What we're reading: writers and readers on the books they enjoyed in July
A Family Matter by Claire Lynch is a moving tale of a family fractured by love and kept apart by a reactionary state, partly set in the UK in the 80s. Beautifully observed. I sense a big movie in this.
Rapture's Road by Seán Hewitt is amazing writing of breathtaking power. One of those poetry collections where, in the internet/AI era, you feel the bone-crunching, heart-scorching humanity in almost every sentence.
Partly a poem, partly an extended narrative through our desperate times, Corpse Flower by Johny Brown goes with incredible boldness and clarity to where few others venture. An instant urban classic.
Men in Love by Irvine Welsh is published by Jonathan Cape (£20). To support the Guardian, order your copy at guardianbookshop.com. Delivery charges may apply.
I thought The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong was quite wonderful – a celebration of ordinary lives in an ordinary place. It has been described as 'tender' which it profoundly is. It is both sad and very funny. A poet, Vuong has an unerring ability to choose the right word. Although the book is 400 pages long I found myself reading it slowly to keep enjoying it.
One of my favourite recent reads is Heartwood by Amity Gaige, a fictional account of an urgent search for a lost hiker in the Maine woods. Through its unique structure and beautiful writing, it pulls off the impossible trick of being both meditative and suspenseful.
The Great Believers, a novel by Rebecca Makkai, is an exquisitely sad and beautiful reckoning for a generation of men we lost in the 1980s – not to war, but to a deadly epidemic the world tried to ignore: Aids.
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Soldier Sailor, by Claire Kilroy, is a novel I read entirely in one sitting, holding my breath. It's essential reading for anyone who has ever felt swallowed alive by caring for a child. And, also, for anyone who hasn't.
The Farmer's Wife, by Helen Rebanks, is a quietly transcendent account of everyday farm life that helps you remember your place in the world. Anything you accomplish today will only happen because someone first worked hard to grow your food.
Faber has reissued Barbara Kingsolver's titles The Lacuna, Flight Behaviour and The Poisonwood Bible.
I listened to Hunted by Abir Mukherjee on Audible. It's an absolutely brilliant book exploring radicalisation, manipulation and belonging, involving a Muslim woman from London and a disillusioned US veteran – a very topical story that gets underneath the headlines, breathtakingly paced with twists and turns all the way. Mukherjee is a skilled author who can get into the minds of very different characters. It's frighteningly realistic as to how people can find themselves in situations they would never have believed possible and how life can turn on a sixpence.
The characters and the plot are totally believable and offered an opportunity to see many sides to one story. I hope there will be a sequel as I found myself thinking of each character long after I finished the book.
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Daily Mail
7 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Georgia Toffolo looks carefree as she shares sizzling bikini-clad snaps during sunny Marbella getaway with husband James Watt amid BrewDog founder's business woes
Georgia Toffolo flaunted her toned figure in a skimpy bikini as she relaxed at the beach while on holiday in Marbella with husband James Watt. The Made In Chelsea star, 30, took to her Instagram on Sunday to share a slew of sizzling snaps of her soaking up the sun in a tiny navy blue two-piece. Displaying her chiselled midriff and long legs, she stretched out on a deckchair with her feet in the surf to top up her bronzed glow. Georgia also slipped into a semi-sheer maxi skirt and grabbed a hand-held fan to pose for a string of stunning photos on the luxury getaway. Taking to the caption, she raved about her relaxation day and offered tips to her followers, writing: 'This and not knowing what day it is! P.S. take this as a sign to buy a beach chair like the locals have. YOU WON'T REGRET IT!!!!!' Georgia looked utterly carefree in the snaps, despite her husband James' company being hit by another major blow. It has been revealed that BrewDog's beers have been axed by almost 2,000 pubs across Britain, as the embattled brewers' popularity continues to wane. James founded the company in 2007 by with Martin Dickie, with firm rising to prominence in the 2010s amid a surge in demand for independent beers and hoppy IPAs. However in recent years, the company's fortunes have started to turn, with their range of draught beers having disappeared entirely from around 1,860 pubs in the last two years, according to private industry data. The blow means BrewDog's UK distribution has been cut by more than a third. It also shows that its best-known beer, Punk IPA, has suffered the worst loss after being removed from 1,980 pubs – a 52 per cent decline in distribution. Pubs are now reducing their offerings or opting for rival beers such as Camden Town and Beavertown instead. The data, which was seen by the Telegraph, revealed most of the pubs scrapping BrewDog beers are part of large chains, removing a key source of revenue for the brewer at the same time as it struggles to revive its fortunes. BrewDog recorded losses of £59m in 2023 and £30.5m in 2022, with its CEO admitting in a recent interview that the company would be making another loss this year. It has been revealed that BrewDog's beers have been axed by almost 2,000 pubs across Britain, as the embattled brewers' popularity continues to wane (James pictured in BrewDog's) Last month, the company announced the closure of 10 of its own branded bars across the UK, including its flagship site in Aberdeen, after deciding they were not 'commercially viable'. And the chain had started the year by closing six pubs across the world, including two in England, three in Europe and one in England. The firm is continuing to weather accusations of an image problem after ditching its claim to be 'carbon negative' after it ditched offsetting schemes that it claimed were both too expensive and not efficient enough to justify the label. It had already been criticised for using the label by advertising watchdogs, and was slammed by environmentalists for its claim of creating a carbon-negative forest in Scotland after it was revealed that half of the 500,000 saplings had already died. BrewDog's reputation has taken a hammering in recent years after being embroiled in a number of publicity storms. The firm was accused by former workers in an open letter in 2021 of having a 'culture of fear' within the business, with 'toxic attitudes' towards junior staff, with BrewDog apologising and promising to 'listen, learn and act' James later admitted to being 'too intense and demanding' amid a workplace culture row where he was accused of inappropriate behaviour and abusing his power. Speaking with on Steven Bartlett's Diary of a CEO podcast about his leadership, he admitted to previously pushing people 'too far' because of his 'high standards', but insisted that his actions were done with '100 per cent good intentions.' James then stepped back from the role of CEO in May 2024 amidst a flurry of accusations of improper conduct, being replaced by current CEO James Taylor. He left three months after Ofcom rejected a complaint he had lodged against the BBC after it made a documentary outlining misconduct allegations. The self-described BrewDog 'Captain' faced a number of improper conduct allegations in 2021 concerning female staff, and was revealed to have invested in Heineken, contrasting with his brewery's anti-establishment 'punk' image. James denied claims that he made female bartenders feel 'uncomfortable' and 'powerless' and that he would take intoxicated women on private late-night tours of the brewery. He went on to tie the knot with Georgia earlier this year, onboard a fishing boat just off the coast of the picturesque town of Gardenstown in Aberdeenshire. The pair got engaged in October after the millionaire proposed with an eight carat triple-diamond studded band estimated to be worth £200,000, while on holiday in Greece for Georgia's 30th birthday. In May, it was revealed the pair are worth a staggering £425 million, according to The Sunday Times, overtaking the likes of Ed Sheeran, Lord Sainsburys, Harry Styles and Lewis Hamilton.
BBC News
7 hours ago
- BBC News
Roman army descends on Birdlip for festival
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The Sun
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We pay male escorts up to £300 an hour for mind-blowing sex – people think it's sleazy but there are so many benefits
SICK of disappointing dates or boring bedroom action? For countless women, the thought of another uninspired romp is enough to make them scream into their pillows. But what if the most extreme solution was also the smartest? Forget waiting for romance — increasing numbers of women are now taking matters (and pleasure) into their own hands, by paying for exactly what they want, when they want it. In fact, one in 20 married women over 50 are now so unhappy with their sex lives, they would consider turning to male escorts to spice things up. It's not just fed-up wives, either — younger women are also ditching dating apps, swapping swipes for guaranteed satisfaction with gigolos. Type 'male escort' into TikTok and thousands of videos pop up, with clean-cut hunks explaining why smart, successful women fork out for their services. And far from keeping it quiet, young women are now openly sharing their escort experiences. PA Laura Fox, 29, from Walsall, West Midlands, turned to escorts after her last relationship fizzled out. 'I've always been fascinated by escorts,' she says. 'When I was 19, I found out my friend's mum used to hire them to accompany her to events. 'Until that point, I'd assumed escorts were something men used — not women. 'But seeing how she carried herself changed my view.' Far from being sleazy or taboo, Laura suddenly saw escorts as 'the ultimate power move', with women in control. So when, aged 26, she was newly single after the end of a three-year relationship, using an escort seemed a no-brainer. 'I just wasn't ready for the faff of dating apps — the endless scrolling, the awkward messaging, the guys who want to sext but never meet,' she says. 'Then I remembered my friend's mum and had a real eureka moment.' Curious, Laura chatted to some pals who directed her to Gentlemen4hire, the UK's longest-running male escort company. From the hundreds of men on offer, she selected a well-groomed man in his thirties called James. 'NO GAME-PLAYING' 'Since I didn't have a work do or wedding to attend, I looked into 'boyfriend experiences' — basically male escorts who'll take you on dates and act the part, no questions asked,' she says. 'James was tall, dark and handsome and we had similar interests, such as good food and loving animals. 'We discussed fees — escorts typically cost from £220 per hour — and boundaries, such as what's included, what's not. 'It was strangely reassuring and James was clear, polite and respectful.' Laura arranged to meet her date in a local gastropub, but admits she was a bag of nerves beforehand. She says: 'I almost didn't go in. "But James instantly put me at ease, asking lots of questions and being friendly and kind. "It felt like a normal date — except I knew exactly how the night would go. 