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News18
03-08-2025
- General
- News18
Numerology, August 3, 2025: Numbers 1 To 9 — What's In Store For Your Day Ahead
Last Updated: Numerology, August 3, 2025: Number 1 suggests your day is full of spectacular achievements. Number 2 says don't give up if things don't go your way. Numerology, August 3, 2025: Everyone is curious to know how his day is going to be today. With the help of numerology, you can know a lot about this. Numerology is mainly based on the date of birth of a person. In this, it can be ascertained from the basic number of the person how his day is going to be today. Number 1 people will be happy and satisfied. Number 2 people have more expenses. Number 3 people will have to lose their savings. Number 4 people are likely to get benefits from foreign institutions. Number 5 people will get praise from unexpected areas. Number 6 people have a strong possibility of an increase in income. Any hobby of the number 7 people can trouble their partner. Number 8 people can meet someone special. Number 9 people are likely to face obstacles in an important project. Ganesha says family and friends give you much happiness. You are happy and satisfied; the day is full of spectacular achievements. Health is a trifle indifferent, so take it easy. Good fortune comes your way. You may find yourself in an extramarital relationship away from temptation. Your lucky number is 18 and your lucky colour is Black. Number 2 (People born on 2, 11, 20 or 29 of any month) Ganesha says, Don't give up if things don't go your way; try again. Participation in group activities is highlighted today. Your rivals are active, but you can use tact and diplomacy to defuse them. Expenses are high, and returns are lower than expected. You find yourself wondering what happened to your relationship and where all the love has gone. Do not make any hasty decisions at this time. Your lucky number is 7 and your lucky colour is Purple. Number 3 (People born on 3, 12, 21, 30 of any month) Ganesha says you are drawn to a spiritual movement and feel the need to be part of it. Children present you with big moments of happiness. Your eyes need looking after; go to a specialist right away. Expenses shoot up, making you dip into your savings. You may be attracted to someone who is not the right person at all; don`t be impetuous, or you may find yourself compromising your integrity. Your lucky number is 3 and your lucky colour is White. Number 4 (People born on 4, 13, 22 or 31 of any month) Ganesha says you eventually receive due acknowledgement for your work. A desire to possess the luxuries of life, here and now, prevails throughout the day. A good time to buy a car, if it`s on your list. Profit accruing from foreign entities is likely. Your partner is not in the best of health; make special efforts to keep him/her happy. Your lucky number is 9 and your lucky colour is Golden Brown. Number 5 (People born on 5, 14, 23 of any month) Ganesha says you receive accolades from unexpected quarters. You feel trapped in a situation that has you flummoxed today. This is a good time to finalise the purchase of a property. You have to test several permutations and combinations to fine-tune your business strategy. A new romance is probably just around the corner. Your lucky number is 3 and your lucky colour is Yellow. Number 6 (People born on 6, 15 or 24 of any month) Ganesha says you will have the opportunity to hone your intuitive faculties at this time. You look forward to eating out today. This is a good time to acquire a new home or car. Increased expenses at home don`t worry you, as there are strong prospects of increased income. Your relationship needs some input. Your lucky number is 15 and your lucky colour is Red. Number 7 (People born on 7, 16, and 25 of any month) Ganesha says it is time you fixed the roof and those leaking faucets; don`t put off domestic chores anymore. A desire to possess the luxuries of life, here and now, prevails throughout the day. People you do not get along with are looking for an opportunity to undermine you. Be on your guard. A hobby you enjoy is an irritant to your partner. Seek a compromise. Your lucky number is 5 and your lucky colour is Green. Number 8 (People born on 8, 17 and 26 of any month) Ganesha says you will be involved in an important community activity. You seem to suffer from pangs of anxiety today. Lock your doors carefully; better to be safe than sorry. The money you make now will not come without that extra bit of effort. You may meet