Our future reading habits are often defined by our childhood favourites, so we take a look at some of the most iconic classics…
A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket:
While A Series of Unfortunate Events has become a popular film, Lemony Snicket has in fact written many more stories than the first three which the film was based. The 13 books in this series explores the lives of Violet, Klaus and Sunny -the Baudelaire orphans. After their parents’ death, the three are placed in the custody of Count Olaf, an evil and manipulative character. Olaf disguises himself in order to take custody of the children, throwing the children in awkward and difficult situations. They use their intelligence, strength and character to escape the evil Count Olaf. The books engage with dark humour and sarcastic storytelling reflecting the characters’ traits.
The Door that Led to Where by Sally Gardner:
When AJ Flynn fails all but one of his GCSE exams, he is strangely offered a junior position at a law firm in London. One day while tidying the archive, AJ finds an old key with his name and date of birth on it. He becomes determined to find the door that this key fits and when he does, he is transported back to 1830. While solving the mysteries behind the named key and jumping back and forth in time, AJ discovers a time where his life is filled with more value and purpose, a time where he is needed to unravel the mysteries of the past.
Alice In Wonderland by Lewis Carroll:
Adventurous Alice follows a hare down the rabbit hole to find some of the strangest creatures and fantastic characters she has ever met. She enters a world of make-believe where she meets The Ugly Duchess, the Mad Hatter, the weeping Mock Turtle, the diabolical Queen of Hearts, and the Cheshire Cat. While the more recent film productions of this tale are great takes on the story, what better way is there to experience Alice’s adventures than through the original tale itself.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon:
Christopher is autistic. He knows every country in the world and their capital cities. He also knows every prime number until 7507. As you can tell, Christopher loves facts. He also likes dogs and knows dogs can only feel four emotions: happy, sad, angry and concentrated. So, when Christopher finds a dead dog in his neighbour’s garden, he sets off on a journey to solve The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time. The story explores themes of family relationships, mental health, love, loss and happiness. There is also a theatre production of the book that is usually performed in London but is currently on tour. They will be performing at Leeds Grand Theatre between 28 February 2017 and 4 March 2017!
Sumaiya Patel
(Image:Joshua Conkel)