On Hold

Lovely readers as you have noticed there haven't been any posts lately, this is because the blog has been put on hold until further notice. Thank you so much for sticking with us this far down the track. Please keep up your reading and Library visiting in the mean time.  Love Zinnia and Gwendoline.

Library News: Who Are Zinnia and Gwendoline?

When we first decided to start this blog we wanted to come up with some fun names that weren't ours so that our identity could remain a mystery, although if you have come to one of our workshops you will know who we are.  After a considerable amount of deliberation we decided on the names of antagonists, or villains, in some of our favourite childhood books.  If one of these ladies piques your attention, you could always find their books in the library!

Zinnia Wormwood is the name of Matilda's mother in Roald Dahl's Matilda and she isn't a very good mother to her.  The vain mother obviously doesn't take her role very seriously and never protects poor Matilda from the terrors that are her Father and her Headmistress at school, Miss Trunchbull.  The ditsy nature of the character is often the source of much comedy in the book and the movie based on it, with lines such as "You chose books and I chose looks.".  Her obsession with playing bingo and watching television soap operas makes us glad that it's poor Matilda and not us who have to have her as a mother.


The Malory Towers series by Enid Blyton is where we meet Gwendoline Lacey, a spoilt only child who is sent to live at the boarding school with the rest of the girls and is famous for having to brush her hair 100 times a day.  She isn't very widely liked as many of her classmates see her as lazy, selfish, a hypocrite and untruthful and throughout the book a rivalry forms between her and the other girls.  Gwendoline doesn't really have any true friends in the books, only posing as one when she has something to gain from someone.  Her actions did lead to a lot of antics in the story, like her playing tricks on another girl and trying to blame others for it!

So Zinnia and Gwendoline are the girls you love to hate, because really without them some of the books we so love to read would be totally boring.  We hope that throughout the year we have been a form of entertainment to you just like we have really enjoyed bringing new content to you each week.  Some really exciting things will be happening when school resumes in a couple of weeks time.  Until then you could spend the holidays catching up on all the posts you have missed throughout the year...  Zinnia and Gwendoline


Character: Mrs Wormwood [Image]. Retrieved from https://www.tumblr.com/search/character:%20mrs%20wormwood

What happened to Gwendoline Lacey [Image]. Retrieved from http://www.compulsiveconfessions.com/2014/04/what-happened-after-malory-towers.html

Movies you didn’t know were books first

There have been countless movies made based on books, for example Harry Potter, The Lord of the Rings and The Hunger Games. What you wouldn't believe is that there are some major movies based on books that you had no idea about. We read this really cool article that sums up 20 famous movies based on books. Since there are so many we thought we'd sum up the most shocking ones, so lets get right into it!

1. Clueless is a classic chick-flick, its an entertaining way to spend an hour. We always thought this was a fun loving movie not to be taken too seriously or that had much foundation. But did you know that its actually based on a book called Emma by Jane Austen, whose book we recently reviewed. 
2. Pitch Perfect is a great example for a famous movie that not many people know was based on a book called Pitch Perfect: The Quest for Collegiate A Cappella Glory. This one is a bit of a quirky case though, because its all about music and singing, you would think its simply a movie. None the less the book is a great read. 
3. Queen Bees and Wannabes: Helping Your Daughter Survive Cliques, Gossip, Boyfriends & Other Realities of Adolescence, I doubt you would be able to guess what movie was based off this book. MEAN GIRLS the next best chick-flick out. Of course the genius mind of an author would have conjured this up.


