New York Times February Bestsellers
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"In 1965, a nursing student follows her brother to serve during the Vietnam War and returns to a divided America."
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"A math teacher at Caseham High suspects there is more going on behind a scandal involving a teacher and a student."
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"The third book in the Crescent City series. Bryce wants to return home while Hunt is trapped in Asteri's dungeons."
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From the students
Manuela Musa: Normal People by Sally Rooney
"Whilst immersing myself in the perspectives of Connell and Marianne, I couldn’t help but find myself questioning if I was one of the supposed ‘Normal People’ Sally Rooney so brilliantly describes in her best-selling novel. From the moment you open the cover page and the delicious smell a new book carries infiltrates your nose, I can guarantee you, you will be hooked. ‘Normal People’ follows the interconnected lives of Marianne and Connell and explores their growth, social position, and ultimate influence in each other’s lives. The plot matures parallel to the protagonists’ lives, allowing the reader to grow up with them and become invested in all their experiences. The readership gets to participate in the delicate relationship these two characters have and relate in one way or another to their experiences. What is most intriguing in their story is their sudden ‘switch’ in social positions; you will get to experience both characters navigating through the world of popularity as outsiders and insiders. Ultimately, Rooney will leave you with fond memories of these characters: some filled with tears and others consumed by laughter. Rooney writes in such way which allows every reader to relate to at least (if not all) some aspects of her novels. ‘Normal People’ – specifically - as the title literally states, follows the lives of seemingly average individuals, these being the central couple or any other character in the novel. While the book is centered on the intricate and dynamic lives of the protagonists, various antagonists are introduced throughout the plot, consequently presenting multiple personalities. As I read the book, something peculiar occurred to me, something extremely unique to this specific novel, I found myself reading about my friends, my experiences and even myself! The plot captures subjects such as romance, mental health and friendship which in some way or another I could relate with. Consequently, the novel is an extraordinary read; one will be able to interpret the plot as fiction or, if imaginative enough, a non-fiction re-telling of people and events of their life. However, BE AWARE it is not for the faintest of mind and heart. Rooney incorporates themes of abuse, depression, and drug use amidst the storyline; some might dislike these branches yet, personally, I believe it brings a raw sense of reality to the characters. In addition, the probability of closing the final page with tear-filled eyes is extremely large… Rooney’s preeminence exceeds the themes she includes and goes into her penmanship. By introducing the protagonists’ perspectives, the reader gets to experience both sides of the relationship equally. Additionally, Rooney omits speech marks throughout her books, a unique specialty, causing her novels to be complex and require attention while reading, nonetheless still maintaining an intriguing read. When reflecting on this interesting choice, attempting to find an explanation, I turned to Rooney herself and she clarifies it best: “it’s a novel written in the first person, isn’t it all a quotation?”. All these aspects imply how truly great ‘Normal People’ is, thus, trust me on this one, add it to your ‘want to read’ pile. Finally, to conclude, the closing line of the novel is a reflection on how the book will certainly leave you feeling: It will always be there for you when you need it, this being, as a friend; advice-giver; or even a quick crying trigger (note: it is not the lightest of reads). Nevertheless, as Marianne says it best “I'll always be here. You know that.”"
Catarina Bittencourt: When The World Was Ours by Liz Kessler"I recommend this book to people who really like reading a good book full of emotion, sorrow and happiness. when the world was ours is about the life of three Austrian children who were separated into completely different realities after the beginning of world war 2"
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Ana Jabur: Stoner by John Williams"Stoner is a beautifully written book which chronicles the life of a man named William Stoner. It's a simple concept that seems boring at first, but the profound character study reveals so much about humanity itself, and makes the reader ponder about the purpose of life. The writing is absolutely captivating, and I would recommend it to everyone who enjoys a beautiful, slow- paced but incredibly compelling and philosophical novel to read it!"
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Victor Prade Perlman: Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell
A regular boy. A girl being chased by a murderer. A mysterious lake in Scotland. A magical archipelago. A fascinating story.
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Sophia McManus: Into the Magic Shop by James R. Doty
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Isabella Fischer: Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
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G. Castilla: Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
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"Little Women is a novel that shows how love binds us all – and it is what all March sisters have in common."
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"The book is quite long, however the plot escalates quickly and is great read [...] Overall I do recommend this book, as it is a classic novel and is enriching"
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Nina Grieco: Paper Princess by Erin Watt
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B. Mitidieri: One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez
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L. Maksoud: Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon
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"I can promise you, if you enjoy YA novels that have a touch of Drama and Romance to it, you will see this book will glue to your hand and the next thing you know, you’ll be speeding through its pages like you’ve never done before."
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"All literature lovers should read One Hundred Years Of Solitude by García Marquez. Even though it is a long and challenging read, the novel is enjoyable and will take you to the new eye-opening world of Macondo."
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"Along with the beautiful writing, Yoon scatters around the book a series of minimalistic drawings made by her husband to help you submerge even more into the “bubble baby disease” world of the main character."
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From the teachers
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
"If you want to read the best story about revenge, do not miss this opportunity. "
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The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway
"A story about persistence and never giving up. A must-read classical."
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The Death of Ivan Ilyich by Leo Tolstoy
"A book to reflect about our life. To enjoy the most of it, you need to put yourself in Ivan Ilyich's shoes. Also, a must-read classical book."
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Ms. Lalovic: We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson
"Over the holiday, I re-read Shirley Jackson's gripping tale of two isolated sisters and their family's deadly, murderous secret. Jackson's dreamlike prose and sharp narrative turns make this an absolute joy to read over and over again - it will stay fondly in my favourites for a long time."
