Opinion | 2024/25: A year for the books

Arts & Culture, Books

At the start of every single year, I set a reading goal for myself on Goodreads. By the end of the year, I am always incredibly shocked to find out that no, I did not reach my goal of reading 100 books while also being a full-time college student. Failure and disappointment aside, it is always nice to look back on books I enjoyed throughout the year. Much like smell or taste, thinking about certain books reminds me of memories made during the time I read them. 
Few trends are more popular at the start of a new year than looking at horoscopes. But in my opinion, there is no greater tell than what a person picks up to read. And since a brand new year means more reading possibilities for all you book lovers, let’s look ahead — and also back — at some popular books from 2024 to see what your favorites mean for the year to come. 
“The Song of Achilles” by Madeline Miller
This book is predictable while still being able to convey tragedy and romance within lyrical writing. If this was one of your favorite books of the year, you already know how your year is going to go — you’ve got everything planned out to a T. There’s no tragic ending in the books for you, just make sure not to fall too heavily into the monotony of life and leave a little room for spontaneity! Maybe you’ll even meet your soulmate and their unyielding mother along the way. 
“Iron Flame” by Rebecca Yarros
Your 2024 was definitely filled with ups and downs. Your downs were waiting for this book to come out and your ups were reading it for the first time. And the second time. And the third. 2025 will definitely be filled with high points — the third book is coming out soon! However, make sure to place emphasis on other things in your life this year too. Try to live in the moment a little more than staying stuck in the halls of a dragon military academy! And don’t worry, college may be hard at times, but at least it’s not designed to try to kill you. 
“The Familiar” by Leigh Bardugo
Reading books by this author might remind you of your teenage years. Maybe you can’t get enough of her fantastical worlds, or you simply want to feel nostalgic again. It’s important to honor your inner child, and if this helps you feel more connected to your past, keep going! Wanting to escape the harsh realities of college is also a valid reason for liking this book, although I question why you would want to run away to 16th-century Spain in the midst of the inquisition. This year, find the small miracles in things that help you feel connected to your past. And remember, having big dreams is important, but make sure not to bite off more than you can chew.
“The Will of the Many” by James Islington
You take the phrase getting lost in a book literally. This book is massive, but you most likely found comfort in that. Being able to get swallowed up in a world for a couple of days is a privilege that you take seriously. Fantasy books are easy to find, but original works that also feel like a combination of all of your previous favorite books are incredibly rare. Don’t spend your whole year waiting for the sequel to arrive, instead, think of it as an exercise in patience and try to appreciate that you’re not in some magical pyramid scheme designed to fail! Equally as important, don’t be too trusting of strangers who are clearly hiding secrets and want you to get up to shady side quests. 
“Red Rising” by Pierce Brown
What I just wrote, but make it science fiction instead of fantasy. I must also once again emphasize the importance of being wary of wealthy strangers that are hiding secrets. 
“The Secret History” by Donna Tartt
You are either a classics major or you have no idea what being a classics major entails. Either way, you have definitely made a habit of studying in Cathy to fulfill all of your wildest dark academia dreams. Ambience aside, there are definitely zero shady secret societies lurking in these halls. No, definitely not. Regardless, don’t let the bright fluorescent lights of the other buildings ruin your college experience and keep up the studying! Do make sure to take a breath of fresh, outdoor air every once in a while. Although maybe stay away from cliff sides.
That one Harry Potter fanfiction — yes, you know the one
Now this is nostalgia. Whether you read this because it brings you back to a familiar world or you just needed an escape from seemingly endless schoolwork, you value the safety that reading something like this brings. While reading fanfiction may be a form of relaxation for you, make sure to incorporate other self-care practices into your daily routine too! Reading tiny writing on your bright phone screen into the early hours of the morning will only make you more tired. And while there may not be an incredibly powerful evil wizard coming after your life, the ire of your parents will certainly measure up if you place more importance on finishing an 800,000 word fanfiction over studying for your classes. 
Raquel Padin-Nicholas is a book lover who finally found another way to talk to anyone who will listen to her about her favorite books of the year. Let her know your favorite books at [email protected]! 

This UK city is the first to introduce tourist tax — will Brits have to pay?