 

To end this mind blowing post we would like remind you all that we are having another workshop tomorrow so come along to have a good time and celebrate the joys of reading. Until next week Zinnia and Gwendoline :)

Special Event: Bookmark Colouring

The semester, and for those who aren't transitioning into the Australian school year system the year, is almost over.  We're also about to mark almost a year of posting on the gissLibraryBlog, so we thought to celebrate we would use the opportunity to reward our dedicated readers and maybe attract some new ones.  So let's all meet on Thursday the 16th of June in the big break at the library of course and we can all have a chat about what we love about reading over some therapeutic colouring.  We all know that calling it a day (or night) and having to put aside your book is quite possibly one of the more traumatising aspects of loving reading.  The only thing that makes it slightly better is having a fun bookmark to help you remember where you left off.  That's why your work of art can also double as a bookmark making it a fun, creative and practical activity, so what's holding you back?  We love these bookmarks by Dawn Nicole Designs and will have plenty of copies on hand on the day, but you're welcome to get a head start if you want to!  We can hardly wait to see you then!! Zinnia and Gwendoline

Find fun bookmark printouts here:http://bydawnnicole.com/2015/05/free-printable-coloring-page-bookmarks.htmlutm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=facebook_page&utm_mediu
m=By%20Dawn%20Nicole&utm_content=Free%20Printable%20Co

You Don't Get Enough Sleep [Image]. Retrieved from https://media.bookbub.com/blog/2015/07/01/8-ways-reading-is-ruining-your-life/

Fiji

Hey guys,

you've probably been wondering why we didn't post last week. That's because we went to Fiji for 6 days. The purpose of our trip was to support an Organisation called a girl and her world. A girl and her world is an organisation that funds education for girls . 

in need. It was an absolutely rewarding experience. We visited quiet a few different villages and also had the pleasure of visiting two schools, both had libraries. Unfortunately one of the Libraries was badly affected by Cyclone Winston. Therefore we wanted to dedicate this post to appreciate our own library and not to take for granted how lucky we are to have such a large and extensive library that caters to all our students needs. We cannot stress enough how important reading is for the brains development and for a healthy imagination. One of the village elders told us that since he started encouraging the young children to read, it has helped their progression in school immensely. He said it is hard to come by books, because the village is so secluded it’s tucked away really. This is yet another reason to why we stress the fact that reading is important and how lucky we are to have our library. We are so happy that the Fijians agree with us
 

We are going to ask you lovely readers to go to the library or email us what your favourite things about our Library is and we can write it on the windows. This is a quick thing you can do to support our library and to show much you value it.

As always hope to hear from you and thank you for tuning in Zinnia and Gwendoline :) 

If you would like to support the Organisation you can donate at: https://www.gofundme.com/dbxnwnps

If you would like to learn more about the Organisation you can check out their site at:

http://agirlandherworld.org

Student's Opinion: Beneath the Dark Ice

Bobby Squiggles recommends ‘Beneath the Dark Ice’ by Greig Beck to our readers.  The gripping novel tells of a rescue mission to save the passengers of a plane that had crashed over Antarctica.  Losing hope as they struggle to find traces of survivors, they also meet scientists researching a possible oil reservoir.  But they soon discover that something more sinister may be lurking beneath the surface.  Bobby Squiggle enjoyed the read because of the interesting combination between horror, action and fantasy and thinks that readers between the age of 13- 25 would enjoy it too.  He browsing, on the lookout for something new to read he randomly found ‘Beneath the Dark Ice’.  The main character Captain Alex Hunter is the one he identified most, although Bobby described him as violent and badass or an ‘emotional teddy bear’.  So maybe next time you’re stuck for something fresh to read you can check out ‘Beneath the Dark Ice'. See you next week!  Zinnia and Gwendoline

7736474-beneath-the-dark-ice [image] .http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7736474-beneath-the-dark-ice

Author Related: Mary Pope Osborne

When we were younger we loved reading the 'Magic Treehouse' series, so when we found out it is the authors birthday next week we decided to learn more about her.

Mary Pope Osborne is obviously very creative, as her books take the two protagonists Jack and Annie all over the world and all through history.  The time traveling tree house takes the children to different places in a time the children wouldn't ordinarily get to see, as it is in the past or even in the future.

After one having looked at Osborne's life story it is clear that she herself has experienced many things that could have inspired her to write one of the many books in the series. 

