Charles Dickens

Tuesday 7th February marks the 200th anniversary of Charles Dickens birth. The newspapers have been full of articles about Charles Dickens and televission programmes have brought us adaptations of some of his books as well as prorammes about his life. Many people consider him second only to William Shakespeare in terms of  his contribution to English literature, a great many more disagree! To mark the anniversary of his birth there is a display in the Library of books by, and about, Charles Dickens.

You might also like: (some of my own favourite nineteenth century books)


The moonstone by Wilkie Collins



North and south by Elizabeth Gaskell



Middlemarch by George Eliot



Holocaust Memorial Day

Holocaust Memorial Day is held on the 27th January every year to remind everyone of the lessons that need to be learned from the Nazi persecution and from all genocide past and present. In the Library there is a display of non-fiction and fiction books which tell of the Holocaust from a historical and often personal perspective. HMD website.

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Remembrance Day - 11.11.11

Visit the Library to find out everything you need to know about Remembrance Day. Why is there two minutes silence at eleven o'clock on the eleventh of November? Why do we wear poppies? Who wrote In Flanders Field? There is a mixture of fiction, poetry and non-fiction books on display.

You might find these books interesting:

National Non-Fiction Day

Thursday 3rd November is National Non-Fiction Day, so if you prefer facts to fantasy come along to the Library and browse the display of information books
available for loan. From Africa to Zoology and everything in between there is a book to suit everyone.

Homework Zone

Homework Zone starts again in the Library on Monday 3rd October. Open to students in all years from S1 to S6 it runs from 3.30pm until 4.30pm. If you need homework help, a teacher from each of the faculties will be available to offer assistance. For senior students there is an ever-expanding study support section, where you will find material to help with Standard Grade and Higher courses, as well as study skills books. The computers are available should you need to type an essay or do some research. So come along and get the help you need, when you need it and ease those homework anxieties!

Books with wiiings

Everyone likes a good vampire story, whether it is a dark romance or a horror story. Why not spread your reading wings and try some fiction books about other fantasy creatures with wings of their own? On the display there are books about dreadful dragons, avenging angels and fearsome faeries as well as a selection of vicious vampire books.

St Andrew's Day - Scottish Authors III

The Nostradamus prophecy by Theresa Breslin is set in sixteenth century France in the court of the young king Charles. The king's mother, Catherine de' Medici , believes that Nostradamus can foresee the future and that her son is in danger. Melisande is a minstrel's daughter whose fate is inextricably linked to that of Nostradamus. Before he dies Nostradamus gives Melisande important papers which relate to the French royal line. Will Melisande be brave enough to fulfil the prophecy foretold by Nostradamus?

Iain Banks - Espedair Street Daniel Weir was a famous rock star and at 31 maybe still is. As he contemplates his life Daniel realises how bad the past has been, but has he the energy and indeed the ability to change his future? (S4 -Staff)

St Andrew's Day - Scottish Authors II

J.A. Henderson - Colony: Living on remote Kirkfallen Island Gene Stapleton's curious nature is going to get the better of him. The more he finds out about the destruction of a secret research station which was overrun by ants, the more he realises that his whole lfe has been a lie. Will knowing the truth save him or end in the demise of all on Kirkfallen Island? A gripping thriller for students in S1 -3.

Matthew Fitt - But n ben a-go-go: In the year 2090 most of Scotland is under water as a result of global flooding the survivors live in fear of Senga, a supervirus whose victims are kept in a giant hospital warehouse. Written in Scots this tells the story of Paolo Broon's quest to save his beloved Nadia by uncovering the secret of his family's past and freeing her from Senga's grip.

St Andrew's Day - Scottish Authors I

St Andrew's Day is celebrated on 30th November each year. Over the next week I will recommend 2 books a day (one for S1-3 and one for S4 and above) by Scottish authors as part of the countdown to St Andrew's Day.

Fleshmarket by Nicola Morgan is set in early nineteenth century Edinburgh, a period when operations were carried out without anaesthetic and surgeons relied on body snatchers to supply them with corpses for their anatomy lectures. Robbie's mother dies in agony whilst being operated on by Dr Robert Knox and Robbie is intent on revenge. (S1-S3)

Fleshmarket Close is Ian Rankin's 15th Inspector Rebus novel. Set in Edinburgh there are more murders and sub-plots than you can shake a stick at. An illegal immigrant is murdered in a housing scheme, is it a racist attack? A teenager has disappeared from home; two skeletons are found buried under a cellar floor in Fleshmarket close and Rebus is under pressure to retire! (S4-Staff)

The hunger games by Suzanne Collins

I have just finished the first and second books in this trilogy and have thoroughly enjoyed both. The hunger games is set in a post-apocalyptic world in a country divided into 12 main districts which supply goods to the rich central Capitol. Each year the 12 districts have to supply 2 teenagers to take part in the "hunger games" a televised event in which they have to survive in an unknown landscape and basically kill each other in order to survive. There can only be one winner. The plot is based around the feisty Katniss Everdeen who takes her 12 year old sister's place in the hunger games as one of the tribunes from District 12. On a roller coaster journey we follow Katniss from her life in subsistence life in District 12 through the lavish preparations for the games and on to her fight to survive.

The book did remind me of a science fiction film I have seen - so not original, nor is the love triangle that pervades the book. But that said it is an exciting read with some really clever ideas. To draw all teenagers in, the book has reviews by Stephanie Meyer and Stephen King on the cover!

I have said nothing about the second book because this is one trilogy where it is best to start at the beginning and enjoy the journey.

Royal Mail Book Awards

The shortlists for this year's Royal Mail Book Awards were announced on Thursday 9th September. Students can take part in the judging process to decide which book should win. To take part you have to read all 3 books in a category between now and January. All votes have to be sent in by the 28th of January and the winners are announced on 22nd February. As well as voting for your favourite there are review competitions both national and here in the school. If you are interested in taking part please come and see me in the Library.

The shortlisted books are:

Category 1 - John Fardell The secret of the black moon moth

Lucinda Hare The dragon whisperer

Barry Hutchinson Invisible fiends:Mr Mumbles

Caetgory 2 - Elizabeth Laird The witching hour

Cathy MacPhail Grass

Gillian Philip Crossing the line

For more information about the books come to the Library or visit the Scottish Book Trust's website: http://www.scottishbooktrust.com/

The bride's farewell by Meg Rosoff is one of a number of books on display throughout the Library united by the theme 'Journeys'. The bride's farewell is a beautifully written historical novel set in the 1850s in the area around Salisbury. On the morning of her wedding Pell Ridley rides out of her village on her horse -Jack- accompanied by her mute brother Bean. Their journey takes them on an adventure, through good times and bad, until they all find their rightful place in the world. I really adored this book, the characters are beautifully imagined - even the horse, Jack and Dicken the dog. The countryside and the poverty of the time are well described and Pell's family story is both shocking and moving.

Read more about all of Meg Rosoff's novels at her website http://www.megrosoff.co.uk