RECOMMENDATIONS
RECOMMENDATIONS
Recommendations From the Sixth Form:
Hannah Nunan THE UNBEARABLE LIGHTNESS OF BEING – MILAN KUNDERA
BOOK
Kundera’s novel starts with a discussion of the antithesis between lightness and weight. Which is seen as positive and which negative? Is it better to be free but risk being only ‘half-real’? Or should we embrace burdens in the attempt to attain a sense of fulfilment, a closeness with reality and the world? Through a variety of relationships taking place in Cold War Eastern Europe, The Unbearable Lightness of Being explores what it means to love and how political events can mould personal connections. The intertwining nature of the characters’ narratives creates a comparison between those who pursue liberty and detachment and those who yearn for a sense of solidity. Kundera beautifully weaves intriguing philosophical concepts into a startlingly intimate portrayal of people attempting to find fulfilment during a time of chaos and upheaval. Above all, The Unbearable Lightness of Being asks the question of how we can derive significance from a life, be it through weight or lightness.
Lorcan Gebruers WILD SWANS – JUNG CHANG
BOOK
Wild Swans is the tale of Chinese history through the lens of three generations of women within Jung Chang’s familial lineage. Chang seamlessly blends insightful historical narratives with captivating personal recollections to craft a compelling description of warlord conflicts, the Chinese Civil War, the ascent of the Communist Party, and the Cultural Revolution. Wild Swans powerfully illustrates humanity’s capacity for immense cruelty and the compassion that persists in spite of it.
Daisy Brooker THE LITTLE BOOK OF PARIS STYLE – ALOÏS GUINUT
Cat Patterson THE NEWS AGENTS - EMILY MAITLIS, JON SOPEL AND LEWIS GOODALL
BOOK
PODCAST
The Little Book of Paris Style is a small book about the history of Parisienne Fashion, going back all the way to Marie Antoinette. It tackles the question of whether the Parisienne style is still in existence today, despite all the changes that have occurred in the fashion industry due to increased diversity and inclusion. It explores in detail French designers such as Coco Chanel, Elsa Schiaparelli and Christian Dior and how they started off and made it to worldwide success. The best part of this book are the pictures of pieces from each designer and the shifts in fashion choices over time. This book is smaller than your regular book, so it is perfect to carry around with you. I would definitely recommend this book to those who are interested in fashion, French culture or both!
If you’re looking for a way to keep up with the news, whether for your own interest or for the sake of an A Level, listening to a daily podcast is arguably the most effortless way to do so. While some A Level politics students opt for ‘The Rest is Politics’, I’m partial to ‘The News Agents’ – a daily news podcast in which well-known journalists Jon Sopel, Emily Maitlis and Lewis Goodall discuss and debate current affairs. Each episode tends to feature a guest with a high level of expertise on the given issue, making for an intriguing and informative listen. With the synergy of the trio offering the perfect combination of humour and insight, ‘The News Agents’ is up there in the UK’s top 10 most popular podcasts, and deservedly so.
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