As a child Osborne moved around the world a lot, since her family was in the military.  They moved around the United States and also Internationally.  Perhaps this is where she was inspired to write some of her stories, such as 'Moonlight on the Magic Flute' the 42nd book in the 'Magic Treehouse' series set in Austria.  Pope's family lived there for some time during her childhood, but she moved back to the University of North Carolina to study.  After studying cultures, mythology and religion she visited countries from Europe to Asia.  Osborne has always loved seeing new things, so the constant change of scenery wasn't a problem for her.

Another passion of Osborne's is drama, being very involved in her community theater, both on and off stage.  Her career has also been very varied, Pope has worked as a drama teacher, waitress, travel agent and more before finding her passion in writing.  Osborne is best known for the 'Magic Treehouse' series, although she has also written many other books, including research guides which supply background knowledge to the historical events happening in a certain 'Magic Treehouse' book.  The series is available in more than 30 languages, including English and German and we would definitely recommend the series to anyone who loves learning about the world and enjoying a good story while they're at it.  Find the series in the GISS library now! Zinnia and Gwendoline

N.A. (n.d.). Biography Mary Pope Osborne. Retrieved from http://www.kidsreads.com/authors/mary-pope-osborne
Mary Pope Osborne (2016). Biography. Retrieved from http://marypopeosborne.com/biography/
N.A. (n.d.). Mary Pope Osborne. Retrieved from http://www.famousbirthdays.com/people/mary-osborne.html
Special Program- Mary Pope Osborne [Image]. Retrieved from https://www.discoverpittsfield.com/event/special-program-a-visit-from-mary-pope-osborne/

Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice

A pride and prejudice review, how original! Hah you’ve been mistaken, this wont be your typical review, rather I shall try and convince you to give the famous Jane Austen a go. It may seem daunting to a few of you who would rather stick to more modern novels, however I can guarantee for most of you at least it will be worth your while.

Most people just think of it as a typical love story. Boy meets girl, heaps of drama and a happy ending, but for those who have endeavoured to read this canon it is so much more.

I was skeptical at first. I thought that it was one of the most over rated books I had ever heard of. I only read it for research reasons; little did I know I would be hooked. Now to be honest, I did find the first chapters to be quite dull. I had heard it all before, parents marrying off their children for hopes of a better or at least pleasant life for them. The moment that I felt inclined to continue reading for pleasure rather than purpose, was when Jane fell ill and stayed over Netherfield*. This reminded me so much of Wuthering Heights (hands down my favourite book ever) and the amazing story which it turned out to be, this gave me a glimmer of hope for what was to come. I soon became #TeamDarcy and everything after passed in a blur I finished the book that night, the ending came with the inevitable feeling of loss one acquires when parting with characters that one invests so much time and emotion into. I wont give anything away; because I don’t want to commit the heinous crime of taking away the adventure and suspense that this book so easily induces. So I wont present a brief summary or try to trick you into reading it by the means of a cliff-hanger, I’ll let you decide for yourselves. If you are skeptics, yet still try to read it I commend you. I am so thankful for the slight similarity between the two books, otherwise I might not have finished it, which would have been disastrous.

We would love to hear your responses on this article. Please answer the following questions and either email us or let us know face to face what you answered. This helps us know what posts you like and we would like to get to know our readers better.

Have you read Pride and Prejudice?

If yes, what was your favourite part?

If yes, #TeamDarcy? Why?

If no, would you consider reading it after this article?

- Zinnia and Gwendoline 

 

*Jane is the eldest daughter among five siblings. Netherfield is a small town in which Mr.Bingle lives. Mr.Bingle is a handsome gentleman. 

Austenland Quote [gif].  Retrieved from https://gowatchthisnow.wordpress.com/2015/01/17/austenland/

Library News: The results from our survey are in!

Hi Everyone!

Welcome back from the school holidays, we hope you had a fun and relaxing break.

Today we have the results from the survey we asked you all to take a couple of weeks ago, which let us learn so much about our readers.

Here's some information we collected on the language they tend to read in

If you have a look around the library you will see some new tags bringing attention to the books that you recommended to us.  Be sure to have a look around the library and see if any of the suggestions from other readers could interest you too.  Have you forgotten to fill out your survey?  It's not too late to pay a visit to Frau Burkart and let us know your favourite Book and Author!

