And the (SPS) Booker Prize Winner of 2019 is ...

This year's Predict the Booker Prize, held last night in the Kayton Library, and compèred by Mr Hollands, gave six Pauline readers the chance to make a case on behalf of one of the books on the Booker shortlist, and win the audience's vote.

First off was Teddy Ackery, whose pitch for Bernardine Evaristo's Girl, Woman, Other focussed on its sense of freedom and lack of exclusivity. The book's characters are predominantly black, working-class lesbians, and Teddy confessed some early hesitation about the appropriateness of a white, middle-class male reader waxing lyrical about experiences so different from his own. But ultimately, he argued, this was a book about inclusion, a funny and accessible novel that speaks to everyone through its diverse range of characters and themes.

Black History Month

As this year's Black History Month begins - with events at SPS including a reading group discussion of Reni Eddo-Lodge's Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race, as well as a display of books in the library and from the SPS archive - here at the book blog, we thought we'd put together some reading suggestions, including fiction and non-fiction, aimed at all ages: some are new works, and others are classics, and some are particularly linked to this year's theme of 'Black Britain'. If you'd like to suggest a book we should add to the list, please feel free to use the comments box at the end of the post. 

Passing for White by Tanya Landman 

1848 – America’s Deep South. Slave girl Rosa is pale-skinned enough to ‘pass for white’, yet escape seems an impossible dream until she meets Benjamin. Together, they hatch a desperate plan. If Rosa poses as a white gentleman, Benjamin can travel as her slave... But can Rosa hold her nerve on their thousand-mile flight to freedom? Inspired by a true story, this is a powerful tale of danger, injustice and unimaginable courage.

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

Gripping and powerful young adult novel about the point blank shooting by police of an African American teenager, told through the eyes of 16 year old Starr, who is the only witness to her friend's murder. Black Lives Matter.  

Dear Martin by Nic Stone

Raw and compelling young adult novel about contemporary race relations in the US. Justyce McAllister is top of his class and bound for uni, but none of that matters to the police who arrest him. He looks to the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. for answers. But do they hold up anymore?

Book of the Week

The Mandibles by Lionel Shriver
Recommended by Fintan Delaney

The Mandibles is about a family living in the United States in 2029 when suddenly, during a debt crisis, the country's economy collapses - a collapse which leads to the rise of a supra-national currency: gold.  America is relegated from a global superpower to a failing state, and civilisation all but breaks down.

The book follows four generations of an American family, and the author explores what financial ruin looks like to those who have the most to lose from it. I found this an extremely interesting and dark novel about family relationship bonds when all seems to be falling apart around you, as well as the stress of stepping into the unknown and picking up the pieces of a broken society.  I really liked this dystopian fiction for the way it portrays a unique view of what happens to the median of society, and how people react as the world collapses around them.  The novel talks about people being stripped of their normality, and how they cope when their 'bubble like world' is taken away.

I also like the fact that the novel talks about the socio-economic changes that a society can suddenly go through, especially as this seems a plausible and almost a realistic event that could happen in the near future.  I would recommend this novel to all people who like dystopian fiction, and simply enjoy a unique story, as it is a gripping read that explores a semi-realistic 'what if' of the near future.

Book of the Week

Homo Deus by Yuval Noah Harari
Recommended by Marcus Baker

Homo Deus is a non-fiction sequel to Sapiens that takes a further step to envision mankind's future given the rapid advancement of technology and medical/biological sciences.

Some major themes include: the ability of man to change and create our environment (hence the 'Deus' in the title) and what might happen; the pursuit of health, wellness and even immortality; problems with technology and medical advancements (eg artificial intelligence and genetics engineering), obsession with ever more information and data as well as negatives of modern life driven by the internet.

Welcome Back!

After a turbulent few days for the UK - scorching sunshine, EFL expulsions and Boris Johnson vs Democracy - what better time to get lost in a good book? The blog is here to help you find your way ...

We publish posts once or twice a week, with a regular 'Book of the Week' review on Tuesdays, and another post on Fridays.  As well as recommendations, we have reading lists, polls, creative writing and World Book Day quizzes. Everyone is welcome to contribute - students, teachers, parents: all you have to do is e-mail your post to us at spsbookblog@stpaulsschool.org.uk, or contact any member of the English Dept.  The blog is what you make it - so make it amazing, and have a great term!

Final Post of the Year ...

Sadly, this term we say goodbye to Mr Hempstead, Miss Cogbill, Dr Weller, Mrs Holmes, Mr Toller and Colet Fellow Mr Espey - but they very kindly offered to answer the book blog's leavers' questionnaire before departing: if you're looking for some summer reading, here are plenty of suggestions ...

What were you reading when you were a teenager?
Mr Hempstead: I spent a lot of time on the cricket and football pitch as a teenager, but as I lived in the middle of nowhere I did manage to read quite a bit. The Lord of the Rings absorbed me for an entire Christmas holidays when I was about 15, and I read pretty much the complete works of Steinbeck from the ages of 14 to 17 as my parents had the full set on their bookshelf. I particularly like The Winter of our Discontent – it seemed to me to be a bit more nuanced than some of the others – and I enjoyed the more comedic works. The ne’er-do-wells of Cannery Row reminded me of a lot of men in my village!

10 Things To Do Before You Leave School

10 Things to Do Before You Leave School is the story of Ruby, a teenager whose life fell apart when her father died suddenly: now she's returning to school for her final year, and not sure how she's going to cope. The night before term starts, she finds a list left for her by her father: a list of ten things he thought she should do before she leaves school ...Will she do them? And what will happen when she does?

10 Things is an excellent young adult novel, which deals with serious issues, but is full of humour and insight into a whole range of topics - everyday family relationships, the minefield of teenage social life and love, and ludicrously pretentious student drama among them. It also has plenty to say about school life - including the fabled rite of passage that is 'muck up day' - and that's hardly surprising, because it's written by none other than Bernard O'Keeffe, ex-SPS English teacher and former 8th Form Undermaster. He was kind enough to answer some of the book blog's questions.