Leaver's Post (1) ...

Today is our penultimate post of the year, and we're extremely grateful to outgoing Captain of School, George Davies, and Vice-Captain, Will Shackleton, for finding the time (between filming Friday briefings, of course) to answer the book blog's leavers' questionnaire.

What were you reading when you were in the fourth form?
George: Probably not as much as I should have been! Casting my mind back, I do remember this being roughly the first time that I read Catch-22 and some good dystopian novels like Brave New World, 1984, and Fahrenheit 451 during the holidays. 

But I think I was mainly in my comics phase during that year, so my enthusiasm for Marvel probably drowned out most other forms of fiction!

Will: A lot of trash crime fiction. My knowledge of corpse disposal was unparalleled as a 14-year-old.

That being said, And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie is a masterpiece of mystery and plotting. Just don’t read it late at night – I did and didn’t sleep for weeks…

What are you planning to read this holiday? 

George: My hopes are that this holiday will be a chance to get myself excited about international relations before going off to study it at university: Acemoglu and Robinson's Why Nations Fail along with Cynthia Enloe's feminist classic Bananas, Beaches and Bases are frontrunners, and I still need to finish off Tim Marshall's The Power of Geography, after starting it earlier this year. 

When I inevitably (and probably quite rapidly) start finding that all a bit heavy, I'm thinking that Ishiguro's Never Let Me Go or Adichie's Americanah would be very worthwhile, having been recommended both. Whether this will be an accurate reflection of my summer reading or just some very, very big talk remains to be seen...

Will:As I am doing English at university, probably a metric tonne in paper weight of obscure poems from the 12th century and barely legible stream of consciousness. I do have a long list of books for fun, however. The highlights:

Fear And Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S Thompson – the psychedelic escapades of journalist Raoul Duke and his attorney Dr Gonzo as they try to report on the Mint 400 motorcycle race under the sweltering Las Vegas sun.

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey – the story of the patients and staff within a psychiatric hospital. The movie with Jack Nicholson is definitely worth a watch too.

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid – an aging and reclusive Hollywood icon gives a final interview about her life of glamour and scandal. When she chooses unknown report Monique Grant for the job, no one is more surprised than Monique herself.

The Cement Garden by Ian McEwan – a dark and twisted tale of four siblings who, having recently been orphaned, retreat into a shadowy and isolated world left with nothing but each other and a large quantity of cement at their disposal.

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens – a dual narrative split between Kya, growing up in the marshes of North Carolina, and the apparent murder of a local celebrity. A coming-of-age meets murder mystery.

Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov [NB: for older readers] – a deeply disturbing look at obsession. A must-read simply for Nabokov’s poetic and deceptive language if nothing else. 

What/who is your all-time favourite book/writer?

George: My favourite all time book has got be Bernardine Evaristo's Girl, Woman, Other. 

I think I finished it within the first 24 hours of opening it, which is a highly unusual event given my usual slow reading pace. I'll but that down as a testament to the novel's accessibility!

Will: It’s got to be Fran Lebowitz – the writer who doesn’t write. With only two published essay collections and one childrens book to her name, she’s probably more notable now for her TV interviews, public speaking and Netflix special with good friend Martin Scorsese, Pretend It’s a City. Would highly recommend checking her out if you want an acerbically witty and satirical take on everything from the smoking ban to pocket calculators. Not a word comes out of her mouth that isn’t interesting or hilarious.

If I had to choose a favourite book, I will always have time for The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde (and this is despite suffering over it for A Level coursework – a true testament to its brilliance).

Who’s your favourite fictional character?

George: Definitely not a question I have a clear answer to. If you'll allow some deviation from this as a 'book' blog, I've just started watching Obi-Wan Kenobi, and it's reminded me that Darth Vader is by far the coolest villain ever created in the history of ever. He'll have to do for now.

Will:A very hard one to answer, but I think I’m going to say Lady Augusta Bracknell from The Importance of Being Earnest (is my love of Wilde showing?). Outrageously hysterical, her presence on stage always never fails to steal the scene. If you’re looking for a brilliant portrayal of the dowager, check out Brian Bedford’s Tony-nominated performance in the 2011 production [highlights available here: and you can stream the whole production via Digital Theatre here]  

Brian Bedford as Lady Bracknell (photo: Joan Marcus)

Do you have a favourite word/favourite line from a book?

George: Having spent so many hours on it for A Level English, it's only fair that Woolf's Mrs Dalloway gets a mention here. I think I increasingly found the novel more entertaining, and Woolf's attacks on Sir William Bradshaw, a caricatured, power-hungry doctor, were particular favourites. 

At one point, we see Sir William carry out a mental evaluation of the shell-shocked war veteran, Septimus, describing how 'he was attaching meanings to words of a symbolical kind. A serious symptom, to be noted on the card.' Having spent a year or so trying to decipher Woolf's own symbolism in lessons, this made me laugh.

Will: 'Some rise by sin, and some by virtue fall' from Act 2 Scene 1 of Measure for Measure. A shockingly modern take on ambition and governance for something written in 1604. I love how accurate, if pessimistic, Shakespeare’s perspective is on the amorality and luck of success.

Rory Kinnear (Angelo), David Annan (Provost) and David Killick (Escalus) in the 2010 Almeida Theatre production of Measure for Measure

If you had to recommend one book that everyone should read, what would it be?
George: The Handmaid's Tale. Whether you're left or right, it remains painfully relevant and a very popular cultural reference in debates on women's rights in the US. It's a great read!

Will: A Single Man by Christopher Isherwood. A gorgeously sorrowful story of a university professor as he attempts to preserve through the pain of losing his partner. There’s so much heart and all packed into just 150 pages. This book will seriously change your life. 10/10 – I can’t fault it.

Many thanks to Will and George for kindly contributing to today's erudite and illuminating post, and we wish them all the best for life at uni and beyond!