Entertainment
Steven Spielberg On Repeated James Bond Rejections
Steven Spielberg is one of Hollywood’s most celebrated filmmakers, known for directing some of the most iconic films in his decades-long career. Despite his extensive success and numerous accolades, the director has revealed that he was repeatedly rejected from directing James Bond movies, something that he strongly wanted to do at one point. Now, Spielberg is sharing how he would respond if he were approached to direct a James Bond film.
In an episode of “The Rest is Entertainment” podcast, Steven Spielberg sat down with Richard Osman and Marina Hyde to talk about his latest movie, “Disclosure Day,” as well as answer some fan questions.
One asked, “Were you ever approached to make a Bond film? Do you have any regrets about not doing that?” Spielberg made it clear that he was never approached to direct a Bond film. Instead, he was the one who approached the late Albert “Cubby” Broccoli, the James Bond franchise’s lead producer.
The director said he had always wanted to direct a Bond film since seeing 1962’s “Dr. No,” and after the success of “Jaws” in 1975, he approached the producer. “I called Cubby Broccoli after ‘Jaws’ and volunteered. I said, ‘If you need a director, I would love to direct one.’ And he said no,” Spielberg revealed.
The Director Attempted To Strike A Deal With Cubby Broccoli
That wasn’t the last time Spielberg was rejected. Years later, Broccoli contacted Spielberg and asked for a favor. After the release of his 1977 sci-fi movie “Close Encounters of the Third Kind,” Broccoli asked for his permission to use the famous five-note sequence that was played throughout the film. The producer wanted to use the notes for “Moonraker,” the James Bond film released in 1979.
Spielberg used that opportunity to offer a proposal to the producer. “I said, ‘I’ll make you a deal. I’ll give you permission to use the five notes if you let me direct a Bond film.’ And he said no.” Despite not agreeing to his proposed deal, the director still allowed Broccoli to use the sequence.
“So they consistently turned me down. He never explained why he wasn’t letting me into the Bond family,” Spielberg said.
Steven Spielberg Confided In George Lucas
Spielberg confided in his fellow filmmaker and friend, George Lucas, after facing another rejection from Broccoli in 1977. The two were in Hawaii after the release of “Star Wars: A New Hope,” and upon hearing the director’s woes, Lucas said he had “something better” for Spielberg.
Lucas then told him about a character he conceived named Indiana Smith (later changed to Jones), an archaeology professor and daring treasure hunter. The Indiana Jones franchise has since had five feature-length films, four of which Spielberg directed. He served as executive producer for the fifth installment.
“He told me the premise of the Indiana Jones series, and that’s how I got that job. So if they ever asked me to make a Bond film now, my answer would be, ‘You can’t afford me,’” Spielberg said in jest.
James Bond Wasn’t The Only Franchise The Director Was Interested In
The acclaimed director is also a gamer, as his son, Max, revealed in 2024. According to Max, Spielberg loves the first-person shooter video game series “Call of Duty” and plays it on a computer using a keyboard and mouse. “He loves gaming. He’s the one that got me into it. He plays games. He’s a big PC gamer and so that’s kind of our bonding point as well,” Max shared.
In 2015, Activision Blizzard, the company behind the “CoD” franchise, launched a film and TV division to make a live-action “Call of Duty” cinematic universe. While the first attempt was scrapped, the project was resurrected in partnership with Paramount, and a movie is in the works.
Spielberg reportedly wanted to direct the film, but Paramount and Activision turned him down because he wanted complete control over production and marketing. Instead, Pete Berg was chosen to helm the project, which is scheduled for release in 2028.
Steven Spielberg’s Illustrious Career
Spielberg is regarded as one of the most influential filmmakers, with a career spanning more than five decades. Throughout the years, the director has directed some of the most iconic films across different genres, including “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial,” “Jurassic Park,” “Schindler’s List,” and “The Color Purple,” just to name a few.
