Which 3 books leave Reeta Chakrabarti cold?
What Book ...
... are you reading now?
I HAVE just finished I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman, which is one of the most extraordinary novels I've ever read.
It was published in the mid-1990s, but is now being rediscovered – my daughter and her friend read it, and passed it on to me.
Thirty-nine women and one female child live in a cage for as long as the child can remember, kept imprisoned by male guards.
One day there is a sudden commotion and the men flee, leaving the cage open. What ensues is devastating and impenetrable. I hope someone explains it to me one day.
...would you take to a desert island?
Impossible to imagine having only one book, but given that I would at last have the luxury of many hours with nothing to do, let me cheat and take a series.
Anthony Powell's A Dance To The Music Of Time is a 12-parter – I got halfway through it some years back. When I was much younger and more energetic I also got halfway through Marcel Proust's In Search Of Lost Time. I can see a theme emerging here, to do with time and halfway through.
...first gave you the reading bug?
Like all children of my vintage, I read a lot of Enid Blyton and Louisa May Alcott.
But the first 'proper' book was Jane Eyre, which fell into my hands when I was eight, probably because Bronte was next to Blyton in the library.
I don't know what I made of the romance or of the mad woman in the attic, but I was gripped by the cruelty meted out to young Jane by her cold-hearted aunt, and the deprivations she suffers at Lowood school. I have been a reader ever since.
... left you cold?
I HAVE never got beyond the first page of Moby Dick. I am assured that a treat awaits me if I persevere, so one day perhaps I will.
I struggle with Virginia Woolf and feel guilty, as she's the sort of author I ought to like in principle. I am a huge fan of Kazuo Ishiguro but had to plod my way through The Buried Giant.
And while I read Ulysses once for my literature degree, I am very unlikely ever to pick it up again. (I hope my husband doesn't see this, he loves it…)
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Glasgow Times
31-05-2025
- Glasgow Times
Meet Britain's 'smartest' siblings who joined Mensa
Twins Krish and Keira Arora, from Hounslow, London, became members of the highly exclusive society just six months apart. Krish took the IQ test in November at the age of 10, after he was inspired by his role model Young Sheldon - the main character in the Big Bang prequel series. He scored a mind-boggling 162 - a result which makes him smarter than Albert Einstein, who is believed to have had an IQ of 160. Meanwhile, Keira decided she wanted to give the Mensa admission a go after seeing that her brother had been accepted. Krish is smarter than Albert Einstein. (Image: SWNS) She became a member this May at the age of 11, thanks to her impressive score of 152. Only people with IQs in the top 2% of the global population qualify for Mensa. Krish said: "I was ecstatic when I got my result. Really, really happy." Keira added: "I wanted to try the test once Krish got his results. I felt a bit of pressure but I was pleased when I did it." Krish is a maths whizz and recently taught himself the Year 9 syllabus in just 22 days, despite only being in Year 6. In his spare time, he enjoys robotics and coding, and reached Grade 8 piano after just two years of playing. Both siblings are part of Mensa. (Image: SWNS) Keira on the other hand loves English, poetry, and music - and is the lead singer of her school band. At the age of 11, her favourite book is Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre - and she recently wrote a poem from the perspective of an AI tool. Krish said: "My maths teacher gave me the syllabus for Key Stage 3 and I taught myself. "I don't want to go too far ahead though, such as into GCSEs and A-levels, because I want to stay with my friends." Keira agreed. She said: "I don't find school academically challenging, but I still enjoy going as I get to spend time with my friends." The genius duo will in September be starting secondary school, with Krish headed off to elite grammar school Queen Elizabeth's and Keira beginning her studies at highly-selective Tiffin Girl's School. Keira starts secondary school in September. (Image: SWNS) Keira said: "I'm a bit scared because I've always been with Krish. But I'm also a bit relieved because it gets a little competitive." Although they are only just starting Year 7, Krish and Keira already have big plans for their futures. Krish said: "I want to study maths at Cambridge and then do something maths-related, like an actuary." Keira said: "I want to study English and Law at Oxford, and then become a commercial lawyer. "I think it will suit me because I'm good at negotiating, like with Krish over the TV remote." Parents Mauli and Nischal, who