Book of the Month

Thoughts on The Hate U Give

Inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement, Angie Thomas’ The Hate U Give tells the story of Starr, who witnesses her innocent best friend Khalil being shot wrongfully by police in her home of the “ghetto” of Garden Heights, and how she struggles to find her identity between her home and the suburban high school she attends. It describes how she handles her grief and how she deals with the legal enquiry to his death as the only witness to the incident.

Thoughts on Fangirl

Rainbow Rowell’s Fangirl tells the story of Cath and Wren, identical twin sisters who, until college, have shared everything together. Wren chooses the stereotypical college experience – parties, boys, and dancing – whereas Cath sees herself more as “the kind of girl who fantasizes about being trapped in a library overnight”.

Nimona by Noelle Stevenson

The character of Nimona in Noelle Stevenson’s web comic turned published graphic novel is an incredible character in an amazing challenging story. Nimona tells the story of the troubled Lord […]

We love Banned Books

Be inspired by some challenging books this month as we celebrate Banned Books Week.

Book of the Month – Wild by Cheryl Strayed

If you are looking for a guidebook to walking from the Mojave desert to Washington state, you’ve picked up the wrong book. If you want to follow the tale of a young woman’s growth as she sheds layers of hurt along with her toenails (not for the squeamish!) then this could be the book for you.

Book(s!) of the Month – The Hunger Games Trilogy

It took me a while to get into the first few chapters, but after that I was hooked and tore through all three….

Book of the Month – Room by Emma Donoghue

This is a disturbing, but absorbing book. At its heart is the deep love of a mother for her son and her determination to protect him at all costs.

Book of the Month – A woman in Berlin

This is by no means easy reading. I found I could only manage a few chapters at a time before turning to something more cheerful, but I always came back to it. It’s an important story which happened within living memory and we should never forget the barbarism, but also the courage and instinct for survival, of which humans are capable.

Books of the Month – Maya Angelou’s autobiographies

This month Madge reviews Maya Angelou’s autobiographies, which tell the amazing life story of this truly inspirational American poet and author.   I started reading this series of autobiographies – six […]

Book of the Month – Anne of Green Gables

This is a children’s book, full of broad humour involving Anne’s misadventures with, variously, ice cream, puffed sleeves, hair dye and accidental drunkenness. However, it can still be enjoyed by adults who will, perhaps, have more understanding of some of the strong emotions it invokes.