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Mr. Pereira: I am Legend by Richard Matheson
"Impressive vampire book, mixing up fantasy with science fiction in a true page-turner."
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Ms. Leoni: O Jantar Secreto by Raphael Montes
"Raphael Montes is one of the most interesting authors of the new Brazilian writers. His horror books are always full of suspense and creepy ideas. In "Secret Dinner", a group of young people leave a small town in Paraná to live in Rio de Janeiro. But money is tight and the rent is due. To get out of the hole and keep their apartment, the friends adopt an unorthodox strategy: raising funds through secret dinners, advertised on the internet for an exclusive clientele of Rio's elite. But I strongly recommend too: A Vila, Uma Família feliz and Bom dia Verônica. Ps: These books are recommended for F5 and 6th pupils, and staff."
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Mr. Pereira: Political Visions and Illusions, first edition, by David T. Koyzis (2003)
"Excellent comparative overview of political ideologies, from a Christian perspective and suggestions for bridging differences through dialogue and understanding. Highly recommended. - 5/5"
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Mrs Clarke: Erasure By Percival Everett
"Terrific satire about race and rights in America today - also a great movie. - 5/5" |
Mrs. Oparaocha: Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert M. Pirsig
"A journey examining values. Very thought-provoking. - 5/5"
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Mr Gillon: Economics: the user's guide by Ha-Joon Chang
"This economics professor from LSE provides a great overview of economics for anyone who is interested. While he is considered to be one of the most important heterodox economists today, he does explain economic phenomena from different perspectives, heterodox and orthodox alike. This is perhaps the most important strength of this book - starting from real economic problems, the author develops the multiple theoretical perspectives that economics has to offer, in a simple and effective way. There are no diagrams or calculations, just general explanations and theoretical perspectives that shows the heart of economics as a social science. - 4/5" |
Dr Viegas: Samarcanda, by Amin Maalouf"Having Persia History as background, this Arabic novel tells the story of Omar Khayyam and his amazing contribution to maths, astronomy, literature and more."
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Mr Costa: The Old Man and The Sea, by Ernest Hemingway"Makes you reflect about perseverance and not giving up about what you believe in. It is a fantastic story that will make you empathize with Santiago.
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Dr Gaissler: Teaching to Transgress: Education as the Practice of Freedom, by Bell HooksFrom the book: "bell hooks writes about a new kind of education, education as the practice of freedom. Teaching students to "transgress" against racial, sexual, and class boundaries in order to achieve the gift of freedom is, for her, the teacher's most important goal."
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Mr Edge: Rubicon: The Triumph and Tragedy of the Roman Empire, by Tom Holland"A superb narrative of one of the most dramatic and consequential events in history. It reads like a novel with characters that jump out at you from the page but it's all completely true. Recommended for anyone interested in history, politics or the nature of power."
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Dr Hartmann: The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, by Rebecca Skloot"The book is about Henrietta Lacks and the immortal cell line, known as HeLa, that came from Lacks's cervical cancer cells, without her consent. The book is notable for its science writing and dealing with ethical issues of race and medical research."
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Mr Arriola: Homens de Milho, by Miguel Angel Asturias"The novel uses the indigenous "cosmovisión" to present the conflict between the customs of traditional peoples and the growing rage of western society for economic progress and modernity. Inspired by the legend of the men of maize from the Popol Vuh, one of the books written by the Mayan peoples who have survived to the present day, the text stands out for its poetic language, approaching orality and gaining fantastic contours, which places the book in the context of “magical realism”. - Clube Pinard"
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Ms Jordon: Brit(ish), by Afua Hirsch"Brit(ish) is a fascinating read about Afua Hirsch ( a famous British newsriter and broadcaster) about her life as a mixed race woman growing up in London. Napoleon´s Buttons gives a great insight into Chemistry beyond IGCSE and the IB!"
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Mr Lanfranchi: Cidadania no Brasil: Um Longo Caminho, José Murilo de Carvalho"José Murilo de Carvalho apresenta um amplo panorama que abarca desde os primeiros passos representados pela Independência do Brasil, passando pela marcha em direção ao progresso do século XX, sem com isso esquecer os recuos políticos decorrentes de movimentos ditatoriais, até chegar ao período da redemocratização. O que os leitores e leitoras encontram ao fim desta viagem é um rico arcabouço teórico que os torna capazes de avaliar criticamente tanto o cenário político passado quanto o atual."
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From the editors
Nina Grieco: The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat, by Oliver Sacks"a collection of case studies on Dr.Sacks patients with neurological conditions, written in a loving and engaging manner"
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Manuela Cerdeira: The Things They Carried, by Tim O'Brien"a series of stories about the Vietnam war; a book that makes us wonder about the significance of storytelling"
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Thaly Kotler: The Inheritance Games, by Jennifer Lynn Barnes"Avery has the opportunity to inherit a fortune from a stranger, now she must work out a puzzle to figure out why one of the richest men in America has left her billions of dollars instead of leaving the money to his grandsons. It is extremely unpredictable and full of plot twists, the ending is still open-ended since the last book has yet to be published"
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Alexa Cordeiro: Illuminae, by Amie Kaufman"The story of Kady and Ezra surviving through a war between two mega-rival corporations in the year 2575. The story is told through a series of text messages, confidential files and surveillance camera reports. It is a very fun and interesting read, with some comedic moments amidst the tension."
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Daniela Rosset: Animal Farm, by George Orwell"Tells the story of a group of farm animals who rebel against their human farmer, hoping to create a society where the animals can be equal, free, and happy."
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Manuella Graff: Bonjour Tristesse, by Françoise Sagan"The story of a sophisticated 17-year-old girl who interferes in her father's impending remarriage with tragic consequences."
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