2011-2012 PRE-REQUISITE READING
English IV Honors 
DUE FIRST DAY OF ENGLISH CLASS

PART ONE
The first part of the assignment is simple:  read The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield.  You may use local libraries to borrow this title, or you can find the novel in bookstores in the area.  Ordering from sites such as amazon.com, booksense.com, and other online bookstores is a possibility.  On the first day of class, be prepared to take a test, write an essay, and/or give a speech on the novel.  

PART TWO

In addition to reading The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield, you will choose one novel from the list below. These titles are comprised of recent winners and nominees for the best full-length novel in the British Commonwealth of Nations.  The Man Booker Prize is considered the most prestigious.  (Some titles may be duplicated between the lists.)  You may use local libraries to borrow these titles, if they are available, or you may be able to find these novels in bookstores in the area.  Ordering them from sites such as amazon.com, booksense.com, and other online bookstores is a possibility.  Online booksellers usually have a brief description of the novels, so you might browse through them to get an idea of which of the title you might enjoy.  Some of these could be interesting.  

The Booker Prize 
The Man Booker Prize is awarded for the best novel written in English by a citizen of the Commonwealth or the Republic of Ireland.
2010:   Howard Jacobson, The Finkler Question          2006:  Kiran Desai, The Inheritance of Loss 
2009:  Hilary Mantel,  Wolf Hall			2005:  John Banville, The Sea
2008:  Arvind Adiga,  The White Tiger 		2004:  Alan Hollinghurst, The Line of Beauty
2007:  Anne Enright, The Gathering		2003:  DBC Pierre, Vernon God Little
2006:  Kiran Desai, The Inheritance of Loss

The Orange Prize 
The Orange Prize for fiction was created in 1995 in response to a growing awareness that often the considerable achievements of women novelists were frequently being passed over by the major literary prizes. (These titles may be more difficult to locate.)
2010 Nominees					2006:  On Beauty, Zadie Smith 			
The Book Fires, Jane Borodale                                     2005:  We Need to Talk About Kevin, 
The Boy Next Door, Irene Sabatini			           Lionel Shriver				
After the Fire, A Still Small Voice, Evie Wyld             2004:  Small Island, Andreal Levy
2009:  Home, Marilynne Robinson			             
2008:  The Road Home, Rose Tremain			
2007:  Half of a Yellow Sun, Chimamanda Ngozi   		
Adichie						

Costa Book Award (formerly the Whitbread Novel Award)
The Costa Book of the Year Award celebrates the best of contemporary British writing. The Costa awards are given annually to authors who have lived in Great Britain or Ireland for at least three years.
2009							
A Scattering, Christopher Reid				
2008	                                                                      	
The Secret Scripture, Sebastian Barry                                                        
2007	                                                                       
Novel award: Day, AL Kennedy	                                                                                                     	
First novel award: What Was Lost, Catherine O'Flynn                                                			
2006  
The Tenderness of Wolves, Stef Penney	                                                       (continued on back)
2005
Shalimar the Clown, Salman Rushdie
The Accidental, Ali Smith
2004 
Eve Green, Susan Fletcher	
Small Island, Andrea Levy
2003
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Mark Haddon

Of course, since this is school, there are strings attached with this assignment.  You will complete a three-part journal activity for your award-winning book of choice.  

JOURNAL ENTRY 1 – FIRST 3RD OF THE NOVEL – Length – minimum of 150 words
GUIDING QUESTIONS:
 - Why did you choose to read this novel? 
 - What information did you need to know before reading this novel?
 - What has happened before the novel began? 
 - Who is telling the story?
 - What is the setting and why is it important to the novel?
 - What is the initial problem(s) faced by the main character?
 - How does the author get your attention or hold your interest?
 - Choose a quote and explain its importance to the novel.

JOURNAL ENTRY 2 – MIDDLE 3RD OF THE NOVEL – Length – minimum of 150 words
GUIDING QUESTIONS:
 - What new things are added to the original problem as the novel progresses?
 - What plot twists or unexpected events happen?
 - What have you discovered about the author’s style?
 - Is there a message or a main theme emerging in the book?
 - Describe at least two of the characters.  Go beyond just the physical characteristics.
 - Choose a quote and explain its importance to the novel.

JOURNAL ENTRY 3 – LAST 3RD OF THE NOVEL – Length – minimum of 150 words
GUIDING QUESTIONS:
 - What is the climax of the novel?
 - How are the major and minor conflicts resolved?
 - What message did you get from the novel?
 - How was this message conveyed?
 - How realistic is the novel?
 - How is the title important to the main idea of the book?
 - How does the novel compare to others that you have read?
 - Why would you (or why wouldn’t you) recommend this novel to a friend?
 - Choose a quote and explain its importance to the novel.