Nicole Kidman has admitted she had to stop filming her new saucy flick, Babygirl. The film, which comes out on January 10, stars the Aussie icon, 57, who plays a high-powered married company boss, who falls for a kinky young intern – The Iron Claw’s Harris Dickinson, 28. The pair share some very intimate scenes…
Hundreds of protesters in Lanzarote turned out on Sunday evening to show their support for tourists, following a mass protest against the influx of holidaymakers.The pro-tourist protest came just hours after locals hounded British holidaymakers, forced them to flee, and ordered them to “go home” during an anti-tourist march. An estimated 10,000 people took part in the protests across Gran Canaria, Tenerife, La Palma, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote, and El Hierro.In one tense incident, locals reportedly chanted, “This beach is ours,” at British tourists in Playa de las Americas in Tenerife.The organisers of the pro-tourist march hope that their support for holidaymakers in one of the most popular Canary Island destinations will help ease concerns among tourists. Marching under the banner “Lanzarote loves tourism,” locals marched through the resort of Puerto del Carmen, chanting that tourists were “not to blame” for the country’s problems.The counter-protestors in Lanzarote defended tourism, arguing that tourists were always “welcome” on the island.Augusto Ferreira, a restaurant owner from Puerto del Carmen, helped organise the counterprotest. He said tourists were being scapegoated and blamed politicians for “playing political games” with the industry. He added that thousands of locals in Lanzarote rely on holidaymakers for their livelihoods.He said that once he saw the plans for an anti-tourist rally, he knew “something had to be done” in response. He added: “What we cannot allow to happen is for wrong messages to be sent out about what Lanzarote is really like.”He told local news programme A Buena Hora: “I have walked many streets visiting businesses and talking to people. I have heard very nice stories from people who say their family live off tourism and that thanks to tourism, they are what they are.”He continued: “A man in Playa Blanca thanked me for what I am doing; he told me to keep going, that he supported me and that his whole family would be there.”That is what gives me the energy and strength to continue with this idea, which is to send a clear message to the world that we do not want to provoke a confrontation with tourists who are certainly not to blame for the problems that have been generated on the Island in recent years.”Many tourists, including British holidaymakers, in Puerto del Carmen cheered and applauded the rally as they passed.Supporters of the Canary Islands Have a Limit group, who led the earlier rally, have said mass tourism was pricing local people out of the housing market and impacting their quality of life.Lanzarote welcomed 2.2 million tourists between January and August 2024, a 7.5 percent increase from the same period in 2023.According to the protest group, tourists consume up to six times more water than residents, threatening the island’s precious resources and damaging the environment.This year, the Canary Islands have seen a series of protests against perceived overtourism in Barcelona, as well as other popular holiday destinations like Mallorca and Malaga.
Hundreds of protesters in Lanzarote turned out on Sunday evening to show their support for tourists, following a mass protest against the influx of holidaymakers.The pro-tourist protest came just hours after locals hounded British holidaymakers, forced them to flee, and ordered them to “go home” during an anti-tourist march. An estimated 10,000 people took part in the protests across Gran Canaria, Tenerife, La Palma, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote, and El Hierro.In one tense incident, locals reportedly chanted, “This beach is ours,” at British tourists in Playa de las Americas in Tenerife.The organisers of the pro-tourist march hope that their support for holidaymakers in one of the most popular Canary Island destinations will help ease concerns among tourists. Marching under the banner “Lanzarote loves tourism,” locals marched through the resort of Puerto del Carmen, chanting that tourists were “not to blame” for the country’s problems.The counter-protestors in Lanzarote defended tourism, arguing that tourists were always “welcome” on the island.Augusto Ferreira, a restaurant owner from Puerto del Carmen, helped organise the counterprotest. He said tourists were being scapegoated and blamed politicians for “playing political games” with the industry. He added that thousands of locals in Lanzarote rely on holidaymakers for their livelihoods.He said that once he saw the plans for an anti-tourist rally, he knew “something had to be done” in response. He added: “What we cannot allow to happen is for wrong messages to be sent out about what Lanzarote is really like.”He told local news programme A Buena Hora: “I have walked many streets visiting businesses and talking to people. I have heard very nice stories from people who say their family live off tourism and that thanks to tourism, they are what they are.”He continued: “A man in Playa Blanca thanked me for what I am doing; he told me to keep going, that he supported me and that his whole family would be there.”That is what gives me the energy and strength to continue with this idea, which is to send a clear message to the world that we do not want to provoke a confrontation with tourists who are certainly not to blame for the problems that have been generated on the Island in recent years.”Many tourists, including British holidaymakers, in Puerto del Carmen cheered and applauded the rally as they passed.Supporters of the Canary Islands Have a Limit group, who led the earlier rally, have said mass tourism was pricing local people out of the housing market and impacting their quality of life.Lanzarote welcomed 2.2 million tourists between January and August 2024, a 7.5 percent increase from the same period in 2023.According to the protest group, tourists consume up to six times more water than residents, threatening the island’s precious resources and damaging the environment.This year, the Canary Islands have seen a series of protests against perceived overtourism in Barcelona, as well as other popular holiday destinations like Mallorca and Malaga.