He has earned three Academy Awards, including two for Best Director for “Schindler’s List” and “Saving Private Ryan,” and one for Best Picture for “Schindler’s List.”
Spielberg’s latest project, “Disclosure Day,” a sci-fi film starring Emily Blunt and Josh O’Connor, will be released in U.S. theaters on June 12.
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“I don’t think she wanna be on the stage,” Usher said during a recent concert, turning around with a surprised expression on his face.
Below Deck: Sailing Yacht alum Alli Dore revealed the results of her recent rib contouring procedure.
“Just under halfway at 5.5 weeks out of 12 and already convinced this is the best thing I’ve done,” Alli, 38, wrote via Instagram on Tuesday, July 28. “Thank you to the @_snatchedwaist team for making this such a positive experience!”
Alli’s post, which was marked as a paid partnership Snatched Waist, included a side by side comparison of her midsection. Prior to the treatment, Alli donned a yellow bikini and she showed off her figure. For the end results, she wore black strapless bikini and flaunted her slimmed down waist.
The former reality star also teased that she will be sharing her “best recovery tips” later.
Remi Bader showed off her bikini body. Bader, 30, took to Instagram on Monday, July 7, to show off her figure after undergoing weight loss surgery in December 2023. In the snap, she rocked a gingham bikini by For Love and Lemons while promoting her mini fan, which launched on Tuesday, July 8. Her blue-and-white […]
Alli’s procedure reveal had mixed reactions amongst fans. Several expressed their concerns in the comments section.
“I’m so sorry u felt u needed to do this to yourself, I admired u from the first time I saw u on BD but this looks painful and so unnecessary for such a beautiful woman. 🤗 Not hating on u just concerned xo,” one user wrote while another replied, “I just want to say your body was so beautiful before and I feel so sad that you felt the need to do this. 💔.”
Multiple users reminded others to be mindful of what they’re saying and avoid spreading negativity.
“As women, let’s celebrate whatever makes another woman happy ❤️,” one person wrote while another shared, “This looks similar to my starting shape 😍 love it.”
Last month, Alli flew to Sanur, Bali with a group of influencers and former reality stars as they all underwent Snatched Waist’s procedure. According to the Snatched Waist website, the treatment does not remove a person’s ribs. Instead it is a “rib recontouring” process that uses liposuction to remove fat and then reshapes the lower ribs via an ultrasound. Following the ultrasound, the patient wears a fitted corset for 12 weeks.
Love Is Blind’s Alexa Lemieux revealed that she underwent a breast augmentation and now is on the road to recovery. “My girls got a little ✨makeover✨ @Solomon Plastic Surgery,” the Netflix personality, 31, shared alongside a TikTok video on Tuesday, January 13, detailing what she had done in the clip captioned, “Get unready with me […]
Alli explained that the surgery was “minimally invasive” and she was inspired to get the procedure done after welcoming son River George in 2021.
“After having a baby I had rib flare and I’ve always wanted an hourglass waist so I was excited for this procedure,” she wrote via Instagram in June. “I’ll continue to share my recovery journey and I’ll post some before and after photos when my shape starts to show ✨.”
Alli appeared on Below Deck: Sailing Yacht season 3, which aired in 2022. The Australia native served as the ship’s third stewardess.
The idea of a “Glee curse” has lingered for years, fueled by the tragic deaths of three cast members. While some continue to point to those heartbreaking losses as evidence the show is “cursed,” Kevin McHale is pushing back against the narrative, arguing that it unfairly overshadows the lives of those involved.
The “Glee” curse narrative emerged following the deaths of some cast members. It gained traction following the release of the three-part miniseries, “The Price of Glee,” in which the tragic passing of Cory Monteith, Mark Salling, and Naya Rivera were explored.
Kevin McHale, who played Artie Abrams in the musical TV series, took to X on July 29 to share his thoughts about the so-called curse surrounding the show.
