The Grass Arena by John Healy (1988)
It’s slightly embarrassing to say I feel an affinity with the autobiography of a once-homeless alcoholic who, after many years spent down and out, discovers redemption in prison in the form of competitive chess, but I do. This could be a heavy read but is instead amusing and honest, with a strong narrative drive that makes reading feel more like having a conversation with someone.
Kasper in the Glitter by Philip Ridley (1994)
This children’s tale of adventure and friendship is delightfully bizarre. It’s an urban fairytale, full of eccentric characters and contrasting imagery of both the breathtaking excitement of a city, or The Glitter, and its scary, seedy side, The Gloom. At a young age, navigating growing up in London, I felt like Ridley had created a parallel world just for me.
The Rings of Saturn by W G Sebald (1995)
When this book was published in English (translated from German) The New York Times wrote: “This is a hybrid of a book – fiction, travel, biography, myth and memoir – that obliterates time and defies comparison.” It’s a wander through the hidden narratives found on a walk along the Suffolk coast that makes writing about whatever random thing you feel like seem not only possible, but intelligent.
Wild: An Elemental Journey by Jay Griffiths (2007)
A woman’s seven-year search for wilderness, both in a philosophical and a physical sense. From living with Peruvian tribes to cure her depression with ayahuasca, to coming to terms with the inescapably wild nature of hormonal cycles, this book blew my mind. The language is wild and wonderful and Griffiths is unafraid to expose the deepest and darkest parts of herself.
Karate Chop by Dorthe Nors (2014)
I am very much a fan of a lean, perfectly coiffured and short-short story – I blame being force-fed Raymond Carver at writing school. Translated from Danish, these small moments are barely stories and are more scene or character sketches. Yet they are sharp and funny, and still grapple with big issues in a way that leads you to find a feeling or idea still ticking over in your head hours later.
Liz Cookman is The National's assistant national news editor
Book%20Details
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Company%20Profile
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Farasan Boat: 128km Away from Anchorage
Director: Mowaffaq Alobaid
Stars: Abdulaziz Almadhi, Mohammed Al Akkasi, Ali Al Suhaibani
Rating: 4/5
SPECS%3A%20Polestar%203
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Company%20Profile
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Countdown to Zero exhibition will show how disease can be beaten
Countdown to Zero: Defeating Disease, an international multimedia exhibition created by the American Museum of National History in collaboration with The Carter Center, will open in Abu Dhabi a month before Reaching the Last Mile.
Opening on October 15 and running until November 15, the free exhibition opens at The Galleria mall on Al Maryah Island, and has already been seen at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum in Atlanta, the American Museum of Natural History in New York, and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
Russia's Muslim Heartlands
Dominic Rubin, Oxford
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Director: Paul Weitz
Stars: Kevin Hart
3/5 stars
Tips for taking the metro
- set out well ahead of time
- make sure you have at least Dh15 on you Nol card, as there could be big queues for top-up machines
- enter the right cabin. The train may be too busy to move between carriages once you're on
- don't carry too much luggage and tuck it under a seat to make room for fellow passengers
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
The specs
Engine: Long-range single or dual motor with 200kW or 400kW battery
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Max touring range: 620km / 590km
Price: From Dh250,000 (estimated)
The%20Beekeeper
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Profile Box
Company/date started: 2015
Founder/CEO: Mohammed Toraif
Based: Manama, Bahrain
Sector: Sales, Technology, Conservation
Size: (employees/revenue) 4/ 5,000 downloads
Stage: 1 ($100,000)
Investors: Two first-round investors including, 500 Startups, Fawaz Al Gosaibi Holding (Saudi Arabia)
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
Wonka
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Company%20Profile
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Nayanthara: Beyond The Fairy Tale
Starring: Nayanthara, Vignesh Shivan, Radhika Sarathkumar, Nagarjuna Akkineni
Director: Amith Krishnan
Rating: 3.5/5
'The Batman'
Stars:Robert Pattinson
Director:Matt Reeves
Rating: 5/5
Freezer tips
- Always make sure food is completely cool before freezing.
- If you’re cooking in large batches, divide into either family-sized or individual portions to freeze.
- Ensure the food is well wrapped in foil or cling film. Even better, store in fully sealable, labelled containers or zip-lock freezer bags.
- The easiest and safest way to defrost items such as the stews and sauces mentioned is to do so in the fridge for several hours or overnight.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