Your support helps us to tell the storyThis election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.CloseRead moreKeanu Reeves has opened up about trying to make a live action version of his comic book series, stating that “movies are tough to get made”.The 60-year-old Canadian actor, who recently avoided a serious injury during his professional racing debut, has now written his first novel based on the aforementioned comic. The Book of Elsewhere, which he has co-written with Three Moments of an Explosion author China Miéville, is set in the same universe as the BRZRKR comics which follows the actions of an immortal warrior, simply known as B, attempting to understand his purpose.Reeves wrote the first volume of the comics, along with Matt Kindt and artist Ron Garney, in 2021 and two more volumes have been released since. Speaking at the launch of the 2024 London Literature Festival at the Southbank Centre, Reeves was asked by journalist Samira Ahmed, about whether he would be interested in playing the character, which does bear a striking resemblance to him, on screen. Reeves didn’t confirm one way or the other but did state that the character is “very personal” to him but that he would “love to play the character”.Asked whether a film is being made, Reeves, who was sat alongside the novel’s editor Keith Clayton, confirmed that there was but that “movies are tough to get made”. Keanu Reeves and Keith Clayton discuss ‘The Book of Elsewhere’ with Samira Ahmed, marking the opening night of the Southbank Centre’s London Literature Festival on 22 October.
A representational image showing a man eating a burger. — UnsplashHumans have long struggled to resist meals rich in carbohydrates — commonly referred to as carbs — and this craving is believed to stem from our early ancestors.For years, it was assumed that early humans primarily consumed a protein-heavy diet to survive the rigors of hunting and evading predators, fostering a deep-seated desire for carbs.
However, according to CNN, a new study published in the journal Science, debunked this long-held belief, suggesting that humanity’s modern-day affinity for carbs may predate the emergence of the Neanderthals.The study, conducted by researchers at The Jackson Laboratory in Farmington, Connecticut, and the University of Buffalo in New York, points to a specific gene, called AMY1 that enabled humans to digest starches more easily by breaking them down into simple sugars that can be used for energy.These genes continued to duplicate long before the rise of agriculture.The team of researchers studied the genomes of 68 ancient humans, focusing on the AMY1 gene and, while almost all modern humans have multiple copies of this gene, the number of copies varies from person to person. Geneticists have struggled to determine exactly how and when the gene began to expand — which ties back to when eating starches became advantageous to human health.”The main question that we were trying to answer was, when did this duplication occur? So that’s why we started studying ancient genomes,” Feyza Yilmaz, an associate computational scientist at The Jackson Laboratory, told CNN.”Previous studies show that there’s a correlation between AMY1 copy numbers and the amount of amylase enzyme that’s released in our saliva. We wanted to understand whether it’s an occurrence that corresponds to the advent of agriculture. This is … a hot question.”The researchers found that hunter-gatherers as far back as 45,000 years ago had around four to eight copies of AMY1.This indicates that homo sapiens had a knack for starch even during the Mesolithic period – and before the introduction of agricultural practices.The research also found duplication of AMY1 in the genomes of Neanderthals and the lesser-known Denisovans — an extinct hominin discovered in 2010.The multiple copies of the gene in three separate human species indicates that it was a trait shared by a common ancestor before the lineages fractured, according to the study.That means humans had more than one copy of AMY1 as far back as even 800,000 years ago and the lack of a clear reason for the duplication led researchers to believe it likely happened at random.AMY1 duplication spiked during the last 4,000 years as humans shifted away from the hunter-gatherer lifestyle toward more starch-forward diets.
A representational image showing a man eating a burger. — UnsplashHumans have long struggled to resist meals rich in carbohydrates — commonly referred to as carbs — and this craving is believed to stem from our early ancestors.For years, it was assumed that early humans primarily consumed a protein-heavy diet to survive the rigors of hunting and evading predators, fostering a deep-seated desire for carbs.
