Section by J. Nemr

In this gallery, you can dive into your favourite lions' intellectual universe. We have asked our community to write a short and simple review on our favourite books and why we chose to read them. Here at St. Paul's, reading has always been a healthy and natural habit since the beginning of our academic life and by sharing the fictional worlds created in our imagination by our favourite books, we can get to know eachother better, develop a more holistic approach towards literature and get in touch with many different reading styles and preferences, maybe even find your own if you haven't.... yet!

Hippie by Paulo Coelho 
Review by Miss Knowles

Being in lockdown gave me the chance (and time) to read my first ever book in Portuguese! (Helped out greatly by Ms Pountain.) 
The book is the story of the author's own journey travelling as a self-proclaimed hippie on a bus across Europe from Amsterdam to Nepal. Along the way Paulo tells the stories and background of various places they pass through but mostly the other people on the bus. Many of the elements of travelling reminded me of my own backpacking travels many years ago, though Paulo is seeking a more spiritual meaning to life from his travels than I ever did. He comes across as a bit of a nutter, though he has some interesting escapades, and touches on the prejudice hippies encountered and observations about various cultures which is interesting. I ultimately found him a bit "out there" for my tastes. Some aspects of his story do not sound like they can be true, but my Portuguese vocabulary was expanded, I don't think I will be seeking out more of his books to read but it certainly gives you a different perspective on life. 
 

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman 
Review by Ms Pountain 
 
A Man called Ove is a book by Swedish author, Fredrik Backman. Ove is a very grumpy yet loveable old man who has staunch principles, follows a strict routine, dislikes change and loses his temper very easily. He lives in a small community and thinks everyone around him is an idiot. He has grown a bit tired of life and feels miserable. One day, a new family arrive to live next door to him, which is a huge inconvenience to Ove, but also a blessing in disguise. Filled with stories about his past which help you to realise why he has become the way he is, you can't help but smile about many of his observations and really like his character. Although there are some sad parts, the author writes in a comical and entertaining way - I found it hard to put the book down. I recommend this book for anyone who likes a heartwarming story with lots of different and interesting characters. The book has also been made into a film (but read the book first!) 
 
 
The Art of Living by Epicteto  
Review by Ms Rebelo  
  
Epicteto (55 D.C. and 135 D.C. ) was stoic philosopher that was born as a slave Turkey. His owner gave permission to him to pursue liberal studies and later granted him with his freedom. He lived in Rome until being banished and sent to Greece. Marco Aurelio, of the Roman Empire was one of his many pupils. The cool thing about this book is that you can open on any page. You do not need to read in chronological order. Every page has a little text to make you reflect about life.  This is just a quote to give you a taste: “ Nature has given men one tongue and two ears, that we may hear twice as much as we speak.” This book can be enjoyed by all pupils that have a reflective nature.  
 
 
 
If Cats Disappeared from the World by Genki Kawamura  
Review by Miss Bancroft  
 
What would you do if you had one more day on this planet? What would you be willing to give up?  
A postman finds out he does not have long to live, until the devil, wearing a Hawaiin shirt, arrives at his apartment. If he can remove an object from the world, he can have one more day. Smartphones disappear. After that it is films. Clocks go. Then his cat, named Cabbage, starts to talk to him. Translated from Japanese, this book is a fascinating look at love, grief, and the ways we deal with the concept of death. In addition, if you like cats, the conversations between the man and Cabbage are delightful and he writes in both a humorous and insightful way! Overall, this is a short read, but still cleverly asks the reader to think about what we value most in the world. 
 
 
Swing time by Zadie Smith   
Review by Miss Hunter 
  
Over the holidays I read the book Swing Time; a story about two young girls who meet in tap class in 1980s London. The book shadows these girls on their journeys from London to New York to West Africa and follows them through all the trials and tribulations of life. I loved the theme of dance bringing people together and the references to the old musicals which are musicals I grew up watching. Whilst the book paints beautiful images in your mind of how it feels to dance and to experience creativity in different cultures, it also talks about growing up in a difficult neighborhood as young black girls and some of the social themes around this. 
I would recommend this to anyone who loves music and dance. I would recommend this to someone who is interested to know more about growing up in society as part of a minority group and also to anyone who would like an insight into what it was like being a young woman in the 1980s. 
 
