Latest news with #TheGlassHouse
Irish Examiner
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
Book review: Family secrets cannot hide forever within the walls of The Glass House
Rachel Donohue's The Glass House is at once a mystery, a love story, and an examination of family relationships. The narrative centres around two dramatic events that take place over 30 years apart in 1963 and 1999. Richard Acklehurst is a famed political philosopher of the early 1960s, when the initial events of the novel are set. He dies during a winter storm on New Year's Eve in 1963 in curious circumstances; his daughters — Aisling and Stella — and two of their friends are the only people in the house at the time. Donohue's tale jumps then to 1999, where Acklehurst's body is defiled at the local cemetery, prompting long-held secrets to bubble to the surface. Aisling's narrative takes us through the intervening years as herself, her sister, and their two friends Jonathan and Naoise each deal with the events of that night in 1963. The novel is told through the experience of Acklehurst's daughter Aisling. Herself and her sister Stella live with their father in The Glass House, following the death of their mother when they were infants. 'It is an unusual thing to have a notorious parent, your life is never completely your own. You exist only by extension, a shadow person, never quite finished.' The house itself is like a separate character in the story. As its name suggests, it is made of glass — a modern, glass structure in the middle of the Galway countryside. One can see directly into the house and see what its inhabitants are doing, but the irony of Donohue's tale lies in how events within the house were obfuscated and unknown. In many ways, the house represents Ackelhurst, who on the surface appears a great thinker, a famed political philosopher of his time. He holds regular parties at the house, where people come from across Europe — subversive friends and acquaintances that we never quite meet. He looms large on these occasions, oversees the parties like a conductor, positioning his daughters here and there, commanding Stella to dress a certain way and to perform. But what are his real motivations? Who are these guests? What lies underneath that supposedly transparent surface? In many ways, the house empowers Acklehurst, allowing him to behave in a certain way, untempered. But is he also a prisoner of the house? 'He didn't look so large outside of the house, a diminished figure in tweed. Lost among a people that were not his own.' During the 30-year story, secrets are revealed and kept hidden. Jonathan and Stella live in London, where Stella — perhaps the most affected by the events in The Glass House — teeters on the edge and Jonathan hovers in the background. Naoise goes to Dublin, settles down, and charts a successful career in law, while Aisling moves to Florence and lives on her own, keeping her distance from the other three but maintaining tabs on them from afar. 'I thought things could be forgotten, if you just hid them away.' Donohue's writing is full of beauty, bringing life to simple descriptions. 'She looked like she might be a smiling sort of person, a jolliness to her features, but somehow she had decided to retrain them.' Every word has meaning and nothing is wasted. She builds atmosphere and emotion with her clever use of prose and her characters are fully rounded. Within this beautifully written novel lies a dark heart but there is beauty and connection too. Read More Rachel Donohue: How writing her novel became a way of escaping the pandemic
USA Today
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Sean 'Diddy' Combs, son Justin Combs hit with gang-rape lawsuit
A woman has filed a complaint against Sean "Diddy" Combs' son Justin Combs, alleging she was "gang-raped" by Diddy and two other men during a trip to Los Angeles. Tyreke Conerly claims Justin Combs contacted her through Snapchat in March or April 2017, requesting "risque" photos, which she sent. She says Combs, 31, offered to fly the New Orleans resident to LA for a weekend, and promised he could get her a job at Revolt TV, a network his father founded. Instead, Conerly claims she was drugged, "literally held prisoner for a weekend" and "repeatedly raped" by three masked men, including the elder Combs. USA TODAY has reached out to Combs' team for comment. The lawsuit comes amid closing arguments in Combs' federal sex-crimes trial, a closely watched affair attended regularly by many of Combs' children, including Justin. Who are Sean 'Diddy' Combs' kids? These family members attended his sex-crimes trial In the complaint, filed by Tony Buzbee, who is representing a host of other alleged victims accusing Combs of assault, the lawyer claims the music mogul's "penchant for sexual violence is shared by his son." Drawing on an alleged "long history of violence," Buzbee argues that Conerly's story notches cleanly into an established pattern of sexual and physical abuse, allowed for by an unassailable power and influence across industries. Diddy trial updates: Sean Combs' attorney says case is about 'love,' 'jealousy' In the complaint, Conerly alleges she was flown out by Justin Combs to Los Angeles in April 2017, following through on a desire to break into the entertainment industry. After being picked up by a black SUV, she was allegedly taken to a "palatial" venue the younger Combs called "The Glass House." They stayed in the home for two days, and when she asked if they would leave, Justin responded: "No," according to the filing. Diddy trial closing arguments: 'Inner circle, money and influence' concealed crimes After the two consumed several unidentified drugs, according to the complaint, three men in masks entered the home – two who were unrecognizable and one who she understood to be Sean Combs after Justin called him "Pops." Then, she alleges, she was taken to a room where the men took turns raping her both orally and anally after being told: "You better let this happen. Or else." Surviving abuse: Cassie Ventura Fine and the unlikely bond with her mother-in-law The assault continued for over 24 hours, the complaint alleges, after which Conerly was driven back to the airport. Both the possibility of the job – which she never got – and of the unsanctioned release of her intimate photos were held over her head by Justin Combs, she alleges. Buzbee, on Conerly's behalf, is demanding a jury trial and damages.
