Our English Department is always looking for ways to show their pupils how books matter in the world beyond the classroom and what better way to celebrate this, than the Man Booker Prize. 
Six of our Lower Sixth Formers (and not just English students) -– Alec, Daria, Sonya, Coco, Geronimo, Zanthe – took up the challenge of digesting one each of the six shortlisted novels: The Testaments by Margaret Atwood, Quichotte by Salman Rushdie, Ducks, Newburyport by Lucy Ellmann, 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World, by Elfie Shafa, An Orchestra of Minorities by Chigozie Obioma and Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo.
They each spoke passionately about their chosen books, reading extracts and reviewing them, showing a level of commitment and quality of thought, presentation and reflection that was outstanding; as good as anything you'll hear on TV or radio!
Mark McDowall, Senior Teacher of English and organiser of this event, was particularly impressed with the way that 'all the novels engage with real world issues today form global warning and Trump's America to diversity, tolerance and gender fluidity. '
In the discussion and debate that followed their presentations, the audience was left in no doubt - it was a clear thumbs down for Atwood, a big thumbs up for Lucy Ellham's 1,000 page novels with less than ten sentences, and a lukewarm reception for the Booker favourite Quichotte.
Atwood's The Testaments, a sequel to The Handmaid's Tale, is the bookmakers' favourite to scoop the prestigious literary award. Lucy Thomas, Head of English, and Lili Callon, Senior Librarian, are both backing Rushdie's Quichotte to win but Mark McDowall is sceptical, owing to the fact that both Atwood and Rushdie have both won the Man Booker Prize before (including the best of all booker winners for Midnight's Children) and his money is on newcomer, Lucy Ellham with her book Ducks, Newburyport - a stream-of-consciousness monologue that is largely made up of of one continuous sentence.
All will be revealed soon, when the winner is announced later today.
All books on the Man Booker Prize 2019 shortlist are available to borrow from the Senior Library.