 
I am Malala by Malala Yousafzai 
Review by Mrs Moreira 
  
A brilliant book that challenged some of my pre-conceived ideas and led me on a mind-opening journey with this brave young girl. ‘I am Malala’ is the autobiography of Malala Yousafzai, a Nobel Prize winning Pakistani girl who fought bravely for the right to go to school and got shot by the Taliban regime when they took control of her hometown. The book contrasts the gorgeous landscapes of the remote Swat Valley in Pakistan with the ruthless reality of a fundamentalist regime that imposed strict rules, such as banning girls from going to school, and harsh punishments to those who disobeyed them. One of the things I loved the most about this book is that it made me think of how some things that I’ve always taken for granted, like the right to an education and to safety, are a privilege for people in some parts of the world. I was extremely inspired by this remarkable 15-year-old who refused to be silenced and became an international symbol of peaceful protest and perseverance. I recommend ‘I am Malala’ to absolutely everybody, boys and girls, teenagers and adults, as she is real-life hero who has inspired the entire world with her courage and drive. 
  
Best, 
Vicky 
 
 
A vida não é útil by Ailton Krenak  
Review by Dr Ivanov  
  
O livro foi escrito e publicado durante a pandemia do covid-19, e li durante o nosso half-term. Ailton Krenak reflete sobre problemas sociais e ambientais do ponto de vista dos povos originários: nos faz pensar sobre o que chamamos de vida, o que chamamos de humanidade e o que estamos fazendo com nosso planeta (o único possível). O que achei incrível sobre o livro é que ele provoca, desafia e faz refletir em cada página: O livro é curto e li bem rápido, mas venho pensando sobre ele desde então. Recomendo porque, em meio a tempos tão difíceis, todos nós precisamos ser capazes de tirar o pé do acelerador e pensar em como cuidar da vida e do mundo.  
 

The Wall by John Lanchester 
Review by Miss Davyson 

I read this book last summer before Covid entered our lives. Whilst not related to a global pandemic, the dystopian future created by John Lanchester feels too close for comfort at points especially considering the events of this year. The novel takes place in a world where rising sea levels, referred to as the Change, mean beaches no longer exist. The United Kingdom coastline has been destroyed and replaced by the National Coastal Defence Structure, known to everyone as The Wall. We follow Kavanagh a young man who is starting his time of national service guarding the Wall, protecting the country from the ‘Others’ who are fleeing conflicts and natural disasters. The ‘Others’ who do make it to the Wall are either shot or thrown back into the sea. The book encompasses many of the conversations taking place in pre-Covid British society, including climate change, post-brexit reality, intergenerational conflict and lack of empathy for refugees. Post/during Covid, these conversations are just as, if not more, important. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Dystopian fiction. It is not a perfect read, some of the characters are less developed (especially the women) and lots of questions go unanswered, but it is a book that stays with you and makes you think. 
 
 
Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins  
Review by Anik  

This summer I read Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, The Hunger Games is an annual event in which one boy and one girl aged 12–18 from each of the twelve districts surrounding the Capitol are selected by lottery to compete in a televised battle royal to the death. I really loved this book because it is adventures, and it has various plot twist which I always like to find in the books I read. I would recommend this book to people who like adventure and action because this book is all about that.   
  

The Lord of the Flies by William Golding  
Review by Felipe  
  
The book's story is about a group of young boys who find themselves alone on a deserted island. They develop rules and a system of organization to survive, but without any adults and supervision, the children eventually become violent and brutal.I really liked this book, because it is a book which includes a lot of action. I like it because there is always something new, causing you to read another chapter. The story is unique and well written.I would recommend this book to teenagers. This is because they would relate a lot to the story, and also because the story is about teenagers. I would recommend it to the age group between 12-14.  
  
