Happy Christmas from Thoughttree

Seasons Greetings bloggers... we're all due a break, aren't we? (if only from Trump-manic nuclear arms race wish-thinking) so here's hoping we all have a great Christmas. Check out the cabaret dancing Santas on my Christmas cake (yeh I know... not thinking of cake decorating as a second career!
).

Only remains for me to say Happy Christmas one and all - and a Happy New blogging Year.

Love, Ali

Once upon a Christmas Time...

Christmas can be a thoughtful time of year - so here's a small offering to perhaps make us think a little more. A couple of you may recognise this: we're reading it on Sunday!

      Once upon a Christmas time…

A child looked into the twilight sky 

and saw a single star, shining in the west.

By its fierce light, the rubbled piles of white; 

the yawning, gaping blacks of bombed out blocks in the city 

where he and his brothers scratched out a living like rats in dust; 

in its light the skeletal shapes of his home

shone in Syrian silver.

Like a photograph, at night.

 Like a Christmas card, with glitter and snow.

He gazed into the night sky. What did he see?

Ecocriticism Explained...

Teachers and A Level English students: my study guide is now published:

Ecocritical Interpretation: The AQA English Literature A level Theory and Independence Component – a guide for students and teachers (Red Axe Books, 2016)

Suitable for both A level students and teachers new to ecocriticism, this invaluable study guide offers:

• Concise, clear explanation of environmental theory, or ecocriticism.
• Detailed ecocritical interpretation and analysis of a variety of texts suitable for study towards A Level English Literature
• Advice for students on using critical theory in the A Level exam

 Supports the AQA A Level English Literature Theory and Independence Component

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1911477285/ref=sr_1_sc_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1481746101&sr=1-2-spell&keywords=ali+cargilll

Snow Flurry

It's that time of year again...what better then, than to share a short piece of descriptive writing from one of our younger writers. This from Harvey, year 7:

Cloud streams across the amber sunset. Below, the trees of the forest are a dark blanket. The hills whisper in the distance. Then the first flakes of snow drift from the thickened sky as the snow dances to its silent, winter music. The frozen lake is a mirror. The snow-layered treetops stretch their branches down to shake hands with the hardened earth. The last leaf falls and is soon buried beneath the tumbling snow, like a small hand. Fingers, in iced crystal.

Thanks, Harvey!