LUCY SULLIVAN IS GETTING MARRIED

By Marian Keyes.

This book tells of how Lucy, the main character, pays a visit to a fortuneteller. Mrs. Nolan the fortuneteller predicts that Lucy will be married before the year is over. This doesn't look very likely, as Lucy doesn't have much luck in love. Most of her boyfriends are scrounging alcoholics.

Then she meets a Guy and falls madly in love with him, could he be the one? Or is he just like all the others?

I found this book very humourous and enjoyable. People can relate to Lucy and the problems she encounters throughout this book. For example fighting with her mother, her parents splitting up, looking after her irresponsible father. among many.

Even though it is a long book with over 700 pages, I would advise people not to be disheartened by this fact. This book never bored me and the pages flew by as it kept me interested from start to finish.

A TIME TO KILL

By John Grisham

An amazing book written by the author of books such as The Client, The Pelican Brief and The Firm. A Time To Kill tells the story of a black man who kills two whites and rapes his daughter. A young lawyer takes on the case of defending the black man hence risking his own life and the lives of those close to him

This book is one of those books that keeps you up until 5 a.m.! As with many of Grishams books, it has the brilliant, unexpected twists. An utterly breathtaking read.

ANGELA'S ASHES

By Frank McCourt

This memoir of a childhood is the first biography from Frank McCourt. The story is set in post war times, in Limerick.

The story tells of Malachy and Angela and their seven children. Unfortunately three off them die due to illness.
This is a very heart rending story and it brought me close to tears in many parts.

This book has everything. It's witty, pictorial, tactile, lyrical, sorrowful, harrowing and intimate.A true masterpiece. I would recommend this book to anybody.

THE COPPER BEECH

By Maeve Binchy

This book tells a story of eight pupils who carved their names in the copper beech tree that shaded their old school.

The tree is a gateway to Binchy's portrait of a small Irish town whose untroubled, happy surface conceals the passions, jealousies, rivalries and friendships beneath.

Binchy takes an unusual approach to this novel but it is extremely effective. A thoroughly enjoyable and readable book.

ALWAYS THE BRIDESMAID

By Sarah Webb.

This novel is about Amy, who is bridesmaid at her sister and her best friends wedding at the tender age of thirty. She has just broken up with her fiancée and is unimpressed, to say the least, with the wedding fever that has taken over her life. She starts to slip into a rut, becoming more and more depressed. This isn't helped when she learns that her ex-fiancée becomes involved with one of her good friends, Jodie. She becomes enraged and plots her revenge. She is worried that the Phrase "always the bridesmaid, never the bride" is tailor made for her. The book details her life from when she finds out about the engagements to the big day itself.

I enjoyed this book immensely. It is a very light book, perfect for reading on holidays or when you just need a laugh. I liked the character of Amy, I can identify with her and her life. At the start of the book I disliked her ex, Jack but torwards the end he is painted in a more flattering light.

I would recommend this book to girls of all ages as it is funny and a good read.

MY LEFT FOOT

By Christy Browne

My left foot is an adaptation from the novel with the same title from the author Christy Browne. It is a biopic. The film is autobiographical and tells the story of his harrowing life. In general films run for one and a half-hours. Any longer would run the risk of not making money at the box office. Consequently the screenwriter adapts the story to allow the story to be told on screen. This usually involves dropping some characters, changing the plot a little and leaving out some scenes altogether.

The story is very engaging, but very few people watch a film for the story but they are attracted to the themes in the film and this Irish film explored a hidden Ireland far removed from the forty shades of green and the leprachan syndrome. The themes that emerge here are disability and the horrific treatment of disabled people by the Catholic Church, the medical profession and society. Coupled with disability Sheridan, the director explores poverty. We see the Browne family trapped with Christy in inner city Dublin experiencing poverty, predjudice and unexpected pregnancy. Counteracting this negative focus Sheridan introduces us to a place of unexpected love and loving relationships. We are reminded of the Latin actiun "amar vinct amnia" love conquers all. Eileen, Christys mum becomes the personification of this abstract "love". Pregnant annually we see her at an advanced stage of pregnancy feed and carry Christy to his bedroom. Eileen emerges as the heroine bathing this deprived social setting with maternal social instinct.

ROMEO AND JULIET

As part of transition year we went to Galway to see a modernised version of Romeo and Juliet performed by the cork opera house. The cast made a very dramatic entrance onto the stage on scooters and skateboards. They also flung garden chairs, cones, golf balls and plastic bottles at each other but they ended up hitting members of the audience (No one was injured).

This play was slightly different as Romeo and Juliet contacted each other using mobile phones. To add extra interest to this production the six actors/actresses doubled up with some men playing women, e.g. Tibilt doubled up as the nurse and women playing men e.g. Benvolio doubled up as Lady Capulet. We were amazed at the cast's ability to double up in a way that enabled the play to run smoothly.

The props on stage were excellent. The famous balcony took centre stage and it was converted many times to suit each scene.

We would highly recommend this production as it was suitable to our age group (15-18 year olds) and everybody really enjoyed.