Thread by @MrsBallAP

Book Thread 2024!

1. Wow. Definitely started 2024 strong with this one! Absolutely stunning book with love, grief, family, depression and hope all wrapped up in some beautiful writing. I won't forget the Padavano sisters and William for a long time 5/5

2. I can forgive the slight cheesiness at times because I found this really profound, interesting and inspiring 4/5

3. Decent thriller! 3/5

4. Struggled with the first half, more gripped by the second half then the ending left me disappointed 3/5

5. Short read, not read any Toni Morrison since my A-levels and this was moving but didn't love it 3/5

6. Enjoyed this, very much in the same vein as The Appeal 3.5/5

7. Enjoyed this, funny and moving though I would have loved more of the mother's voice 3.5/5

8. Wanted to love this and did find it interesting but there were just too many people to remember and not enough pauses! The evidence is really compelling though and obviously shocking in places 3/5

9. At last a really good read! Loved this historical fiction (the real story was fascinating). Themes of LGBT acceptance and also loss. 4/5

10. Decent twisty thriller 3/5

11. Lovely story about grief and charity shops! Really loved the mini stories in-between each chapter 4/5

12. Easy read, started slow then really picked up and got interesting but a bit of a disappointing end! 3/5

13. Been plodding through this slowly. Found it really interesting to hear a view so different from the traditional telling of Versailles. Would be excellent for anyone teaching the Treaty. 4/5

14. Easy read, characters I liked. Warm, funny and moving 4/5

15. Absolutely fascinating. Took lots of great advice away from this 4/5

16. First book in ages I literally couldn't put down. Gripping story and beautiful writing. I did guess a twist towards the end but other than that I loved it. 4.5/5

17. Decent thriller but a bit predictable 3/5

18. Started well but found the writing a bit clichéd with this one (and all the brackets were annoying). Not a patch on the four winds! 3/5

19. So thoroughly researched and informative!

20. Slow start but then found it moving, funny and very relatable at points! 4/5

21. Knowing and working with Josh I expected this to be incredible and it was. Well researched, well written and massively helpful for anyone interested in or leading coaching 5/5

22. Took me a while to get into this. Sometimes events happen before I've really got to know or connect with characters but by the end I was really rooting for Frankie and the content about women vets was really interesting 4/5

23. Oof this is phenomenal. So much to think about! Lots of underlining done. 5/5

24. Took a while to get used to the different narrators but then I was hooked. 4/5

25. A re-read for the book project. Just phenomenal. I wish every assessment lead and middle leader would read this.

26. Incredibly dark but addictive reading! 4/5

27. Lovely easy read though the ending felt a little rushed! 3.5/5

28. Incredible book which distills the most impactful and important studies in education in a really accessible way. Loved it.

29. Gosh this was heavy. A lot resonated, the early days of motherhood and the loneliness and struggles. I did feel like her husband was a bit of a caricature figure and I kept waiting for something awful to happen! Very moving but a bit relentless! 3.5/5

30. It's good but it's no one day! Lovely easy read though with really relatable characters 4/5

31. A strong heroine based on a real 17c painter made this story! 3.5/5

32. I love everything she writes. Superb! 5/5

33. Really enjoyed this story about a woman meeting the West African father she has never known. A moving novel about self discovery 4/5

34. Easy read but a lot cheesier than Gayle's usual! 3/5

35. Just found this really really sad and painful to read at times and left me with questions about what's real and what's not 3/5

36. Fantastic read. Meaty but accessible. Research-driven but practical with the 'what to do about it's sections for leaders and teachers. Highly recommend.

37. Easy funny read 3/5

37. Loved this. Moving and emotional, brilliant writing 4.5/5

38. Really couldn't get on with this. Did finish but didn't have any love for the characters or the writing style 2/5

39. Loved this story about Rachel who is looking for her children who had been sold to other plantations in Barbados. Emotional read 4/5

40. I was hooked on this! Really decent thriller 4/5

41. Incredible read! Difficult to read in places, so well researched and written 5/5

42. Really unusual but enjoyable read. Interesting links to the me too movement and the invisibility of women as they age. Reminded me of The power 3.5/5

43. Let's just say that had I not been stuck on a train with nothing else to read, I wouldn't have finished it! Didn't warm to the style or the characters 1/5

44. A fascinating read! 4/5

45. Really enjoyed this. A moving and comforting read 4/5

46. Couldn't put this down! Gripping, sad, funny and moving. I was hooked from chapter 1 4.5/5

47. Quick read but not a fan, a bit naff 2/5

48. Couldn't put this down! Absolutely fascinating 4.5/5

49. Adored this. Funny, incredibly moving, raw and gripping. Best book I've read in ages! 5/5

50. One in preparation for the scaffolding book! Really great interesting read

51. Really moving and interesting read about the months after Hiroshima 4/5

52. Breathtaking, moving read 4/5

53. I did finish it but found it clichéd and did not particularly warm to the characters 2/5

54. Honest read, some of which resonated very personally with me 3/5

55/56. More book research!

57. Kept waiting for something more significant to happen! Nice pleasant read but didn't love it 3.5/5

58. Enjoyed this! Some really good advice on explanations (some of which is appropriate for teachers) interspersed with stories from Ros' career 3.5/5

59. Couldn't put this down. Phenomenal read 5/5

60. What a read! I was so excited to get my hands on this and it didn't disappoint. There was for me a lull in the middle but the latter half and ending made up for it. Gripping, moving and every bit as good as We begin at the End. Whitaker is an expert storyteller 5/5

61. Not sure what to make of this one. Odd! 2/5

62. Easy, moving and uplifting read 3.5/5

63. Wanted to love it, thought it was just ok! 3/5

64. Easy to read page-turner! 3.5/5

65. LOVED this! I really identified with Rocky. A funny but deeply moving and real book 5/5

66. Incredibly moving, I couldn't put this down 4/5

67. Really enjoyable and interesting read loosely based on the real story of Molly and Peggy Gainsborough 4/5