Objectives:
• to introduce and activate some idioms
• to develop students' reading skills
• to practise learners' writing and speaking skills
Warm up
How is it possible to interest and to persuade people that the book is
worth reading?
What is the role of illustrations in getting the "feeling" of
the book?
Introducing the Topic
Vocabulary. Idiomatic Language
One for the books = One for the record books;
One for the record books — a record-breaking act;
Read someone like a book — to understand someone very well;
Take a leaf out of someone's book — to behave or to do something in the
way that someone else would;
Throw the book at someone — to charge or convict someone with as many
crimes as is possible. (Slang);
Use every trick in the book — to use every method possible. (Informal)
Complete the sentences with the expressions.
1. I_(used every trick in the book), but I still couldn't manage to get
a ticket to the game.
2. I've never heard such a funny joke. That's really one_(for the books
/ for
the record books).
3. I made the police officer angry, so he took me to the police station
and_
(threw the book at me).
4. You had better do it your way. Don't_(take a leaf out of my book). I
don't
do it well.
5. Of course I understand you. I_(readyou like a book).
Reading
A) Read the dialogue and say how book review can help you to make your
choice of books.
WHY NOT WRITE BOOK REVIEW
There are some more new books in the library. The pupils are choosing
books to read. Here what they are talking about:
Ann. Here's a book I'd like to read. It's about animals. I can tell that
by the title. I like animals very much, so I'm sure I'd like it.
Nick. But titles not always tell you what a book is about.
Librarian. No, that's true. So why not write book review?
Ann. What's book review?
Librarian. A book review is a short report about a book. It tells just
enough to give a person an idea about the story.
Nick. But how shall we know that the book is really very interesting and
worth reading?
Librarian. The person who has read the book writes a review of it. You
write a review of your favourite book. You write why you enjoyed the book. You
also ought to write something to interest other people in the book and make
them want to read it.
Mike. Reviews of our favourite books will be helpful to others, I'm
sure. But where shall we keep the reviews?
Librarian. You may sew the reviews together and make a booklet, which
can be kept on the library table. Or you may write very short reviews on cards
and keep them in a box which is called a "Book File". You may also
write reviews for your class magazine.
B) Say what a book review is and whether tittles always tell what a book
is about.
Work in groups
Students read the book review and on the base of this review write their
own reviews.
BOOK REVIEWS
The scene of the novel"..." by A. is laid in the first decade
of the 20th century. The events in the book take place against a background of
World War I. The author follows the traditions of the historical novel, a
literary trend (movement, tendency) of the 19th century. A. is skillful in
building up the plot and subplots, though these are rather complicated and
intricate in parts.
The characters, on the whole, are very well-drawn, and realistically
portrayed. The inner life of the main personages developed in a mastery way,
with sympathy, and with deep understanding of human nature and human reactions.
The reader follows the fate of the leading (chief) characters with unabated
interest. The minor (secondary) characters are more faintly drawn.
The drawbacks (shortcomings) in the book are that the author fails to
strike an optimistic note. The ending is an unhappy one because the author sees
no way out of the situation he created for his hero and heroin.
***
"Collection of Short Stories" by C. is diverting, light
reading. Some of them may rank among the best humorous stories in English
literature. The author has a good sense of humour, which is revealed in almost
each story, in the speech and actions of the leading and secondary characters.
The stories are pleasantly varied, and no story is long enough to become
tiresome.
The author raises no deep problems to speculate upon, yet each story has
a point which strikes home. We recommend the "Collection" as a book
that one may read with pleasure, and even with profit (benefit, valuable
results).
Writing
Prepare a book review. This plan can be helpful.
1. Name the title and the author of the book. If possible, give some
biographical details about the author. Mention his other books.
2. Say what kind of book it is.
3. Is the plot interesting? Why? Speak about the contents of the book or
briefly describe an exciting part of the book.
4. Describe the leading characters.
5. Did the book teach you anything new about people, places or things?
Was the book good entertainment?
6. Say whether, in your opinion, the book has bad features. Mention both
the book's good points and its faults.
7. Would you recommend this book to a friend? Give reasons.
Speaking
A) Work in pairs.
1) A friend asks you to recommend a good book to read. What do you
suggest act out a conversation.
2) Your friend has just read a book by a well-known (unknown) writer.
Ask him / her for an opinion of it. Act out a conversation.
B) Work in groups.
In groups discuss different book reviews. Then decide which book seems
the most attractive to you and why.
Homework
Write a book review of your favourite book. | 
