Turns and twists in J. Coe novel What a carve up! Will the students crack the mystery?

For students who study English as their major subject it is absolutely necessary to read and analyze contemporary English literature in the language class. It is important to start reading the opening chapters of a book very thoroughly to let your students adjust to the language, style and manner of the narration. This holds especially true when one is to read and explore a complicated book like J. Coe's novel "What a Carve Up!". Then the students worked on the chapters devoted to various characters of the Winshow family which are depicted against a vivid social background. From the very first classroom discussion it became clear that the narration managed to engage the students' interest and that the linguistic and literary analysis proved helpful for their better insight into the book. They were very observant about lots of details, picking up clues to the puzzles of the novel. They appreciated the variety of styles offered in the book, its intricate plot and its versatile vocabulary ranging from the journalist jargon to the political cliches. In the course of exchanging ideas (and indeed these were sometimes very heated discussions) I usually avoided taking sides, unless I saw that some important issue had been overlooked.