a special someone at a formal occasion. Your lucky number is 8 and your lucky colour is pink. Number 9 (People born on 9, 18 and 27 of any month) top videos View all Ganesha says an important project is likely to encounter hurdles. A shopping spree lifts your spirits today, as you buy things for the home. It is your luck rather than your courage and determination that helps to carry you through the day. You will go to any lengths to overshadow your business rivals. You feel restless and may fight with your partner without provocation. Think first. Your lucky number is 1 and your lucky colour is Grey. (The author Chirag Daruwalla is the son of Astrologer Bejan Daruwalla). Get Latest Updates on Movies, Breaking News On India, World, Live Cricket Scores, And Stock Market Updates. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! view comments Location : Mumbai, India, India First Published: August 03, 2025, 06:05 IST News astrology Numerology, August 3, 2025: Numbers 1 To 9 — What's In Store For Your Day Ahead Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
News18
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Numerology, May 6, 2025: Numbers 1, 2, 5, 8 Shine — Know What's In Store For You
Last Updated: Numerology, May 6, 2025: Number 1 may gain money, 2 sees financial luck, 5 gets promotion vibes, 8 hits achievements. See your number's forecast for Tuesday. Numerology, May 6, 2025: Every number has its importance in numerology. Root numbers are determined by the person's date of birth. According to the beliefs of numerology, you can know a lot about a person's personality based on their root number. Number 1 may receive money from an unexpected source. Number 2 will get financial benefits. Number 3 will face professional turmoil. Number 4 will be able to combine business with pleasure. Number 5 has a strong possibility of being selected for promotion. Number 6 will be interested in literary events. Number 7 may have strained relationships. Number 8 will have a day full of great achievements. Number 9 may have increased household expenses. Number 1 (People born on 1, 10, 19 and 28 of any month) Ganesha says a father figure comes to your aid. You are in a flamboyant mood today. You may experience some bodily discomfort towards the end of the day. You may receive money from an unexpected source. The love of your life is a trifle annoyed, but it will pass with the due course of time. Your lucky number is 4, and your lucky colour is Violet. Number 2 (People born on 2, 11, 20 or 29 of any month) Ganesha says an estranged friend comes around after a lot of cajoling. A loving interaction with your mother is indicated. Watch out! Someone is trying to deceive you; take extra precautions. Information received now will help you to make a bid for financial gains. Your relationship with your partner is serene and dreamlike. Your lucky number is 11, and your lucky colour is Lavender. Number 4 (People born on 4, 13, 22 or 31 of any month) Ganesha says the day is full of adventure and excitement. This day is going to test you mentally and physically. Someone close to you may be trying to sabotage your career. You manage to combine business with pleasure. Your romance quotient is discouraging; do something exciting in the evening. Your lucky number is 4, and your lucky colour is Dark Blue. Number 5 (People born on 5, 14, 23 of any month) Ganesha says your honesty and straightforwardness hold you in good stead. An array of mixed feelings overwhelms you today. This is an ideal time to buy a new home. There is a strong chance of being singled out for promotion. Sexual indifference in your relationship is a turning point in your love life. Take stock of the situation. Your lucky number is 7, and your lucky colour is Golden Brown. Number 6 (People born on 6, 15 or 24 of any month) Ganesha says avoid any confrontation with higher authorities. Poetry and literary gatherings hold your interest today. You seem to be coming down with the flu. This is not such a good day at work. You are close to fixing a wedding date; you may be able to come to a decision now. Your lucky number is 3, and your lucky colour is Light Yellow. Number 7 (People born on 7, 16, and 25 of any month) Ganesha says you share a strained relationship with your family at this time. This day is going to test you mentally and physically. Health is on a high at this time. Prolonged hours at work cause fatigue and discomfort. Take things easy. This is a great day for romance, as even a mild flirtation results in something quite special. Your