Primary Teacher Resource Centre - Forum

thehawk · Joined: 01 Nov 2008 Posts: 1986 Location: here

There is a girl in my daughter's class called Paige Turner!

I have started to read "one Thousand Splendid suns"
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smallholder · Joined: 08 Nov 2008 Posts: 7356

That is a fantastic book Hawk.

I have just started Imperium by Robert Harris.

magpie nic · Joined: 26 Oct 2008 Posts: 7483 Location: Tyneside

I taught a girl called paige turner years ago, always made me smile!

I just finished The Tinners Corpse by Bernard Knight- not impressed at all.

magpie nic · Joined: 26 Oct 2008 Posts: 7483 Location: Tyneside

Has anyone read The Last Queen by CW Gortner? I have just finished it and really enjoyed it, could not put it down.It is about Queen Juana La Loca of Spain, fascinating story, told from a different viewpoint to those I have read about her before.

redredrobin · Joined: 01 Nov 2008 Posts: 1336

I'm reading half of a yellow sun but have been really busy so haven't had enough quality reading time!

smallholder · Joined: 08 Nov 2008 Posts: 7356

Great book- Half of a Yellow Sun

I have just finished Imperium and really enjoyed it - learned a lot about roman history and politics in a fun way - robert harris is so accessible - I particularly enjoyed reading it at the moment with all the parallels with MPs expenses in modern day politics.

magpie nic · Joined: 26 Oct 2008 Posts: 7483 Location: Tyneside

Sniggle, did you finish Pig Island? What did you think of it?

I am now reading Havoc in its third year by Ronan Bennett- interesting so far, another medieval one!

smallholder · Joined: 08 Nov 2008 Posts: 7356

I have just finished The Thirteenth Tale by Dianne Setterfield as recommended by Sniggle and Loui. My verdict -a good bit of 'gothic bunkum' which is a real page turner. A sort of fairy tale for grown ups - one for the girls really I think. Has been the right sort of escapist read for me at the moment as its not too 'heavy' or 'literary'. At times though I thought it was a bit 'laid on with a trowel' like Joanne Harris does -however sometimes that sort of style, like a good old 'romantic' mystery movie fits the bill just right!

Now need to rummage through my 'to be read shelf' to decide what to start next!

redredrobin · Joined: 01 Nov 2008 Posts: 1336

Loved Half of a Yellow Sun. Need to find something else now!

smallholder · Joined: 08 Nov 2008 Posts: 7356

Have started The Unfortunates by Laurie Graham - haven't got far yet but already I love the sharpness of the writing and cutting wit, yet at times it is very moving. It opens at the time of the sinking of the Titanic and is about a young girls attempts to escape her mothers obsession with beauty, social graces and marrying her off.

magpie nic · Joined: 26 Oct 2008 Posts: 7483 Location: Tyneside

That sounds interesting SH.
I am reading The Other Half Lives by Sophie Hannah, it hooked me straightaway and I cannot wait to find out what the big secret is!!

magpie nic · Joined: 26 Oct 2008 Posts: 7483 Location: Tyneside

Recommend The Other Half Lives if you like psychological thrillers- some great twists in the story. Well worth a read.

Am about to start Death of Kings by Philip Gooden, not read any of his before apart from a bit in one of the Medieval Murders books Tog recommended, so not sure what to expect.

bscaca · Posted: Sun Oct 25, 2009 5:32 pm Post subject:

Over half term i read Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel; i enjoyed it but you do need to be into tudor history!

Iam struggling to get going with The Book Thief. Has anyone read it> If so is it worth persevering with?

Venus · Joined: 18 Nov 2008 Posts: 502

I just bought Wolf Hall, really love historical novels. Hope it's good. Haven't started it yet though, just need to finish the book I am reading at the moment.

magpie nic · Joined: 26 Oct 2008 Posts: 7483 Location: Tyneside

Wolf Hall is the book they were showing on the news the other day when they reported abouted the new sony book reader, I remember thinking it looked interesting from the cover, so will look for that.
The Book Thief is on my tbr pile, but I keep putting it back at the bottom!

Sniggle · Joined: 25 Apr 2009 Posts: 747 Location: Essex

magpie - yes I finished pig island. It was certainly different! I like Mo Hayder and have read 3 of hers now.

I'm glad you enjoyed The Thirteenth Tale sh. I liked the fact that it was the normal type of narrative. Certainly one of those 'nice' reads for me.

I've just finished Lazy Bones by Mark Billingham and am now reading The Kite Runner. I know I'm way behind everyone else by not having read it, but the small text on the pages has always out me off!
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smallholder · Joined: 08 Nov 2008 Posts: 7356

Actually I haven't read the Kite Runner yet Sniggle - I only usuallly get my books from charity shops and I haven't found a copy yet - people are obviously hanging onto it.

Sniggle · Joined: 25 Apr 2009 Posts: 747 Location: Essex

I'm glad I'm not the only one!
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Is taking one day at a time ... again

mrsbean · Posted: Mon Oct 26, 2009 5:51 pm Post subject:

I've just read The Information Officer by Mark Mills - the first book for a while that I've really enjoyed, though I did enjoy The Piano Teacher over the summer. Both with a similar 2nd world war type setting, though The Piano Teacher is set in 2 time periods.
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greyengine · Joined: 27 Oct 2008 Posts: 1761

just started 'The Constant Princess' by Philippa Gregory. Not usually into historical fiction but read another of hers in the Summer which I enjoyed and am enjoying this too - useful background for teaching Tudors as well.