Book Chat Back-Chat #1
Despite everything I said about not joining a book club again, I still love to talk about books –especially with my family. Last night, over tea, Mr H, our two daughters, B and R, and myself discussed our favourite books that we’d read recently…
B (12): My favourite books that I’ve read recently are The Gallagher Girls series by Ally Carter – especially Book 2. Book 2 was the most exciting cos it was really unpredictable – not like "oh my god that person is so bad how can you not see it?" You just didn’t know what was going to happen next.
R (14): Those books were OK but I thought they were predictable, although I did skip forward to read the last page when I was half-way through.
Mrs H (46): NO! You can’t read the last page first. That spoils the ending.
R: I said I read it when I was half-way through. And you’re wrong, it doesn’t spoil the ending – it just adds to the suspense. Don’t look at me like that.
Mr H (47): So, R, what’s your favourite book that you’ve read recently?
R: Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children series by Ransom Riggs. The books were so much better than the film which was like all three books squashed into one. The books were scarier. I also liked Twilight and New Moon by Stephenie Meyer, which I read after watching the films. And I loved the Murder Most Unladylike series which I started reading in Year 6 but carried on reading as they came out. I don’t care if it’s middle grade.
B: Murder Most Unladylike was rubbish.
R: Shut up – it wasn’t rubbish, it was really good.
B: You shut up! It’s my go. I also liked Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell. It’s about a girl who writes fan fiction and has a big following on the internet and then she goes to college with her sister but they fall out with each other.
Mrs H: I read that one too. I found it a bit slow.
B: It’s brilliant.
Mr H: Does anyone want to hear my favourite books?
B & R: NO!
Mr H: So my favourite book that I’ve read in the last year is Wild by Cheryl Strayed, about a woman who goes trekking and camping on her own in the wild.
Mrs H: R, what are you doing with that wine bottle? Put it down.
R: Just sniffing it. It says it’s got a cherry and pepper aroma.
Mr H: Um, is anyone listening to me?
Mrs H: Sorry. Go on.
Mr H: There’s a film of it starring Reece Withoutaspoon which I think you girls would enjoy.
B: Dad, I think you’d enjoy Wonder by RJ Palacio about a boy with facial deformalities.
R: Deformities.
B: Whatever. It’s a really good book. Can I leave my courgettes?
Mrs H: No.
B: [Groans.] Mum, for you I’d recommend My Name is Victoria by Lucy Worsley which is like fiction mixed with non-fiction with a twist. Oops – I’ve given a spoiler away!
Me: I’m none the wiser.
B: And R, you should read the rest of The Gallagher Girls series. They’ve got them all in the school library.
R: Not happening.
Mr H: I think you’d all like 438 Days by Jonathan Franklin. It’s a true story about a South American fisherman who gets lost at sea for 438 days and miraculously survives.
Mrs H: Yes I loved that story. It was totally gripping. Right, my turn. The book that’s stayed with me the most is The Power by Naomi Alderman. I think all three of you should read it, although perhaps it’s a bit old for B at the moment. It’s about how the world changes when all girls all over the planet discover they’ve developed an organ in their bodies called a skein, which gives them an electric current that they can use to give people electric shocks. They soon realise this makes them physically more powerful than men – which changes everything. It’s very, very thought-provoking.
R: I’d like to read that.
B: I’d like to give people electric shocks.
Mrs H: [Presses fingers to Mr H’s neck.] ZZZZZap! Make me a cup of tea, NOW, man-slave.
B: [Zaps her dad]. Get me a chocolate biscuit, man-slave.
R: Man-slave, do you want to watch Love Island with us now?
Mr H: Very tempting, but man-slave seeks permission to retreat to his man-cave.
R: [Zaps her dad] You’re watching Love Island.