Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school - Albert Einstein

First Term at Malory Towers - Enid Blyton

At the moment I am studying children's literature and I was so excited when I discovered this book was on the reading list because I absolutely loved the book when I was younger (I even had it on an audio book). However, when I started reading the tale of Darrel Rivers and her friends at Malory Towers, I was astounded by the harsh realities of boarding school life. I remember thinking Gwendoline was a rotten child who deserved the taunts from the other girls, but when reading the book now, I can see that they never really gave her a chance, deciding early on that they did not like her. All I saw in Gwendoline now was a lonely child, lost and away from home. Furthermore, some of the rituals at Malory Towers that I had passed off as normal now seemed arbitrary and ridiculous. 

Have you got a Child's book that shines in a new light in the treatment of youngsters?

Lots of love 

Elouise

xxx

Books we are made to read at school

This is a very special blog post written by my sister, Sophie... I hope you enjoy it. 

I am not usually cynical when it comes to literature, as I see it as a form of art and as we know all art should be appreciated however subjective the view may be. Yet, I have been thinking about this and I have not enjoyed a book I have read since ‘The Very Hungry Caterpillar’. The plot lines are lacking, the language is simplistic and there is no real character development, which does not allow you to feel any empathy for the characters or feel able to relate to the story line. One book that stand out in particular to me is ‘Holes’ by Louis Sachar, this has to be in one of the top five most boring books in the world, in fact I think the only thing worse than the book is the horrible film adaptation. The story line does not make sense not only because major parts of the story are unexplained that would help to the overall story line, but it all feels so unrealistic and it is through coincidental events that the characters are strung together. ‘Holes’ is about an all male prison where they are made to dig holes all day but when they dig to something unexpected the whole story line turns around. Personally I think the most moving thing in this story is where the donkey gets shot in the head. Sometimes I feel the message of the books we read in school is lost because of the looming exam hanging over our heads which means that we can never truly enjoy the book. 

What do you think?

Lots of Love 

Sophie and Elouise

xxx

“As he read, I fell in love the way you fall asleep: slowly, and then all at once.” - John Green, The Fault in Our Stars

Fault in Our Stars - John Green 

I cannot believe this is the first time I am writing about John Green; he is an amazing writer who has inspired a generation of teenagers through his inspirational stories of unfaltering love. The story follows Hazel Lancaster and Gus Walters as they experience their first love. The only exception from the norm is that they met at a cancer support group. These misfit characters are so easy to relate to and their quick wit means you can forget that they are ill as they experience the usual power struggles with their parents as they start to grow up and realise what it truly is to let go. They embark on an adventure to Amsterdam to find Peter Van Houten, the author of their favourite novel An Imperial Affliction but on the way discover true happiness and romance. All this is shattered when Gus tells Hazel some heartbreaking news that makes the pretend world they have been cocooned in, suddenly seem all to real. This novel will make you cry (due to the obvious heart wrenching subject matter) but the humour lifts the book and makes it a truly enjoyable read. This is also probably the most quoted book in a long time, below are some of my favourites -

Unbelievably, the novel was only published in 2012 but the film is going to be in the cinemas this summer, as always I would definitely recommend reading the book before seeing the film.

Lots of love

Elouise 

xxx

“Don’t just teach your children to read…Teach them to question what they read. Teach them to question everything.” - George Carlin

The True Value of Children's Literature 

Authors obviously respect the authority of children’s books as they switch from writing adult books to children’s fiction. Some great authors have written children’s classics, Ian Fleming who wrote the James Bond series also wrote the famous children’s novel and film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. The wonderful J.R.R. Tolkien wrote both The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings Trilogy; both novels were written on the same strand but one written for his own children whilst the other captured the imagination of adults everywhere, selling over 150 million copies. All the books are now being turned into films aimed at an adult audience, this demonstrates the slippage between adult and children’s books as authors carefully tread between the two.

Furthermore, children’s books cause massive controversy, the storm which surrounded the release of Fifty Shades of Grey is nothing compared to the outcry due to the release of great children’s classics To Kill a Mockingbird and The Catcher in the Rye (which remained banned in some school in America until 1997). These children’s books confront issues such as institutionalised racism, class and gender roles that most adult fiction happily shies away from. There are loads of benefits of reading a children’s book when you are older as you have a greater understanding of the text and you can understand the complexities of the metaphors as you can see what they really mean. George Orwell’s Animal Farm is a parody of the Russian Revolution and the consequences of a communist society, all played out by talking animals that parody actual Russian leaders. This idea is so complex and executed perfect; to simply disregard this book as a children’s novel would be a disservice.