'There was no game-playing, no awkward 'will-he-won't-he?' tension. 'And the fee even covered the meal, so it was like I was out with a guy who'd paid for dinner, too.' Laura says her first escort experience was like a 'typical first date', with a kiss on the cheek at the end of the night, not red-hot passion. 'I didn't want to be worrying about sex the first time,' she explains. 'But after that I just booked what I fancied that day. 'And every time we did 'do the deed', it certainly lived up to expectations.' Since that first date, Laura has paid for more than ten experiences — sometimes because she's wanted male company, other times because she's craved a night of satisfying sex. Escorts tend to be experienced, attentive and entirely focused on my pleasure — a rare combo these days Laura Fox 'Some nights end with a goodbye hug, others with fireworks,' she smiles. 'Honestly, sex with an escort is often better than a one-night stand. "Escorts tend to be experienced, attentive and entirely focused on my pleasure — a rare combo these days. 'And you skip all the usual emotional admin that comes with dating. 'There are no mixed signals, no awkward texts the next day, no-one nicking your duvet at 3am.' Given all the benefits, Laura says it's no wonder so many ordinary women are paying for pleasure. 'I totally get why more and more of them are doing this,' she says. 'It's not just a man's world any more — we're taking control of our pleasure, our time, and our expectations. It's win-win.' 'NO PRESSURE' Despite the considerable costs, Laura plans to continue using escorts until she meets Mr Right. And despite her glowing reviews of the men she's hired, she's never been in danger of getting emotionally attached. She says: 'I guess some people do, but I don't because one of the reasons I started paying for escorts was because I wasn't ready for a serious relationship.' Like Laura, Natasha Greenwood, 34, from London, says booking escorts has been a game-changer. The PR executive, whose last long-term relationship ended seven years ago, reveals: 'For me, engaging with male escorts has become a way to explore my sexuality and seek companionship on my own terms. 'I turned to escorts after growing tired of the dating scene — boring men, boring sex and endless swiping on apps. "So I thought: 'Why not?'' Despite feeling on edge in the build-up to her first encounter, Natasha says her jitters were short-lived. 'Surprisingly, I felt very relaxed and enjoyed the whole experience,' she says. 'I had to pay a ten per cent deposit up front, which felt a bit strange. "But this was to cover the dinner. 'Afterwards, we went to a hotel for sex. It wasn't cheap — £300 per hour — but it was worth every penny.' For Natasha, who says passion dwindled two years into her last relationship, getting her needs met between the sheets is a huge plus of using gigolos. 'When I'm with a male escort, I feel free to ask for exactly what I want in bed. "There's no shame, no second-guessing and no pressure to be anything but myself. I can be bolder, kinkier and more experimental. 'I get to enjoy sex with a hot, confident man, with no strings attached. It's like dating on steroids.' Natasha admits there is still a stigma around women 'and particularly black women' using escorts, but stresses there's nothing sleazy about the practice. 'I appreciate the professionalism and discretion these men bring,' she explains. 'It allows me to fully enjoy the moment without the emotional minefield that can come with relationships. 'I keep male escorts on rotation, too. It's like having a fun new plaything every couple of months.' Using escorts doesn't come cheap and Natasha is spending less on holidays and other luxuries. Her friends and family are well aware of her escort use, as she often hires them as a 'plus one' for events or dinners. But she prefers to enjoy her escort experiences away from her own home. 'SEXUAL FREEDOM' 'We always end the night at a hotel. I prefer it that way,' she says. 'My space is mine and the fun stays just where I want it.' While some may raise eyebrows at the idea of so many women enjoying escorting services, both Laura and Natasha say that when it comes to intimacy, paying for what they desire has opened up a new world of sexual freedom. 'Everyone has the right to seek pleasure, intimacy and connection in ways that feel right to them,' says Natasha. 'This isn't about being desperate or giving up on love — it's reclaiming my pleasure and prioritising fulfilling, joyful experiences, in and out of the bedroom.' Names have been changed BUT REMEMBER: STAY SAFE SAFETY should always come first, says Sun sexpert Georgie Culley. When booking an escort, stick to reputable agencies. Too-good-to-be-true prices are a red flag. Generally, escorts from legitimate agencies will cost £150-plus per hour. Before meeting, arrange a video call first, so you can verify who they are and set clear boundaries. Ask to see their ID, too. Always meet in a public place such as a restaurant or bar first. And let a trusted friend know where you'll be and who you're meeting. Avoid sharing personal details like your home address until you feel comfortable. Never transfer money in advance, unless it's through a trusted agency platform. If you do make it to the bedroom, always practise safe sex. Due to the nature of their job, escorts will likely be sleeping with lots of people, so always use condoms. Most importantly, trust your gut. If anything feels off, walk away. Your safety and comfort are key.
