My poor, poor students. Due to the unexpected arrival of a pandemic, they are robbed of their final week of term, tests and teachers - what joy they are missing - and consigned instead to taking their summer holidays a week early. I do sympathise, I really do. :)
Anyway, if you're looking for something to read to pass the time in the absence of your super-exciting lessons, try Ian McEwan's 'The Cement Garden'. Now, I should point out that this book comes with an age warning - I'd say 16 upwards at least - because it contains some very adult themes. This recommendation is for the VI Form, therefore.
What's it about?
Group of kids stuck at home in their house (hence the link with swine flu) - under slightly strange circumstances - no parents around. I won't tell you how that's happened as it would spoil the story, but suffice it to say that the situation is far from 'normal'.
Who would enjoy it?
People who like dark, macabre storytelling and psychologically-driven narrative. You need to be able to deal with the darker side of human nature and what drives us as beings to access this text fully.
Who is the author?
Ian McEwan, from the UK, is probably one of the most widely-read and respected western novellists writing at the moment. A few of his novels have been turned into films - 'Enduring Love' and 'Atonement' are two examples. He tends to write about human nature and how we have aspects of our lives that drive us to do things we ourselves often don't understand. There is also something quite 'interdisciplinary' about his prose, as it were - in an average McEwan book you'll see an above-average number of references to quantum physics, maths, medicine, etc.
Let me know what you think! And if anyone has recommendations for the summer they'd like to share, hit the 'comment' button.
Best wishes for a great vacation! Mr Smith