We have lots of exciting things planned for this term, so be sure to keep checking in here each week!

Zinnia and Gwendoline

Discover new libraries around the world

Hey readers,

As you know GISS Library is not the only library, in fact there many others and now we're here to talk about the top ten libraries in the world.

A lot of elements from the GISS library can also be found in some of the worlds greatest libraries.  Just like the Seattle Central Library the GISS library is light and airy, and not gloomy like a lot of people imagine libraries to be like.

Many of them have the honour of having a special title, such a being heritage listed or being one of the seven wonders of the world.  Unlike the New York Private Library the GISS library doesn't have over 50 million books in its collection, but Frau Burkart is always adding new ones.  It also isn't as old as the Boston Library building, being less than 10 years old rather than being built in 1848.  The visitors of the GISS library may not be as prestigious as those at The Reading Room at the British Museum, but they appreciate it just as much.  We can only dream to have a library as big as Jay Walker's in our house, I guess a collection on our book shelves will have to do for now.  Number 1 on the list is the Library of Congress in Washington D.C. in the United States, being the biggest library in the world, which holds many impressive and prestigious documents.

Check out the link below to see ore in- depth descriptions and images of these beautiful libraries.  Have you ever visited any of them?  If you could only visit one which would it be?  Comment your thoughts below, we'd love to hear from you.  Enjoy the holidays!!! Zinnia and Gwendoline

Stephanie (n.d.). 10 Best Libraries in the World.  Retrieved from http://www.funonthenet.in/places/best-libraries-world.html

Challenge Yourself

Hello lovely readers,
Reading is an important part of your education but it can also be a relaxing hobby. So this week we thought it might be interesting to share with you a creative and fun way to motivate yourselves to read more. Whether it's a book you need to read for school or a book you read for pleasure, these bookmarks will help you stay on track and enable you to set goals to read more. There's a template attached for you to be able to print out this bookmark, but you can also design your own personal one if want to. There are two different types, one is for those readers who have set a long-term goal and would like to set a goal of books to read in a certain amount of time. The other is for those who would like to use this bookmark for only book and thereby set a goal for chapters.  Every time you read a book simply cross it off the bookmark. The templates include blank bookmarks with different colours.
For the templates in PDF format please click this link here, it will open a new tab.
Thank you for reading this weeks post :) Zinnia and Gwendoline

Quiz: Which faction are you in?

We found this fun quiz on the divergent wikia, and thought that it would be a great way to learn more about our audience.  We also did the quiz and would love to know what your result is.  Zinnia is part of the Erudite Faction and Gwendoline's results show she would be in Amity.  Comment below what faction you would be in in the world of divergent.  We'll see you here next week! -Zinnia and Gwendoline

Divergent Faction Quiz [Image].  Retrieved from https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/90/d5/ad/90d5adf5f4907768b8b86040629154c7.jpg

Teacher's Interview: Mr Lüthgens

We loved hearing about Mr Gillig’s reading history so much we thought you might want to learn more about another GISS teacher.  Mr Lüthgens shared some things about what he likes reading with us so that we could all learn more about him.

The first book that Mr Lüthgens recalls reading Jim Knopf, by Michael Ende is one he really enjoyed and also something he has subsequently read to his children.  In the series of two books the orphan Jim Knopf leaves the Island where he grew up and goes on a series of adventures.  The story is definitely very creative and would stimulate the imagination of children and adults alike.

Mr Lüthgens finds himself gravitating toward poetry, which is something he finds himself rereading on a regular basis.  In particular the collection of perms titled Venezianisches Credo, which the author Rudolf Hagelstange wrote about the years following the second world war.  This gives an interesting insight into this period which defined the world today. 

