Latest news with #DavidCopperfield
NDTV
5 days ago
- NDTV
5 Of The Most Expensive Airbnbs In The World For The Ultimate Getaway
When travelling, we all crave a home away from home that wraps us in comfort. While hotels and resorts are always an option, Airbnbs are increasingly becoming popular. Their secret? A personalised travel experience with a diverse range of options that cater to every taste and budget. You can rent a cosy private room, an entire house or even a luxurious villa - the possibilities are endless! And while Airbnbs are often praised for their affordability, some listings are truly a league of their own, offering unparalleled luxury. Let's take a look at five of the most jaw-dropping, expensive Airbnb's in the world. Here Are 5 Of The Most Expensive Airbnbs In The World: 1. Musha Cay at Copperfield Bay, Bahamas Owned by illusionist David Copperfield, Musha Cay is a private island offering 12 bedrooms across five guest houses. Here, you can get access to a private dock, tennis courts, a spa and a full staff, ensuring a bespoke island experience. Cost Per Night: $60,000. 2. Little Harbour Estate in Anguilla, UK Little Harbour Estate in Anguilla is a luxurious retreat that will leave you speechless. This estate comprises two seafront villas, Indigo and Le Bleu, totaling 20 bedrooms. The amenities here include a private beach, multiple pools, tennis courts and even a home theater. Cost Per Night: $68,000. 3. Black Urchin Estate in the Cayman Islands, UK Black Urchin Estate in the Cayman Islands is a luxurious haven. Imagine waking up to breathtaking ocean views on a private beach. It offers two villas with an oceanfront pool and outdoor kitchen. Black Urchin Estate consists of two villas and can accommodate up to 16 guests. Cost Per Night: $78,200. 4. Alpine Estate in Verbier, Switzerland Nestled in the Swiss Alps, this estate includes two villas accommodating up to 22 guests. It boasts indoor pools, hot tubs, saunas, media rooms and offers stunning mountain views, making it a premier alpine retreat. 5. The Hidden Palace in Ubud, Bali The Hidden Palace in Ubud, Bali is a jungle villa like no other. This luxurious retreat offers top-tier amenities and services. You'll feel like royalty, surrounded by nature's beauty. What's more, this villa offers a regal atmosphere with luxurious architecture.
Chicago Tribune
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Review: New adaptation of ‘Tale of Two Cities' at Shattered Globe leaves us sidelined from Dickens' story
Many of Charles Dickens novels — I am thinking 'David Copperfield,' 'Oliver Twist' and 'A Christmas Carol' — are beloved for their clarity, unity and timeless accessibility. 'A Tale of Two Cities' is not in that category. That Dickensian creation has, for my money, the greatest opening sentence ever. And one worth thinking about right now: 'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way — in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insist on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only.' But, otherwise, the story, set in both London and Paris, in and around the French Revolution, is not the easiest to follow. Hence, perhaps, Brendan Pelsue's new adaptation, first seen in Atlanta in 2024, now in its Chicago premiere at Shattered Globe Theatre and billed by the author as a 'new riff' on 'A Tale of Two Cities.' The riff factor is considerable in a meta, self-aware kind of way, designed I think to emphasize the novel's themes of social justice and draw out contemporary parallels. But this also suggests a certain insecurity with the complexities of the actual text: audiences aren't dumb and can figure out that history repeats itself without being hammered with that truth. As one example, audiences are asked to take part in the show, providing crowd reactions according to real-time instructions from members of the cast. 'Shock from the crowd, please,' is one example. This all sucks up time, especially when actors aren't satisfied with the quality of the audience's work. There are some talented actors in director Mikael Burke's Shattered Globe production, which features Demetra Dee, Daria Harper, Jazzma Pryor, Diego Vazquez Gomez, Glenn Obrero, Jeff Rodriguez, William Anthony Sebastian Rose II and Penelope Walker. And Burke is a creative and skilled director. But this show is just very slow, heavy going and, to be frank, the additional layers presented by the adaptation dispel rather than free up the narrative tension inherent in the Dickens novel. On the night I was there, heads were drooping. I've seen some effective stage adaptions that take this kind of tack, where everyone makes clear they are actors doing an adaptation of something old and stodgy (at the Neo-Futurists, most notably) but this one proceeds with insufficient clarity and coherence. Stakes never rise. As a result, empathy is squelched and the work of one of history's most compassionate novels is reduced to an alienating experience that does the opposite of draw you into the tale. Chris Jones is a Tribune critic. cjones5@ When: Through May 31 Where: Shattered Globe at Theater Wit, 1229 Belmont Ave. Running time: 2 hours, 25 minutes
Times
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Times
Britain was obsessed with Princess Diana — not any longer
The traditional biography is dead. That soup to nuts, start with the birth, end with the death, 'all that David Copperfield kind of crap', as Holden Caulfield put it in The Catcher in the Rye, 'but I don't feel like going into it, if you want to know the truth.' Him and publishers alike. Writers have been playing with the biographical format for a long time, from Laurence Sterne's Tristram Shandy to Alexander Masters's Stuart: A Life Backwards. The vogue today is, instead of getting bogged down in the subject's life, to focus on their place in cultural history. The great benefit to readers is that biographies are no longer just about one person, but about all of us. 'How does this relate
