Irish Parents Review English Curriculum

  The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler is a gritty, sometimes disturbing, murder detective story. It contains various sexual scenes in which the female 'femme fatale' "slut" is naked (in chapters 7, 9 & 24) drugged, being slapped (" I slapped her around a little more. She didn't mind the slaps" ch 7), photographed while posing for a pornographic photo shoot, in front of a pole containing a hidden camera, by an effeminate bisexual man,  Geiger, who organisies  sex orgies and blackmails rich customers. He  is also a buyer and seller of pornographic books (he runs an illicit porn lending library: "a lending library of elaborate smut").  The book contains a variety of derogatory references to Jews and homosexuals and sexist remarks about women like "The dumb broad" and "the blonde"   Suggestive links are made between violence and sex e.g. in chapter 6, where the reader is led to believe that the female has cried out during sex...

  Originally published in 2018, The Boy in the Water is accurately described by Google Books as " The poignant, life-affirming story of a determined boy, a visionary coach and how the dream of a record-breaking Channel swim became a reality for an 11 yr old boy from Eltham, South London." In 1988, 11-year-old Thomas ("Tefal") Gregory set the record for being the youngest person ever to swim the French - English channel and for circumstances which occurred shortly after the event, his record became a permanent one, which can never be broken. His book recalls his early years of training, the agonising swim itself and his tough, determined coach who helped him through it all. The story is also a tribute to his parents and beloved sister, Anna, who believed in him and supported him through his challenge. Verdict: This book celebrates hard work, perseverance, family and the pursuit of a dream. Beautifully written and a riveting story, it is also a page-turner. Big thumb...

  Review taken from IMD public domain website: Casablanca is a film about the personal tragedy of occupation and war. It speaks to the oppression of the one side - and the heroism and self-deprecation of the other. From opportunists, to isolationists - from patriots to disenchanted lovers - the film has everything a man or woman would enjoy. Bravery, courage, intrigue, romance, beauty and love. Leading actors to please any appetite. Watching this film is to step back to a world that doesn't exist - yet to know it. It is to experience lives that have never been lived - but are "real to you." It is to know pain and joy, pride and pity for characters that are a fiction - yet are so real that you can't help but get lost in their story. Amazing cast, memorable dialogue, unforgettable story. Through this film, Casablanca will always live in my heart and I will think of its characters as family. Verdict of Irishparents: Classic love story set against the backdrop of war. Sui...

Short summary of Rebecca : On a trip to the South of France, the shy heroine of Rebecca falls in love with Maxim de Winter, a handsome widower. Although his proposal comes as a surprise, she happily agrees to marry him. But as they arrive at her husband's home, Manderley, a change comes over Maxim, and the young bride is filled with dread. Friendless in the isolated mansion, she realises that she barely knows him. In every corner of every room is the phantom of his beautiful first wife, Rebecca, and the new Mrs de Winter walks in her shadow. (Book depository) Also a movie. Black & White version is better! Verdict from Irishparents: Rebecca is classified as a gothic story and as such, is a fast-paced, scary read in parts, but we feel that senior level students are of an appropriate age to enjoy the clever story and it does not  turn gratuitously violent or macabre. However, we advise parents who have any concerns, to read it first. More detailed Story summary taken from Spark no...

  Diego Maradona is a gritty documentary directed by Asif Kapadia, detailing (with real life footage)  the life, achievements and mishaps of Diego Maradona, the famous Argentinian footballer who rocketed to fame after the 1986 World Cup quarter final between Argentina and England. Raw and exposing in parts, the film documents his glories and his shame, his success and his humble, impoverished beginnings. Interesting watch for die-hard fans and others.  Verdict from irishparents: Suitable for Senior students. (Lasts for two hours) ADVERTISEMENT Continue reading the main story

This play is about the life of a black familiy in South Chicago after the Second World War and shows different aspects of this kind of living, as it makes up marginalized communities everywhere in the world. It has influenced the reading and writing of so-called black literature since its first abridged staging. (review by KG Beast) Summary of story by J. N. Plant (Amazon ) Karl Lindner is the only white character in this extraordinary play . The play was written by Lorraine Hansberry in the 1950s. It is about the Youngers, a black family who are tired of living in sub-standard accommodation and want to better themselves in a house with space and a garden. They have the money from Mama's husband's insurance policy but her son, impatient to move into a business venture and become rich, is cheated out of the money....... Karl Lindner, the white man, approaches the black family when he believes they will move into a white neighbourhood and offers to buy them out. Verdict by irishp...

   Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (story summary) Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s ‘Purple Hibiscus’ tells the story of a young Nigerian girl, Kambili, and her family relationships. In the tradition of a coming-of-age novel, we have a sensitive portrayal of a fifteen year old’s sexual awakening amidst family tensions, fears and religious oppression. Throughout the novel, Adichie explores the themes of freedom, oppression, love, hatred, tradition and a search for identity. Kambili’s complex relationship with her strict, fundamentalist father is based on both love and fear, and all she ever wanted was his approval and love. The arrival of the young priest, Father Amadi, into Kambili’s life was actually an answer to all her prayers as she begins to throw off the strictures of her unhealthy upbringing and develop into a young woman with her own identity, self esteem and self respect. This novel has much to offer students for further study. We are drawn into Kambili’s world ...

  SYNOPSIS (taken from stageagent's blogsite) The Ferryman  is set in Northern Ireland in 1981, during the height of the Troubles. Quinn, a former terrorist, has swapped his career with the Irish Republican Army (IRA) for a life on the farm in rural Armagh. He now lives with his sickly wife, their children, his sister-in-law and nephew. The IRA murdered Quinn’s brother, Seamus, when he was just twenty years old and his body has only recently been discovered. He was one of the sixteen men and women who were killed and buried in unknown locations during the 1970s, leaving their family unsure as to whether they were alive or dead. Seamus was apparently shot dead following Quinn’s defection from the IRA in 1972, and a threateningly influential IRA member, Muldoon, now comes to pay Quinn a visit. He is keen to ensure that there are no further repercussions to the IRA’s cause, now Seamus’ murder has come to light. Themes: Family, loyalty, identity, the legacy of violence,  divi...