In all the understandable euphoria about the possibility of a second novel by Harper Lee being published (Report, 9 February), maybe we should remember that from September 2015 onwards, English literature GCSE students will not be able to study her first novel, To Kill a Mockingbird. Michael Gove, when secretary of state for education, banned all American literature as set texts for GCSE. So no Harper Lee, no Steinbeck and no Arthur Miller. A considerable loss for future generations of 15- and 16-year-olds.
Frances D Findlay
Northwich, Cheshire
• Two pages on the death of Steve Strange (14 February), who had a hit single 34 years ago. At this rate, when Sir Cliff dies we’ll get a 40-page pullout.
Karl Shaw
Newcastle under Lyme, Staffordshire
• “People who regularly walk a dog are 34% more likely to get sufficient exercise than others” (Report, 13 February). Not if, like us, you have an 11-year-old scent hound who is obliged to examine minutely every blade of grass that he sees.
W Stephen Gilbert
Corsham, Wiltshire
• A builder once advised me that there are only three certainties in life: death, taxation and flat roofs always leak (Letters, 14 February). I guess he got two of three correct.
Paul Taylor
Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire
• Yes, more place-name puns, please (Letters, 13 February). As we say in Norfolk, carpe Dereham.
John Cranston
Norwich
• Pun fun on the Norwich-London train: “Are you getting off at Diss station?” “No, the one after.”
Simon Horton
Norwich
