It’s never too late! Book borrowed over 50 years ago returned to Irish library

Arts & Culture, Books

It’s very lucky for one Midlands reader that Athlone Library doesn’t charge late fees anymore.
Westmeath Libraries shared pictures on Facebook of a book which was returned to their Athlone branch – 53 years overdue.
According to the record inside the front cover the book – Down All The Days by Christy Brown – was due back at what was then the “Leabharlann Contae Longfoirt-Iarmhí” by September 10, 1971.
There was also a warning that a book kept longer than the 14 days allowed will incur a fine of a penny a week or a portion of a week afterwards, but happily for whoever returned it, this is no longer the case.

“Remember, its never too late to return your books. No fines, and we might even persuade to take out a new read,” Westmeath Libraries said in the comments.
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They also replied to one commenter who confessed that “there could be one or two similar to that somewhere in my parents house.”
“If you come across them feel free to drop them in, we’ll welcome them back,” they said.
It’s unknown yet whether the book is back on the shelves to be checked out again.

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Inspired by NYC ‘reading party,’ Charleston book lover bringing people together in a digital age

Arts & Culture, Books

In a society that increasingly finds itself devoting hours on end to screens and isolationism, one young woman in Charleston is bringing people together to find a sense of community in a traditionally solitary hobby.Ellery Frost is a passionate young reader, writer and, most recently, community organizer whose intimate reading get-togethers have created connections and sparked conversations among those who love to read.“I have always thought books are such a beautiful way of getting to walk in someone else’s shoes for a little bit (and to) see life through someone else’s perspective,” Frost said. “I love how it builds bridges between people and how it grows empathy among people.”

Frost said she loves gathering people together, hosting regular dinners with friends. 

“I love bringing people together in a shared experience, particularly one that is not on your phone,” she said. Frost, who grew up in Virginia before relocating to the Charleston area, argues that people continue to shift toward the digital world, and she wants to provide an alternative to that by offering the book lovers in Charleston a different approach to reading.

Ellery Frost welcomes those in attendance to the third reading party she has hosted. The reading party was held on Oct. 29 at Queen Street Grocery.  

Dawson Baker

Inspired by Reading Rhythms, a group based in New York City, and The Offline Club out of Amsterdam, Frost decided to host her very own reading party in Charleston back in June of this year.“People are hosting reading parties throughout New York City and Brooklyn, and I loved that idea, and I wanted to bring it to Charleston,” Frost said. “I was actually able to go up and attend one of their events in New York City over the summer and just thought it was such a beautiful way to bring people together.”

The concept behind a “reading party” is different from that of a book club. The idea is that the host arranges a location, usually a café or small bookstore, and opens the venue to all of the book readers in the area. Attendees can bring any book of their choosing: one they have started, one they have never opened or maybe one they are reading for the third or fourth time, it truly does not matter.

The gathering typically devotes the first portion of the evening to independent reading, followed by a period of time where a local author or poet shares some of their work. The evening concludes by having those in attendance break into groups and discuss what they are reading with complete strangers.

“One of the things I like about this, as opposed to a book club, is that you get to read the book that you want to read,” Frost said. “I haven’t loved book clubs because they feel more restrictive because you are all required to read the same book. (I think reading parties) are an easy entry point to cultivate conversations around books.”

Frost said people are bringing books from every genre you can think of, and it’s been really fun to see people from completely different ends of the book spectrum sit at a table and chat about it.Frost has now hosted three such parties, the most recent of which was held on Oct. 29 at Queen Street Grocery.

The first hour of the reading party is devoted to independent reading. 

Dawson Baker

Like a tenured educator, Frost was able to quiet down the room of about 30 people and explain the parameters of the evening.The first hour was devoted to independent reading. Guests were allowed to sit anywhere they liked, but most stayed with their friends.For the next 60 minutes, the room stood still. All one could hear was the turning of pages and the creaking of chairs. No one talked.