Travel

Tourists will soon have to pay a fee to stay overnight in the Scottish capital (Picture: Getty Images)
Edinburgh has become the first UK city to introduce a comprehensive tourist tax.
Around five million tourists visit the famous Scottish capital – known for it’s rich history, Fringe festival and inspiring Diagon Alley in Harry Potter – but it’ll soon cost a little more to do so.
This new charge follows in the footsteps of cities like Amsterdam, Berlin and Venice who tax tourists to raise funds for the area.
Despite it being a UK destination, Brits won’t get a special pass when visiting the city and will be subject to the same fees as everyone else.
Here’s everything you need to know…
What is Edinburgh’s tourist tax and how much do I have to pay?
The tax, known as the Transient Visitor Levy, will charge guests at hotels, B&Bs, hostels and holiday rentals like Airbnbs, 5% of the room cost, per night.
The fee is capped at seven consecutive days, meaning you will only be charged for one week, even if you’re going to be staying for longer in the same accommodation.

The tax will apply to any type of overnight accommodation (Picture: ANDY BUCHANAN/AFP via Getty Images)
For example, if you stayed in an £80 per night Airbnb, you would pay £4 per night in tourist tax. The more expensive the accommodation, the more expensive the tax.
It’s being implemented as a VAT surcharge, meaning you won’t have to make a separate payment, it will be added on to your accommodation costs.
This charge is expected to raise up to £50 million per year by 2029 and the council claims it will be invested in infrastructure, affordable housing, culture, heritage and events, with 35% of funds put aside for the arts sector.
When does Edinburgh’s tourist tax come into effect?
The tourist tax will come into force on July 24, 2026 but there will be a transitional period.
It’s thought that you will have to pay the tax on accommodation bookings made after May 1, 2025 – but only if you’re booking in advance for a stay taking place after July 24 next year.
Hotels and booking sites will also be advised by city officials to advertise the Transient Visitor Levy properly in advance, so tourists don’t feel caught out.
When it comes into effect it will become the first mandatory city-wide visitor levy in the UK.
Do I have to pay tourist tax in other UK areas?
There are currently some UK cities with a small-scale visitor levy, specific to only certain types of accommodation – rather than a blanket tax.
For example, Manchester has a £1 surcharge on accommodation in 74 hotels and serviced apartments in its city centre business investment district, and part of Salford.

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole have a £2 per room per night charge for visitors who choose to stay in larger hotels in the area.

‘I’d pay Edinburgh’s tourist tax in a heartbeat’

Metro’s lifestyle reporter Alice Giddings spent plenty of time in the capital when she lived in Scotland for a three-month period.
She says: ‘I can say with complete certainty that I’ve never been to a UK city with so much charm – and so many hills.
‘You’ll want some decent trainers to walk Edinburgh’s windy and lengthy streets, plus you’ll need to battle some steep inclines but it’s 100% worth it.
‘I’d recommend doing all the cliché tourist things like Edinburgh Castle and Victoria Street. The Royal Botanic Gardens are a delight in the summer, as is the view from Arthur’s Seat.
‘When it comes to food though, if you love French toast you’ll want to head to Hot Dolce. Words can’t express how delicious it is. But I’d say my all-time favourite brunch spot is Urbanangel. It’s got a classic brunch menu and it’s always busy. Honestly, the coffee is some of the best I’ve ever had.
‘The architecture is stunning and the cobbled streets are home to countless little independent designers if you’re a sucker for shopping. It’s also been dubbed the best city for quality of life with clean air and gorgeous green spaces – what’s not to love?’

Liverpool is expected to introduce a smaller tourist tax by June 2025 which is also a £2 per night charge administered by hotels.
Wales may also introduce a visitor levy for people staying overnight, proposing a charge of 75p per night to stay in campsites and hostels, and a charge of £1.25 for hotels, B&Bs and holiday lets. This tax, if approved would not come into force until 2027 at the earliest.

The Highland Council in Scotland is also considering a tourist tax similar to Edinburgh’s Transient Visitor Levy, charging a percentage of the accommodation costs per night. It’s estimated this could raise £10 million per year.
Do you have a story to share?
Get in touch by emailing [email protected].
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One School One Book returns to Audubon Elementary

Arts & Culture, Books

The Audubon Elementary is excited to bring back the One School One Book program again this year. This experience has been well received in the past and they are thrilled about this opportunity for families to share in this reading experience again.All Audubon PreK-5th graders along with their families and school staff will be reading Holly Goldberg Sloan’s “Appleblossom the Possum” for three weeks from Feb. 17 to March 7.   It is a tale about a young possum who learns to survive in the world.  This story focuses on the importance of family. Each family with students in PreK-5th grade will get one book. Books will be delivered to the oldest PreK-5th grade child in the family during parent/teacher conferences in February along with the reading schedule.  I addition to family assistance, the Lions Club, Thrivent, and individual donors have given financial support toward the purchase of the books.   

