Firstly, item number 2... I have been offered a job at a primary school as an SENTA! I'm still waiting on paper work, and it's still dependant on references and CRB checks at this stage, so unless something goes terribly and horribly wrong, I should be starting at the school in September. I'm so psyched and I can't wait! Finger's crossed the next stages all go fine.
Then I totally forgot about item number 11, visit London Zoo. My husband and I went for a our anniversary, it was wicked!! A good friend of mine wondered how I'd fine it, as she found some of the enclosures quite bare. I'll agree, the giraffe and zebra enclosures, which are protected sites, are a little bare, but the majority of enclosures were big, vibrant and spacious. Especially the new penguin beach, which launched about 6 weeks ago. I was fairly comfortable supporting the zoo, as it's not purely for entertainment, it's for study, preservation and education, and I can't and won't condone those values. Most amazing were the giant tortoises, the gorillas (which were so frighteningly human; so incredibly moving) the Komodo dragons and - as always - the otters!
As for my reading list, for number 22, I've completed a few shorter novels, including some missed childhood hits by Jacqueline Wilson.
Phantom of Manhattan by Frederick Forsyth is a book I have long wanted to read. I am a mad fan of anything Phantom of the Opera, and adore both the original book by Gaston Leroux, the compiled history Phantom and of course the musical, film and second musical. Phantom of Manhattan was the original idea for Love Never Dies, and Forsyth even explains at the start that he's followed the characters and the chronology of his story from Webber's musical over Leroux's original novel. In fact, I'd say he was rather unkind to the author who actually started the whole phenomenon in the first place, picking holes in the original novel. That aside, I very much enjoyed it, and it was interesting to see what elements were put into Love Never Dies and what were left out. It's a short and easy read, though some places drag a little, but a must for Phant-atics! Oh my, that made me chuckle...
The Story of Tracy Beaker, Starring Tracy Beaker and The Dare Game, all by Jacqueline Wilson are books that I just about missed out on when I was younger, that strange age where children's books are too childish and adult books are still boring and not quite understandable, but you plough through regardless to look grown up in front of your friends. An interesting fact about Wilson though; despite her vivid recollections of foster care, which seems to be the subject matter for the vast majority of her books, Wilson herself has not been in care. In fact, according to the oracle of all knowledge, Wikipedia, Wilson's parents were very loving and caring. There isn't even mention of divorce. Regardless, Tracy Beaker's stories are all vivid, honest and bold. Wilson isn't afraid to "tell it like it is." Where many children's books shadow anything bad with armfuls of pansies, Wilson exposes a world that - for so many young people - is very real. The books are all moving, witty, desperately sad and sometimes frustrating. One second you want to hold young Tracy close and promise her a home for life then a moment later you feel like shouting at the pages with frustration. Beautifully written stories, and major kudos to Nick Sharratt for his perfectly matched and sensitive illustrations.
Beauty and the Beast, by Marie le Prince de Beaumont was surprisingly short. As you can expect, there is little in common with the Disney version. Belle isn't Belle but is actually called Beauty. Beauty has three brothers, two unpleasant sisters, a recurring theme in classics, and of course, her doting father. There are no dancing crockery or ornaments but a great deal more magic. Like I said, the novel was considerably shorter than I thought it would be; there's not much more I can say about it...
In progress are Grimm's Fairy Tales. I've been dipping in and out of these as and when. The stories all have a similar running theme, and match their modern day counterparts, though there are considerably more deaths and certainly gorier ones.
So on the book front, that's a total of 10 books! Hooray!
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