Daily Mirror
18-06-2025
- Daily Mirror
Caribbean cruise holiday offers a world of wonders
For the ultimate island-hopping adventure, there's nothing like a Caribbean fly-cruise holiday. Wake up to a new view every day, from Barbados with its calypso rhythms to lush Dominica, chic St Maarten, the Spice Island of Grenada and sparkling vistas of the Caribbean Sea. Enjoy Insta-perfect beaches and fabulous local food, explore rainforests, sip sundowners in colourful rum shacks and slow down to the pace of island life. And if you book a Caribbean fly-cruise holiday with P&O Cruises, you'll sail in style, with a fantastic choice of restaurants and entertainment, perfect pools, a sleek spa and plenty of fun for all. As summer ends in Europe, Britannia – the freshly refurbished P&O Cruises flagship – makes her way to the sun-soaked shores of the Caribbean. You'll find new-look venues and upgraded spaces, from the Sunset Bar and stylish restaurant The Glass House, to Oasis Spa and Salon, plus a children's splash area. After days spent on white-sand beaches, get back on board to explore a choice of 27 bars and restaurants, offering everything from casual eating experiences to elegant fine dining. For a splash of glam, don't miss Celebration Night, with a menu curated by Marco Pierre White. And with evening entertainment ranging from shows and live music to comedy and dancing, you'll find plenty to enjoy once the sun goes down. The Caribbean isn't Britannia's only destination; the P&O Cruises flagship visits the Norwegian Fjords from spring into summer and sails around the Mediterranean in July and August. By day, head to one of the four pools, or if you're feeling energetic, get involved in a game of pickleball or basketball. Travelling as a family? Let the young ones make friends at the action-packed kids' clubs while you take the chance to treat yourself at the spa. Ready to go island hopping? With P&O Cruises, you can fly to Barbados and then take a 14-night round trip that will give you a taste of the many jewels of the Caribbean. In Dominica, dubbed the 'Nature Island', you could discover untouched rainforests, cascading waterfalls and natural springs, or head out on the water to spot whales and dolphins. Why not stop off in Castries, the charming capital of St Lucia, an island dominated by its two rainforest-clad Piton peaks? Here, you can explore on a Jeep safari and catamaran cruise, taste freshly picked fruit at a local farm, or learn how to make rich chocolate at St Lucia's oldest cocoa plantation. A 14-night fly-cruise holiday to the Caribbean gives you time to explore islands as varied as colourful Curacao and dreamy Aruba. On a stop at Kingstown, St Vincent, you have the chance to set sail on a traditional West Indian schooner or explore the tropical hideaway of Bequia. Grenada offers lush gardens, or the chance to tour the charming capital and relax at a sleek beach club. You might also visit stylish St Maarten – a unique blend of Dutch and French influences, renowned for upscale boutiques and sumptuous cuisine – and have a chance to explore the food, history and 365 soft-sand beaches of Antigua. The perfect way to shake off the winter chill, a P&O Cruises fly-cruise holiday to the Caribbean promises vibrant islands and unforgettable encounters, as well as the chance to enjoy sun-splashed living on board Britannia. *Accurate at the time of publication. Early Saver price of £1,699 per person is based on two adults sharing a PF grade Inside cabin on cruise B627A. Prices are subject to availability and may go up or down. Fly-cruise price shown is inclusive of economy class flights from/to London and transfers. Prices may vary for other departure airports. All flights are subject to availability. Early Saver bookings are made at the relevant cabin grade and a cabin number is allocated by P&O Cruises prior to departure. Dining preferences are not guaranteed. Shuttle buses in ports are an additional cost. Early Saver prices apply to new bookings only. These terms and conditions vary, where relevant, the applicable booking conditions which are otherwise unchanged.
