Kate Petty
Recently, I read Behind the Scenes at the Museum by Kate Atkinson. It was a set book for school and I
sat down reluctantly to begin reading it in the morning; five hours later I was still sitting in exactly the same place, completely engrossed in the story. The voice of the protagonist, a young
girl from York in the 1950s, stayed with me long after I had finished it: not necessarily at the forefront of my mind, but as a lingering presence that subtly changed my perspective on all manner
of things.
Although The Glass Menagerie by
Tennessee Williams is a play, it manages to have the same effect on the reader as it would if it was a novel twice the length. In fact, the form helps to create a more realistic idea of the
characters, which makes the story more vivid, playing with the reader’s emotions as the story develops. The events in the play are understated but moving, and their simplicity is crucial to
what makes this story as good as it is.
Helena Cameron
Occasionally, one comes across a book that is ‘unputdownable’. The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón fits that bill. It is thrilling and beautifully written, with captivating descriptions of the streets and people of Barcelona. It’s the perfect book for a long-haul flight, or any flight for that matter.
My set books for next year’s AS-levels included Mrs Dalloway by Virginia Wolf, a thought provoking book that merits its reputation, and The Secret Agent by Joseph Conrad. I found the latter difficult to get into at first – Conrad’s immersed style is challenging and he experiments with the concept of time; I was disconcerted when suddenly finding myself in the past! However you soon find yourself gripped and there are some surprising twists, which make for an exciting read.
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