Our talented library monitors (or should that be Library Monitors?) have created a variety of fantastic displays for our library.
Kai & Josh (Year 12, Level 4) created their display based on ‘Fantasy vs Science Fiction’.
Padraig’s board featured Chick Lit (Level 4).
Philip (also Level 4) created a wonderful 3D display on Mythology. Great work!
Great work guys! And thanks to Denise for her guidance and photography.
National Year of Reading – Reading Ambassador #8 - Long VU TRAN
What are you reading at the moment?
I’m reading the Raymond E. Feist series at the moment – I’m up to the Krondor part, which is the fourth series. It’s set in a land called Midkemia. Fantasy & adventure are the genres that I prefer to read. I really like the Ranger’s Apprentice series by John Flanagan and the Artemis Fowl [Eoin Colfer] series. In primary school I was recommended Agatha Christie – I liked Ten Little Indians and Death on the Nile. I like books with medieval warfare – Raymond E. Feist writes in this way but he includes magic as well. A lot of authors will take elements of that time period – like the feudal system, for example, – but put them into their own worlds or realms.
Where’s the most unusual place that you’ve ever read a book?
At the start of Year Seven I spent a lot of time reading, but I didn’t go to the library. I used to spend a lot of time reading, standing in this corner outside my lockers. Then eventually I started reading & walking & eating at the same time – but just at school. I don’t do it on the street in case I trip or walk into things. When I read on the train there’s a whistling sound in the tunnel just before Flinders Street Station, but sometimes I’m so immersed in what I’m reading that I hear it but there’s no recognition. I don’t miss my stop on the way home because most of my friends get off at the stop before me.
What book / story has made a lasting impression upon you?
I would have to say the Ranger’s Apprentice [John Flanagan] series because I’ve read the series about five times – this is the kind of book/series that I enjoy the most. It’s set in medieval times & the main character is Will. Will wasn’t born a hero. He was an orphan & he wanted to become a warrior but he was too skinny, so then he became a ranger’s apprentice. Rangers are a kind of spy for the kingdom, they wear cloaks & walk around the forest like scouts. The people believe that the rangers have magical powers – but they don’t, they have just been thoroughly trained to protect the people.
Thank you, Long, for sharing your reading preferences with us, and thanks, as always to Denise for the interview and photo.
Eric Xie has created something worth sharing. He presented this in Cyber Book Club recently.
Amongst the favourite of all Book Week activities at Melbourne High School is the Friday “Dress up as your favourite book character”. The whole day is very disruptive and fabulously enjoyable. The library hosts an impressive and very popular (from all accounts) morning tea, and students in costume are permitted to partake of the gourmet fare. Costumes immediately change the way people feel, even those just observing in civilian dress, and this day created its own vibe. We are grateful that a number of students and staff take the trouble to dress up, and the competition and parade at lunchtime are enjoyed by many. Here are a few highlights from the competition – Padraig was the witty MC, as well as being ‘the man in the black suit’. I’m including details students were required to provide about their choice of character.
Padraig is obviously the one in the black suit. I decided to make the boys grungey – trying out different photo editing apps.
Padraig dressed as the man in the black suit from book of the same name by Stephen King.
Padraig: “I chose this character because he is not only stylishly dressed but possesses insane laughter and evil. Much like myself.”
Daniel came dressed as the tabloid reporter Freddie Lowndes from Red Dragon by Thomas Harris
“This is one of my favourite books, where this character is a journalist who defames a person who turns out to be a serial killer. My character is tortured and set on fire.”
Special features: glasses, vest, hat and tie.
Carlo came dressed as Sadako from Sadako and the thousand paper cranes by Eleanor Coerr
“because I am fascinated with origami and I enjoyed making the many cranes.”
Special features: “the cranes themselves and I also made a special golden crane.”
Maxim came dressed as Tom Sawyer from The adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
“because this was a book I enjoyed and loved as a child, with Tom being the witty main character.
His special feature: straw hat.
Chi Rui came dressed as the hungry caterpillar from the book of the same name by Eric Carle
because it was “the most prominant book character from my childhood.”
Special features: mask and sleeping bag.
Christopher came dressed as the Zombie from The Dead by Charlie Higson.