lucky number is 8, and your lucky colour is Light Blue. Number 8 (People born on 8, 17 and 26 of any month) Ganesha says siblings appear to be disinterested in your highs and lows. You are happy and satisfied; the day is full of spectacular achievements. Your charm and good health are at an all-time high today. You worry about being able to raise enough money to meet rising expenses. You and your partner have a serious quarrel that could get blown out of proportion if you are not careful. Your lucky number is 5, and your lucky colour is White. Number 9 (People born on 9, 18 and 27 of any month) Ganesha says projects related to the higher authorities are mired in bureaucratic wrangling. Bad news related to children may dampen your day. You must pay particular attention to your weight; go on a regular and simple diet. Domestic expenses shoot up, which is a cause for concern. Someone you are attracted to at work feels the same way. It is for you to make the first move. Your lucky number is 8, and your lucky colour is Electric Grey. (The author Chirag Daruwalla is the son of Astrologer Bejan Daruwalla). Get Latest Updates on Movies, Breaking News On India, World, Live Cricket Scores, And Stock Market Updates. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : Chirag Daruwalla numerology Location : Mumbai, India, India First Published: May 06, 2025, 00:05 IST News astrology Numerology, May 6, 2025: Numbers 1, 2, 5, 8 Shine — Know What's In Store For You
News18
24-04-2025
- General
- News18
Numerology, April 25, 2025: Number 1 To 9 — Discover What's In Store For You Today
Written By : GaneshaGrace Last Updated: Numerology, April 25, 2025: Number 1 solves business issues, 3 expands career, 5 sees results, 9 meets a love turning point — see what your number says today. Numerology, April 25, 2025: Numerology has been given special importance in astrology. The root number formed based on a person's date of birth can tell a lot about that person's personality. At the same time, some root numbers are considered very lucky in numerology. Number 1 people will overcome business problems with their intelligence and cleverness. All the worries of number 2 people will go away today. This is a great day for number 3 people to expand their professional horizons. Number 4 People should spend some special moments with their spouse. Number 5 people have a positive attitude, which brings the desired results. Number 6 people may find it good to invest in the stock market or real estate at this time. Number 7 People should take care of their food and drink. It is a good day for number 8 people to participate in competitions. Number 9 people may have an important turning point in their love life. Number 1 (People born on 1, 10, 19 and 28 of any month) Ganesha says a father figure will help you, should you need it. A brush with the occult is a possibility. Be wary of opponents; they may well be people you consider quite close. You overcome business problems with your intellect and wit. You and your partner share some tender moments now; these are the moments that make life special. Your lucky number is 3, and your lucky colour is Lemon. Number 2 (People born on 2, 11, 20 or 29 of any month) Advertisement Ganesha says someone in a position of power is not very helpful. All your worries just dissipate today. A confrontation of any kind would be disastrous at this time. You come into a large amount of money during this period. The prospects for romance are good now. Your lucky number is 8, and your lucky colour is Light Blue. advetisement Number 3 (People born on 3, 12, 21, 30 of any month) advetisement Ganesha says a visit to a religious place is indicated. Peace of mind enables you to plan well for the future. You may be tense on account of a stomach disorder. This is an excellent day to expand your professional horizons. Your romantic overtures are reciprocated, not without some hesitation at first. Your lucky number is 6, and your lucky colour is Golden Brown. Number 4 (People born on 4, 13, 22 or 31 of any month) Ganesha says though your efforts are well received, you find the beneficiaries quite ungrateful. Frustration may get the better of you today. You feel much better now after the recent bout of discomfort, but don`t overdo it. Foreigners and distant shores promise to be full of lucrative business opportunities. This is a time to create romantic memories. Spend some special moments with your soulmate. Your lucky number is 2, and your lucky colour is White. Number 5 (People born on 5, 14, 23 of any month) Ganesha