English

Reading as a Social Process

This year both in English and across the school, we’d like to promote the value and enjoyment we can all gain from reading. As part of this process, we thought we’d start by sharing some of the books that have meant something special to some of our staff.

First up we have Joan Nish, our Literacy Coordinator. Thanks for sharing, Joan.

The book that changed my life.

Your Name: Joan Nish

Title: The Red Tent

Author: Anita Diamant

What is it about? It is the story of Dinah, who is the daughter of Jacob and the sister of Joseph (of the many colours fame) who is only briefly mentioned in the book of Genesis. It is told by her.

What was it about the writing/ genre/ plot that was so appealing? The story is richly told and is based on historical evidence, although there have been some leaps of faith in the telling. It paints a vivid picture of what life was like for women in biblical society.

How did it make you feel and why was it special when you read it? (how old were you, was that relevant?) When I read this book I was struggling to know who I was in the world. I was in my early 30’s and had young children. I was in a situation that was far from ideal and not anticipated when I married. You could say the book presented a form of affirmation about the resilience of women and their understated and under recognised power, especially when they are a sisterhood. It helped boost my emotional strength to deal with the issues at hand in a better way.