“I chose this character because he’s awesome.”
Special feature: blood everywhere.
Mangala came dressed as B2 from Bananas in pyjamas “because
Bananas in Pyjamas was my favourite show/book when I was a child.”
His special features: the homemade hat and pyjamas.
Harry dressed as Scarface from Scarface, the 1932 American gangster film based on the 1929 novel of the same name by Armitage Trail.
He chose his character because “I like history and 1920s gangsters have class.”
Special feature: cashmere jacket $1000, silver gold studded watch, gold studded belt like Scarface and life-like scar on left cheek.
Austin was Wally from Where’s Wally? by Martin Handford.
“I chose this character because I loved the books as a little kid.
My special feature: I am hiding somewhere in the room. Can you find me?” Well done, Austin, for being completely in character during the day and surprising us with your entrance.
Vivek dressed as Spongebob Squarepants from Spongebob: I ripped my pants.
“I chose the character because I had the hat.
Special feature: me!”
Jeremy came dressed as Dracula from Bram Stoker’s Dracula because “Dracula has a very recognisable image and a striking personality”. Special features: “my cloak and ability to drink blood.”
The library staff didn’t disappoint – many of us came as characters from Alice in Wonderland. Here’s Di as Alice -
Maggie as The Cheshire Cat.
Marie as the March Hare
Denise dressed as Phryne Fisher, the main character in Australian author Kerry Greenwood’s series of Phryne Fisher detective novels.
Our lovely library student, Ally, came dressed as Madeleine from Ludwig Bemelmans’ classic Madeline children’s books.
Here are some of our well dressed teachers – can you guess who they are?
Our esteemed judges -
A portion of our audience -
I love the caterpillar’s moves on the catwalk -
Did I say how happy we were to see so many teachers get into the spirit of the day?
And finally, some pictures of our magnificent morning tea
And some of the cakes in our baking competition for The Big Cake Bake - talented students created this green eggs and ham
Maggie created an Animal Farm cake – love it!
Denise’s amazing picnic basket from Wind in the willows.
And so, another Book Week bites the dust. Y’all come back now!
Our Cyber Book Club boys came up with these recommendations after a lively discussion in our last meeting
Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk reviewed by Eric, Year 11
Described by many as a ‘man’s novel’, Fight Club explores the ideas of nonconforming to the societal rules which are placed on every individual from the moment they are born. Following the plight of the unnamed protagonist as he struggles against incessant insomnia, our protagonist meets the enigmatic Tyler Durden, who quickly establishes a ‘fight club’ in which people who are office workers and dentists by day end up beating the crap out of each other at night. The actions of the fight club eventually culminates into normal men taking action against our consumerist, superficial culture, and the book ultimately causes us to challenge the Western idea of success equating to money and wealth.
Read this book? Do it!Slaughterhouse-Five, or The Children’s CrusadeAuthor, by Kurt Vonnegut reviewed by Leon, Year 11
Summary: Billy Pilgrim, reluctant soldier, time traveller extraordinaire, animal in a Tralfamadorian zoo. He’s also a little insane, but that’s really beside the point. Welcome to the amazing and otherworldly adventures of the strangest of characters, all set against the backdrop of a thousand burning souls.
Opinion: Slaughterhouse Five is a silently gripping book, the literary equivalent of a silent movie. Impressive and effective, if at times a slight tenacity is required to turn the page, the book is perhaps the most successful anti-war protest book I have ever read.Celestine Prophecy by James Redfield reviewed by Chamaka, Year 10
A book that explores the spiritual side of people, this book uncovers the philosophy of how humans will change their culture and become more aware of their spiritual field being one with nature and all other humans. This is the journey of one man seeking how humans can unlock the spiritual world by discovering the secrets of an ancient manuscript the prophesizes this cultural change.
This book in my opinion is based upon a very interesting idea and takes another perspective on human culture.
I give this book a 4 out of five and highly recommend reading this book.Dreamrider by Barry Jonsberg reviewed anonymously
I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that Barry Jonsberg’s ‘Dreamrider’ is one of the most compelling, gripping, and outright weirdest books I’ve ever enjoyed reading. It focusses on teens and discusses on bullying and mental health, but it’s plot and characters are nothing short of interesting. It’s set in your typical high school environment in the Australian suburbia where a very obese Year 10 social outcast named Michael Terny is found to hold very special powers that can affect people in such ways that it can change their lives forever.