 
One of us is lying by Karen M. McManus  
Review by Alice Z  
  
One of us is lying is a great book I read during quarantine. My friend recommended and insisted on me to read. The book is about a group of high school students who are suspects of Simon's murder. This group of students were in detention when  Simon is found dead due to a possible "peanut allergy" However, his friends who were in detention with him become suspects. It is an interesting story as it is told each chapter in one of the students' points of view, so it has lots of details and becomes engaging to read as you want to know what happened inside the detention room. I recommend for girls who love reading about Gossip, Lies, secrets and mysteries.   
  

Variant by Robinson Wells  
Review by Matias Goncalves  
  
Benson Fisher is a 17-year-old boy who receives a scholarship to Maxfield academy and thinks that this could be a way to make his future brighter. Once he arrives at Maxfield academy he believes his old boring life is behind him. As he looks around the campus, he realizes that the academy is surrounded by barbed wire and full of cameras. He is desperate to get out but knows that breaking any rules would lead to death.  
This book always makes the reader desperate to find out what will happen next and thinking of different scenarios for every event  
This book is recommended to anyone who likes suspense and mystery stories.  
  
  
Turtles All the Way Down by John Green  
Review by Alexa Cordeiro  
  
This novel is about a sixteen-year-old girl named Aza Holmes and her high school experiences. However, Aza is not such a normal teenager. She fights the many demons living in her brain whilst solving the mystery of a missing man. During the book she makes new friends who help her solver the mystery. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and would surely recommend it.  
  

Paper Towns by John Green  
Review by Lucia  
  
A book I read recently is Paper Towns by John Green – it is about a girl, called Margo, who runs away leaving clues behind for her neighbour, and childhood friend, Quentin, who has spent his whole life loving her from afar. The closer Quentin gets to finding Margo, the more he realises that she isn't the girl he thought she was. I loved the book as there were always plot twists, and new clues to be found, making you want to not close the book. In addition, as it was written in the first person, we can see how Quentin feels and what he finds out in detail throughout the adventure. Even though I must admit that the ending wasn’t quite what I wanted or expected, the book was incredible.  
  

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas  
Review by Raffaella  
  
During quarantine, I began reading The Hate U Give, by Angie Thomas. This book gives insight on the equality movement, Black Lives Matter; The book portrays systematic racism in the society in which a young woman of color has to live in. “The Hate U Give Little Infants **** Everybody – T.H.U.G.L.I.F.E” – 2pac. He is referring to the word “thug” which is constantly used to generalize black people and make a whole race sound dangerous. This is important in the book. The Hate U Give is about a young, black woman who witnesses her friend being murdered by a police officer, however, his death is constantly swept under the rug due to the fact that he was a ‘drug dealer’. Starr, the protagonist, has to deal with a racist, manipulating friend who constantly invalidates Starr’s experience with witnessing murder. The book was very interesting to read, and reminded me that although our society has improved, and is a more equal place, it might not be a safe place for everyone, and that certain groups of people should use their privilege to help minorities who are in need. I would recommend this book to people who are interested in educating themselves on systematic racism and how it is present in our world, people who care about equality for all, etc. The Hate U Give is the best book I have ever read.  
  
  
Lord of the Flies by William Golding  
Review by Andre  
  
In the book lord of the flies, the main characters are on a plane when it gets shot down and crash on a deserted island which forces all the boys to work together to try and survive. Later on in the story the boys clash about whether to prioritize escaping the island or surviving on the island. The group then splits between Jack’s belief (jack’s belief is that survival is more important than escaping) and Ralph’s belief (Ralph’s belief is that escaping is more important than survival), the book ends when Jack’s group chase Ralph across the island and during the process they set the island on fire which calls the attention of a ship and the boys get saved.  
  
  
1984 by George Orwell  
Review by Eduardo  
  
I really liked the book and I am currently rereading it. It’s a 10/10 book and I would recommend to everyone. The story takes place in London in 1984. The world is divided into three great geopolitical eras at war: Eurasia, Eastasia and Oceania, all totalitarian, led by communist parties which initially dreamed of being agents of the liberation of the proletariat. The main character, Winston Smith, works at the Ministry of Truth, where he revises the story to make it fit the Party version. Smith is, therefore, a lucid character on the manipulations operated by the Party, but he conceals his opinions.