This semi-autobiographical novel is widely regarded as one of Lawrence’s finest works. With great sensitivity and perception, Lawrence draws on his own experience and explores the close emotional ties that were to dominate so much of his life. The Morel family, the counterpart of his own, live on the Nottingham coalfield at Bestwood (Eastwood). Gertrude... Continue Reading →
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick
Blade Runner 2049 came out on October 6th, so why not read the book that started it all: Philip K. Dick’s Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? In the aftermath of World War Terminus, humanity has mostly fled to Mars. People who go to Mars get an android for free. But some of the androids,... Continue Reading →
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller
Do you remember the campy version of Batman from the 1960’s TV show? That’s the way he was portrayed for several decades. But everything changed in 1986 thanks to Frank Miller’s Batman: the Dark Knight Returns. Miller’s depiction of the Dark Knight, along with Alan Moore’s Watchmen, ushered in a new, darker era for comic... Continue Reading →
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
Totalitarian control. Censorship. Loss of Freedom. All of these things are as much of a concern in 2017 as they were decades ago. Since Trump entered office, Orwell’s 1984 has become a bestseller once again. There are growing concerns about government control, “Big Brother” and spying to name a few. However, while 1984 has been... Continue Reading →
And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
Agatha Christie is one of the world’s bestselling novelists thanks to her 66 detective novels. According to her website, she has only been outsold by Shakespeare and the bible. Having never read an Agatha Christie novel before, I decided to read And Then There Were None, which is considered to be one of her best... Continue Reading →
The Books of Mo Willems
Elephant and Piggie. Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus. Knuffle Bunny. These perennial story-time favourites were all created by one author, the endlessly original Mo Willems. In addition to his series titles, Willems also writes popular standalone books. Most child readers (and those who read to children) will be familiar with Goldilocks and the... Continue Reading →
Shakespeare for the Queen’s 90th Birthday
In honour of Her Majesty's 90th birthday, the Prince of Wales chose a selection from Shakespeare to commemorate the occasion. The passage was taken from Henry VIII and presented this morning on the BBC. The reading from act 5, scene 5 (edited) begins: “Let me speak, sir. For heaven now bids me; and the words... Continue Reading →
Young Adult Titles Inspired by Shakespeare (taken from the TBPL Teen Tumbler) Romeo and Juliet
Inspired by Romeo & Juliet Fielder, Lisa. Romeo’s Ex: Rosaline’s Story Gabel, Claudia. Romeo & Juliet & Vampires Jay, Stacey. Juliet Immortal & Romeo Redeemed Marquardt, Marie. Dream Things True Selfors, Suzanne. Saving Juliet Serle, Rebecca. When You Were Mine Taub, Melinda. Still Star-Crossed Trout, Jenny. Such Sweet Sorrow
Shakespeare as Graphic Novels
Shakespeare continues to appear in new and usual ways and one of the newest formats is the appearance of traditional and manga style graphic novels, though the plays have appeared in illustrated editions for hundreds of years. Copies of the plays were illustrated in both adult and children's editions and proved particularly popular with the... Continue Reading →
Young Adult Titles Inspired by Shakespeare (taken from the TBPL Teen Tumbler) Macbeth
Inspired by Macbeth Cooney, Caroline. Enter Three Witches Klein, Lisa. Lady Macbeth’s Daughter Pratchett, Terry. The Wyrd Sisters Reisert, Rebecca. The Third Witch
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