At the halfway point, Frost introduced Abby Duran, a local spoken word artist and poet, who shared some of her work with those in attendance.

At the conclusion of Duran’s remarks, Frost instructed everyone to sit at the table with the word that most accurately described the book they were reading. The words they had to choose from included: unusual, thoughtful, cozy, gripping and inspiring. Once they arrived at their new seat, they had the remaining time to share about the book they were reading with a group of strangers who were reading something similar.

“I think it does take a little bit of courage to do this,” Frost said. “What has surprised me the most is how conversational it is. It is so fun and so loud and everybody chats for such a long time. I love that people who love books want to talk with other people who read.”

The next reading party will be held from 6-8 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 11 at Babas on Meeting, 804 Meeting St. Tickets to attend are $15, which covers drinks and snacks.

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In DeSantis’ Florida, one book is banned more than most, reports show

Arts & Culture, Books

Acclaimed classic “The Handmaid’s Tale” is one of the most-removed books in Florida schools.New lists from a nonprofit advocacy group and the Florida Department of Education both place that book in the top three of removed novels for the 2023-24 school year, highlighting the school-shelf access effects of recent laws passed by Gov. Ron DeSantis and Florida’s legislative GOP supermajority.And that includes access to one of the most popular and influential books in the nation.

NH Tourism Industry Voices Urgent Concerns Over Proposed Budget Cuts

Travel

Industry Leaders Warn that a 30% Reduction in Marketing Funds Could Result in a $68 Million Lossin Tax Revenue and Weaken Economic Growth

CONCORD – The tourism industry is a critical sector of New Hampshire’s economy, employing over 70,000 individuals and generating more than $327 million annually in tax revenue through the Meals & Rentals Tax. Consequently, the organizations listed below are deeply concerned about the proposed budget cut for the Division of Travel & Tourism Development (DTTD).

The funds allocated for tourism marketing are vital for promoting New Hampshire to potential visitors and showcasing the state’s unique offerings, numerous attractions and ski resorts, outdoor recreation, tax-free shopping, locally crafted beer, wines and spirits, and diverse dining, lodging, camping, and destination resort options throughout our stunning state.

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Tourism marketing not only drives visitor numbers but also plays a crucial role in economic development. Each visitor represents a potential resident or business that may choose to relocate to New Hampshire, benefiting from what we call the “New Hampshire advantage.” This advantage is tangible; we are the only state in New England experiencing population growth.

However, the current proposal raises serious alarms. For over a decade, the State has committed to allocating 3.15% of the Meals & Rentals Tax to this essential marketing initiative, resulting in significant success. Yet, the newly released DTTD budget uses a revised statutory calculation that would impose a staggering 30% reduction in funding. This cut threatens to weaken the tourism sector and state revenues. Based on established returns on investment in tourism marketing, the state may risk losing as much as $68 million in tax revenues. This estimate is derived from state marketing research, which indicates that every dollar spent generates a return of $17.

Despite experiencing wonderful weather this summer and fall, the tourism industry is facing a notable slowdown. While there appears to be a 3% increase in the current Meals & Rentals revenue year-over-year, this is entirely due to businesses raising prices to cover increased operating expenses. Reducing marketing efforts during the next two years would be especially detrimental, as it would hinder our ability to attract visitors and support the State’s economy.

As we enter the early stages of the 2026-2027 budget process—with a new Governor and legislators elected—tourism industry partners are uniting to voice their concerns. We strongly urge state budget writers to maintain funding levels comparable to previous years. The existing formula has proven its effectiveness, yielding benefits for all residents of New Hampshire and ensuring continued economic prosperity for the State.