between them have degrees in computer science, electrical engineering, and business administration, admitted that there were some early signs of the twins' intelligence. The two hope to go to Cambridge and Oxford. (Image: SWNS) Mum Mauli, who is a senior manager at an IT company, said: "We noticed earlier with Krish. His reading speed was far beyond his age and his spelling was very accurate. "When we'd put on YouTube for him, he'd be watching maths tutorials - and by the age of four he was doing complex divisions. "He also had a lot of patience. It's rare for a four-year-old to sit still and do maths equations for half an hour. "With Keira, she was such a lively and playful child that we didn't really notice until later. "But with her 11+ exams, we noticed her approach to complex questions - and then she started getting feedback on her writing. "Teachers say she already writes like an author. She puts such emotion into her stories. It's well beyond her age." Mauli said that she and dad Nischal, who used to be a management consultant but is now a private landlord, are very proud of their kids - although admittedly a little shocked by how everything has unfolded. She said: "We're quite speechless a lot of the time about everything. "It does put pressure on us as parents as we want to make sure we keep exposing them to things that interest them. "But it's amazing for them as when we took them to their Mensa exam, they were the only kids. Everyone else was an adult. "No one else in the family is a member of Mensa - and we're not interested in taking the test. Recommended Reading "Imagine if we didn't pass! "I'm not as brave as Keira was - trying after Krish got accepted." This July, Krish and Keira are heading to their first Mensa event - where they have been invited to meet with various admissions officers from Oxford and Cambridge University. Their other summer plans include games of chess and monopoly, which they admit get a bit "competitive", as well as a rewatch of their favourite film - the 'twin classic' The Parent Trap.
Scotsman
21-05-2025
- Scotsman
(A longer) life on the ocean wave
Unexpected extra days at sea meant more time to enjoy the luxury, fun and food of the Norwegian Aqua on its maiden voyage Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... I'm not a thrill ride person. Heights scare the heck out of me. Speed makes me nervous. I don't need a funfair at sea, I like a ship that's an ocean of calm, a place to relax with plenty to interest, but little to alarm. The Commodore main dining room Yet here I am – in t-shirt and swim shorts – about to enter the Slidecoaster, the world's first combination rollercoaster and waterslide watching robotic arms head for my wee raft and wondering if I've made a mistake. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Less than a minute later, I'm soaked, but exhilarated, having loved the twists and turns of the hi-tech ride – once the robot arms backed off, momentum propelled me up and down three decks of the ship, colourful lights adding to the excitement. Could I have another go? Infinity Beach on the Aqua's Ocean Boulevard I certainly could – the Slidecoaster is included in the Norwegian Aqua fare, along with such other fun elements as the Glow Court, whose LED floor lights the way as you play; a minigolf game that takes you around the world; and the huge games room, with everything from VR experiences to retro arcade affairs… it turns out I'm brilliant at table hockey. The holiday got off to a start far bumpier than that of the Slidecoaster, as on arrival at Southampton for the maiden voyage of the Norwegian Aqua we learned that our seven-day voyage to Boston, Massachusetts, was now a ten-day journey to New York. Predicted bad weather in the Atlantic – think storms, icebergs and probably Moby Dick – meant the original route was a Very Bad Idea. Passengers were offered the choice of cancellation with a full refund, or carrying on, with three complimentary days on the newest ship at sea. Steve and I were hugely disappointed that our plans to meet friends in Boston and visit Salem were wrecked, but after our brilliant travel agent tweaked our return flights and cancelled hotels, we boarded. