Our top six books this week: enter the turmoil of 1960s Algeria and much more



Feast of the Innocents

Evelio Rosero,

Maclehose Press, January 1

A doctor has a determination to prove to the world that the myth of Simón Bolívar, El Libertador, is a sham and a scandal, one that lays bare the brutal reality behind the legend. But in 1960s Colombia, you question the founding fables and such people at your peril.

In Real Life

Chris Killen,

Canongate, January 15

Ian, Lauren and Paul were friends in college and shared the same dreams. Ten years on, life has not turned out quite as they expected but a dormant email account is about to put them back in touch again. This promises to be a searingly honest account of life and love in a digital age.

Chaos of the Senses

Ahlem Mosteghanemi, Bloomsbury, January 15

Set in the turmoil of 1990s Algeria, a lonely novelist finds that what she writes begins to become a reality. Translated by Nancy Roberts, this is the second part of an award-winning trilogy by the most successful female writer in the Arab world.

The Age of Cryptocurrency

Paul Vigna andMichael J Casey

Bodley Head, January 8

Bitcoin, a type of digital currency, has fuelled endless debate but is it viable? In this thought-provoking book, two reporters argue it will usher in a revolution and bring billions of “unbanked” individuals into a new global economy.

Slow Road to Brownsville

David Reynolds, Greystone Books, January 29

A thoughtful account of a road trip through the middle of America, from the Canadian border to Texas. We hear about the fate of the Cheyenne, the story of the Alamo and the myths behind the Wild West. Proof that travel writing remains fresh and vital.

Cowboys and Indies

Gareth Murphy,

Serpent’s Tail, January 22

From the invention of the earliest sound-recording device in 1850s Paris to the digital boom, industry insider Murphy takes us on an encyclopaedic journey through more than 150 years of music. It has been described as the first definitive history of the recording industry.

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Pathaan
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Company%20Profile
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Results

4pm: Al Bastakiya – Listed (TB) $150,000 (Dirt) 1,900m; Winner: Panadol, Mickael Barzalona (jockey), Salem bin Ghadayer (trainer)

4.35pm: Dubai City Of Gold – Group 2 (TB) $228,000 (Turf) 2,410m; Winner: Walton Street, William Buick, Charlie Appleby

5.10pm: Mahab Al Shimaal – Group 3 (TB) $228,000 (D) 1,200m; Winner: Canvassed, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson

5.45pm: Burj Nahaar – Group 3 (TB) $228,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Midnight Sands, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson

6.20pm: Jebel Hatta – Group 1 (TB) $260,000 (T) 1,800m; Winner: Lord Glitters, Daniel Tudhope, David O’Meara

6.55pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 – Group 1 (TB) $390,000 (D) 2,000m; Winner: Salute The Soldier, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass

7.30pm: Nad Al Sheba – Group 3 (TB) $228,000 (T) 1,200m; Winner: Final Song, Frankie Dettori, Saeed bin Suroor

COMPANY PROFILE

Name: Qyubic
Started: October 2023
Founder: Namrata Raina
Based: Dubai
Sector: E-commerce
Current number of staff: 10
Investment stage: Pre-seed
Initial investment: Undisclosed 

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
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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.
Company%20Profile
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Wicked
Director: Jon M Chu
Stars: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey
Rating: 4/5
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From Zero

Artist: Linkin Park

Label: Warner Records

Number of tracks: 11

Rating: 4/5

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.

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Kanguva
Director: Siva
Stars: Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley
Rating: 2/5
 
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Straightforward ways to reduce sugar in your family's diet
  • Ban fruit juice and sodas
  • Eat a hearty breakfast that contains fats and wholegrains, such as peanut butter on multigrain toast or full-fat plain yoghurt with whole fruit and nuts, to avoid the need for a 10am snack
  • Give young children plain yoghurt with whole fruits mashed into it
  • Reduce the number of cakes, biscuits and sweets. Reserve them for a treat
  • Don’t eat dessert every day 
  • Make your own smoothies. Always use the whole fruit to maintain the benefit of its fibre content and don’t add any sweeteners
  • Always go for natural whole foods over processed, packaged foods. Ask yourself would your grandmother have eaten it?
  • Read food labels if you really do feel the need to buy processed food
  • Eat everything in moderation