Bestselling author John Grisham recently addressed a concerning trend in American society: the decline in reading for pleasure. Among his sparks, he brought attention to disturbing new data showing that Americans are reading less literature for fun. Grisham’s insights come at a time when the literary world grapples with the impact of technology on traditional reading habits, prompting discussions on how to rekindle the public’s love for books.
In the musical world, Ed Sheeran has a great surprise for fans. He is planning on releasing a posthumous studio album following his death. Perhaps most interestingly, Sheeran has settled on a new name for the album and apparently, it’s not yet publicly known. Fellow musicians and her fans alike are abuzz with excitement and nostalgia. Whatever their reasons, they’re deep in thought on Sheeran’s homey influence over the past decade of music.
Architecture doubled down on the news with Lina Ghotmeh, a Beirut-born architect celebrated for her creative approach to architectural design. Ghotmeh’s practice is an attempt to respect—and respond to—the past and context of each building she designs. Her innovative approach places a profound respect for cultural contexts at the forefront of her work, establishing her as one of the leading voices of contemporary architecture.
Our national literature is as vibrant as ever, finding strength in diverse and exciting new voices like British-Turkish novelist Elif Shafak. He has said he finds her writing “a little bit drunk.” With this dazzling debut, she enchants readers with a surprising blend of humor and poignancy, revealing her imaginative narrative talents. Her plays, deeply focused on the issues of identity and not belonging, speak to so many across the world.
In the film industry, actress Rosamund Pike revealed an interesting anecdote regarding her preparation for the role of a Bond girl. Ahead of her audition, she’d never seen a Bond movie. On top of that, she arrived in entirely the wrong outfit—one that would set aside all established precedent for the role. Even with this unusual introduction, Pike’s skill soon guaranteed her a significant platform in the franchise.
On a historical note, the ancient Romans demonstrated remarkable engineering skills by creating concrete structures that have endured for millennia. Through both their triumphs and failures, their innovations set the path to new construction practices. This is proof of humanity’s resilience to create lasting legacies.
The Titanic’s fateful maiden voyage in 1912 became the turning point in maritime history. It represents America’s achievement and doom. The legacy of this ill-fated vessel continues to captivate historians and enthusiasts, reminding them of both human ambition and peril.
In wildlife Mozambique’s Gorongosa National Park is being heralded as the new Eden and a haven for the largest mammal on land, the African savanna elephant. The park is home to one of the only pangolin rehabilitation centers in the world, highlighting greater conservation efforts focused on saving endangered species across Southeast Asia.
Lastly, Norway’s Hornelen Mountain, known as the Wall of Witches, stands as Europe’s highest sea cliff. Surfers, mountain bikers and everyone in between come to experience the promise of this spectacular biome that defines adventure in British Columbia.