“Let me log off today because the way too many of you talk about real people who have passed as a ‘sacrifice’ or a ‘curse’ in regards to a tv show is f-cking diabolical and untethered from any sort of humanity or reality. get f-cked,” McHale wrote.
Many agreed with the actor’s sentiment. One user noted, “It’s so f-cking disrespectful to their memory and to their families and friends.” “When entertainment starts making people forget they’re talking about actual human beings, it’s time to step away from the screen,” another added.
The Actor Previously Talked About The ‘Curse’
In an interview on “Elvis Duran and the Morning Show” in 2024, McHale discussed the so-called curse, admitting that they make jokes about it.
“The amount of times we’ve said some things that everyone gets really quiet, we’re like, ‘No no. Understand, if we don’t laugh about this, we will all just be sad, cause it’s insane. It really is crazy,” McHale said.
The actor added he wasn’t superstitious and didn’t believe in curses. As for what happened to his “Glee” co-stars, he said they were just coincidental. “I just think a lot of unfortunate, really horrible accidents do happen,” he stressed. Later, he said there’s nothing to be gained by believing “Glee” is cursed.
Three ‘Glee’ Main Cast Members Passed Away Tragically
Cory Monteith (Finn Hudson) passed away in 2013 due to an accidental overdose. The loss was a big blow to the cast and crew, and it was written into the fifth season of “Glee.” The show intentionally left out his character’s cause of death, and the cast sang emotional tributes to honor his memory.
Mark Salling (Noah “Puck” Puckerman) faced legal troubles in the years before his death. In late 2015, he was arrested for possessing thousands of images and videos of child sexual abuse materials. Salling agreed to a plea agreement and pleaded guilty in 2017. He died by suicide in January 2018, a few months before his sentencing hearing.
Naya Rivera (Santana Lopez) died of an accidental drowning in 2020. She went out boating on a lake with her then-4-year-old son, who was later found alone in the boat. Authorities concluded that the actress helped her son back into the boat before she drowned.
Several Of The Show’s Crew Members Also Died
“The Price of Glee” also mentioned the deaths of some other people associated with the show. An assistant director and a props crew member both died of a heart attack. A rigger and production assistant died by suicide, and a stand-in for actor Matthew Morrison died in a vehicular accident.
Many fans heavily criticized the docu-series for leaning into the “curse,” saying it exploited real-life tragedies for the sake of entertainment. Amid the backlash, a writer for the documentary claimed some “Glee” cast and crew were involved in the project, which was refuted by McHale, Chord Overstreet, and Jenna Ushkowitz.
“I think that’s all bullsh-t. I think anybody that knows anything about that show and experienced it doesn’t have anything to do with that from what I know,” Overstreet said.
Is Ryan Murphy Rebooting ‘Glee’?
It has been more than a decade since “Glee” aired its final episode, and co-creator and showrunner Ryan Murphy teased it may be time to reboot the series.
“That show is interesting because it’s come back around. So many young people now watch it. And I’m like, ‘Maybe we should revisit that show’,” Murphy told PEOPLE.
While he didn’t confirm that a reboot is in the works, Murphy seems keen on the idea of creating “a new incarnation” of the Emmy-winning musical series.
Chile! Damson Idris is making it clear that sometimes the easiest way to protect your peace is with the tap of a button. The actor recently shared his thoughts on one social media feature that has become a favorite for anyone looking to cut out unwanted energy online.
RELATED: Play Too Much! Damson Idris Reacts To Druski’s Viral Skit About British Actors Taking Over American Roles (VIDEO)
Damson Idris Says The Block Button Is A Vibe
In an Instagram Story shared this week, Damson Idris showed his appreciation for the block button, writing, “Blocking people is so 🔥 Poof. Now you don’t exist lol.” While the ‘Snowfall’ and ‘F1’ actor didn’t reveal who inspired the post or whether he recently used the feature himself, he appeared to be embracing the idea of removing negativity from his digital space.