says a social get-together in the evening will serve an important purpose. You are full of optimism and enthusiasm today. The stomach could be a source of discomfort. You have a positive attitude at work that brings about the desired results. Someone you are attracted to at work feels the same way. It is for you to make the first move. Your lucky number is 15, and your lucky colour is Red. Number 6 (People born on 6, 15 or 24 of any month) Ganesha says your involvement in philanthropic bodies bolsters your position in society. Helping others fills you with a keen sense of purpose. Your physical fitness is not at its peak. Investing in the stock market or real estate could go well at this time. This is your chance to make a difference in the life of your partner. Your lucky number is 17, and your lucky colour is Parrot Green. Number 7 (People born on 7, 16, and 25 of any month) Ganesha says be more amiable with friends and relatives. Frustration may get the better of you today. Watch what you eat; your stomach is very sensitive at this time. Your boss and you could have a minor clash. This is a good time to make plans for the big day. Your lucky number is 7, and your lucky colour is Peach. Number 8 (People born on 8, 17 and 26 of any month) Ganesha says domestic harmony is a cause for concern. A good day to take a crack at competitions. Mental tension is up, and physical energy is down. Take it easy at this time. This is a day of achievement in all spheres. You want your love life to be more than just physical. Your lucky number is 7, and your lucky colour is Maroon. Number 9 (People born on 9, 18 and 27 of any month) top videos View All Ganesha says work pending with local authorities moves slowly but surely. A family get-together is a source of much happiness. Tread carefully, you might get hurt otherwise. Donations to a deserving cause will be well received. Sexual indifference in your relationship is a turning point in your love life. Take stock of the situation. Your lucky number is 11, and your lucky colour is Lemon. (The author Chirag Daruwalla is the son of Astrologer Bejan Daruwalla). Get Latest Updates on Movies, Breaking News On India, World, Live Cricket Scores, And Stock Market Updates. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : Chirag Daruwalla numerology Location : Mumbai, India, India First Published: April 25, 2025, 00:05 IST News astrology Numerology, April 25, 2025: Number 1 To 9 — Discover What's In Store For You Today
News18
21-04-2025
- General
- News18
Numerology, April 22, 2025: Numbers 1, 5, And 7 Shine Bright — Discover What's In Store For You
Last Updated: Numerology, April 22, 2025: Number 1 must focus on relationships, 5 enjoys success, and 7 sees long-awaited progress. Find out what today holds for your number! Numerology, April 22, 2025: Everyone is curious to know how his day is going to be today. With the help of numerology, you can know a lot about this. Numerology is mainly based on the date of birth of a person. In this, it can be ascertained from the basic number of the person how his day is going to be today. Number 1 people need to pay attention to the quality of their relationship. Number 2 people's health is a little weak. This is a good time for number 3 and 4 people to buy a new house or car. Number 5 people will be happy and satisfied today. Number 6 people may remain stressed due to stomach disease. Number 7 people's government related matters have finally been resolved after a long delay. Number 8 people should not get into unnecessary arguments. Number 9 people will have to face problems today. Number 1 (People born on 1, 10, 19 and 28 of any month) Ganesha says someone in a position of authority is giving you a hard time. You feel trapped in a situation that has you flummoxed today. A confrontation of any kind would be disastrous at this time. You are locked in intense competition with professional rivals, but you come out on top. You need to turn your attention to the quality of your relationship; talking helps to solve the problem. Your lucky number is 4, and your lucky colour is Dark Blue. Number 2 (People born on 2, 11, 20 or 29 of any month) Ganesha says sibling support is waiting in the wings, should you need it. Hectic activity leaves you feeling exhausted and restless throughout the day. Health is a trifle indifferent, so take it easy. Your tax liability could go up tremendously if you are not careful. Your partner and you connect perfectly at this time; this is the happiest you`ve been in a long time. Your lucky number