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Suddenly though, our long stretch of sea days – usually our cruises call at fascinating, fun places every day – have increased by 50 per cent. Would we be bored? We weren't. The Norwegian Aqua is the first of NCL's Prime Plus Class vessels The Aqua is NCL's first Prima Plus class ship, offering a third more space than usual to guests, and it has plenty to offer, from a massive selection of dining options to top-class entertainment and leisure facilities. As far as food is concerned, Norwegian favourites such as French restaurant Le Bistro, Mexican eatery Los Lobos and Cagney's Steakhouse were present and enticing. New-to-us Sukhothai was an instant hit, with delectable Thai fare, while Palomar was a treat for lovers of Mediterranean fish dishes. These five, and a few others, are extra pay places, but the food in the elegant main dining rooms, the Commodore and Hudson's, certainly didn't disappoint. There's also a decent buffet, the Surfside Cafe, 24-hour diner The Local and more, including our new favourite, Indulge Food Hall, a collection of mini-eateries with menus taking in Italy, India, South America and beyond, but you don't have to visit the counters and, in one case, a faux food truck. Table tablets mean you can order from everywhere and the Peaky Blinders-alike servers have your selection with you in a jiffy. There's also coffee, desserts and cocktails, and if the weather's good – and it usually will be as the Aqua's first season takes in the Caribbean and Bahamas – you can sit outside on the promenade deck. We're talking Deck Eight, where as well as Indulge there's outdoor seating allied to Italian eatery Onda, the aforementioned Los Lobos, the Local and the Soleil Bar. A couple of sections of the walkway are glass – spectacular rather than super scary – and there are an awful lot of sunbeds and sundry seating. You'll also find a couple of Infinity pools, one of which proved a terrific way to spend a cool afternoon with friendly fellow guests before the weather perked up. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Yes, while the first couple of days were, let's say, atmospheric, the decision to change course proved correct as the sun came out and calmer waters saw many a passenger using one of the swimming pools or Jacuzzis. A spacious and comfortable balcony stateroom (Pictures: NCL) For a spot of indoor serenity there's the Mandara Spa, offering the usual treatments, along with a thermal suite boasting steam room, salt room, ice room and charcoal sauna, the first clay sauna at sea and a two-storey waterfall. Next door you can work off some of the meals in the gym, though, as the excellent restaurant staff always tell us, 'vacation calories don't count'. Entertainment included tributes to Prince, Fleetwood Mac, the Bee Gees and the Beatles, but our favourite shows starred the UK's own Cleopatra Higgins, who quickly won over the mainly American crowd. The three-deck Aqua Theatre is a clever affair, with seating that pulls back to transform the first level into a nightclub. The only problem is that it's far too small for the number of passengers – 3,571 at full capacity – meaning we usually had to arrive an hour early to get a seat. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad No complaints about our cabin, though, a balcony stateroom on Deck Ten – there are nine passenger levels on the 20-storey Aqua – with a comfy double bed, smartly designed bathroom, settee, telly and loads of storage space. We didn't get to use the balcony much but the room was a lovely retreat when we weren't wandering the ship, taking in the likes of the magnificent Atrium, enjoying lectures on the Salem Witch trials and Statue of Liberty (no doubt a late addition) or visiting comedy club Improv at Sea or music venue Syd Norman's Pour House (where we won a fun films game show). All in all, while there were no stops on our Aqua adventure, there was no stopping the fun. I started by patting myself on a very wet back for braving the Slidecoaster. What I haven't mentioned is The Drop, a terrifying-looking ten-storey spiral down ten decks. Maybe next time… Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad
Belfast Telegraph
17-05-2025
- Belfast Telegraph
Restaurant review: Portrush has become the Nantucket of NI – and the food at this new hotel is as dreamy as the location
Joris Minne heads along the Causeway coast to the new Dunluce Lodge. Two of the world's most expensive bits of coastline are thousands of miles apart but share a common theme. Understatement. The two locations share a space at the opposite end of a spectrum where the other end is Dubai. We are talking about Nantucket, the island off Cape Cod made famous by Herman Melville and his Moby Dick and more to the point, Nicole Kidman and her central appearance in The Perfect Couple. In this series, Nantucket is portrayed as a super wealthy enclave where everybody has an innate sense of impeccable taste and style. The clapboard houses are in perfectly blended Farrow & Ball type colour schemes, the interiors are chic-rustique and the views to the beaches and sea beyond interrupted only by lush green lawns, marine pines, picket fences and salty boardwalks. About 3,5000 miles back east on the Normandy coast is the equally well appointed super posh Deauville. Known since the 1800s as an upscale holiday destination with its elegant casino, golf courses, horse races and the American Film Festival, this town can match Nantucket on the style, elegance and good taste readings no bother.
