higher english personal study

[_sophie_]

as part of the higher english course, we have to do a personal study in which we analyse a book of our choice, we choose the essay question etc. how to be good by nick hornby or the beach by louis garland... which one is better of the two to write an essay of this kind?
also, what question should i do?! it's my choice.. can be language/atmosphere/word choice/anything!!
heeeeeeeeelp.

[saxy_jag]

Are you saying you have to use one of these two books, or can you choose another? Unfortunately I don't know either of them beyond the title, but it may help to start by thinking about what themes and relationships come to mind and try to devise you question from there. How does the author illustrate a particular theme, for instance, or a comparison of relationships.

Would you be 'allowed', do you think, to make a comparison/contrast between two books' treatment of a particular topic?

[jno]

Alex Garland, innit?

Well, first choose your book. Have you actually read them? If so, just choose the one you enjoyed more. As for what to write about, I'd start with thinking about the theme as saxy jag says - not just the narrative but the wider meaning (the meaning of goodness in one, the alue of travel in the other perhaps). Again, what actually strikes you most in reading them yourself?

[jno]

*value

[_sophie_]

alex, my mistake.
yeah, i am halfway through the beach and have read how to be good. don't think i'd be allowed to do a comparison of two books-it is just the one book i have to focus on. looks like i'll be doing the beach, i think, as it has more of a story rather than a (one of the books i usually read) real-life theme of a modern working family like in how to be good! thanks for your help, i will hopefully decide on a question soon!