Sum: Forty Tales from the Afterlives

by David Eagleman

A clever collection of very short stories by neuroscientist, David Eagleman, who wonders, in each brief, funny and often wistful vignette: 'what happens to us when we die?' Are we consigned to replay a lifetime's worth of accumulated acts, as he suggests in "Sum," spending six days clipping your nails or six weeks waiting for a green light? Is heaven a bureaucracy, as in "Reins," where God has lost control of the workload? Will we download our consciousnesses into a computer to live in a virtual world, as suggested in "Great Expectations," where "God exists after all and has gone through great trouble and expense to construct an afterlife for us"? Or is God actually the size of a bacterium, battling good and evil on the "battlefield of surface proteins," and thus unaware of humans, who are merely the "nutritional substrate"? Mostly, as Eagleman underscores in "Will-'o-the-Wisp," humans desperately want to matter, and in afterlife search out the "ripples left in our wake." A very thought-provoking examination of what it means to us to be, to belong, to matter, and to live. Not for those who have already accepted exactly what their culture has told them awaits them after death. Such a quick and exciting read, that I turned around and read all my favourites again a second time!

Mr Jamieson Kane

(Media Studies Teacher)

Wolf Hall

by Hilary Mantel

This is a wonderfully written tale about the turbulent reign of King Henry VIII during the period when he is trying to annul his marriage to Katherine of Spain in order to marry Anne Boleyn. It focuses on the pervasive influence of Thomas Cromwell at the time, but is also crammed with fascinating anecdotes about daily life at all levels of English society during the 16th century. Mantel's dialogue is superbly witty - I can just imagine it transferred directly to the screen in a sumptuous BBC period serial. This is one of those books I didn't want to end.

Mrs Michelle Sweeney

(Librarian)

The Count of Monte Cristo

by Alexandre Dumas

Do not let the size of this book put you off! This captivating tale of vengeance will provide you with endless pleasurable moments of adventure. Due to a jealous acquaintance of his, a young man named Dant¨¨s, is wrongly accused of a crime and as a result, ends up spending many years locked up behind bars. After several harsh years of isolation, he manages to escape the island on which he was a prisoner and slowly plots his revenge... Alexandre Dumas is a tremendous story teller. The sense of injustice will make you revolt, the action will entertain you, the many twists will keep you guessing and the original characters, as well as the exotic settings, will take your imagination on an exciting journey. Do not miss out on this adventure and find out who the enigmatic Count of Monte-Cristo really is. It may not be the best literature in the world, but I guarantee that this story will certainly entertain you. It's a real page turner that clearly puts joy into reading and if necessary, there's always the abridged version!

Mr Christophe Taylor

(Teacher of English)

Q

by Luther Blissett

If you like to read about the world turned upside down and reflect on mass violence, Machiavellian politics and utopian dissent in Reformation Germany, peasant-religious rebellion, then this novel is for you: Q by Luther Blissett (not the footy player but a multiple identity 'author'-a story in itself!)

Dr Mark Collins

(Teacher of English)

Playing the Enemy - Nelson Mandela and the game that made a nation

by John Carlin.

Interesting story about Nelson Mandela's political struggle and final release from his 27 years in jail. The book highlights Mandela's insights and the method he used to gain his freedom and then how he went about uniting a nation divided for years. Using non violent protest and the power of sport over the minds of a nation, it tells the story of how Mandela soothed over a large portion of the population into coming together in a peaceful co-existence with the World Cup Rugby held in South Africa during 1995. It glosses over some of the racial violence of the era especially that which was perpetrated by the far right, although it does mention Eugene Terreblanche who was recently assassinated/killed. It also doesn't mention any of the controversy of the final between New Zealand and South Africa, which the latter won. But a moving and inspiring story about how a man with vision and patience can make a difference. It has now been made into a movie 'Invictus'.

Ms Katrina Stalker

(Head of General Science)

Anonymous Lawyer

by Jeremy Blachman

I read this over the holidays. It was really funny and an interesting look into high powered lawyers' professional lives and what goes on at work. It is written as a secret blog and emails that he exchanges with his niece. Worth a read.

Ms Emily Macdonald

(Science Teacher)

To Kill a Mockingbird

by Harper Lee

I have read this text at least 25 times and never tire of it. Lee will take you into America's deep south as the country struggles to recover from the economic tragedy of the late 20s and early 30s. Told through the eyes of Scout Finch, we discover the layers of social pretence that binds a rural community together, and also drives it apart. This is one of the great American novels and a must read for anyone interested in American social history.

Mr Rob Hortin

(Teacher of English)

Invisible Cities

by Italo Calvino

An enchanting and challenging wander through many cities described by Marco Polo to Kublai Khan. Interspersed with conversation between the two characters, the reader is invited to consider the unique nature of each city, although at times it seems that these descriptions are but aspects of the one place. The city of Euphemia had appeal as it here that merchants gathered at night to exchange stories based on general words or themes such as sister, forest, wolves so that when they next experienced the loneliness of the journey they would revisit their memories for their stories but also the stories of others shared.

Mrs Michele Linossier

(Extension Studies)

Homer and Langley

by E. L. Doctorow

Yet another wonderful tale from a modern master. Very loosely based on a real story about two reclusive, affluent brothers renowned for their extraordinary hoarding - Langley and Homer Collyer. Set in a glorious mansion on upper Fifth Avenue, New York, Doctorow provides a wistful, engaging and thought provoking mini- history of twentieth century life through the visually impaired (and very aptly named) Homer. As per usual, Doctorow manages to pick his subjects accurately as he meditates on consumerism, the importance of historical awareness and the essential desire to narrate and make sense of complex lives swept along by tumultuous change and restless progress.

Mr Nick Konstantatos

(Teacher of English)

The Salmon of Doubt: Hitchiking the Galaxy One Last Time

by Douglas Adams

A great collection of short pieces of writing by the sorely missed author of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. It was particularly enjoyable to read his (lesser known) non-fiction work which is just as engaging as his fiction. A must-read for DA fans!

Mr Lloyd Johnson

(Education Support)

What Alice Forgot

by Liane Moriaty

A light, easy-read - set in Sydney - Alice falls and bumps her head at the gym - hey presto, the last 10 years of her memory are wiped out when she wakes up in hospital¡­ and in that time it seems she's become quite a nasty person. She's lost friends, fought with her young children, lost 10 ks through aggressive dieting and gym work and is also on the way to losing her marriage¡­ can she and Nick reconcile, or will she waft off with the handsome school principal Dominic? If you want a no-think relaxing book for your next holiday this is it ... definitely one for the 'chicks' ...

Mrs Jan Dunn

(Maintenance)

Wanting

by Richard Flanagan

If you liked Gould's Book of Fish then you are likely to enjoy Flanagan's Wanting. In this historical fiction, Richard Flanagan uses two parallel narratives: one is set in England during the latter part of the 19th Century, and tells the story of Charles Dickens coping with the collapse of his marriage, and the other is set during the English settlement of Tasmania. In many ways both of these narratives are about a lack of belonging. But above all, Flanagan uses this historical backdrop to explore the corrupting potential of desire. He seems to be commenting on the potential emotional consequences of wanting too much.

At times, I found the characterisation difficult to believe. If, however, you enjoy layered narrative and if you can suspend your disbelief, then Flanagan does re-create the period in an interesting way and some of his prose is beautifully crafted.

Ms Ophelia Hopkins

(Teacher of Drama)