However, according to CNN, a new study published in the journal Science, debunked this long-held belief, suggesting that humanity’s modern-day affinity for carbs may predate the emergence of the Neanderthals.The study, conducted by researchers at The Jackson Laboratory in Farmington, Connecticut, and the University of Buffalo in New York, points to a specific gene, called AMY1 that enabled humans to digest starches more easily by breaking them down into simple sugars that can be used for energy.These genes continued to duplicate long before the rise of agriculture.The team of researchers studied the genomes of 68 ancient humans, focusing on the AMY1 gene and, while almost all modern humans have multiple copies of this gene, the number of copies varies from person to person. Geneticists have struggled to determine exactly how and when the gene began to expand — which ties back to when eating starches became advantageous to human health.”The main question that we were trying to answer was, when did this duplication occur? So that’s why we started studying ancient genomes,” Feyza Yilmaz, an associate computational scientist at The Jackson Laboratory, told CNN.”Previous studies show that there’s a correlation between AMY1 copy numbers and the amount of amylase enzyme that’s released in our saliva. We wanted to understand whether it’s an occurrence that corresponds to the advent of agriculture. This is … a hot question.”The researchers found that hunter-gatherers as far back as 45,000 years ago had around four to eight copies of AMY1.This indicates that homo sapiens had a knack for starch even during the Mesolithic period – and before the introduction of agricultural practices.The research also found duplication of AMY1 in the genomes of Neanderthals and the lesser-known Denisovans — an extinct hominin discovered in 2010.The multiple copies of the gene in three separate human species indicates that it was a trait shared by a common ancestor before the lineages fractured, according to the study.That means humans had more than one copy of AMY1 as far back as even 800,000 years ago and the lack of a clear reason for the duplication led researchers to believe it likely happened at random.AMY1 duplication spiked during the last 4,000 years as humans shifted away from the hunter-gatherer lifestyle toward more starch-forward diets.
Shimmering silver minnows thrashed in a net on a breezy October afternoon as a group of Riverhead High School students became marine scientists for the day.The students scooped the bait fish into a saltwater bucket before catching one in a PVC tube to measure its length and then releasing it back into the Peconic Bay at South Jamesport Beach.Collecting data on biodiversity and water quality are pillars of the “Day in the Life of a River” program held for at least a decade by the state Department of Environmental Conservation, the Central Pine Barrens Commission and Brookhaven National Laboratory.More than 1,000 children from East Rockaway to Springs are taking part in the once-a-week program, which began in late September and continues through early November. For a day, they trade in their on-campus science classrooms for 13 sites on rivers and bays.Experts on the environment say the program sparks curiosity about science in the real world and also harvests invaluable data on the health of local waterways.”It’s a connection to nature that allows the kids to not worry about what’s going on in the rain forest, which is important, but rather what’s going on in their own neighborhood,” said Ron Gelardi, an environmental educator at the DEC.Gelardi led two sessions in South Jamesport on Friday but students from across eastern Suffolk studied the Peconic Estuary at different locations including Indian Island County Park in Riverhead and Squire Pond in Hampton Bays.Julie Hargrave, the policy manager at the Pine Barrens commission, said the program is important because it spreads awareness among young people.”Once they’re aware,” Hargrave said, “they appreciate the environment around them.”Led by their teachers and officials from the DEC, the students in South Jamesport measured wind speed, documented currents and tested water temperature, salinity, pH and other water quality benchmarks before pulling on waders to get up close to fish, crabs, snails and other estuary critters.Science teacher Claire Yannacone led students from her marine science class at Riverhead High School.”They’re not afraid of anything,” Yannacone said. “Some people don’t like the icky, the slimy, but they want to try things out, they’re giving it a go. It’s really rewarding.”The information collected will be uploaded to a database containing findings from previous years’ studies and managed by the Brookhaven laboratory. The data can be used to track the health of the waterway or flag anomalies like invasive or nonnative species.”It really just goes to show the value of community science and how these large groups of participants can provide scientists with these additional important data points,” said Sharon Pepenella, who helps run student research programs and other outreach at the Brookhaven laboratory.Last month, a group of students in the program from William Floyd High School, analyzing data at Smith Point Marina in Shirley, identified a mangrove snapper, a species that Pepenella said had never been documented previously by students in the program.The species is usually found in warmer regions, Pepenella said.While it is possible for the fish to be found in New York