Reading Week 2022 - favourite books from students and staff

Last week the Senior School had a very successful Reading Week, which was a full week of celebrating and encouraging reading across the campus.

Some of our students and staff have shared their favourite books, with the hope that this will encourage others to pick up a book and read something different. Take a look below to see some of our favourites and let us know what your favourite book is via social media!

• Amy Howe – Soft Services Manager

"Interviews with an Ape" I have just finished this book and it hit every emotion possible for me.

It’s a fictional book that could be mistaken for fact I believe. I think this book will change the readers perception on the animal kingdom.

I was incredibly sad to finish this book but glad that there was closure in the story. I think this book is for everybody but also a must for anybody that cares about the world and what is in it should read this book. It will describe it in its simplest form and will make you want to make a difference."

• Claire Binney – Head of Classics

"Here are my recommendations. I’ve been a bit cheeky and gone in Greek, in Latin and in English, but there is a theme!

In Greek, Homer’s Odyssey (including gods, monsters, heroism and revenge) as the earliest piece of western European literature, created before writing even existed, it’s the bedrock of so much literature from almost the past three thousand years.

In Latin, Virgil’s Aeneid (how a refugee must literally go through hell and high water to bring East and West together and pave the way for future Rome) This is more than just a Roman re-hash of Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey.

In English, Natalie Haynes’ A Thousand Ships (a retelling of the story of Troy from the perspective of women, including mortals and immortals which weaves together so many strands from the ancient world. It is a masterpiece! It was also shortlisted for 2020 Women’s Prize for Fiction, so if I had to choose just one, this would be it."

• Jane McCarthy – Classics Teacher

"My favourite book is Persuasion by Jane Austen. It has convincing characters, a quietly competent heroine whose horrible family don't appreciate her and a happy ending. Plus part of the book is set here in Bath!"

• Luke Benedict – Head of Sixth Form and English Teacher

"East of Eden by John Steinbeck. Forget that simplistic, besmirched novella ‘Of Mice and Men’ and relish instead in the 20^th Century’s greatest novel. Part re-telling of the Old Testament, part rendering of family history, all elements of the human condition. Spoiler: it contains everything you need to know to live the good life."

• Annalisa Owers – Year 10

"Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi or S.T.A.G.S by M.A Bennett. They are both written very well with lots of plot twists and great characters."

• Chloe Mason - Year 7

"I love the Gone books and the BZRK book all by Michael Grant"

• Darcy Baker - Year 7

"My favourite book is One of Us Is Lying by Karen McManus."

• Libby Rogers - Year 9

"One of my favourite books is We Were Liars. My favourite book series is the Morris Gleitzman Once series. We Were Liars because the writing style is beautiful, and the storyline is complex. I like the Once series because it's quite heart-breaking but very informative about the holocaust".

• Florence Cooney - Year 8

"Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell. It’s extremely emotionally engaging and the author manages to capture each scene with such vivacity that you find yourself gripping onto her every word, even if she’s describing something simple and insufficient."

• Matilda Whittard - Year 8

"Cinderella is Dead by Kalynn Bayron. The writing is really engaging, it paints a great picture of the world and the characters, and the plot/story is very imaginative. The characters also aren't Mary Sues, they have faults and are very well rounded."

• Iris Marten - Year 7

"My favourite books are called Murder Most Unladylike 1 and 2. I like death and clues and mystery."

• Ellen Ferdinando - Year 7

"My favorite book series are the Scarlet and Ivy series and the Murder Most Unladylike series. I also really enjoyed a book called From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. Sorry I really can't choose, they are the best books ever written!!! I really liked them because they were exciting from the first chapter and there was always something happening".

• Tilly Downey - Year 7

"Tilly and the Book Wanderers. I love it because it is a story with magic and adventure."