GCSE results

Going to pick up GCSE results tomorrow morning. Excited... apprehensive... Will I be able to read the letter or will my brain be paralysed?

Creative literature work looms...

Well, it's almost time for me to get back to work. I'm running two book clubs at the moment - one for 9-12s and the other for 13-16s.

For the younger group, Prologue, I'll be reading Wolf Brother by Michelle Paver and dreaming up some imaginative writing and craft projects for the children to do, and preparing a one-hour discussion group including games based on the book. We're also producing a list of Hot Reads - books we'd like to read, both new titles and classics.

For the older group, Epilogue (of course!), we're going to be doing a project on racism in literature this term. I've chosen three books so far: To Kill a Mockingbird, Purple Hibiscus and Friedrich, exploring three different kinds of racism; need to choose a fourth book - looking at various titles set in India and Far East. Also need to read To Kill a MB and come up with searching analytical and creative writing projects and a one-hour-plus discussion meeting.

I'm looking forward to it and have enjoyed reading books purely for pleasure over the summer - without need for paper and pen and analytical head.

I'm Back!!

Hello all
I have returned from the Land of Holiday! And jolly nice it was too. After much deliberation, I took three books with me :

Alone in Berlin by Hans Fallada
The Anniversary Man by R.J Ellory
Palace Council by Stephen L. Carter

Oh no! A fourth book crept in when nobody was looking...
Arthur: the Seeing Stone by Kevin Crossley-Holland

Did I read them all? Well... no, actually. I didn't get further than book one, in fact.

But I did buy a new book! Does that redeem me?

White Ravens:New Stories from the Mabinogion by Owen Sheers

I've been after this book for a while because I'm intrigued by the stories of the Mabinogion - medieval Welsh manuscripts with stories from Celtic mythology, Arthurian romance, shapeshifting, love, betrayal...

In fact, my own novel, Belongings is in many ways a re-working of some of these stories for teenagers set in a context of adventure and mystery. Ooh! Beats vampire romance any day!!

... Don't tell anyone I said that.



I went to see the Mappa Mundi too - and came up with a great idea for another book! That's two on the go now. At least in my head. I can think about it while I'm unloading the dishwasher in a minute...

Happy reading :)


Kate x

Books, books... Books?!

Well, I'm off on holiday tomorrow, so now I'm faced with one of those age-old decisions that faced our ancestors:

What books do I bring?

Now, this might not be such a hard decision to make were it not for the fact that we are going in the caravan. Which means we can't take too much weight. Which means not too many books.

Bother.

Will it be... :

a) books to research my next creative output; - does this count as holiday reading?

b) books the kids are clamouring for me to read; - if I can read them overnight...

c) books to prepare for next academic year's home-ed projects; - GCSEs... gulp!!

d) my reading group's next choice; - everybody else is enjoying it...

e) my own choice. - in which pile do I start?!?


Answers on a postcard, please, addressed to 'The Bookshelf'.

Or maybe not.

I think I may have to face this evil alone. So much for the Fellowship of the Book... !!

Is that the tyrannical washing-machine I hear calling?? Yes, O Master!


Kate x

Hello world!!

Well, so this is my blog! I'm Kate :)

I'm a published author, home-educating mother of three (and a ridiculous dog) and founder of a group of literary and creative writing workshops for kids and teens. I believe in education in the proper sense of the word, but not fact-stuffing.

Never seen without a book!

Now, what to take on holiday... ??

Kate x