waters, it is not well-suited for colder temperatures.”Its presence could suggest something like warming waters from climate change are affecting when and where the species is found,” Pepenella said.For students like 17-year-old Renee Marcks of Riverhead, the real-life research is a thrill.”I do a lot of environmental research,” Marcks said, adding that she’s also participated in horseshoe crab tagging events to help marine scientists track movement and mortality of the ancient species.”I care about our environment and I want to potentially do sustainability research, go to developing countries … to help other people,” she said.Jo Anne Kulik, who also teaches marine science in Riverhead, said the experience can help demonstrate the importance of logging data efficiently.A bonus perk was an October day spent at the beach.”Just getting them outside is important,” Kulik said. “It’s good to put them in an environment that surrounds where they live.”Adrian Gonzalez, 17, Riverhead, said he signed up for the class to learn more about his favorite animal, whales. But the fieldwork gave him a chance to explore something new.”It was cool. I kind of got tired pulling the net,” he said, battling a persistent wind. “It was cold, and these are heavy,” he said of his waders.Gonzalez said he’d urge other students to sign up.”Go outside … and stop playing on the phones all the time.”Shimmering silver minnows thrashed in a net on a breezy October afternoon as a group of Riverhead High School students became marine scientists for the day.The students scooped the bait fish into a saltwater bucket before catching one in a PVC tube to measure its length and then releasing it back into the Peconic Bay at South Jamesport Beach.Collecting data on biodiversity and water quality are pillars of the “Day in the Life of a River” program held for at least a decade by the state Department of Environmental Conservation, the Central Pine Barrens Commission and Brookhaven National Laboratory.More than 1,000 children from East Rockaway to Springs are taking part in the once-a-week program, which began in late September and continues through early November. For a day, they trade in their on-campus science classrooms for 13 sites on rivers and bays.Student ScienceThe “Day in the Life of a River” program gives high schoolers an up close look at marine life and Long Island waterways.Date the students collect is used to help provide a snapshot of environmental conditions and the health of sea life and the water.More than 1,000 students from 37 schools are participating in the fall 2024 program, which began in late September and continues through early November. Curiosity sparkedExperts on the environment say the program sparks curiosity about science in the real world and also harvests invaluable data on the health of local waterways.Riverhead High School student Ashly Galdamez examines a mole crab she collected from Flanders Bay on Friday.
Shimmering silver minnows thrashed in a net on a breezy October afternoon as a group of Riverhead High School students became marine scientists for the day.The students scooped the bait fish into a saltwater bucket before catching one in a PVC tube to measure its length and then releasing it back into the Peconic Bay at South Jamesport Beach.Collecting data on biodiversity and water quality are pillars of the “Day in the Life of a River” program held for at least a decade by the state Department of Environmental Conservation, the Central Pine Barrens Commission and Brookhaven National Laboratory.More than 1,000 children from East Rockaway to Springs are taking part in the once-a-week program, which began in late September and continues through early November. For a day, they trade in their on-campus science classrooms for 13 sites on rivers and bays.Experts on the environment say the program sparks curiosity about science in the real world and also harvests invaluable data on the health of local waterways.”It’s a connection to nature that allows the kids to not worry about what’s going on in the rain forest, which is important, but rather what’s going on in their own neighborhood,” said Ron Gelardi, an environmental educator at the DEC.Gelardi led two sessions in South Jamesport on Friday but students from across eastern Suffolk studied the Peconic Estuary at different locations including Indian Island County Park in Riverhead and Squire Pond in Hampton Bays.Julie Hargrave, the policy manager at the Pine Barrens commission, said the program is important because it spreads awareness among young people.”Once they’re aware,” Hargrave said, “they appreciate the environment around them.”Led by their teachers and officials from the DEC, the students in South Jamesport measured wind speed, documented currents and tested water temperature, salinity, pH and other water quality benchmarks before pulling on waders to get up close to fish, crabs, snails and other estuary critters.Science teacher Claire Yannacone led students from her marine science class at Riverhead High School.”They’re not afraid of anything,” Yannacone said. “Some people don’t like the icky, the slimy, but they want to try things out, they’re giving it a go. It’s really rewarding.”The information collected will be uploaded to a database containing findings from previous years’ studies and managed by the Brookhaven laboratory. The data can be used to track the health of the waterway or flag anomalies like invasive or nonnative species.”It really just goes to show the value of community science and