Top 5 Books
Break out your bookmarks and ready your TBRs as Harry Walles talks us through 5 of his favourite recent reads!
By Harry Walles
1. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: The Original Screenplay - J.K. Rowling
I reckon there is nothing wrong with re-reading books and the FB series is truly my favourite so far. I just love the plot and that I can read it with my children, trying to enact the scenes by reading the script and mimicking what the actors do (well…as best as we can). I don’t think it requires an introduction, but to those who have not read the series yet, here it is: Newt Scammander accidentally leaves an egg in the bank, in the possession of a Muggle, Jacob Kowalski. He then manages to misplace his magical case and some of his fantastic beasts escape! To make matters worse, a dark force has been destroying the city and the magical world is at threat of exposure. 2. The Night Animals – Sarah Ann Juckes Although this book has been published quite recently, it has already been muchly appreciated and won the title of the ‘Book of the Month’ and many other titles. It was also voted as the Waterstones Children’s Book of the Month for January 2023. From the author: “Nora's mum has good days and bad days, but the bad days are getting worse. It's been just the two of them for always, and they don't need anyone else. When the rainbow-shimmering ghost animals Nora used to see when she was small start to reappear, she's convinced that they hold all the answers. Along with new friend Kwame, Nora follows a glittering ghostly fox, hare, raven and otter on the adventure of a lifetime, helping her to find the strength she needs to help her family.” 3. Madly, Deeply: The Alan Rickman Diaries – Alan Rickman
I think it is fair to say that everyone truly misses this wonderful actor, who passed away way too soon. Before his death, Alan Rickman wrote stories and diary entries, detailing his life and all his values and opinions. He intended to share it with the world but never could. This book can be treated as a memoir, which will allow you to get closer to this magnificent character, and maybe perhaps, fall in love with him all over again. 4. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes – Suzanne Collins With the next movie from the Hunger Games series coming out later this year, I think we all need to read the last book to make the story make much more sense to us when the time comes! The story explores the early years of the Hunger Games, when President Snow is far from being a president yet. Cornelius Snow has been chosen to be a mentor in the Hunger Games. He’s unlucky – he is a mentor of a female tribute from District 12. But is he truly as unlucky as he thinks he is? 5. Tales from the Café: Before the Coffee Gets Cold – Toshikazu Kawaguchi Another new book, which I found rather intriguing. It tells a story of a coffee shop, in a small back alley in Tokyo. It has been open for more than a hundred years, but it is not just an ordinary shop. It offers the customers the chance to travel back in time. Who will say yes, and who won’t? Read to find out! |