When we asked him to pick his all time favourite book, Mr Lüthgens couldn’t decide, but he managed to narrow it down to his top three.  Camus, an existentialist author, wrote one of those picks.  The plague, initially written in French, is often said to be semi- autobiographical, describing the authors’ experience fighting in the second world war.  Another is Two Planets, a science fiction novel by Kurd Lasswizt.  The theme of the novel, Martians being uncovered by a group of explorers who are then takes back to mars, is also one which is of great relevance in one of Mr Lüthgens’ subjects, Physics.  In Narcissus and Goldmund, by renowned author Hermann Hesse, a mismatched pair become friends in medieval Germany. 

The last book Mr Lüthgens read was The narrow road to the deep north, which like many of his picks is a work of historical fiction.  Richard Flanagan wrote the book on a doctor recovering from his personal and professional experiences on the Thai- Burma death Railway.

His love for reading is something that Mr Lüthgens wants to pass on to his children, reading them many of his childhood favourites like Jim Knopf and an originally Swedish children’s book The Wonderful adventures of Nils, which is about a young farm boy who gets up to mischief.

Hopefully you’ve enjoyed learning about Mr Lüthgens’ reading history as much as you enjoy taking classes with him.  We’ll see you next week for more exciting news out of the library.
Zinnia and Gwendoline

jimknopf [image]. Retrieved on 16.03.2016 from http://www.krippe-jimknopf.ch/

Students Opinion: The Paradise Trap by Catherine Jinks

Mr. Staffi (formerly known as Dugong-101), who so kindly came up to us and asked to be interviewed last term has read another book he would love to share with our readers.

“The Paradise Trap” written by Catherine Jinks and published by Allen and Unwin. Focuses on the adventures of the protagonist Markus and his mother, who arrive at the Diamond Beach Caravan Park however are sorely disappointed by it. The Park shares no similarity with the one Markus’ mother remembers. To add to the disappointment Markus can think of a hundred better ways to be spending his Holiday; which exclude spending time in a rusty, crusty smelly old caravan. Soon enough however the caravan reveals its secrets. Markus gets swept into the craziest, scariest Holiday ever.

Mr. Staffi revealed that his two most favourite characters are Markus and Jake, because they show a great deal of bravery and courage. Mr.Staffi admires these traits dearly and strives to achieve them himself.

His favourite part of the story was when one of the characters nearly got pulled down the toilet. He thought this was simply hilarious and couldn’t stop laughing, he added that there are multiple funny scenes in the book.

The characters managed to escape with hope and teamwork, they even got to keep the little white fluffy dog as an added bonus, this is exactly what Mr Staffi expected.

He rated the book an 8.5 out of ten and would recommended it to all ages except Kindy, Year 1 and Year 2, because he thinks that they wouldn’t be able to appreciate the story to its fullest extent yet.

Thank you Mr. Staffi for your thoughts on this book and hopefully our readers will give this book a go. Keep reading everyone and stay tuned for next weeks post –Zinnia and Gwendoline 

Paradise-Trap.png [Image]. Retrieved from: http://catherinejinks.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Paradise-Trap.png 

Your Opinion: Survey

Hi Everyone,

We want to find out who it is that is reading our blog and who is borrowing books from the library.  That’s why we have decided to put together a survey to learn more about you all.  It’s really easy to do, swing by the library to get a survey, fill it in with your favourite book, author and language to read in and simply return it to the library when you’ve finished.  You can add your name if you want to, but you definitely don’t have to.  We will then use this information to add your recommendations to the library so more people can enjoy the same books you do!   We would love for you to join in and can’t wait to hear all about what you love to read.  Until next week, Zinnia and Gwendoline

No one understands my pain [Image]. Retrieved from http://funnystack.com/category/funny-2/funny-books/page/4/