how these large groups of participants can provide scientists with these additional important data points,” said Sharon Pepenella, who helps run student research programs and other outreach at the Brookhaven laboratory.Last month, a group of students in the program from William Floyd High School, analyzing data at Smith Point Marina in Shirley, identified a mangrove snapper, a species that Pepenella said had never been documented previously by students in the program.The species is usually found in warmer regions, Pepenella said.While it is possible for the fish to be found in New York waters, it is not well-suited for colder temperatures.”Its presence could suggest something like warming waters from climate change are affecting when and where the species is found,” Pepenella said.For students like 17-year-old Renee Marcks of Riverhead, the real-life research is a thrill.”I do a lot of environmental research,” Marcks said, adding that she’s also participated in horseshoe crab tagging events to help marine scientists track movement and mortality of the ancient species.”I care about our environment and I want to potentially do sustainability research, go to developing countries … to help other people,” she said.Jo Anne Kulik, who also teaches marine science in Riverhead, said the experience can help demonstrate the importance of logging data efficiently.A bonus perk was an October day spent at the beach.”Just getting them outside is important,” Kulik said. “It’s good to put them in an environment that surrounds where they live.”Adrian Gonzalez, 17, Riverhead, said he signed up for the class to learn more about his favorite animal, whales. But the fieldwork gave him a chance to explore something new.”It was cool. I kind of got tired pulling the net,” he said, battling a persistent wind. “It was cold, and these are heavy,” he said of his waders.Gonzalez said he’d urge other students to sign up.”Go outside … and stop playing on the phones all the time.”Shimmering silver minnows thrashed in a net on a breezy October afternoon as a group of Riverhead High School students became marine scientists for the day.The students scooped the bait fish into a saltwater bucket before catching one in a PVC tube to measure its length and then releasing it back into the Peconic Bay at South Jamesport Beach.Collecting data on biodiversity and water quality are pillars of the “Day in the Life of a River” program held for at least a decade by the state Department of Environmental Conservation, the Central Pine Barrens Commission and Brookhaven National Laboratory.More than 1,000 children from East Rockaway to Springs are taking part in the once-a-week program, which began in late September and continues through early November. For a day, they trade in their on-campus science classrooms for 13 sites on rivers and bays.Student ScienceThe “Day in the Life of a River” program gives high schoolers an up close look at marine life and Long Island waterways.Date the students collect is used to help provide a snapshot of environmental conditions and the health of sea life and the water.More than 1,000 students from 37 schools are participating in the fall 2024 program, which began in late September and continues through early November. Curiosity sparkedExperts on the environment say the program sparks curiosity about science in the real world and also harvests invaluable data on the health of local waterways.Riverhead High School student Ashly Galdamez examines a mole crab she collected from Flanders Bay on Friday.
Steve McNair or Warren Moon?Eddie George or Chris Johnson? Ryan Tannehill or Marcus Mariota? Those were some of the challenging decisions Justin Melo faced when he accepted a proposal to write the book, “Titans of the South: Photographs and History of the Tennessee Titans.”Along with photographs going all the way back to the team’s origin as the Houston Oilers in 1960 the book features all-decade teams selected by Melo, who spent more than two years on his research and depended on information from several sports writers who have covered the Titans since their move to Nashville including former Tennessean Titans beat writer Jim Wyatt. Wyatt, now senior writer/editor for Tennessee Titans.com, wrote the book’s foreword.”There were some tough decisions that had to be made in picking the all-decade teams,” Melo said. “But I didn’t mind making them because they’re very interesting and needed to be part of the book. I explain in the book why I made the decisions I made.”One interesting decision Melo made was to put Pro Football Hall of Fame offensive lineman Bruce Matthews, who played for the Oilers (1983-1996) and Titans (1997-2001), at two different positions — center and guard — on the 1990s all-decade team.”He was that special,” Melo said.Melo made writing the book a greater task by choosing to go back to the start of the franchise in Houston in 1960 instead of picking up when it relocated to Tennessee in 1997. The publisher left that decision up to Melo.”The first thing I did when they offered me the role was ask if they wanted the Houston Oilers to be part of it or not and they said that’s a question for you,” Melo said. “They said, ‘You know better than us. We’re not in Nashville. Do Titans fans care?’ I’d be lying if I said it didn’t cross my mind leaving (Houston) out because I’d be cutting out about 90 percent of my workload. Then I asked myself, ‘How could I get online and argue with (Houston) Texans that history belongs with the Titans and then cut it out of my book?'”