Yahoo
02-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
March 2nd kicks off Read Across America week: here are some books and reading accessories to celebrate
Fox News and its syndication partners may earn a commission if you buy through our referral links. This content was created by a team that works independently from the Fox newsroom. Read Across America week starts on March 2nd. The week is dedicated to getting kids and adults to read. It takes place around the birth of the beloved author Dr. Seuss, with many schools and libraries hosting events that promote a variety of genres. To celebrate, get yourself some new books and a few reading accessories to go with them! Below, there are five fiction books and five non-fiction books that are popular right now. Additionally, there are a variety of reading accessories like Kindles, book holders and more. Original price: $30 "The Testaments" is the sequel to Atwood's "The Handmaid's Tale", which is a hugely popular book that has since become a show on Hulu. The sequel picks up over 15 years after the events of "The Handmaid's Tale". The Republic of Gilead is still in power, but it's slowly beginning to crumble from withing. You can find the book on Amazon or at Barnes & Noble. 20 Booktok Books Readers Are Getting Into This Spring Read On The Fox News App Original price: $32.50 A modern take on Charles Dickens, "David Copperfield," Kingsolver's "Demon Copperhead" deals with many of the same themes. The book is set in the mountains of southern Appalachia and follows a boy born to a teenage single mom who faces severe poverty. Eventually, Demon, the main character, ends up in foster care, constantly switches schools and he deals with addiction. You can find the book on Amazon or at Barnes & Noble. When you're an Amazon Prime Member, you can have many of these books delivered to your door in 24 hours. You can join or start a 30-day free trial to shop. Original price: $30.99 "If We Were Villains" has been compared to Donna Tartt's "The Secret History," a book filled with dark secrets and constant surprises. In "If We Were Villains," Rio writes about Oliver Marks, a man who spent the last ten years in prison who has been released, and he's ready to finally tell the true story of what happened. You can find the book on Amazon or at Barnes & Noble. 20 Books To Read By The Campfire Freida McFadden is having a moment, and there's a good reason why. Her thrillers are gripping reads that'll have you on the edge of your seat the entire time you're reading. "The Crash" is one of McFadden's most popular books, following Tegan, a woman who is eight months pregnant and gets into a car accident only to be rescued by an interesting couple. Almost as soon as she reaches the couple's home, Tegan realizes they're not exactly who they seem. You can find the book on Amazon or at Barnes & Noble. Original price: $27.99 If you've read "The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo," then "The Three Lives of Cate Kay" should be on your reading list. Cate Kay has written a bestselling book trilogy that became a blockbuster film series, but Cate Kay is a pseudonym; she has never appeared at author events or given interviews. The book looks at Cate as a young adult, when her best friend Amanda dreamed of escaping their troubled homes to pursue stardom in California. However, tragedy strikes on the eve of their departure, shattering those dreams. You can find the book on Amazon or at Barnes & Noble. Original price: $29.99 Mel Robbins is a New York Times bestselling author who is an expert on motivation and mindset. Her book, "The Let Them Theory" has already reached millions of readers looking to find motivation and leave behind worry. The book teaches you how to stop wasting your time on the things you can't control and focus on what really matters: your happiness and personal goals. You can find the book on Amazon or at Barnes & Noble. Original price: $18.99 "Evicted" is written by a Princeton sociologist and follows eight families in Milwaukee as they deal with being evicted. Desmond aims to provide a better understanding of poverty in America and looks at how people end up being evicted and what they're willing to do to stay in their homes. It's intended to remind the reader that poverty is a serious problem in our country that devastates families at an alarming rate. You can find the book on Amazon or at Barnes & Noble. Original price: $20.99 Anyone who has ever been fascinated by the Chernobyl disaster can get a more in-depth look at the disaster in "Midnight in Chernobyl." Written by journalist, Adam Higginbotham, the book uncovers the secrecy and myths behind the event, providing the untold story and people behind one of the world's largest nuclear disasters. You can find the book on Amazon or at Barnes & Noble. Original price: $18 Jon Krakauer is well-known for his book, "Into the Wild," which looked at the life of Christopher McCandless, a man who gave up everything to journey into the depths of Alaska. "Into Thin Air," is equally as heartbreaking, following the largest disaster in Mount Everest's history. Krakauer was actually there when the disaster occurred, so readers get a first-person perspective on what happened on that fateful day. You can find the book on Amazon or at Barnes & Noble. 