It is not only the children’s books that have caused controversy that should be acknowledged. Illustrated books are a great example of how children are educated about the world but also how we as adults (through the author) impart our social expectations and ideologies onto children. It is true that pictures can say a million words, but it is the hidden meaning within the pictures that can often become overlooked. The words can be saying very different things to the picture, but when you look at the book you are more likely to get the meaning from the picture. The illustrations in books add a lot to what is being said but with the notions of what constitutes an ‘adult’ book is means that the sense of seeing beyond the words is lost when we are reading the newest bestseller. 

So, next time you come across a children’s book in the library or your little cousin asks you to read them a bedtime story, do not sign in disdain because you might actually learn something because children’s books are definitely not just for children. 

Lots of Love 

Elouise 

xxx

“The one thing that doesn't abide by majority rule is a person's conscience.” - Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird

To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee 

Written in 1960, this novel quickly became a classic of modern American literature as it exposes the issues of racial inequality and the treatment of disability through the eyes of an innocent six year old and this unique narration is what makes the novel so interesting from an adults perspective. You see Scout's viewpoint being tainted by those around her, which eventually destroys her innocence. Furthermore, the narration allows you to misinterpret many of the events as you only see them through the eyes of a child. This Southern Gothic is set in the Depression and follows Scout and her brother Jem grow up under their father Atticus' watchful gaze as he tries to shield his children from the institutionalised racism of the small Southern town. The novel's obvious theme is the racism, which the moral hero Atticus is trying to stand up against both inside and outside the courtroom, so it is easy to overlook the other themes of the novel such as the issues of class, courage, compassion and gender roles. 

When the book was published, it caused a lot of controversy, being banned in some school whilst celebrated and taught in others. This is Lee's only book and although she has continued to respond to queries about the novel, she has refused to publicise it or herself since 1964. However, do not let all the controversy surrounding the book or its place as a 'classic' put you off reading it, the novel has gentle writing style and is even humorous at times. Since reading the novel when I was fifteen, it has become one of my favourites and every time I read it I get a new meaning from it. This would definitely be a good edition to anyone's bookshelf, the Beckham's even named their daughter after the author (and if that's not a good reason to read the novel, I don't know what is!)

When was the first time you read this book, or are you yet to discover it?

Lots of Love 

Elouise 

xxx 

“Nothing exists except through human consciousness” - George Orwell, 1984

Archetype - M.D. Waters

Emma wakes up in a hospital bed with no memories of anything before the moment she opened her eyes. Towering next to her is her husband Declan, who provides her with reasonable answers to all her questions about her former life, yet something does not quite add up. In her dreams she has memories of a past life that does not seem possible; the vivid dreams are of a war that never was and a camp where girls are trained to be wives. Despite these memories, she feels the need to repress them and knows she cannot speak of them, trapped inside the prison of her mind, she does not know what to do. 

As time passes, Emma allows Declan to sculpt her into the perfect housewife and she begins to she him in a gentler light, even falling in love with him. Then, one day she meets Noah and she can no longer distinguish between reality and her dreams. In a future where women are a commodity, a scarce commodity, Emma has to fight for her freedom whilst trapped by the love of her husband and her worst enemy, unfortunately she cannot tell who is who. 

This is an original dystopian novel with a brave female character who uses her strength of mind to outwit a world which she knows must be a lie. It shows the power of trusting your gut instinct and creates a scary prospect of revealing that your whole life has been a lie.

Have you read any good dystopian novels lately? 

Lots of Love 

Elouise 

xxx

“Friendship is really the finest balm for the pangs of disappointed love.” ― Jane Austen, Northanger Abbey

Elizabeth Eulberg - Better off Friends 

This novel tries to answer the question that has been on the edge of people's lips since their early teens - can boys and girls ever really be friends, best friends? The story follows Macallan and Levi, who were friends from the first moment they laid eyes on each other. As time passes they grow closer and start to spend more time together, boy's assume that they are a couple so do not bother wasting time on Macallan, whilst Levi is so interested in hanging out with Macallan he forgets to pay attention to the girls who are interested in him.  Eventually, they start to wonder whether it would be better to be more than just friends or should they try to not make the situation even more complicated as it may ruin their friendship. One fight could end it all whilst one date could be the beginning of something wonderful... but is it worth the risk. I really liked reading this novel because it was quirky and funny and creates an offbeat romantic comedy which is rare in this highly saturated genre. 

What do you think about romantic comedies, heartwarming and amusing or nauseating and cliched?

Lots of Love 

Elouise 

xxx