The evenings are darkening. The leaf fall is gold, red and varying shades of brown. It’s the time of year when I love to sit by the fire with a ghostly tale. Our ancestors believed that the veil between the fairy world and the human world was at its thinnest at this time of the year. The autumn winds are blowing and it’s the perfect time to chat about scary and gothic books.There are some wonderfully creepy and spine-chilling books for children being written like The Aveline Jones series by Phil Hickes, The Beast And The Bethany series by Jack Meggitt-Phillips, and The Boy Who Cried Ghost by Ian Eagleton.These books are on my bookshelves and many more along with some of my all-time favourites, these classic books for children and adults that I keep returning to. The books that inspired me to write my own spooky books for children, Welcome To Dead Town Raven McKay and Black Gables.Favourite Spooky Books For Adults
We Have Always Lived In The Castle by Shirley Jackson
‘My name is Mary Katherine Blackwood. I am eighteen years old and I live with my sister Constance. I have often thought that with any luck at all, I could have been born a werewolf because the two middle fingers in both my hands are the same length, but I have had to be content with what I have.’And so begins this chilling tale of the Blackwood family, half of whom were poisoned six years before this story starts. I love the quirky, deceptive, omen-obsessed voice of Merricat the nickname for Mary Katherine.
Night Shift by Stephen King
Night Shift by Stephen King This is a collection of masterful short stories from the master of horror himself. This is King at his best. From child vampires to giant rats these stories will have you turning on the lights. Some of my favourites are Strawberry Spring, The Bogeyman and Jerusalem’s Lot,
Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier
I first read this book when I was a teenager. I have read it many times since and the feeling of dread gets me each time. I feel the presence of the sinister housekeeper Mrs Danvers and the dead Mrs de Winter. I love the lush descriptions of the Manderley Estate and the feeling of claustrophobia and menace inside the mansion.
The Turn Of The Screw by Henry James
Henry James set the template for ghosts in gothic manors in this enduring classic. This is the story of a governess trying to protect the two children under her care Miles and Flora from evil as they experience strange apparitions and encounters at the remote country house. The two figures that appear are Miss Jessel, the former governess and Peter Quint another employee who had a close relationship with her. It is a haunted mansion and mind going mad story with some truly mind-chilling moments. The writing is poetic and chisel-sharp.
Carmilla by Sheridan le Fanu
Carmilla by Sheridan le Fanu This is a haunting and atmospheric piece by Irish gothic writer Sheridan Le Fanu.It is set in an isolated castle in a forest in Styria. Laura has a very lonely life with her sickly widower father until a mysterious guest Carmilla arrives. Things quickly become very strange and volatile for Laura. She has to endure nightmares and eerie nocturnal wanderings as a deep bond forms between her and Carmilla. This coming-of-age vampire novella is a masterpiece.Favourite Spooky Books For Children
The Witches by Roald Dahl
Roald Dahl the WitchesNo one does the weird and wonderful better than Roald Dahl. In The Witches his powers of imagination reach peaks, especially in the scenes in the convention hall with the Grand High Witch. Delightfully scary with strong doses of Dahl’s macabre humour. What could be scarier than nasty witches trying to rid the world of children?
The Goosebumps series by R.L. Stine
RL Stine is a master of horror books for children. His books have endured for over 30 years. His stories are gripping and have the gasp-out-loud factor and are the perfect combination of fear and fun. Some of my favourites are The Haunted Mask, Stay Out Of The Basement, The Werewolf Of Fever Swamp and The Girl Who Cried Monster.
The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper
This book is truly eerie and mesmerising. It tells the story of Will Stanton who has strange and unexplained experiences on his 11th birthday on the winter solstice. The snow, the Christmas setting and the forces of Light and Dark combine in a powerful way. I often re-read the first few pages of this novel, for the pure poetry of the words and the haunting atmosphere.
The Wolves of Willoughby Chase by Joan Aiken
This book is beautifully written with a timeless enchanting quality. The characters stay etched on your mind long after you have turned the pages. Set on a grand English estate, the three wicked adults Letitia Slighcarp, Josiah Grimshaw, and Mrs Brisket plot to take the family home from Bonnie Green while her parents are away. The wicked wolves, the landscape and the menacing governess are just about perfect.
The Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury
The Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury This spooky adventure sees eight trick-or-treaters travel through time with the shadowy Carapace Clavicle Moundshroud in search of their missing friend. Bradbury’s beautiful and magical prose makes this an unforgettable slow whirlwind of a story.
Eibhlís Carcione is a Cork-based bilingual poet and children’s author. Her debut children’s novel Welcome To Dead Town Raven McKay was published by Everything With Words in 2023 and is shortlisted for the Great Reads Award 2024. Her latest children’s novel Black Gables is out now