Monica Ali’s Brick Lane follow-up never really reaches boiling point May 13, 2009 ALTHOUGH she published a book called Alentejo Clue in 2006, this is being seen as the follow-up to Ali’s much-trumpeted Brick Lane. Once again it tackles the prickly topic of immigrants in London, but this time the action centres round the unlikeable chef Gabriel Lightfoot who works at the Imperial Hotel (note the heavy whiff [...]
Monica Ali’s Brick Lane follow-up never really reaches boiling point May 13, 2009 THERE is something irresistible about a modern-day murder mystery set against the ancient sites of Greek mythology. Combine such a piquant setting with a cracking plot and a vividly colourful narrative and you’ve got The Taint of Midas, the second in the award-winning Mysteries of the Greek Detective series by the British-born, formerly Greek island-dwelling [...]
Monica Ali’s Brick Lane follow-up never really reaches boiling point May 13, 2009 ONE of the most famous books to come out of the boom of the Eighties was Barbarians at the Gate. In this book, it seems that the nerds have taken over from Conan and his chums. In fact, the subtitle of the book makes it clear that greed was to blame – politicians and central [...]
Working women have never had it so bad: discuss August 28, 2008 Mothers have a tough time juggling everything, but should we feel sorry for them? For decades, feminists have talked about working women’s “second shift”, the extra work they do in the home after they have finished their day’s work in the office. It seems that things are much the same now as they were in [...]
Crazy in lobe August 13, 2008 In the world of earrings, bigger and bolder is definitely better, says Zoe Strimpel Times are changing; we’re not quite the over-mortgaging, champagne slugging society we once were. And, odd as it may sound, earrings are as good a sign of the times as any. New figures from John Lewis show sales of jewellery are [...]
High Altitude Health August 12, 2008 Zoe Strimpel tells you how to keep sharp when you’re flying At this time of year, people are flying more than ever. If you are lucky, that’s because you are getting away on a well-earned holiday. If you are still taking business trips right now, well, you probably need to make sure you are arriving [...]
City crisis takes its toll on marriage August 6, 2008 Job-losses mean divorce rates are rocketing, finds Anusha Bradley When the credit crunch bit, it was clear that banks were going to suffer and that things would look grim for many businesses. What was less predictable was the effect that it would have on divorce rates. According to a survey commissioned by law firm Mishcon [...]
Don’t let the sunshine ruin your holiday July 16, 2008 Too many people still don’t understand the damage sunburn can cause, says Zoe Strimpel The sorry English weather has most of us giddy with excitement at the prospect of our August holiday somewhere sunny and hot. And though we all know that baking in the sun is bad for us, many of us are going [...]
What Brand America and Brand Britain must do to shine July 8, 2008 Even though the past few days have included 4 July, my national holiday, it felt like a very British week to this American in London. Rafael Nadal’s epic victory at Wimbledon showcased some of the best tennis ever. A Number 10 Downing Street reception and a Prince’s Trust Dinner at Windsor Castle capped off the [...]
King of the swingers July 7, 2008 A visit to a nature reserve that rescues orangutans feels like a privilege, writes David Jesudason Borneo is a country of immense beauty, where there are rainforests, mountain ranges and also massive biodiversity: more than 360 new species of animals were discovered in the last decade. Sadly, though, this incredible habitat is under threat, with [...]