Ugh… I’m not good at feeling under the weather. It’s my first cold for a few months, and while it isn’t the worst thing I have ever experienced (indeed, I have one friend who is really rather ill), I hate how tired it makes me feel. I can breathe, but all of my senses feel like they are working their way through the back of a fridge. As a result, I was able to sit next to an incredibly stinky man in the local library and not notice it at all.
I’ve been reading a lot recently, and figured I would pass on a few recommendations.
The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie-Muriel Spark
I had never considered to read Muriel Spark, until I saw a clip of Dame Maggie Smith in the title role of the film, and I’m awfully glad I picked up the novella not long afterwards. Miss Jean Brodie is a teacher on a mission to influence, rather than educate, her class of precocious, innocent girls. Told with a style that can a little getting used to (the endless repetition of the same scenes in the classroom and what happened to the Brodie Set after they left school feels aimless for the first third or so), it is an excellent and un-nerving tale. Miss Jean Brodie shows that, despite your thoughts to the contrary, your teachers have a far deeper influence than you think.
Brodie’s character, and psychological impact leads to ‘the Brodie Set’ living the life and scandal that Brodie herself will not consider doing. It makes for chilling reading, particularly as the girls realise that their idol’s interests and their development are not the same thing.
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Zeitoun-Dave Eggers
If there is one book that you can expect me to buy you for your birthday, Christmas or any time that a book is required, expect it to be this. Zeitoun was highly recommended by a friend of mine, and it certainly didn’t disappoint. It is the account if one family’s experience of Hurricane Katrina. While his family evacuates itself out of New Orleans, Zeitoun stays behind to hold the fort, and to eventually become involved in a localised effort to rescue his neighbours. However, when the authorities start to arrive, it does not bring the help that Zeitoun and others need.
Zeitoun is a well written, researched and moving tale about one family’s struggle in unbelievable circumstances. Alongside that, it is deeply personal, and discusses family, nationality and religion.
The phrases ‘I cannot recommend it highly enough’ and ’if there is one book you should read about *insert subject here*’ is crass and overused by many people, but they describe my feelings for this book perfectly. Buy it, read it and prepared to get very angry over anyone who says that the Human Rights Act is something that people try to hide behind legally.
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A Study in Scarlet-Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
I would be surprised if I ever met someone in the UK who hasn’t read a single Sherlock Holmes story. Personally being of the school of thought that wishes Holmes was a real person, I recently bought the entire set of Sherlock stories. I’ve read some of the short stories and the Hound of the Baskervilles, but wished to read chronologically. A Study in Scarlet is the ‘Lethal Weapon’ of the Sherlock Holmes world, in that it explains how he meets Watson (in, admittedly, rather plain circumstances). The mystery is diverting enough, but I think it is not a particularly strong story. You cannot help but think that the Mormons were added to pad the plot out, than being terribly necessary.
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The Recruit- Robert Muchamore
I orginally picked up this book from a library junket about six months ago, liked the title and read the first few pages, but then put it back. After all, who would not like a story about children who are trained to be spies? I did not really come across it again, until my driving instructor admitted that she had devoured them over the summer holiday. Her sons were raving about them, and were desperately waiting for the final book.
The Recruit is the first of (soon to be 11) books, that centre on the live of James Adams. After his dies, he is placed in foster care and, after proving himself to be a bit of a brain when it comes to hiding banknotes, is hired by Cherub. Cherubs are children and teenagers who take part in top secret missions around the world. It’s glamourous, full of action and, refreshingly, has characters who talk like real people, instead of what someone assumes children speak like. I’ve read the sequel to the Recruit and odds and ends of the other books, and can’t remember the last time (outside of Harry Potter) I read a book and badly wanted to know how the series ended.
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The Time Traveller’s Guide to Medieval England- Ian Mortimer
My interest in Medieval History began with my decison to take the module for my final year. I never thought that a course where all of the men appeared to be called Edward, Henry, James or Richard would lead to such a personal interest after Graduation.
The TTGTME is a book that does not follow a chronology or even a particular event. Instead, it talks you through what you would have experienced if you could visit the differently done past. It works so well, and is able to describe life so well, that I’m surprised that more history books aren’t written in this style.
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