is 7, and your lucky colour is Golden Brown. Number 3 (People born on 3, 12, 21, 30 of any month) Ganesha says someone important may misunderstand you. Your lavish lifestyle and flamboyance impress your peers today. This is a good time to acquire a new home or car. Your physical and inner strength will equip you for some professional challenges. The warm relationship you share with your partner becomes more committed. Your lucky number is 3, and your lucky colour is Light Yellow. Number 4 (People born on 4, 13, 22 or 31 of any month) Ganesha says work on your self-confidence and watch your dreams turn into reality. If you live close to your mother, there is a chance of either of you moving away. This is an ideal time to buy a new home. A promotion, if due, will come through at this time. Your love life has been in depression for a while; don`t worry, things will look up soon. Your lucky number is 8, and your lucky colour is Light Blue. Number 5 (People born on 5, 14, 23 of any month) Ganesha says you will involve yourself in an important community activity. You are happy and satisfied; the day is full of spectacular achievements. This is a good time to buy a new house if it`s been on your mind. Your ability to stay calm under pressure impresses your colleagues. Whatever you do, do not get into a reckless relationship. Your lucky number is 5, and your lucky colour is White. Number 6 (People born on 6, 15 or 24 of any month) Ganesha says this is not the time to involve yourself in other people`s problems; you have enough of your own. It is a day of fun and frolic, make the most of it. You may be tense on account of a stomach disorder. Your luck and hard work both are instrumental in the success you achieve. This is a great day for romance as even a mild flirtation results in something quite lucky number is 8 and your lucky colour is Electric Grey. Number 7 (People born on 7, 16, and 25 of any month) Ganesha says matters linked with the government are finally sorted out after a long delay. If you live close to your mother, there is a chance of either of you moving away. You find yourself feeling so much better than before. Your mental energy is at its peak, and your ability to communicate has never been better. You are close to fixing a wedding date; you may be able to come to a decision now. Your lucky number is 17, and your lucky colour is Light Grey. Number 8 (People born on 8, 17 and 26 of any month) Ganesha says you receive accolades from unexpected quarters. An array of mixed feelings overwhelms you today. Be diplomatic; don`t get drawn into needless arguments. It is difficult for you to overcome business challenges during this period. Plan a romantic trip to the middle of nowhere on the weekend. Your lucky number is 9, and your lucky colour is Dark Yellow. Number 9 (People born on 9, 18 and 27 of any month) Ganesha says a spat with a colleague or neighbour could get out of hand. You adapt easily to any environmental changes you face today. You need to develop healthier eating habits. Making money is an uphill task, as you encounter one obstacle after another. Demonstrate your love in all sorts of crazy ways, and watch your affections being reciprocated. Your lucky number is 2, and your lucky colour is Yellow. (The author Chirag Daruwalla is the son of Astrologer Bejan Daruwalla). tags : Chirag Daruwalla numerology Location : Mumbai, India, India First Published: April 22, 2025, 00:05 IST News astrology Numerology, April 22, 2025: Numbers 1, 5, And 7 Shine Bright — Discover What's In Store For You
New European
08-03-2025
- Entertainment
- New European
Matthew d'Ancona's culture: The Seagull is an evening of convention-busting Chekhov
Such imaginative liberties are, indeed, the trademark of director Thomas Ostermeier, whose production with Florian Borchmeyer of Ibsen's An Enemy of the People lit up the West End last year. In this case, adapting Chekhov's original text with Duncan Macmillan, he has gathered an astonishing ensemble cast, led by Cate Blanchett as the actor Irina Arkadina: grandiose, always performing, tap-dancing her way into the splits. Not to be outdone, Jason Watkins as her ailing brother, Peter Sorin, tries his hand at break-dancing. Arkadina's son Konstanin Treplev (Kodi Smit-McPhee, so good in Maria ) aspires to true artistic integrity and despises his mother's lover Alexander Trigorin (Tom Burke, wonderfully measured), a successful writer wracked with doubt about the worth of his calling. Konstanin adores Nina Zarechnaya (Emma Corrin, tremendous as ever), who performs