Happy National Read a Book Day everyone! Reading fiction is a great tool to utilise in the classroom. You can read our blog post all about why storytelling is important in the ELT classroom. However, as you can imagine at a publishing company, reading is quite a popular hobby among our staff! We have recently set up a book club where every month we read a fiction or non-fiction book written by an author of colour. This month our pick is Brit(ish) by Afua Hirsch. You’ll be able to spot a few of our book club members by what they’re reading!
Without further ado, here is what some of our team are currently reading, and their favourite read of the year so far…
Emily, Production Manager
Currently reading: The Giver of Stars by JoJo Moyes and N-W by Zadie Smith
Favourite book of the year so far: Fave book this year so far was probably The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell. I’ve not read much at all this year though. Lack of headspace!
Mike, Design Manager
Currently reading: What the dog saw: and other adventures by Malcom Gladwell
Favourite book of the year so far: I am in a Malcom Gladwell wormhole, led there by my best book of 2020 so far which is Talking to Strangers by Malcom Gladwell. I love the way he thinks and writes. All his books are fascinating little insights into the human condition and manage to be deep but accessible at the same time. I’ll often do that with authors, music or podcasts – if I really like something, I like the challenge to read or listen to ALL OF IT!
Simon, Assistant Design Manager
Currently reading: Enter Night: Metallica The Biography by Mick Wall
Favourite book of the year so far: Fear: The Autobiography Of Dario Argento
Chris, Senior Editor
Currently reading: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
Favourite book of the year so far: Dialectic of Enlightenment by Theodor Adorno & Max Horkheimer – a classic work of critical theory
Matt, Digital Manager
Currently reading: The Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read (and Your Children Will Be Glad That You Did) by Philippa Perry: Very insightful stuff and recommended reading for new parents.
Favourite book of the year so far: I enjoyed Normal People a lot, although I don’t think Sally Rooney is the finished article as a writer. I also thought the TV series was better than the book.
Alice B, Publishing Assistant
Currently reading: I’m currently reading Brit(ish) by Afua Hirsch, and listening to Persuasion by Jane Austen.
Favourite book of the year so far: The Martian by Andy Weir 😃
Alice W, Sales and Marketing Intern
Currently reading: Brit(ish) by Afua Hirsch and Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Favourite book of the year so far: My favourite book of 2020 so far would have to be We Were the Lucky Ones by Georgia Hunter. It’s a phenomenal story (based on real life events) about a Polish family who were separated and spread across the world during World War II. I learnt so much more about the war and Nazi Germany reading it – especially how Poland and its Jewish citizens were affected by the strict Nazi regimes. An important and poignant read.
Jaz, Digital Editor
Currently reading: The Memory Police by Yoko Ogawa (translated from Japanese by Stephen Snyder) and Brit(ish) by Afua Hirsch
Favourite book of the year so far: I’ve read a lot of stand out books this year, but one that will definitely be in my favourites is Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo. It’s a novel in verse and tells the story of two sisters whose dad dies in a plane crash. They don’t know each other exists, and the novel explores the sheer confusion of grief, identity and complex family dynamics. Please read it!