Author Related: Harper Lee

You may have heard a remarkable author has passed away. Harper Lee who is widely known for "To Kill a Mockingbird"(1960), Lee will forever be remembered in our hearts and minds as the author of an epic novel. Her novel takes place during the Great Depression in the fictional town of Maycomb, Alabama. Atticus the father of Jean Louise Finch is a Lawyer who stands against racism.
Lee was 89 years old when she passed away on the 19th of February this year. She spent most of her life outside of the spotlight in a place called Monroeville in Alabama. She insisted she would never publish another book. Her novel has influenced a great many people and will continue to do so in the future. GISS Students study "To Kill a Mockingbird", we both remember reading Lee's novel with vigor . The complexity of the novel is astounding and its effect on our perspectives was huge. The knowledge passed on by Lee through her novel is priceless. If you have not yet read it, we recommend you do, you can find it in the school library. In 1961 it won a Pulitzer Prize followed by its sequel "Go Set a Watchman". The Manuscript to her Sequel was found many years after Lee's first novel. The publishing of the second book was talked about with great controversy. Not everyone agreed that Lee was present enough to approve its publication. Regardless of the controversy, it is safe to say that Lee accomplished her goal "In other words all I want to be is the Jane Austen of South Alabama." 

Thank you for remembering Lee by reading this. Stay tuned for next weeks post. Zinnia and Gwendoline. 

THEN AND NOW [Image]. Retrieved from: http://cltampa.com/artbreaker/archives/2015/07/13/mockingbird-all-day-today-sequel-out-tomorrrow#.VsrmZxg0E4o

Library News: New Books to Read

Many students enjoyed the first Weir Do and the series has now been extended.  Anh Do also wrote about his own experience as a boat person – The happiest refugee can be found in the Library’s biography section.

Talking of fun reads: the Itch series takes us on a romp through the periodic table (should science be your thing you’ll like this), while David Walliams is being talked of as the new Roald Dahl and his Awful Auntie and Kicker im Kleid will be enjoyed by Dahl fans.  The falcon’s malteser is a comic send-up of crime stories by Anthony Horowitz, whose Alex Rider has saved many a student when confronted with having to produce a book review.  And if you think book reviews are a problem in your life, just consider the case of Rafe Khatchadorian who has to live with his pukey sister, Georgia, during the worst years of his life in Middle school.

These are just some of the 1200 new items to keep you busy when you could otherwise be doing your homework.

Thank you for tuning in today. Next weeks post will be up on Wednesday as per usual until then have a great week. -Zinnia and Gwendoline

 tumblr_mg9vgd24ey1ql2603o1_500[Image]. Retrieved from: https://justchester.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/tumblr_mg9vgd24ey1ql2603o1_500.jpg

Teacher's Interview: Mr Gillig

We have decided that this year, since we have learnt about some of the interest of our students, we should get to know the GISS Staff better.  This week a much loved teacher, Mr Gillig, shared with us what experiences he has had involving books.

Mr Gillig much prefers factual, non- fiction books to those that have been made up.  He told us that he ‘loathes’ novels and has no favourite books, but loves constantly discovering new reads to get involved with. Among those are Thomas Mann‘s books which are highly regarded masterpieces of literature. However, they achieve a total different meaning if you compare them with secondary literature about the author.  For example the autobiography of Katja Mann, Thomas Mann’s wife. Suddenly the reader recognized that the protagonist of “Death in Venice” is nothing else than a camouflaged biography of Thomas Mann himself. The composer Achenbach in “Death in Venice” is a phantasmic biographical psychogram of the author Thomas Mann himself, with the same mannerisms and homoerotic attitudes that haunts Achenbach in the novel. To read both books simultaneously is a unique and rewarding insight into literature.

Another of the ‘books’ that Mr Gillig has reread countless times are the infamous ‘Goebbels Diaries’, a series of documents by Joseph Goebbels.  Goebbels was an influential member of the Nazi Party, which governed Germany between 1933 and 1945 and caused the Second World War, led by Adolf Hitler.  The diaries were originally thought to be private until Goebbels thought of his diary as a source of (manipulated) history to be of published as Part of Nazi propaganda.  Goebbels continued to keep the diaries as he served as propaganda minister and chronicled the rise and fall of the third Reich, ending only weeks before Goebbels death.  They remained hidden until decades after
Goebbels’ death when they were published, giving historians and Mr Gillig alike a rare insight into the inner workings of one of the most influential political parties of all time.

