Craighead Diocesan School

12,450 pages read and 997 team points

Team members

Bookworm Dave

3,167 pts

(2,855 pages read)

Sharpe's Storm

By Bernard Cornwell

5 stars

I hadn't realised Bernard Cornwell (81 yrs old) was still writing books set in the Napoleonic era. Saw this copy in the library & it is the 24th Sharpe novel & was released this year. Cornwell is a very readable writer on military historical fiction. In addition to Sharpe he has also written books set in Dark Age Saxon Britain (Uhtred). This book set in 1813 is another fine addition to the series. He is very skilled at getting the historical details correct. Thoroughly enjoyed and is an easy read.
Everyone in the Group Chat dies

By L.M. Chilton

3 stars

Comedy Thriller round a group of flatmates with the nickname "the Deadbeats". Chapters alternate between now and 12 months earlier. I have mixed feelings about the book. If it hadn't been for this Teachers Challenge I might have given up before finishing it. It had humourous moments and I am glad I finished it, but I don't know if I would read other Chilton books. It has a twist at the end which is effective but I never really developed a connection with any of the characters, maybe I am the wrong generation (baby boomer) for this book.
Queens of Jerusalem - the women who dared to rule

By Katherine Pangonis

5 stars

Non-fiction, with good maps at the start and a great read. I was initially hesitant to get this out of the library as this is a debut book for the author. I was pleasantly surprised. The book is well written with chapters focussing on individual women rather than chronological. The book covers the 12th century and the difference between western Europe where power generally devolved down the male line. In the Crusader kingdoms with continuous warfare this risked the danger of losing a kingdom in a battle. Also the warrior leaders who came from the west had loyalties there whereas the women born & raised in Outremer really cared for this their homeland. The solution they came up with was power through the matriarchal line. The book provides fascinating insights into some fascinating women such as Queen Melisande, Constance of Antioch, Alice rebel princess and even Eleanor of Aquitaine who went on a Crusade with her husband Louis. Definitely a recommended read for those interested in the Crusades or the Middle East.
Vodka over London Ice

By Stephen Taylor

3 stars

An easy read, but didn't enjoy this one in the thriller series Perhaps a bit more far fetched compared to the other two I have read in the Danny Pearson series.
The Last Time we spoke

By Fiona Sussman

5 stars

Recommended by a local librarian I really enjoyed this book.The book involves a terrible crime and the process that follows which leads to a salvation for both the victim and one of the offenders. Book has a distinctive NZ flavour A story well told.
The Collaborators

By Michael Idov

4 stars

Fast paced spy thriller set in 2021. Reflects Putin's way of dealing with dissidents. A quick read, but very enjoyable. Will look for others by this author.
1929- the inside story of the Greatest Crash in Wall Street History

By Andrew Ross Sorkin

5 stars

A very readable account of the Crash. Sorkin writes clearly for a general reader like myself. Very well researched (with almost 90 pages of notes and sources in addition to the 444 pages of text). The book focuses on the leading character Charles Mitchell, the Chairman of National City Bank (the largest bank in the US) and his aspiration to be the largest bank in the world. I found the book provided a deep dive into the motivations of the wheelers and dealers of that era and it makes you reflect on what is happening in the 21st century. Recommended.
Who holds the Power

By Stephen Taylor

4 stars

Thriller with James Patterson length chapters. One of a series of easy to read books with the hero Danny Pearson who is a mix of Jason Bourne, Reacher and Jack Ryan. Enjoyable light reading.
The savage noble death of Babs Dionne

By Ron Currie

4 stars

The story of a criminal matriarch -gritty, but though you surmise Babs is bad and doomed you still see her viewpoint based on her life experience and she makes a good anti-hero. Now want to read more of Currie's books.

14 - 0 - 1

Add pages read

Craighead Diocesan School

12,450 pages read and 997 team points

Team members

LynetteO

Bookworm Dave

Kate Morgan

Kerri

TRox

Sonya

Holly Scott

Melany Rush

Suse T

Angle.fish

EllaWright

Jayne

Mr_MasonRocks

Sasha

Bookworm Dave

Sharpe's Storm

Everyone in the Group Chat dies

Queens of Jerusalem - the women who dared to rule

Vodka over London Ice

The Last Time we spoke

The Collaborators

1929- the inside story of the Greatest Crash in Wall Street History

Who holds the Power

The savage noble death of Babs Dionne

Craighead Diocesan School

12,450 pages read and 997 team points

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