in his play while the other characters wear VR goggles. He, in turn, is loved by Masha Shamrayev (Tanya Reynolds) who, for her part, does not reciprocate Medvedenko's passions. Tangled, isn't it? As Trigorin grows intrigued and then obsessed by Nina, the comedy is fast eclipsed by tragedy. The symbolism of the eponymous bird – killed and stuffed – has been a matter of debate since the play's first performance in 1896. Here, it seems to represent Nina's initial emancipation and subsequent emotional captivity. It also speaks to Chekhov's preoccupation with the significance of art: is it life-enhancing or vampiric? On this matter, Burke delivers one of the play's most powerful monologues with panache: 'Literature is dead. And it deserves to be! What use are stories when the world is ending? We don't need novelists . We don't need exquisitely wrought exploration of the human condition – we need activists.' And – in a pin-drop moment – he ad-libs a tribute to Volodymyr Zelensky. Nor is it an accident that the production's musical refrain is the Stranglers' Golden Brown , a song about heroin. The characters are addicted to art, to an idea of love, to thwarted dreams of what life can be. Ostermeier gives his stellar cast the space and freedom to explore these themes to the bitter end. Mickey 17 (General release) Six years after his Oscar-winning masterpiece, Parasite , South Korean director Bong Joon-ho is back with this oddball sci-fi comedy – a return, really, to the dystopian themes he explored in Snowpiercer (2013) and the bioethics of Okja (2017). It is 2054: Mickey Barnes (Robert Pattinson, in good form), on the run from a murderous loan shark, signs up as a passenger on a colony ship headed to the planet of Niflheim under the leadership of Trumpesque populist and cult idol Kenneth Marshall (Mark Ruffalo) and his sinister wife Ylfa (Toni Collette). The catch is that he can only secure a berth as an 'Expendable': obliged to die and be replicated repeatedly, thanks to the controversial new technology of 'human printing'. If there is a lethal medical experiment that requires a subject, or a dangerous repair job to be done in space, Mickey is tapped for the task. His corpses are thrown into the ship's waste incinerator – and another Mickey is printed off using recycled organic waste, his memories restored from a data brick. Doing his best to be stoic about this – when he learns that he's going to die yet again because of exposure to lethal radiation, he says: 'Oh – OK' – he manages, through multiple resurrections, to maintain a romantic relationship with security officer Nasha (Naomi Ackie). But things get trickier when the ship reaches Niflheim, whose icy wastes are already inhabited by a race of large-fanged, insectoid 'creepers' (Bong's imagination never fails when it comes to strange creatures). Though it riffs on the moral choices facing the lookalike, in clear homage to A Tale of Two Cities , Mickey 17 – based on a 2022 novel by Edward Ashton – does not aspire to the transcendent heights of Parasite and, except in star wattage and budget, cannot truly be said to mark a significant leap forward for Bong. All the same: it is richly entertaining, visually compelling and, as you would expect from one of the world's greatest directors, a clear cut above the cineplex norm. The Leopard (Netflix) If, like me, you're a devotee of Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa's novel of the Risorgimento, published posthumously in 1958, and Luchino Visconti's stunning movie adaptation of 1963 (Burt Lancaster, Claudia Cardinale, Alain Delon), you might approach this six-part Netflix drama with a measure of there is still plenty of creative juice to be squeezed from the femminello lemon of Lampedusa's masterpiece. Kim Rossi Stuart is very good indeed as Don Fabrizio, the Prince of Salina, whose feline nickname is a reference to the family crest, confronted by Garibaldi's redshirt army and its campaign to seize Sicily from the House of beloved but impoverished nephew, Tancredi Falconeri (Saul Nanni) embraces the revolutionary spirit. 