Here is another list to peruse and enjoy.
Nicola William’s ‘Without Prejudice’ looks like a fascinating read.
Happy reading! 📚
Month: January 2021
Book sales are up!
Poirot at 💯!
It is 100 years since Agatha Christie first introduced us to her brilliant Belgian detective.
However you choose to absorb these wonderful stories, by book, radio or tv/dvd, they are as comforting as a warm hug (despite the murders!).
The first story introducing Hercule Poirot, ‘The Mysterious Affair at Styles’ is currently running on BBC radio 4, available on the BBC Sounds app.
https://theconversation.com/amp/poirot-at-100-the-refugee-detective-who-stole-britains-heart-153665
Historical fiction for Bridgerton fans!
Bridgerton on Netflix is a wonderfully enjoyable guilty pleasure, especially during tough times. I can’t wait to get around to reading the books too.
The list below also has some more great ideas. The Visitors by Sally Beauman about the discovery of Tutankhamen’s tomb looks particularly intriguing!
Bookshops are struggling!
Everyone is struggling. Though the closure of this huge bookstore in Paris seems a sad sign of things to come…
Blue Bookworm’s top tips: learning English by watching TV (books aside only briefly!)
This video has some great ideas for how TV can help with language learning as Netflix is a tool most students utilise anyway.
Recommending series’ rather than films as there is more time to focus on repetition of ideas and language to help students familiarise themselves with words and catchphrases.
Comedies are recommended because the writers need to skillfully craft the language to produce the required humour.
Examples: Friends, Brooklyn 99, Big Bang Theory.
Happy watching! 📺
National Geographic – The most beautiful bookshop in the world article!
In Buenos Aires, Argentina. It’s amazing.
There is also a video on the page about the Japanese hostel ‘Book and Bed’ in Tokyo. It looks so cosy!
Happy Reading! 📚
Standout novels – best books of 2020 article
Some of these look like great fun.
Happy reading! 📚
Return to Dyatlov Pass by J.H. Moncrieff
My interest in this topic started with a fascinating BBC article (see below) about 9 Russian students who went on a camping trip in 1959 in the Ural mountains and disappeared. The discovery of their remains in such unusual circumstances and with injuries that could not be explained spawned a wealth of theories/conspiracy theories. Nobody knows, even to this day, what actually happened to those students, which tragically makes the story even more intriguing.
This novel takes one of the conspiracy theories surrounding these events and runs with it, making a gripping horror that is impossible to put down.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/extra/SoLiOdJyCK/mystery_of_dyatlov_pass
Murder at the Manchester Museum (Museum Mysteries series) by Jim Eldridge
Former Detective Daniel Wilson (of Jack the Ripper investigation fame) and Abigail Fenton his life partner and partner in (solving) crime – as well as a respected archeologist – use their brilliant minds to solve strange murders. These murders usually take place in museums and there is a whole series of books to enjoy. I started with the 4th book, not realising it was a series but it doesn’t make a lot of difference, I still really enjoyed this book.
This is a great mystery touching on the very real history of the massacre at Peterloo and the characters are very believable, their relationship gives the story an extra spark. Also for a story set in 1895 it’s great to see a strong female lead in Abigail, who speaks her mind and is as intelligent and resourceful as the male characters.
Museum Mysteries Series
1. Murder at the Fitzwilliam
2. Murder at the British Museum
3. Murder at the Ashmolean
4. Murder at the Manchester Museum
5. Murder at the Natural History Museum
Happy Reading! 📚
From travelling teacher to armchair-travelling teacher 