All of this is made possible by a secret benefactor…who turns out to not be who Pip or the reader thinks it is. At the same time that Pip is learning to navigate society he is hopelessly in love with the cold and cruel Estella, and you are sucked into a will she ever love him whirlpool. One of my favourite quotes comes from this part of the novel. “You are part of my existence, part of myself. You have been in every line I have ever read…” Honestly, it gets me right in the chest, every single time!

Talking books with Miss A Hussain 

Miss Hussain is an English teacher at AGS and is responsible for the progress of Year 7 and 8 in English. She is passionate about engaging students through their reading choices.

‘Since I was a child, I always loved reading. I remember borrowing books from school and the library and then reading them with my mom as an after school activity. One of my fondest birthday memories was receiving a hardback set of Harry Potter books for my 8^th birthday.

I’ve always loved that books bring us alternate worlds to our own where we can seek and identify elements of ourselves whilst learning important life lessons and therefore, due to her love for books and seeking knowledge, Belle has always been my favourite Disney Princess.’ –  Miss Hussain

Growing up, and throughout life, we face many struggles and turning to books as an escapism is always a great way to unwind and find peace from day-to-day life. Personally, I’ve always sought worlds where things are experienced from different perspectives to my own. Finding my own way in life where two cultures often collide, as well as the added layer with my religion of Islam, finding characters who may have similar experiences to my own always proved difficult.

It wasn’t until I was in sixth form when I discovered The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini; Miss Simpson talked about three of Hosseini’s books in the April post for Talking Books.  The Kite Runner was my chosen novel for my Literature A-Level and reading words such as ‘Baba’ and ‘Agha’ with the native pronunciation made me feel a stronger connection to the characters. I’ve taken quotes such as ‘People say that eyes are windows to the soul’ and ‘For you a thousand times over’ with me in my life and remembered them when I’ve built strong relationships with loved ones, just as the characters of Hassan and Amir did in the novel.

I have always loved getting lost in a good book- something that I have not made time for in recent years, unless it has been for work purposes. I was grateful for the first lockdown last year as it brought me back to reading to seek knowledge and for pleasure. Reading the Qur’an and unfolding some of its key messages uplifted me spiritually at a time where everyone felt isolated during what seemed to be the unknown. Two of my favourite quotes, that I have on my wall at home, are ‘And He found you lost and guided [you]’ 93:7 and ‘Verily, with every hardship, comes ease’ 94:6. Despite conflicts that come from my two cultures, the British culture from where I was born, and the Pakistani culture, that was inherited from the generations before me, I moulded the two with the roots of my religion and became the person I am today.

A book that I have had on my bookshelf for years and enjoyed, is a historical fiction novel, The Jewel of Medina by Sherry Jones, which follows the trials and tribulations of Aisha (R.A) the wife of Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) and explores the hardships she had to face when Islam was still a newly emerging religion. Although it is a well- researched fictional novel, and not directly reported by Islamic scholars, it’s a book that is easily enjoyed whilst teaching lessons that have arisen from religious conflicts- something that I feel is a great teaching tool into the lessons from religion.

Upon returning to face-to face teaching in March, I was intrigued to read the CILIP Carnegie Medal Shortlisted book Run Rebel by Manjeet Mann. The blurb had me hooked and I knew that this story about a young girl finding her voice amidst a community that wanted to silence her would definitely be a great read. The even greater thing about the novel was that it was written in verse- making it so quick to read but so effective in building the tension with its short sentences and one word lines.  It teaches everyone, especially teenagers, that they have to stand up for what is right and not to be afraid. This book brought me hope, tears, and passion and the idea that we should set our goals and take small but steady steps to achieve them- regardless of our stage in life.

Something similar, and from a boy’s perspective, are some of Bali Rai’s short stories. The ones I enjoyed the most were Dream On and Game On as they follow a young boy named Baljit who is forced to fulfil his father’s wishes of continuing the family business instead of becoming a footballer. The colloquial use of words such as ‘ain’t’ and ‘innit’ brings it to life for young readers and the addition of the explanation of some native words makes it a fun and quirky read as we follow Baljit on his journey.

I was also pleased to see that this year’s free books for World Book Day included two titles, similar to Diary of a Wimpy Kid, with South Asian characters: Planet Omar: Operation Kind by Zanib Mian and Little Badman and the Radioactive Samosa by Humza Arshad and Henry White. Both of these stories have more in the series and are light hearted reads for children showing diversity with little snippets of exposure to different cultures- perfect for the diverse Britain we live in.

Talking books with Mrs S King.

Mrs King is a History teacher at AGS and one of our Assistant Heads.

‘I have always loved reading; going to the library as a child was always a regular weekend activity and my love of reading has never gone away. I always have a current book on the go and find it one of the best ways to relax and unwind. One of the unexpected pleasures of the lock down has been that I have been introduced to some fantastic books via a virtual book club.

Choosing  books to select was very difficult as I have so many favourite novels, but I hope you enjoy reading about the ones I have selected below. …….’ Mrs King

I’m currently reading…’The Guernsey Literary and Potato Pie Society’ by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows 

I was recommended this book by a friend who knows I enjoy historical novels. This book is set just after World war Two and the story is cleverly written through a series of letters written or received by the main character Juliet Ashton.