10 Fast-paced Books To Read On The Beach Original price: $30 "While You Were Out" gives a harsh look at the mental health care system in America. It follows a family with eight children, most of whom have mental health issues they're dealing with. After a close look at this family, Kinsinger broadens the books, exploring the larger system of mental health care via investigative journalism. You can find the book on Amazon or at Barnes & Noble. Original price: $159.99 Anyone who is constantly reading will love at least one version of Amazon's Kindle. For readers who don't want a tablet-style Kindle, but just want it for reading, they should opt for the Kindle Paperwhite, designed with no ads. Readers who also want a tablet-like experience can choose the Kindle Colorsoft, a bright, beautiful e-reader with other apps available. Finally, note takers and students will appreciate the Kindle Scribe, which comes with a pen for easy note-taking and drawing. Add Kindle Unlimited to your Kindle and get access to thousands of books for free. You can start a 30-day trial for free and get your first two months after that for just $4.99 per month. After that, you'll pay $11.99 per month. Make holding your Kindle easier with a hand strap for Kindle. You can choose from dozens of colors and get a strap that snaps on and off your Kindle with ease. Leather book weights help hold your book open, so your hand doesn't get tired. They're small and compact, so you can bring them anywhere you plan to read. Original price: $14.99 Another way to hold open your book without tiring out your hand is with a book page holder ring. It slides over your thump and is designed to prop your book open on either side. With the book page holder from Amazon, you get extra ring inserts that'll fit comfortably over your thumb. For more Deals, visit A Blind Date with a Book from Uncommon Goods is a fun way to read new books. All you get is the genre and a short description, and you get to unwrap the book and find out what book is waiting for you! You can choose from the mystery/thriller, romance, general fiction and young adult article source: March 2nd kicks off Read Across America week: here are some books and reading accessories to celebrate
New York Times
07-02-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
‘Demon Copperhead' Explored Addiction. Its Profits Built a Rehab Center.
When Barbara Kingsolver was writing 'Demon Copperhead,' a novel that explores the devastating effects of the opioid crisis in southern Appalachia, she was doubtful that people would want to read about such a grim subject. To draw readers in, she knew she would have to ground the narrative in real stories and push against stereotypes about the region. So she traveled to Lee County, Va., a corner of Appalachia that's been battered by drug abuse, and spoke to residents whose lives had been wrecked by opioids. 'I sat down and spent many hours with people talking about their addiction journey,' Kingsolver said. 'There are stories that went straight into the book.' Published in 2022, the novel was an instant success, in time selling three million copies and winning a Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 2023. But even before the novel came out, Kingsolver felt indebted to the people who shared their stories. 'I felt like, I am getting a novel from this place, and I'm going to give something back,' she said. Kingsolver decided to use her royalties from 'Demon Copperhead' to fund a recovery program for people battling addiction. In a social media post this week, Kingsolver announced that she has founded a recovery house for women in Lee County, where the novel is set. The center, 'Higher Ground Women's Recovery Residence,' will house between eight and 12 women recovering from drug addiction, offering them a place to stay, for a small fee, for up to two years, as well as counseling and other forms of support, like free community college classes. Kingsolver grew up in rural Kentucky and lives on a farm in Virginia. As someone raised in the region, she said, she felt she couldn't ignore the opioid epidemic in her fiction. But she struggled for years with how to write about the issue in a way that would make readers pay attention. While on a book tour in England, Kingsolver stayed in a bed-and-breakfast where Charles Dickens had worked on his novel 'David Copperfield,' and found inspiration in the story and its resilient young narrator. In 'Demon Copperhead,' which is loosely based on Dickens' novel, Kingsolver tells the story of Damon Fields, a boy who is born to a single teenage mother who struggles with drug addiction. He ends up in foster care and later succumbs to opioid abuse. As soon as the novel was released, she resolved to find a tangible way to help people whose lives have been upended by addiction. 'The first week that this book hit the stores and was so successful, I said OK, I'm going to bring this home, I'm going to be able to do something concrete with this book that will help the people who told me their stories,' she said. 'I had these royalties that 'Demon' brought me. I took that money and went back to Lee County and said, what can we do with this?' The biggest need, she learned, was for support for recovering addicts, who often had no housing or job prospects. She and her husband, Steven Hopp, started a nonprofit, 'Higher Ground,' to create a residential home for women, and provided the funds for the nonprofit to purchase the property last summer. A grand opening is planned for this spring, Kingsolver said, but some residents have already moved in. Kingsolver said she's been heartened by support the project has received from local organizations, including church groups that have helped get the living space in shape, a local store that donated furniture and a grant from the Lee County Community Foundation. 'You might, in earlier times, have expected stigma, for people not to be open to this, but instead it's been, 'Yes in my backyard,'' Kingsolver said. 'This is the reality of where we live,' she continued. 'Everybody knows someone touched by the opioid epidemic.'