Sincerely,

Charyl Reardon, PresidentWhite Mountains Attractions Association

Jessyca Keeler, PresidentSki New Hampshire

Mike Somers, President & CEONew Hampshire Lodging & Restaurant Association

Amy Landers, Executive DirectorLakes Region Tourism Association

Michael Skelton, President & CEOBusiness & Industry Association of New Hampshire

Jeremy Sprince, Executive DirectorNew Hampshire Campground Owners’ Association

Rebecca Metcalf, ChairNew Hampshire Travel Council

Curtis Picard, CAE, President and CEONew Hampshire Retail Association

John B. Nyhan, President – Hampton Area Chamber and Chair, NH Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives

Luca Paris, President/CEOGreater Monadnock Collaborative

Karmen Gifford, PresidentLakes Region Chamber of Commerce

Wendy Hunt, President & CEOGreater Nashua Chamber of Commerce

Matty Leighton, Executive DirectorCentral New Hampshire Chamber of Commerce

Ashlee Rowley, Executive DirectorLake Sunapee Region Chamber of Commerce

Robert Clark, Board ChairMt. Washington Valley Chamber of Commerce

Tyler T. Ray, DirectorGranite Outdoor Alliance

Shannon MacMichael, Executive DirectorNewport Area Chamber of Commerce

Heather McGrail, President & CEOGreater Manchester Chamber

Laura Ring, President/CEOGreater Rochester Chamber of Commerce

Tracy Hutchins, Executive DirectorUpper Valley Business Alliance

Kim Pickering, Executive DirectorWestern White Mountains Chamber of Commerce

Jennifer Wheeler, Executive DirectorExeter Area Chamber of Commerce

Tim Sink, Executive DirectorGreater Concord Chamber of Commerce

Ben VanCamp, PresidentThe Chamber Collaborative of Greater Portsmouth

Margaret Joyce, PresidentGreater Dover Chamber of Commerce

Netflix has just added the most divisive film of 2024

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

Your support helps us to tell the storyFrom reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.Your support makes all the difference.CloseRead moreNetflix has just added what could well be the most divisive film of the year.The streaming service has another busy month ahead. Alongside the sad removals of key titles, there will be the release of high-profile films and TV shows, ranging from animated movie Spellbound, the next batch of Outer Banks episodes – not to mention more Cobra Kai, the acclaimed Karate Kid spin-off.But it’s Emilia Pérez that is on everyone’s lips. The film is a crime musical drama from French filmmaker Jacques Audiard starring Zoe Saldana, Selena Gomez and Karla Sofía Gascón.The plot of the film needs to be seen to be believed – and for that reason, we’ll abstain from revealing details here. But the Mexico-set film follows a lawyer Rita who receives an unexpected offer from a fearsome cartel boss.After its premiere in Cannes, the film received a rapturous nine-minute standing ovation – but the critics were not as certain about the end result as audience members were; Emilia Pérez has received both five-star reviews as well as one-star reviews.Many critics agreed that, while the film’s audacious mash-up of genres should make it “a complete mess”, Audiard somehow pulls it off. However, some others, including The Film Stage, have branded it the “worst film” of the year. Find the full list of everything being added to Netflix in November below.NB: The Independent puts this list together with help from What’s on Netflix.ORIGINALSMovies1 NovemberLet Go6 NovemberMeet Me Next ChristmasPedro PáramoSelena Gomez in ‘Emilia Perez’

Mumbai Christian Groups Express Dissatisfaction Over ‘Sex Bible’ Book Series

Arts & Culture, Books

Christian groups in Mumbai have objected to the titles in a book series called “Sex Bible’, for sale on the e-commerce site Flipkart. On its part, the company has said that it will pull out the advertisement if it is perceived as offensive. An NGO, Watchdog Foundation, which has complained to the Maharashtra police, the Chief Minister and the Chief Secretary said the dle of the books had hurt the religious sentiments of the Christian community. “Such insensitivity displayed by Flipkart, one of India’s largest e-commerce platforms, is unacceptable. As a corporation operating within our country’s legal framework, Flipkart must be held accountable for allowing such content to be published and promoted on its platform,” the group, Watchdog Foundation, said in its letter to government authorities. Legally, the issue ts ina grey area he dictionary definition of the Bible, or the Holy Bible. is the holy book of the Christian religion consisting of the Old and New Testaments.

