Six Recommendations From Amanda Bishop

I'm enjoying the new Hilary Mantel (thank you Bhasvic Library!). I've also read and loved Mr Loverman by Bernadine Evaristo. Also really enjoyed The Number One Chinese Restaurant which was on the Women's Prize longlist but didn't make the shortlist. I'm re-reading Burial Rites (Lit coursework text) and even though I've read it lots of times, it never fails to impress. And I've recently read the first of Alan Johnson's biographies/memoirs - This Boy and Nora Ephron's I Feel Bad About My Neck.

Will keep you posted if other books are worth recommending!

Amanda

A Recommendation From William Baldwin

Leadership in Turbulent Times: Lessons from the Presidents

Here’s my recommendation – pretty apt from a Principal in the current situation!?

A masterclass on leadership from four Presidents who faced monumental decisions and tests of their leadership. From Lincoln’s desire to unite the nation and abolish slavery after the civil war, to both the Roosevelt’s ‘Deals’ aimed at reducing inequality to Johnson’s desire to push through tax reforms having been bought to power after the shock assassination of JFK, this book offers a blueprint on leading through turbulent times. Lessons that could not be more apt today – whether that is from the rise of nationalist post-truth politics to the coronavirus pandemic.

Take care,
Will

Two Reviews by Gabrielle Crisp

Khaled Hosseini - And The Mountains Echoed

Author of the Kite Runner and A Thousand splendid suns Hosseini captures the Afghani diaspora through several generations and multiple locations. The central story of Abdullah and Pari is troubling, unexpected and touching. Hosseini manages the time and place shifts beautifully so you are aware through tone and voice of who is speaking and where you are. The unraveling of the complex narrative keeps you swept along. I have 5 pages to go but I am reluctant to finish this captivating story.

Bruce Pascoe - Dark Emu

Think you know about Australia and the history of colonisation? Reckon you are up to speed on the development of human civilisations and the development of agriculture in the 'fertle crescent'? Think again! Pascoe uses first hand anthropological research and extensive use of early records from the first explorers to show that the indigenous people's in this vast continent had developed sophisticated agricultural, farming, fish harvesting methods thousands of years ago.

The European invaders systematically destroyed the infrastructure and lied about the 'savages' they murdered and displaced in order to introduce their grazing herds. A phenomenal piece of research which upsets nearly everything you think you know about the evolution of agriculture and the impossibility of farming in the Red Continent.

Love is Blind by William Boyd

As reviewed by Daniela Barbaglia

I’ve just read ‘Love is Blind – William Boyd’.

Have you come across it?

It’s a reassuringly diverting read about a Scottish piano tuner, Brodie Moncur, who escapes the wilds of Edinburgh (and his tyrannical father – a clergyman) and is dispatched to Paris at the turn of the 19th century. There, he falls madly in love with Lika, a lusty Russian opera singer, who is married – eek – to a sweary, drunken Irish piano player, John Kilbarron, aka, “the Irish Liszt”.

Enter stage left – his sinister brother, the evil Malachi.

Many shenanigans ensue as the bond between Lika and Brodie deepens, and the story unravels pleasingly across a vibrant Paris, Nice, St Petersburg, and even to the dusky heat of the Andaman Islands.


There are pistols, pointy beards, and a palpable sense of snakes and ladders in this clever, poignant and often, very funny book.

Highly recommended if you need to be lifted away from “the unprecedented times” …

Three Recommendations From Sara Furse

I read Bernadine Evaristo's book Girl, Woman, Other which was very good...also An American Marriage and am currently reading Zadie Smith's Swing Time.

Hope you're keeping safe and well.
All the best
Sara

Hello all!

This is our new library page of book reviews done by members of the college.

Do you have a review of something to send in?

If so, send it to k.mcmurray@bhasvic.ac.uk

We look forward to reading them!