Charles Dickens masterpiece, Great Expectations is definitely one of my favourite books. It follows Pip from his childhood and onto his later life. The story is engaging and full of interesting characters; the aggrieved Miss Havisham, the loving and kind Joe, the haughty and distant Estella and the convict Magwitch. There are many plot twists and human emotions: despair, hope, love and hate. We can all relate to Pips character as a child with his family relationships, desires and failures. The character that really stood out to me was, Joe, his sister’s husband.  Pip was often ridiculed and made fun of. Children, especially at that time were better ‘seen and…

I was given this book as a birthday present last year by my friend who is a physics teacher. I was slightly concerned upon receiving it, because I have no knowledge of physics and couldn’t see how I’d find it interesting, so I approached the book with caution. I needn’t have worried though – this book is an easy recommendation, which should probably be required reading for everybody… It turns out that Feynman didn’t actually write the book – it’s a collection of transcribed stories, taped by a friend of his. All are real stories, told with precision, primarily because they are fun, and there’s a lesson or a laugh…

Lately, I have been reading books by Rosie Goodwin. You know when you feel like a reading a really good story that flows along nicely and is easy to understand? Well, this author’s novels are just the ticket! She creates great characters and interesting plots, and if the story is a period piece, she has always researched her subjects very well. She talks about what life was like in the 1850s and onward, and many of the stories are set in Nuneaton in England (“?”, i hear you shrug…), with which she is familiar. For me, a great author creates interest for their readers within the first few pages, and…

The school holidays have finally arrived, and children up and down the UK are truly excited to have 6 weeks off school. After about a week, boredom can start to set in and it can be a problem trying to find things for them to do. My children are now teenagers and do tend to entertain themselves by going out with friends, so it has become a little easier for me in this regard.   One of the tried and trusted places of interest still, for me and my boys is the discovery centre called ‘Conkers’ in Moira near Ashby de la Zouch, in Derbyshire. It is situated in the…