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Olivia’s First Term

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When I picked up Olivia's First Term, I was more than a little sceptical. The book was light purple, with splashes of silver on it. It did not promise to be the kind of book I would like. I don't like books that run on crushes and fantasies and lipstick and shoes and make-up. And lavender, purple and mauve books are often filled with just that.   Happily, Olivia's First Term was nothing like that. In fact, I would go as far as to say that I experienced after a very long time the joy bordering on addiction that I felt when I read Malory Towers the first time. When I read Malory Towers now, I cringe with embarrassment at the fact that eighteen-year-old Darrel behaves as if she is eleven. But I cannot deny that when I read the series the first time, I devoured each book and wished Enid Blyton had written more. Olivia's First Term gave me that same simple, childlike happiness. I … [Read more...]

Day Four: Reading Workshop at JustBooks

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My reading workshops are always learning experiences. If not for those who attend mine, for me! Yesterday was a day of comics and stories. One child made a comic depicting a race to win a golden sword. One write a fable and illustrated it. One wrote an essay with a picture. They showed me, again, how inspiration can come from anything!   … [Read more...]

Day Two: Let’s Read at JustBooks, Wanawadi

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One hour is not enough for everything I like to do with the children at the workshop! It was still lovely, though, with understanding copyright (and asking whether Google will know who owns the copyright for the Bible) and telling stories. Myths, book covers, publishing, copyright and a quiz - all on Day Two of the reading workshop at JustBooks, Wanawadi. Let's Read! … [Read more...]

The Court Painter’s Apprentice

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I love novels that read like short stories. I don't like it when the plot is so complex that my excitement reaches its peak too early. When I read a book like that, I'm just waiting to find out what happens in the end, not enjoying the journey. The book I read before this, The Boy Who Fell Down Exit 43, was like that. In the last two chapters, you're just waiting for resolution, no longer anticipating what could happen. The Court Painter's Apprentice was nothing like that. In many ways, I found its telling old-fashioned, and I liked that. I liked how different incidents come together to create a story. There was a build-up with no unnecessary crests and troughs. One story after another, with very few sub-plots. Didn't Aristotle say that that was the making of good literature? A young painter's talent is discovered when he is still very young. Apprenticed to Hugo, the leading painter of … [Read more...]

Days Three and Four: Reading Workshop at Friends Library

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"How can it already be 11:30?" "Time is already up?" "I could sit here for five hours daily!" "Why is tomorrow the last day?"             Today, Day Four of Exploring the World of Stories, my reading workshop at Friends Library, I ended up extending my one and a half hour slot to almost two hours, simply because the children were so excited. It's been wonderful, these four days. I can't believe that tomorrow is the last day either! … [Read more...]