However, the words also used to describe an authuritative book or a magazine on a particular subject, for instance, a fashion or fitness bible. However, advovate Godfrey Pimenta of the Watchdog Foundation, who wrote to the government authorities after a complaint from one of his contacts, said while the word ‘Bible’ is used in non-religious contexts, their objection was the name of a holy book is being used to describe what looks like a sex manual.
Pimenta said while they had no objection to the use of words like ‘Bible and ‘gospel truth in a non-religious context, considering the content of the books in question, the titles were objectionable. Pimenta said the advertisers could be prosecuted under Section 302 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, which imposes punishment up to one year and a fine for uttering words with deliberate intent to wound the religious feelings of any people. “We request the Mumbai police to initiate strict action against the Board of Directors and senior officials of Flipkart for this incident,” the Watchdog Foundation said and has asked Christians to boycott products sold on Flipkart as a sign of protest, until corrective action is taken. A Flipkart spokesperson said that in the past, they have pulled down advertisements if they hurt public sentiments. “We may not be wrong by law, but we have removed advertisements keeping in mind public sentiment. This advertisement can be removed,” the spokesperson added.

Nicole Kidman lashes out at Martin Scorsese over common complaint about his movies

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

Your support helps us to tell the storyFrom reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.Your support makes all the difference.CloseRead moreNicole Kidman has derided Martin Scorsese for a common movie complaint often levied the director’s way.The Australian Oscar-winning star has worked with numerous high-profile filmmakers over the year, including Stanley Kubrick, and has made no secret of the fact that she wants to work with the Taxi Driver and Goodfellas director.Throughout Kidman’s career, she has starred in films from Jonathan Glazer, Park Chan Wook, Lars Von Trier, Yorgos Lanthimos and Robert Eggers – and while she wants to add Scorsese to that list, she has suggested that she believes it’s him who is preventing that from happening.Kidman, in a new interview with Vanity Fair, stated: “I’ve always said I want to work with Scorsese, if he does a film with women.”The pointed remark follows years of criticism aimed at the filmmaker for making movies primarily led by men, including his frequent collaborators Robert De Niro and Leonardo DiCaprio. He has also worked with Daniel Day-Lewis twice, on The Age of Innocence (1992) and Gangs of New York (2002).Scorsese’s sole film led by a woman is the 1974 drama Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, which won Ellen Burstyn an Oscar for Best Actress. While the then up-and-coming director was a left-field choice to direct the drama, it was Burstyn who hired him after seeing a test screening of his 1973 film Mean Streets before it was released.Bustryn told Forbes in 2014 that, although she loved that film, she told him at the time: “I can’t tell if you know anything about women.” She said the director replied: “No, but I’d like to learn,” which the actor described as “good an answer as you can get from a guy”.While not the leads, other key performances by women in Scorsese’s films include Liza Minnelli in New York, New York (1977), Sharon Stone in Casino (1995), Vera Farmiga in The Departed (2006), Margot Robbie in The Wolf of Wall Street (2013) and, most recently, Lily Gladstone in Killers of the Flower Moon (2023).Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 daysNew subscribers only. £8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelledTry for freeWatch Apple TV+ free for 7 daysNew subscribers only. £8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelledTry for freeEllen Burstyn in ‘Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore’

Women’s Ministry Leaders Share Their Go-To Books

Arts & Culture, Books

If you’re a women’s ministry leader looking for books to help with your role, you won’t find many about women’s ministry specifically. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t helpful resources for you. I asked experienced women’s ministry leaders and Bible teachers to send me the title of one book they think every women’s ministry leader should have on her bookshelf—and nobody sent only one.
I’ve organized the books by category and summarized their thoughts about why each resource is helpful. Here are their recommendations.Advertise on TGC