Juliet is a writer and becomes intrigued when she received a letter from Dawsey Adams of Guernsey – a total stranger living halfway across the Channel, who has come across her name written in a second-hand book. He tells her about the extraordinary Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society that had been set up during the war when Guernsey was under German occupation. As Juliet learns more about the people of the society and their lives she decides to set sail for Guernsey and write their story.

The last book I read was…’Call the Dying’  by Andrew Taylor

I have only recently discovered the books of Andrew Taylor and he is fast becoming one of my favourite authors.  Call the Dying is the seventh book in the series of books set in 1950s fictional Lyndmouth that centre around the two key characters of Jill Francis, a journalist and Detective Chief Inspector Richard Thornhill.

In this novel Britain is basking in the warm glow of post-war tranquillity, but in the quiet town of Lydmouth, darker forces are at play. The rats are fed on bread and milk, a gentleman’s yellow kid glove is mislaid on a train and reappears at a murder scene and something disgusting is happening at Mr Prout’s toyshop….

What I love about these books are how they perfectly describe life in the 1950s, a time not that long ago but so different to the world we are in now. There are no mobile phones to summon help when needed; no internet to support any investigation or technology for; in fact in this book Richard and his family are having an argument as to whether it is worth buying one of these new- fangled TV sets!

My favourite book of 2020…’Rebecca’  by Daphne du Maurier

This book was recommended by the virtual book club I was in during the first lock down and I cannot believe that I had not read this book before. I had read other books by this author but this one had passed me by. Perhaps as it was waiting just for the right time for me to read it- and during the lock down was probably the best time as reading this book gave me so much pleasure. From the first page to the last I could not put it down and my only disappointment was that it did have to end.

The novel is a psychological thriller about a young woman who becomes obsessed with her husband’s first wife. The narrator of the story is a young girl who falls in love with and quickly marries an older, wealthy widower and returns to live with him at Manderley, his beautiful mansion in Cornwall. The description of the drive up to Manderley is amazing and just makes you want to visit it yourself. The book quickly changes tone however as the new wife meets, Mrs. Danvers, the sinister housekeeper, who was devoted to the first Mrs de Winter, Rebecca. The book becomes much darker as we get embroiled in the story of what happened to Rebecca.

The book I can keep returning to over and over again is ‘Sense and Sensibility’ a novel by Jane Austen, published in 1811.

I love all of Jane Austin’s novels but this one is my favourite. The novel follows the three Dashwood sisters as they are forced to move with their widowed mother from the estate on which they grew up as when their father died the estate was inherited by his son form Mr. Dashwood’s first marriage.

They move to Barton Cottage, on the property of a distant relative, Sir John Middleton. There they experience love, romance, and heartbreak.

The novel is set between 1792 and 1797 and is a wonderful glimpse into life at that time; especially that of women.

The author who I cannot wait to publish his next novel is CJ Sansom. The first book of his I read was ‘Dissolution’.

Sansom is one of Britain’s bestselling historical novelists. He worked first as a historian and then as a lawyer before combining both to write his first novel of murder and politics set during the time of Henry VIII’s dissolution of the monasteries.

The main characters in the novel are  Matthew Shardlake, a  sixteenth-century hunchbacked lawyer-detective and his assistant Jack Barak. What I love about this novel, and the subsequent books in the series is the backstory they tell of life in the Tudor court and the complex political relationships. To support the wrong man at the wrong time can easily get you thrown into the Tower, as Shardlake discovers to his cost in a later novel.

The book that I nearly did not read. ‘Life of Pi’ by Yann Martel

I was recommended this book but kept putting off reading it as I was unsure about the story line. I am so glad I did finally get round to reading it.

After the tragic sinking of a cargo ship, a solitary lifeboat remains bobbing on the wild, blue Pacific. The only survivors from the wreck are a sixteen-year-old boy named Pi, a hyena, a zebra (with a broken leg), a female orang-utan – and a 450-pound Royal Bengal tiger. The book is their story. It is at times sad, funny, vicious and shocking. Every page offers tension and surprise and I certainly kept questioning all the time whether what I was reading was supposed to be actually happening or not…You will need to read the novel yourself to make up your own mind.

 Talking books with Miss Simpson.

‘I’ve always found reading a great form of escapism. Reading can take you many places and teach you all sorts of things. I particularly enjoy reading in the garden when the sun is out, with a cup of tea in one hand and a book in the other!

I’d like to introduce you to one of my favourite authors, Khaled Hosseini.

Khaled Hosseini was born in Afghanistan and  moved to America in 1980. Hosseini is a Goodwill Envoy to the UN Refugee Agency and the founder of The Khaled Hosseini Foundation, which provides funding for shelter, education and healthcare for women and children in Afghanistan.

This story centres on the character of Amir, who establishes an unlikely kinship with the son of his Father’s servant. Amir faces the predicament of following societal expectations or jeopardising his friendship with Hassan. Amir’s voyage of discovery unravels in an unexpected way which is unforgettable for the reader. I particularly admired the way in which this book explored religion and challenged racism.