In contrast the first book Mr Gillig remembers reading is ‘Der Struwwelpeter’, a children’s book by Heinrich Hoffmann, a psychiatrist at a Frankfurt asylum, who wrote the collection of short stories when he couldn’t find a suitable Christmas present for his three year old so!  The stories describe characters ‘misbehaving’ and bad things happening as a consequence, with often quite confronting endings.  In the first story, the book’s namesake, Struwwelpeter a boy doesn’t groom himself properly and has no friends because of it.  The book has stayed in Mr Gillig’s memories because he believes that ‘kids have to read things that are not nice’.

So now that we know what Mr Gillig has read in the past, what is he reading now?  Biographies of Australian Prime Ministers past and present:  Paul Keating who was prime minister between 1991 and 1996 and our current one Malcolm Turnbull. 

After that exclusive insight into what one teacher reads, are you curious about others?  
Let us know whether you would be interested in seeing more of these and whether there is
someone in particular you would like to read about. 

Also, since we had such a great response to our origami hearts, we have decided to run additional workshops next week Monday February 15 and Thursday February 18. 
Keep checking the blog to discover what we’ll post next. -Zinnia and Gwendoline

Special Event: Valentines Day

Hey readers, since it's Valentines Day next Sunday, we thought we would make a short video tutorial on how to fold cute little heart shaped bookmarks. These quirky little origamis are super easy to make and look great. If you want to learn how to make them firsthand come to the library on Monday the 8th and Thursday the 11th of February. You could give one to your Valentine if you wanted to :)

Stay tuned for next weeks post. Until then have a happy Valentines day -Zinnia and Gwendoline :)

Library News: New Books to Read

New year, new books to read!   Here are some new books that you can find in the GISS Library suggested by our librarian Frau Burkart.  Maybe you could set yourself a goal on how many books you want to read a week or month in the new year.

Older students might be more interested in Cartoons that shook the world – about the cartoons printed in a Danish newspaper, which aroused the ire of many Muslims worldwide because they defied the prohibition on depicting the prophet.  How did this controversy unfold and how has it influenced current affairs since?  The book questions our values – should respect and tolerance bend to the right to freedom of expression?

For younger readers non-fiction additions include a number of books about different Asian countries (in German and in English) as well as a series on topics from Australian history.

The Gone series by Michael Grant might appeal to young adults who like dystopian fiction; another newly added dystopian writer is Alex Scarrow with his Time Detectives who have to save history from herself – amazing, all the things that nearly didn’t happen or would have been worse if they had, once a fiction writer gets in on the case!  For those who like reality Anna Kuschnarowa or Lois Lowy might be a better choice.

Did all you Pippi Langstrumpf fans realise that Astrid Lindgren also wrote books for the young adult demographic?  Kati is a feisty young woman in her early twenties who decides to show her boyfriend he isn’t the only one with a little worldly sophistication – and so she travels to USA, Italy and France.  Her observations of life in these countries are very entertaining, as is the story that slowly unfolds – the point for contemporary readers being, of course, that the stories were written and set in the early 1950s; so they are also eye-openers for today’s readers to a time when travel was slower and even a trip from Stockholm to Italy was an adventure.

While we’re on the subject of historical fiction the sub-genre of fantasy-historical fiction throws up many very good reads.  The Attolia series is very well-written – not for dull elves: you have to read between the lines to keep up with the inner workings of the characters; and John Flanagan has added a prequel to his Ranger’s Apprentice which is absolutely as thrilling and absorbing as the best of his rest (even for those of us who aren’t coffee addicts).

What did you read during the holidays?  Email us or speak to Frau Burkart if you want your favorite book to appear on this blog!  See you next week! Zinnia and Gwendoline

Book-Update-4[Image]. Retrieved from: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYM9ITsLUfmycG6iX1x43-LN_BRhZPv7vqx3nkKLlEWWYgrQPCsmE2HlrEpon7nFlQtNEkG989xaLlvEpW5O3IryRfCMxZ481P9gNDwK8JCnIQNuenlyVhzEA4C8diO2eazXlc9KQNkmMT/s1600/Book-Update-4.jpg