'Teacher Teacher' by Jack Sheffield

[Gemini]

Daisy ,it's a quick and easy read, you will soon finish it once you start

I have read several books since I finished this, so neec to remind myself about it before I write. I will do do either tonight or tomorrow morning.

[Grauntie Mag]

I have heard Teacher Teacher as a radio production a couple of times and thoroughly enjoyed it so I will await the next choice.

[Gemini]

I am guilty of reading this book too early and not making any notes as I intended to!

I enjoyed it very much. It was a gentle, undemanding read, but enjoyable and made me want to read to the end. I liked the character of Jack very much and the other characters were very believable.
I think in my case the fact that it was set locally made it more interesting. In fact a lot of it was very local indeed to me! It was set in 1978, the year my second baby was born, so I could picture what I was doing when Jack was setting out on his career.

I would like to read more of these books, and there are many.

I would be interested to hear how people who don't know the area enjoyed the book.

[Clover]

I too quite enjoyed this easy read but I'm afraid to say I found it a bit boring and wanted to get to the end quickly so I could start on something else!
I can see it probably would have more appeal if I could relate to the area like you can Gem.
I would have preferred a story with more of a plot. Teacher,teacher seemed to drift from one anecdote to the next with the only continuous story line being that of Jack's blossoming romance.
I don't think I would go out of my way to seek out more books by this author.

[Gemini]

That's what I wondered Clover, as for me a lot of the interest was knowing the places he wrote about.

[Shemadee]

Wondered if these generic questions night help

The list of discussion questions for book club success:
Which character do you like the most and why? The least and why?
What passage from the book stood out to you?
Are there situations and/or characters you can identify with, if so how?
Did you learn something you didnt know before?
Do you feel as if your views on a subject have changed by reading this text?
Have you had a life changing revelation from reading this text?
What major emotion did the story evoke in you as a reader?
At what point in the book did you decide if you liked it or not? What helped make this decision?
Name your favorite thing overall about the book. Your least favorite?
If you could change something about the book what would it be and why?
Describe what you liked or disliked about the writers style?

[Shemadee]

I thought the characters were very well described and I found it interesting despite not coming from the area though can see knowing the area would add to the interest.

Bit late now but will Find time tomorrow to have a go at answering a few of the questions!

[Plantaholic]

I lost my copy from my kindle after an update and only yesterday did I manage to get it reinstated. Good idea Shem.

[Daisy]

Shem - that's a really useful list to refer to - thanks. I've now started reading the book and Kindle says it's about a 5-6 hour read.

[Daisy]

I've finally finished reading the book! I'm going to try and use Shem's list of questions for my comments.

The most interesting characters were the children, but I also had a soft spot for Jack's mum and sister who sounded dotty! The fact that they were useless cooks endeared them to me. I thought the bombastic, complaining mother (Mrs Brown?) was a bit of a parody, but she did also remind me of some mothers I met through teaching who I'd rather forget.

I enjoyed the dialogue passages the best. I have several friends from (and in) Yorkshire, and I could 'hear' the accent as I was reading their words. It sounded authentic and made me smile. Although I don't know the area, I enjoyed the descriptions of the countryside very much.

It ws a gentle and peaceful read and evocative of a lot of rural primary schools and their communities of that time. My eldest DS started school in 1976 in a village primary school and there were similarities between his school and Ragley School. I liked the fact that is covered a school year. There's something I find very reassuring about that annual progression from September to July and took me back to the very different environment of a post 16 college which nevertheless had that same annual rhythm. The author portrayed that end-of-year atmosphere very well, when youngsters are leaving and looking forwards and backwards at the same time.

It's difficult to be totally authentic about life in years gone by, but I think Jack Sheffield did well, although there was one anachronism - and it's annoying me that I can't remember what it was. I will read some of his other books when I want an undemanding read that isn't going to make me cross, anxious or scared.

[Gemini]

I found it a gentle reassuring read too Daisy.
For many years I worked in playgroups and schools, and like you enjoyed the seasonality of that life.

[Plantaholic]

I feel like that about Miss Read books, very restful reading.

[Gemini]

I love those too Plant.

[Daisy]

The book reminded me of a Miss Read book. You know you're going to get a gentle undemanding story.

[Shemadee]

Miss Read books got me through some very worrying times! Well written and undemanding when your concentration is all over the place!