Damson Has Roomies Confessing Their Blocks
Fans quickly made their way to The Shade Room’s Instagram comment section and brought all the energy after Damson Idris shared his thoughts on blocking people. Some Roomies admitted they go on blocking sprees all the time, while others started guessing who the actor may have been referring to when he shared the message. A few even revealed who they recently blocked, and chile, the comments had everyone entertained.
One Instagram user @ayojugg said, “He blocked Coogler and Michael B. Jordan 😂 That marvel money bussin’”
This Instagram user @iamjuju_ commented, “My favorite thing to do .. very satisfying”
And, Instagram user @comedian_nodross added, “Until they text u from another number lmao”
Meanwhile, Instagram user @preeconsuelaa joked, “I have 1,400+ people in my block party 😂”
While Instagram user @maleya82 shared, “I LOVE a good block party. I provide the sodas and chairs too 🥳”
Instagram user @quair_ramik said, “Block lori Harvey so I can have my turn bro”
Lastly, Instagram user @couture.lol wrote, “Yup i just blocked keyshia Cole”
Damson Idris Has Been On A “Protect Your Peace” Wave
This isn’t the first time Damson has encouraged people to be mindful of their online presence. Last October, the British-Nigerian star advised his followers—especially younger social media users—to think carefully before posting negative comments, warning that words shared online can impact future opportunities. “The negative things you say online today can burn bridges you haven’t arrived at yet,” he wrote, adding that people should “walk with class and focus on your dream.”
RELATED: Desert Zaddies! Fans Go WILD After Chris Brown & Damson Idris Pop Out Together At Coachella (VIDEO)
What Do You Think Roomies?
Entertainment
Ozzy Osbourne gets own Halloween Horror Nights house 1 year after death: ‘Couldn’t be more fitting’ (exclusive)
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Sharon Osbourne exclusively previews the HHN house to EW: “He’d absolutely love it,” she said of the house featuring his music and life story. “He’d be laughing his head off.”
Kevin McHale has had enough with the chatter about a possible “curse” involving Glee.
“Let me log off today because the way too many of you talk about real people who have passed as a ‘sacrifice’ or a ‘curse’ in regards to a TV show is f***ing diabolical and untethered from any sort of humanity or reality,” McHale, 38, wrote via X on Wednesday, July 29. “Get f***ed.”
While it’s unclear what specifically caused McHale to speak out, the 2023 docuseries The Price of Glee was a three-part special that looked back on the deaths of several cast members, including Cory Monteith, who died from a drug overdose in 2013. He was 31.
Five years later, Mark Salling died by suicide at the age of 35, shortly after pleading guilty to possession of child pornography in 2018.
Glee introduced the world to quite a talented group of actors when musical comedy-drama debuted on Fox in 2009. It was Ryan Murphy‘s third series, following teen drama Popular and dark medical drama Nip/Tuck. The series focused on the William McKinley High School glee club, the New Directions, as they tried to balance choir competition […]
Naya Rivera also tragically died from an accidental drowning in 2020 after saving her son during a boat accident. She was 33.
“It’s so tiring to read the comments of people who said something unnecessary like that. Please stop,” one fan commented in support of McHale’s post. Another user added, “I’ve always HATED seeing people talk about this. It’s so f***ing disrespectful to their memory and to their families and friends. I’ve always spoken up about it, and I’ll keep saying how cruel and thoughtless it is. It pisses me off so much!!!!!”
Glee, which ran from 2009 to 2015, followed optimistic teacher Will Schuester (Matthew Morrison) as he led McKinley High School’s glee club. The group was a place where ambitious and talented students could find strength, acceptance and their voice.
“I loved them all. I had a great time making that show,” cocreator Ryan Murphy told People in an interview published on Tuesday, July 28. “That show is interesting because it’s come back around. So many young people now watch it. And I’m like, ‘Maybe we should revisit that show.’”
