The Sixty-Fifth Republic - The Covid School Phoney War under way so who will the gold medal and who will get the wooden spoon?

[Staffholidayclubrep]

You are most welcome to this school staff support thread to get us through stressful times. It is meant for school staff only – a sort of room of requirement for school staff to let off steam.

Baiters, haters, goaders, and bashers can jog on somewhere else.

If you are NOT staff and just have a general education query please start your own thread.

Do not give the staffroom password to non-staff as it attracts the wrong sort of crowd.

Other requirements for staff room entry include the ability to find the staff room, the ability to find a clean mug in the staff room, knowledge of the photocopier codes, and the ability to sniff out where the booze is stashed - Thirsty Tuesdays, Fizz Fridays now in operation.

You can sit on chairs but keep the windows open. You don’t have to upload LFT results during the holidays. You do not have to wear mask - free choice

The Slough Horses spy series by Mick Herron is brilliant, a cross between Graham Greene and John le Carre with a 21st century sensibility and savage humour. (I may have thought of that description myself or it may have strayed into my head from the blurb.)
There are at least 5 books in the series.

Has anyone read Circe?

Loved Song of Achilles and bought this one ages ago but keep failing to start it!

I started the fifty book challenge but forgot to post. I have been reading but not at my usual speed. I think my concentration has been hit by Covid. I’ve just started a Strike book too. Have any of you who like dystopian fiction read the Wool series?

I like Circe even more than Achilles. Lucky you!

I've read Wool and thing and the other thing. I really liked them.
I have kindle unlimited and get through loads of books - it's never very high brow stuff but I can't do proper reading in term time.

Deepti ain’t that impressed with the trial
paper either....

mobile.twitter.com/dgurdasani1/status/1418531448370470912

I just looked at Wool and it has a sticker on the front saying 'The next Hunger Games' so I think that is next on my summer reading list!

If you want to buy books online but don't want to use Amazon www.hive.co.uk/ are very good. They donate a percentage of each purchase to an independent bookshop of your choice.

I saw another thread about the St Mary's books. Has anyone tried them?

I've read (listened to, sorry) the Wool series and loved it. I have read (proper read) Circe and thoroughly enjoyed that too. I get through a lot of books, generally fantasy, sci fi, dystopian stuff, with rare diversions into crime/biographies. Lots of my books are audiobook versions now as I listen to them on my commute or when I'm out walking. Before we got the puppy I used to read probably one real (Kindle) book a week, usually when going to bed. Now I pick up my book at bedtime and fall asleep after just a few pages.

I have Circe on my kindle ready to read. I’m reading Where The Crawdads Sing at the moment.

I really liked Where the Crawdads Sing, the writing was so evocative. Also liked Hamnet and Circe.

I’m reading A Net for Small Fishes and I’m hooked, even although it’s not what I’d normally read.

I love St Mary’s but I know some people on the book threads hate them. I think the concept is great and I like her style of writing. I think the new one is out soon and I’ll get it as soon as I can. I spend ages thinking about which historical event I’d like to see.

@sherrystrull

I saw another thread about the St Mary's books. Has anyone tried them?

Depends what you like reading. They are first person told from a female perspective. Part sci fi (time travel) and a big part historical fiction that is extremely well researched and mostly told true to events. I find them very funny and love the character and world building that Jodi does.

I'd love to work at St Mary's. (See my username for details...)

Remember all these recommendations please for when I get through the already built up pile of books to read.

I am an avid reader and read before sleep every night anyway even if only for 15 mins. But stuck at home as I am (into tomorrow....yay) I've been HAMMERING my kindle unlimited membership and read about 2 books each day. Sometimes more as it has been too hot to do housework or decorating- that's my excuse anyway. It has saved me at least 30 quid just this week on books.

www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/northumberland-teacher-fired-after-telling-21106565?fbclid=IwAR39mtFU44KpHwunpt6aH1ExwZfIa6U9hx7Ah5p0kZgviMHsJpxgcmhJKfQ

Teacher fired for letting Ofsted know that his academy had hidden all the Bobs, now wins tribunal case!

Latest st Mary's books wont be out til christmas day (short story) then April.

It's her White Silence series new book called long shadows that is out a week on Wednesday.
I won't make the same mistake of reading that one on my own in the dark when it lands. Scared myself silly reading the first one like that! Completely didn't expect the spooky side of them.

Ooh I've added that to my amazon shopping list DrMad. I like watching supernatural stuff but have never really read any .

@DollyMixtureLulus ooh I also have Hamnet ready to go too.

I need to start the St Mary’s books - I read her book The Nothing Girl and really enjoyed it.

I read loads of YA stuff. I love a Holly Bourne novel

Thanks for the book recommendations. I have far too many waiting to be read. Currently reading Small Pleasures which I'm really enjoying. I have a historical fiction mystery next and I'm dipping in and out of John Cooper Clarke's autobiography (every word is written as if he is speaking).

I adored Hamnet - have tissues ready. It's a bit marmite anecdotally.

Thanks for the info about St Mary's. I'm going to give it a go as well.

I actually read a great 8-12 book recently! A Skylarks’ War by Hilary McKay. I’m going to use it as a novel study next year.

Have finished Pre-Hunger Games, I enjoyed it, the first two thirds were great, the last third was like the most extended epilogue ever and a huge slowing of pace which is a weird way around for a book.

But still worth reading if you liked the original Hunger Games

Imagine trying to hide the Bobs...

Off you go to the squash court, Bob.
Nah... I ain't goin' to the f'ing squash court.
It'll be fun.
Nuffink in this school's fun. S'all shit. You can't make me.