Tuesday 28 April 2015

Shortbread Wednesday



We had two staff come today- nice to see you Mr Sharma and Staff Cairns!

Staff Cairns- Usally reads a lot about property investing and consumer rights as well as autobiography- Richie McCaw, Willia Apaiata. The Bryce Courtney series- The Power of One, The Potato factory etc. He might look at getting some non-fiction.

Kim- is reading a Sailor Moon manga series- she missed one and is now confused. She recommends the Odd Thomas series by Dean Koontz.

Bobbigrace is no longer reading The Colour Purple.  She was finding the language a bit off putting, so will get Everlasting instead.

Lana is reading City of Glass.

Cherub is going to get Telesa out as well as reading The Lovely Bones for English (as is Lana)

Mr Sharma has some light reading-text books. He might read 1984 by Orwell as he likes some dystopian fiction.

Ms Metcalfe is hoping to read Not That Kind Of Girl by Lena Dunham, but needs to fight clear of her school work.

We had a discussion around the difference between fiction and literary fiction.


Sunday 26 April 2015

Where She Went- Review by Clearissa Thompson


This book ‘Where she went” is about two young people, Adam and Mia, finally seeing each other again after three years of separation. Adam has a band named ‘Shooting Stars’ and his new album ‘Collateral Damage’ has hit the top charts. Adam started playing and writing songs when Mia left him alone. Mia on the other hand is a cellist whose been playing very well ever since she lost her family in a car crash.

Adam spent those three years wondering where she went and why she left? When they spend one whole night together Adam is tempted to ask her by many things Mia says and does. After Adam has popped the question Mia tells him her point of view. Adam then breaks up with his current girlfriend Bryn. Bryn has always been mad at Mia (or ghost girl, Bryn calls her) ever since her and Adam first started dating  because Bryn has never got the best of Adam. In the end, Adam and Mia end up being together again but they don’t tell anyone besides the band.

I think this book speaks a lot of a broken heart.I liked some parts, like the funny ones. I think Adam should’ve just gotten over her because it’s been 3 years straight with no signs. Adam really has a bad temper and always negative but then it is partly Mia’s fault why he’s like that. He did love her a lot and I think he still does, he always has. Mia is not so good herself. Leaving him just like that wasn’t the right thing. She should’ve told him or said something instead of silence, leaving him to wonder. After 3 years is way too long. Somehow I thought that Bryn was only in it for the money and fame.

Overall, ‘Where she went’ wasn’t the worst book I’ve read, neither the worst. It wasn’t bad but it wasn’t good too. It’s just OK. Rate: 5

-Clearissa Thompson

Wednesday 22 April 2015

Why hello, Wednesday!



Why hello! Fancy seeing you here. Check out our anonymous readers at bookclub today...









We're planning a cake stall to fund our excursion to the writer's festival. Much excitement!

Sunday 19 April 2015

32 Books that will (apparently) change your life



I'm a big fan of buzzfeed for many reasons.
  1. It fills in time when I want to pracrastinate
  2. It is entirely made of lists that are easy to read/digest/forget
  3. There are heaps of book-related posts.

I have read 5 of them. Obviously my life needs to be changed more. Have a look at the list and choose one to read this term.


Me Talk Pretty One Day

#17 Me Talk Pretty One Day 

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

#4 The Curious Incident of The Dog In The Night-Time
Beloved

#12 Beloved
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

#13 The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

#20 The Fault In Our Stars 











Friday 17 April 2015

Holiday books

Books I have read these holidays.

A bunch, including these below...


The Road- bleak as hell, post-apocalyptic road trip
Will Grayson Will Grayson- John Green YA romance
Station Eleven- post apocalyptic (sense a theme here?)
Howl's Moving Castle- YA fantasy
The 10 PM Question- I have read this a few times, I might ask for a set to teach
Obsession In Death- futuristic murder mystery, 40th in this series (seriously, 40. I have read all of these.)

Books I have yet to read but hope to...


Your best book so far?


Thursday 16 April 2015

Tuesday 14 April 2015

Lani Wendt Young



Lani Wendt Young is the author of the Telesa series of books, as well as a prolific blogger. Check out her blog here


The first in a new series called Scarlet Lies has just come out- here's the blurb:

"Lies are beautiful – when the truth hurts. 
Sixteen years ago, Scarlet’s family sent her away in disgrace. She’s been back once – with disastrous consequences. Now, her little sister is getting married and Scarlet's headed home once more. Will this be the reunion she's always longed for? Or will the lies of her childhood entangle her once more in their beautiful embrace? 
She has a nightmarish fear of flying and she’s escorting her sister’s wedding dress through three different time zones. He’s the tall, dark and handsome stranger that gets in her way… What happens when Scarlet has to go home to be bridesmaid to her least favorite little sister, (who loves to remind everyone she’s a former beauty Queen EVERY OTHER MINUTE?) Can she survive three weeks of tropical heat and mosquitos, droves of busybody relatives all wanting to tell her WHY she’s still single as she endures the wedding from hell? Six hundred guests, three wedding dresses, twenty-four cake tiers, fifteen bridesmaids, a mother on a mission to makeover her daughter who ‘lacks ambition,’ and ONE deliciously divine man who alternately renders her speechless then drives her to outrage - all add up to a recipe for disaster. Or does it? 
More than 'just a romance', this poignant story about the tangled connections between mothers, daughters and sisters - speaks with compelling insight and humor, of inherited trauma, desire and deception, and the power and stubbornness of love. 
Scarlet Lies is the first in a three book series. The second book, 'Scarlet Secrets' will release April 30th, followed by the thrilling conclusion to the saga, 'Scarlet Redemption', May 30th."
That all the books are coming out this year is very exciting.

Monday 13 April 2015

Boys books

Is there a difference between books for boys and girls? Or are books just books?

Heaps has been written about this.

Here's a list of popular "books for boys" on goodreads: check it out below, click on the link.



Here's a comprehensive list of 140 YA (young adult) books compiled by The Readventurer

And a recommendation- Matthew Reilly books- particulalry Hovercar racer and The Scarecrow series

Sunday 12 April 2015

Other high school bookclubs around the world



Hey, have a look at these other high school book clubs- what do they do that we could do too?

Eagle Book Club (Liberty North High School, Missouri)

Foothill High School Bookclub (California)

Regina High School (Michigan)

PRHS Book Club (Pentucket Regional High School)

YALove (a teacher blog)