'Our vanity is more powerful than anything else in the land, stronger than any army,' says the prince. To which Tancredi replies: 'Uncle, if we want everything to remain as it is, then everything must change'. Directed by Tom Shankland and written by Benji Walters and Richard Warlow, this version of The Leopard is visually spectacular, both in its portrayal of the Sicilian landscape and its sumptuous tableaux: the dinners, the dances, the ceremonies of an old order yielding place to new. As Tancredi shifts his affections from his besotted cousin Concetta (Benedetta Porcaroli) to Angelica Sedara (Deva Cassel), daughter of Don Calogero Sedara (Francesco Colella), the rough-hewn, new-money mayor of Donnafugata – and the prince approves – the personal and political become poignantly entwined. A quibble: the sumptuous production finds insufficient space for the plangent decay and sense of entropy that are at the heart of the novel. But this is still quite something, a gamble that pays off handsomely. Fear (Prime Video) When Martyn Berwick (Martin Compston), his wife Rebecca (Anjli Mohindra) and their two children move into a grand house in Glasgow's West End, they are full of excitement and hope. A shame, then, that the basement tenant Jan Boyd (Solly McLeod) is such a weird and (soon enough) menacing sympathetic, their new neighbour ('I buy and sell NFTs') quickly escalates from leaving housewarming gifts to making horribly creepy remarks to Rebecca. The Berwicks seek help from the police and a lawyer, beginning to panic as Jan accuses them of abusing their own children. Mick Ford's crisply written adaptation of Dirk Kurbjuweit's 2013 novel soars above the usual tropes of stalker drama by digging into Martyn's own embattled sense of masculinity: his architectural practice is faltering, he is threatened by Rebecca's return to work in the lab as a genome researcher, he struggles with his father Allan (James Cosmo), a former para, and tattooist brother Brian (Daniel Portman) who scorns his middle-class aspirations. 'Can you live with the fact that, when it came to it, you did nothing to protect your family?' says Allan to his deeply troubled son. Compston is, as always, excellent, portraying a quite different character to DI Steve Arnott in Line of Duty . Tightly framed in three episodes, Fear is well worth your time. Dream Count by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (4th Estate) Whenever I am ready to give up on contemporary fiction, and its well-behaved silos of smugness, along comes Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie to restore my faith. It has been twelve years since her last novel, Americanah , but Dream Count – expansive, indifferent to categorisation, broad in scope and ambition – more than makes up for the wait. Its framework is provided by the entangled lives of four women: Chiamaka, a travel writer living in Maryland; Zikora, a lawyer in Washington, D.C; Omelogor, who has returned to Nigeria after studying in America; and Kadiatou, who is Chiamaka's housekeeper. The 'dream count' of the title is a variant on 'body count', suggested by Chiamaka's googling of past lovers. 'I thought of all the beginnings,' she reflects, 'and the lightness of being that comes with beginnings. I grieved the time lost in hoping that whatever I had would turn to wonder. I grieved what I did not even know to be true, that there was someone out there who had passed me by'. This sifting is prompted by Covid lockdown, and the reverberations and reckonings of pandemic course through the novel. Its depth charge is Kadiatou's horrific ordeal at a hotel in Washington, where she is attacked and raped by a VIP guest ('animalistic, possessed, a brute animal'). As Adichie writes in an afterword, this is intended to be a 'gesture of returned dignity' to Nafissatou Diallo, a Guinean immigrant who cleaned rooms in a New York hotel, and was allegedly raped in 2011 by Dominique Strauss-Kahn, head of the International Monetary Fund. As Omelogor concludes, watching Kadiatou being interviewed on television, 'immigrants are desperate to raise children who think they have a right to dream, and what she needs is an America that understands this.' Adichie's sense of justice is matched by a disdain for virtue-signalling: 'Their conversations were always greased with complaints; everything was 'problematic', even the things of which they approved. They were tribal, but anxiously so, always circling each other, watching each other, to sniff out a fault, a failing, a budding sabotage. They were ironic about liking what they liked, or fear of liking what they were not supposed to like, and they were unable to feel admiration, and so criticized people they could simply have admired.' In similar spirit, she skewers the silliness and laziness of modern language ('explore', 'share', lunch that is 'grabbed'). Dream Count is a vivid exploration of intimacy, the nature of home and migration, the yearnings of the heart and the frayed fabric of human connection. Unmissable.