The surprising UK seaside town having a winter tourist boom

Travel

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.Read moreA holiday cottage firm has revealed that one Yorkshire seaside town is experiencing a winter boom as holidaymakers flock for UK staycations.Whitby has been announced as the top destination for bookings over the winter months, according to new data from Sykes Holiday Cottages.The northern seaside community has a lot to offer, from being the home to the ruined Gothic Whitby Abbey, which inspired Bram Stoker’s Dracula, pantomimes at the Spa Pavilion to annual festivals such as the upcoming Steampunk Weekend.The town’s beautiful coastal landscape, independent shops and local history museums also make up the typical finds in a popular seaside town, and the nearby North York Moors National Park is open for days out walking and trekking out in the countryside.The holiday cottage company assessed its internal booking data from 2023 to 2024, discovering several other northern towns also made it into the top 10.After Whitby, five different locations in the Lake District made up the top six hotspots: including Ambleside, Bowness-on-Windermere, Keswick, Grasmere and Troutbeck Bridge.Windermere, also in the Lake District, appeared in eighth place. Sykes Holiday Cottages 2024 Holiday Letting Report named Cumbria, where the Lake District is located, as the second-highest earning region for holiday lets.Winter breaks have proven to be profit-boosting for owners of holiday homes, with up to £700 per week earned in December – 17 per cent above the average weekly income of a holiday let owner in 2023.August and July are the top months for average weekly earnings, but December was the third-highest in 2024, Sykes’ data revealed.While location may be a large driving factor for winter breaks, when it comes to amenities in holiday lets, an open fire, hot tub, and proximity to a pub were named as some of the top priorities for those choosing a staycation in the chillier months.James Shaw, the managing director of Sykes Holiday Cottages, said: “While Whitby is known for drawing in holidaymakers with its coastal charm, our data has revealed that the ancient port has year-round appeal and is the most popular location for holidaymakers in winter months.“Making the most of every season is key to a successful holiday letting experience, helping to maximise annual revenues which is now more important than ever. “Those with properties in Whitby and Scarborough will no doubt benefit from the influx of bookings coming their way this winter.“Location isn’t the only factor though, and adding features to properties can also ensure your holiday let has year-round appeal – whether that be a hot tub, accepting short-term stays and pets, or promoting nearby attractions that guests can enjoy come rain or shine.” Top 10 locations for UK winter bookingsWhitby, Yorkshire Ambleside, Cumbria Bowness-On-Windermere, Cumbria Keswick, Cumbria Grasmere, Cumbria Troutbeck Bridge, Cumbria Scarborough, Yorkshire Windermere, Lake District Beadnell, Northumberland Dartmouth, Devon For more travel news and advice, listen to Simon Calder’s podcast

Baka langawin sa takilya! Gag order vs. Vic Sotto sought by director of Pepsi Paloma movie

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

The director of the unreleased film on the late actress Pepsi Paloma has asked a Muntinlupa court to issue a gag order against veteran actor Vic Sotto in connection with a cyber libel complaint filed by the latter.In a motion filed before the Muntinlupa City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 205, Darryl Yap, through his abogado Raymond Fortun, said Sotto’s statements on the complaint might negatively affect the movie, “The Rapists of Pepsi Paloma.”“Further considering that the verified return shall involve an unreleased film by a prominent director, any disclosure of the verified return would not only violate the Respondent’s freedom of expression, but it shall also cause grave and irreparable damage to the Respondent’s artistic license and outcome of the film,” the motion read.Sotto filed a complaint for 19 counts of cyber libel against Yap because of the “malicious and defamatory statements” against him in a teaser of the movie directed by Yap. The actor is seeking P35 million in damages.Politiko reported that Yap’s latest movie is allegedly a smear campaign backed by Senator Imee Marcos to tarnish the reputation of Sotto’s brother, Vicente Sotto III, and hurt his chances of a Senate comeback.