As far as a teen novel can get, ‘Dreamrider’ has a very surprisingly confronting and mature plot that even adults can enjoy.
‘So what have you got to say for yourself, fat boy?’
I’ve started The Hunger Games – I’ve read the first one & the third one [Mockingjay] & I’m reading the second one at the moment [Catching Fire] – it’s not really confusing reading them this way, it makes sense – for me. The first one was really involving & engaging; the third one is better, but darker. I’ve also started reading Shiver [Maggie Stiefvater], it’s about vampires & a bit chick lit, but I like it.
What was you first reading memory?
It would probably be reading TinTin & Asterix - I read them all. They’re really funny – I didn’t actually pick up on all the puns in Asterix at the time, but I looked through them again when I was older – all the way through, they’re all puns. They’re so good. I also read Star Wars books & Aussie Bite stuff, too. I remember in kindergarten correcting the teacher for skipping out parts of the stories that were being read to us – that really annoyed me.
Where’s the most unusual place that you’ve ever read a book?
That would probably be while walking – in Year 3 I got into trouble from my parents & teachers because I was walking upstairs reading – I literally was reading while I walked everywhere. I never fell or tripped – you get used to it.
What book / story has made a lasting impression upon you?
The story that has made a really great impression on me because I didn’t like the character was probably Perfume [Patrick Suskind] – it was horrible & I couldn’t get it out of my head. He was a totally psychotic character & his actions were disgusting. I don’t really want to remember it but can’t help it.
There are a few books that I remember in a positive way – Harry Potter, for example, & The Hunger Games will stay with me because it’s so realistic – the third one in particular – and I can really empathize with the characters, especially the main character even though I found her really annoying at the same time. I felt the same with His Dark Materials [Philip Pullman] – I felt a great deal of empathy with the characters & felt quite depressed at the end.
Thanks, Sai, for sharing your reading background with us, and to Denise for the interview and photo.
Thought you might enjoy this video. Cross posted from my other blog.
Looking for a good book to help you unwind in preparation for your Summer break? Readings has a few lists -
Best Art and Design books 2011
Best books of 2011 as chosen by Australian authors
Best Science Fiction and Fantasy 2011
Best Fashion and Craft books 2011
Best Food and Cooking books 2011
Best Short Story collections 2011
Lisa Hill is an ambassador for Australian literature and reviews books in her excellent blog here.
You can also discover many book review blogs under ‘Stuff for us’ in the right -hand navigation of this blog.
Happy reading!
Thanks to my good and very resourceful friend, Dawn Jimenez, and her Scoop.it topic, I have been enjoying these awesome photos of awesome people reading. So many favourites. Bowie, for example -
and Greta Garbo
Not to mention Grace Kelly
Paul McCartney and George Harrison
See the rest here.
I can just see these beautiful photos as posters in our library. What do you think?
At Junior Assembly last week we were fortunate to have Michael Pryor, an ambassador for the 2011 Premier’s Reading Challenge, present the “George Georgiou Reading Cup” to 9K and make special reading awards to some of our students.
Overall, 249 Year 9 students completed the challenge representing 81% of the cohort – a fantastic result.
It was exciting to see our students enjoying a range of high-quality writing including Australian & international Young Adult literature. Choices ranged from literary classics such as Homer, Dickens, Hemingway, and Erich Maria Remarque through to modern classics by Hosseini, Toltz, Martel, and Hartnett. We noticed an increased interest in biographies, and non-fiction reading. Graphic novels have also been more popular this year, especially the socially illuminating books by Shaun Tan, Marjorie Satrane & Art Spiegelman.
Book prizes were awarded to Stephen, Terrence and Zhengyu for reading across a wide range of genres. Austin had an interesting selection of graphic novels. Jean-Marc tackled some challenging non-fiction. Yunxu is our Shakespeare enthusiast, and Leo read the most Michael Prior books. Congratulations to all readers and we hope you will consider entering the Challenge again next year.