The reader is dropped into the world of Mariam. As Mariam’s life unfolds, she is exposed to heartbreak and struggle when she loses her Mother and is forced into an arranged marriage. Through the introduction of the character of Laila, Mariam comes to realise the true meaning of family and belonging. I really feel this book effectively illustrates the struggle of Afghan women throughout history, highlighting the relevance of Hosseini’s campaign for equality.

This book features a web of family connections with a multi-layered narrative, which kept me guessing throughout. I’d often have a moment of revelation when I realised how characters linked! There is significant focus placed on the effect of the traumas in Afghanistan, both to those who remained throughout the war and those who chose to return to rediscover their identity.

 Talking books with Mrs Kerr-Morgan. 

Mrs Kerr-Morgan is an English teacher at AGS and one of our Assistant Heads. She is responsible for developing literacy across our curriculum so is passionate about ensuring everyone at AGS understands the benefits if reading.

‘Curling up with a good book and a nice cup of tea is one of my favourite things to do. Reading is my go to activity when I want to relax and unwind. My reading choices often come from a range of styles but historical fiction is probably my favourite genre. I love how stories can give us an understanding of the past.

Take a look at some of my most recent reading choices below…’ Mrs Kerr-Morgan

I’m currently reading…’Jamrach’s Managerie’ by Carol Birch

I was bought this book as a gift a while a go but it has been sat forgotten on my bookshelf  but I discovered it there this week and I am really glad I did. I’ve only read the first few chapters but I am gripped by the vivid description of Victorian London. The writer cleverly brings the sights and smells alive until you can almost smell the stench of the Thames and hear the Hawkers selling their wares on the crowded streets.

Jaffy Brown is a delightful protagonist who seems set to start an adventure of a life time working for the mysterious Mr Jamrach and his collection of exotic animals. I am looking forward to finding out where his adventures take him.

The last book I read was…’Cilka’s Journey ‘ by Heather Morris

The Tattooist of Auschwitz is one of my favourite books that I have read in recent years and the sequel ‘Cilka’s Journey’ was equally both harrowing and inspirational. It is impossible not to be moved by Cilka’s journey from the concentration camp in Poland to the Russian Gulag in frozen Siberia. The main thing I  took  away from this book is the power of friendship in even the most desperate of circumstances.

My favourite book of 2020…’Hamnet ‘ by Maggie O’Farrell

The winner of the 2020 Women’s Prize for Fiction ‘Hamnet’ is a very special book. As An English Teacher I love everything about Shakespeare and his stories but I loved the way his wife and children were the centre of this heart breaking story.

The story opens with the sudden illness of a young daughter and the desperate attempts of her twin brother Hamnet to get help only for him to succumb days later to the same illness himself. Set amongst the fearful backdrop of the bubonic plague ‘Hamnet’ is a story of the strength and bravery of two people who are torn apart by grief.

It is a magical book that I think I  will definitely revisit again some day. It deserves all the accreditation it received.

A book that  surprised me…’The Boys in the Boat’ by Daniel James Brown

I am not at all sporty so if someone had told me that one of the best books I would read would be a Non-Fiction book about rowing I probably wouldn’t have believed them but this book was a complete surprise.

Centred mainly on the story of Joe Rantz who personally overcame epic struggles and hardships at a young age ‘The Boys in the Boat’ follows the inspirational story of the University of Washington’s rowing team who were victorious in the 1936 Olympics in Berlin.

Daniel James Brown’s depiction of both the impact of the depression and his portrayal of the propaganda machine in Nazi Germany is sensational but the most inspirational part of this book is the story of Joe Rantz and his grit and resilience to achieve what must have seemed impossible.

I couldn’t put this book down and I would definitely recommend it.

A book that made me cry…’The Truth of Things’ by Anthony McGowan

I needed tissues galore for this book. ‘The Truth of Things’ is the trilogy that introduces brothers Kenny and Nicky whose story is concluded in ‘Lark’ the sensational winner of the Carnegie Award 2020.

Kenny and Nicky are brothers who don’t have an easy life. Abandoned by their mother and often left to fend for themselves when their father struggles  to cope, they often find themselves getting into trouble. Nicky is fiercely loyal in his protection of Kenny who has learning difficulties and the brothers have an unbreakable bond which is tested beyond limits throughout.

The writer’s depiction of nature is simply stunning and I found myself laughing out loud one minute and sobbing the next as I followed the story of the two brothers. They very quickly became two of my favourite literary characters.

A book that made me think…’The Bee Keeper of Aleppo by Christi Lefteri

The refugee crisis and the heart breaking images of men, women and children risking everything in an attempt to escape war torn countries like Syria is something that we have all witnessed in recent years.

‘The Bee Keeper of Aleppo’ gives us an insight into the people that are often just faces on the front of a newspaper. Although a work of fiction, many of the events in the book were inspired by the writer’s experience whilst working as a volunteer in a refugee camp in Athens.

The story of Nuri and his wife Afra as they face the unimaginable  is both heartbreaking and inspirational.