Author: nancysylaprany

Hi everyone,

Thank you to the students who came to our Book Club meeting in DL2, held two weeks ago on the 6th August (outside of the library during the HSC Trial exams). As always, it was lovely to see our regular book clubbers and, it was great to have a few new students join us for this meeting (welcome Veronica and Ava). 

This is a list of some of the books shared at this meeting:

• Robert Lowell’s poetry (‘confessional’ type of poetry for studies in English). Other poets of this style include Sylvia Plath. 
• A room with a view by E.M Forster
• 19 love songs by David Levithan (a collection of short stories). You might like to try other works by David Levithan (check out a list of what’s available in print in the library here).  For a mix of stories that’s longer than a short story but shorter than a novel try, Let it snow by John Green, Maureen Johnson and Lauren Myracle. 
• Books about philospher Nietschke. This book and this book might be of interest for anyone with an interest in exploring the work of Niestschke. This general book on philosophy might be of interest too. 
• Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë. The is the Kate Bush music video, Wuthering Heights, mentioned in our discussion. You can read more about the song here (the section about the ‘Composition’ of the song is quite interesting to read too).
• The 117-storey treehouse by Andy Griffiths
• The immortal life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot (age recommendation: 19+)
• The quiet and the loud by Helena Fox. 

Thank you to Mrs Lacey for your wonderful support of Book Club, libraries and sharing your love of reading. Mrs Ryan will be back for our next Book Club meeting. Our next meeting will be held on Tuesday in Week 9. 

Until then, happy reading everyone!

Hi, thank you to everyone who came along to today’s meeting. It was great to see you all (as I know there were a few other activities on at lunch time) and a warm welcome to our new members too. Book Club is a safe place where we can talk about all things related to books and reading. Our reading tastes can be quite wide and varied but all good book conversation is appreciated and respected. Over the years, many students and teachers have discussed, or should I say debated or defended, their love of particular books or genres. We won’t always agree but I think that it is one of the aspects of Book Club I enjoy the most. The connection that Book Club members can express about their reading experiences opens us to new perspectives and different ways of seeing things. Sometimes it is not all positive in terms of our reading experiences. Being able to discuss these types of experiences is helpful through Book Club too. Dislike of particular characters in stories or the way an author finished a story or any other number of points of discussion are always possibilities in Book Club. Book Club is an open, continuing conversation about what we’re reading in general and what we’re reading as a group (if we have a set novel or text).

For students who were not able to attend today’s meeting, here’s a summary of what happened:

• Copies of our new book, Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt, were distributed. We did not have enough copies but I am able to purchase ebook copies for anyone still interested in reading this novel for Book Club. If you would like an ebook copy and you weren’t present at today’s meeting, please let me know and I’ll add you to my list for an ebook copy.
• As an alternative to Remarkably Bright Creatures, I have a selection of other animal stories that might interest some students. There’s a range of novels, biographies and a collection of short stories. If you would like to browse this collection, see me or the library staff.
• I also have an audiobook for anyone who would like to try this format. The story is The Benefits of being an Octopus by Ann Braden. Although not an animal story, it is a story about relationships (which is also very much part of the other books i.e. Remarkably Bright Creatures and the selection of animal stories). The link to the audiobook in Sora is attached (there’s multiple copies of the audiobook available). I will also purchase an ebook in Sora. If you would like an ebook version of this book, please let me know.

In summary, we are reading animal stories and books about relationships for Book Club until our next meeting. I will check in with everyone before our next meeting in Week 3 to see how everyone is going and if we need more time before we discuss Remarkably Bright Creatures and our other book options. 

Happy reading everyone! I hope you can enjoy some time everyday for some personal reading (among all your other activities, work and responsibilities).

Thank you, as well, for sharing what you have been reading today 🙂
I look forward to our next book chat! If you have any questions, please see me in the library.
Mrs Sylaprany

(PS: #47 Book Club meeting was held in Week 5, Term 1).

Hi everyone,

Due to the Year 10 Knowledge Challenge, we had a number of apologies for this meeting (and Mrs Lacey was able to sporadically join us over the course of the meeting). Abbey, Sienna and Taliyah had all been reading Sam Kerr’s autobiography, My journey to the World Cup. We had a great conversation revisiting this recent event, the inspiration of the Matildas for women in sport, as well as a discussion about soccer and how it brings people together. We discussed the complexities of soccer as a team sport and how it involves all parts of your body and brain. All students at this book club meeting play soccer or have played in the past. It was an enjoyable and inspiring conversation to share. 

