Classics

I decided to read this on the recommendation of a teacher from Tayview Primary. It didn't disappoint! Mr Phileas Fogg, and his valet Passepartout, attempt to circumnavigate the world in 80 days in order to win a wager of £20,000 (about £2,000,000 in today's money). As you would expect, they encounter many obstacles along the way and have to resort to ingenious and cunning solutions. One of these is based on the, alleged, drastic action taken by SS Sirius - the first steamship to cross the Atlantic. You can hear about that in Terry Deary's Victorian Tales.

If you want to have a bash at a classic The Three Musketeers is a great starting point. A total romp of a book from start to finish. Loads of derring-do and swashbuckling to boot. Quite the page turner of its day.

This is the story of a little girl called Sara Crewe who experiences some very hard times but stays determined to make the best of the hand she has been dealt.

All of Frances Hodgson Burnett's books are incredible accessible , charming and heartwarming.

An old novel written mid 19th century Little Women is the story of the March sisters living in genteel poverty after their father lost all his money in some undisclosed occurrence. Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy are American and the book is a series of adventures as they follow a year of their lives trying to be as nice and good as they can possibly be. For Meg and Jo it is the transition from childhood to adulthood with all the emotions that go along with it. Their neighbours; the Lawrences play a large part in their lives and emotions after Mr March falls very ill whilst away in the army.

This is not an easy read but the story and the sentiment behind it is very sweet, some may say nauseatingly so.

CM/StP/19/1/21