Children's booksChildren's booksThe Spectacular Now by Tim Tharp - review'I finished this book in less than a day it was that good!'Sutter Keely is Mr. Popular with terrible grades and no real plans for the future, intent on living in the now and drinking as much as possible. A strained relationship with his mother and an even more tenuous relationship with his girlfriend, Cassidy, lead Sutter to drink until he wakes up on a stranger's lawn, woken up by Aimee Finecky – a girl he goes to school with but has never really seen. Read More...
SEMANTIC ENIGMASWhat is the origin of the phrase 'to have a chip on one's shoulder'? It sounds American, but where or when? TO ANY North American the origin of the phrase "a chip on one's shoulder" can be a painful memory. My first experience of it, more than 60 years ago, was as an English child in a Canadian playground. The school bully picked a chip of wood from the ground, placed it on his shoulder, and invited me to knock it off. Read More...
The ObserverSquid GameThe hit South Korean Netflix show, likely to become the most-watched TV series ever, is setting trends around the globe
Not only is it likely to be the most-watched television series ever, but the South Korean series Squid Game is already having a global commercial and cultural impact.
Fans have sent sales of the show’s signature green tracksuits and white Vans slip-ons soaring –up 7,800%, according to data provided by Sole Supplier – and South Korean dalgona biscuits are fast becoming a youth craze. Read More...