The books discussed at today’s meeting included:

• My journey to the World Cup by Sam Kerr (read by Abbey, Sienna, and Taliyah)

  

• Exit through the gift shop by Maryam Master (read by Sienna)
• Before the coffee gets cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi (read by Maya)
• A man called Ove by Fredrik Backman (read by Mrs Ryan)
• Nothing more to tell by Karen M. McManus (read by Mrs Ryan)
• Migrations by Charlotte McConaghy (read by Mrs Lacey)
• The seven skins of Esther Wilding by Holly Ringland (read by Ms McNamara)
• The bookbinder of Jericho by Pip Williams (read by Mrs Sylaprany)

For our next Book Club meeting, we are reading graphic novels. You may choose your own to read between now and our next meeting in Week 9. The library has received many new graphic novels throughout this year so there’s a good range to choose from. Both fiction and non-fiction graphic novels are available. If you need some suggestions or would like to browse the collection, visit the library to see what’s available. There’s also a large collection of digital graphic novels available in Sora. There’s plenty to explore and read. Be sure to choose a story and style of illustration that appeals to your reading tastes. If you need assistance finding a graphic novel, don’t hesitate to ask for help.

I look forward to our next discussion in Week 9 (Tuesday). This will be our last book club meeting for 2023.

See you then!
Mrs Sylaprany

Hi everyone

What a wonderful turnout at Book Club in Week 9, Term 3 (12 September). There were lots of familiar faces and it was great to see so many new students join this book club meeting for the first time too. 

It was so lovely to see our long time Year 12 book club members as this was their last meeting before their HSC exams.  Farewell Zoe, Lillian, Katie, Neola, Deepana and Mithra. Your time with us at Book Club seems to have come to an end quite suddenly. Wishing all the best as Year 12 comes to an end and wishing you all the very best for life beyond Cerdon. Thank you warmly for being part of Book Club for so many years and for sharing your unique reading journeys. 

A great range of books were shared at this meeting including:

• The Yield by Tara June Winch
• Where the crawdads sing by Delia Owens
• Shatter me by Tahereh Mafi
• Schindler’s List by Thomas Keneally (also published under ‘Schindler’s Ark’)
• The Help by Katherine Stockett
• Wolf Children by Paul Dowswell
• The kinder poison by Natalie Mae
• Cat’s cafe by Matt Tarpley
• Heart of darkness by Joseph Conrad
• Rowan of Rin by Emily Rodda
• Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie
• Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
• Books by Jenny Han (romance fiction), Holly Jackson (mystery and crime fiction), and Lynette Noni (fantasy fiction, dystopian, and mystery and suspense stories).

Hi everyone

Our meeting on the 1st August was a small gathering as our Year 12 book club members were completing their Trial exams and our Year 9 regulars celebrated a friend’s special birthday (happy birthday, Anastasia). We welcomed back Abbey and Angel, and also welcomed two new book club members at this meeting, Tara and Emma. Since our last meeting, Lana has also joined Book Club. As always, thanks to Mrs Ryan, Ms McNamara and Mrs Lacey for attending and sharing your wide reading experiences.

Here’s a quick list of the books shared and discussed:

• Around the world in eighty days by Julies Verne
• Little Women by Louisa May Alcott (for something different, try: Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy : a graphic novel : a modern retelling of Little women by Rey Terciero)
• The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S Lewis
• The Sinister Booksellers of Bath by Garth Nix 
• Calypso Summer by Jared Thomas
• Before the coffee gets cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
• Remarkably bright creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
• Convenience store woman* by Sayaka Murata
• Hello, Beautiful* by Ann Napolitano
• The bookbinder of Jericho* by Pip Williams
• The seven husbands of Evelyn Hugo* by Taylor Jenkins Reid
• Yellowface* by Rebecca Kuang
• Lessons in Chemistry* Bonnie Garmus
• The Cool Code by Deirdre Langeland
• New Scientist, Issue No 3445, 1 July 2023  – Civilisation

*Note: these books are adult fiction (recommended for senior readers)

For the rest of this term, we are reading The Sinister Booksellers of Bath by Garth Nix. We will discuss this book in Term 4 (to give everyone time to read it over the holidays if needed). Copies are available to borrow from the library. If you would prefer to read another book to discuss at our next meeting, that is absolutely fine. Our next Book Club meeting will be held in Week 9 in the library. 

Until then, happy reading!