storyLines

Be the first to finish, the first to comment, or better still, the first to review…

[Tommy's review is here]

Come on, we’re all waiting!

It has come to my attention that not everyone in the world knows what Brisingr is. This was shocking news to me but I am happy to oblige those unfortunates who are living in such tragic ignorance.

This third book in Christopher Paolini’s Inheritence Cycle has been eagerly awaited by fans of Eragon and Eldest for over two years. It has recently had a simultaneous world-wide release (just one of the publishing advances for which Harry Potter can be thanked - those of us in the Antipodes need not be the poor cousins in this regard any more). 

Having written the first version of Eragon at age fifteen, I had been a little worried that Paolini might have run out of steam on this project. But no. He has proven his credentials as a world class writer once again, as this clip from The Sydney Morning Herald indicates:

Paolini, now 24, said that he had become “anxious and restless” after writing the second book, Eldest, feeling pressure from the high level of expectation from fans.

“But once I got past the first few chapters of Brisingr, I became so caught up in telling the story, I didn’t worry about what anyone else might think when they read it, which is the best attitude to have when writing a book,” he said.

“I have a story to tell and it wants to be told.

“I have been writing the lives of these characters for nearly 10 years now, so they are very close to me.”

Find out all the details at Alagaesia. To hear Christopher Paolini in conversation with two much older greats of fantasy writing download the podcasts from Random House: Pullman. Paolini. Pierce. Even as a teenager Paolini could hold his own in this company.

Meanwhile, still waiting for someone to review Brisingr here!

September National Geographic has a major feature on soil: Our Good Earth. The future rests on soil. Can we protect it? You can read this online or find a quiet moment to enjoy the hard copy in the library.

If you have had a try at playing Ayiti:The cost of life (featured in an earlier post) then you may be interested in the short story within this feature called Haiti Soil. This fills in some of the background to the terrible poverty of this small Central American nation. Here is one snip:

“Tè a fatige,” said 70 percent of Haitian farmers in a recent survey when asked about the major agricultural problems they faced. “The earth is tired.”

National Geographic is such an institution that it is often taken for granted as recreational and research reading. To tell the truth, I don’t find it an easy journal to recommend for specific tasks at high school level. The articles are rich in detail and illustrated with breathtaking photography. Their best use for me is just as recreational reading and a wonderful window on the world.

The bonus that comes with this is that you can enhance your knowledge of the world and many geographical and historical concepts whilst being engrossed in stories of real people, places, and the animal world.

Just what the teacher ordered!

Do you have a favourite magazine which extends your academic knowledge without really trying? Please add your suggestion via comments to this post.

Mrs Thomson

See the full PicLit at PicLits.com

If you have read a book worth sharing, or have some ideas of your own to express we would like to hear from you. Check our contributions page for a simple way to get published. Or you might like to try PicLit and produce your own picture story.                                             

Mrs Thomson

Games can be an excellent diversion and  problem solving exercise. But can valuable skills or knowledge be developed with game play?

Here are a couple of games which will test your problem solving skills. Have a go at one or both and then add your thoughts via the comment function on this post.

In Ayiti: The Cost of Life you have to try to help the Guinards, a family of five living in poverty stricken rural Haiti. There are decisions to be made about work, education, health and other issues which will determine their quality of life. It is pretty tough to keep this family alive for a year or two. Try to help solve the problem of how to survive. You can find out where in the world Haiti is, and what the real life problems are for Haitians like the Guinards.

After Ayiti it may seem like a breeze to manage a river catchment and create a sustainable and thriving economy. You get a chance to try this in Catchment Detox. You can learn on the job in this one - you get 100 turns, each representing a year, to try out your plans - and you can investige the issues through video, audio and text based information. 

 Give one or both of these a go and report back. Good luck!

Mrs Thomson