He continued, “My nostalgia and love for that show is enough that I’m like, ‘Well, maybe people would like to see a new incarnation of that in some capacity.’ So yeah, I love that show and I loved what it became and what it meant to so many people.”
One scene McHale and his costar Jenna Ushkowitz find a little “eerie” is an episode in season 3 where Finn (Monteith) learned that his father died of a drug overdose.
The scene “hit a little too close to home,” Ushkowitz, 40, said during a January 2024 episode iHeartRadio’s “And That’s What You REALLY Missed” podcast.
McHale agreed, “Way, way too close.”
Despite being inside prison walls, Kaalan Walker has someone on his team. He’s been serving his 50-year sentence for sexual assault crimes since 2022. He recently featured in his first interview since his incarceration. After its release, Kaalan’s wife, Hannah Walker, took to social media to praise him.
RELATED: Kaalan Walker Riles Social Media UP After Sharing A Life Update Amid His 50-Year Prison Sentence For Sexual Assault
Hannah Walker Praises Her Husband Kaalan Walker
Taking to Instagram, Hannah Walker shared a short caption about her “hunny” Kaalan with a photo of her visiting him in prison. He wore dark blue slacks with a light blue top and white sneakers, while Hannah had on a body-hugging maxi dress and open-toe sandals. They were both smiling in the photo. It’s unclear when it was taken, but Hannah spoke of Kaalan sharing his testimony with the world.
“My hunny 🍯 I’m so proud of the man you are and even more proud to be your wife. Being able to call you my husband is such an honor,” Hannah Walker wrote. “You are going to change the lives of many with your testimony. Cheers to your first interview since incarceration 🥂 link in his bio to watch! @kaalanxwalker”
Hannah’s Comment Section Weighs In On Relationship
Walker got a 50 to life sentence back in October 2022. By then, a jury had already found him guilty on three counts of forcible rape, two counts of unlawful sexual intercourse and unlawful sex with a minor and rape of an intoxicated victim. Additionally, he was found guilty of one count of assault with intent to commit oral copulation. These crimes reportedly happened between 2013 and 2018.
‘Superfly’ Actor Drops First Interview Since Going To Prison
RELATED: Mystikal Reportedly Sentenced To 20 Years In Prison After Pleading Guilty In 2022 Sexual Assault Case
What Do You Think Roomies?
Influencer Sara Gilson filed three protective orders against Jeremiah Duffey — the first and second were filed five years ago and the third was filed one month before he allegedly killed her in an apparent murder-suicide.
According to court documents obtained by Us, Gilson filed her first request in August 2021, claiming she was the victim of domestic violence, abuse and harassment.
“[On] July 31, [I] found hidden camera in my room, which caused a fight. He grabbed his gun and threatened suicide,” Gilson alleged in court docs. “He held me down by my arm, which resulted in bruising. He’s destroyed stolen property. Mentally and verbally abuses me. Continues to threaten to kill himself or lie to the cops and tell them I punched him if I filed a [protective order].”
Gilson also alleged that Duffey — who filed for bankruptcy in 2024 — tried to physically remove her from rooms in her own home.
Influencer Sara Gilson was allegedly killed by her estranged husband, Shawn Duffey, mere weeks after she allegedly accused him of being a pedophile. Tulsa’s ABC affiliate reported on July 23, 2026, that Gilson and Duffey were found dead in their Oklahoma City home after a fatal shooting. A juvenile family member present at the scene […]
“[He] comes in my room while I sleep, forces me to kiss him and calls, texts all day,” she alleged. Her request for a protective order was ultimately dismissed just weeks later on September 7, 2021.
On September 28, 2021, Gilson filed a second petition against her ex-fiancé, claiming domestic violence, stalking and harassment.
In court documents obtained by Us, she alleged that Duffey “showed up at my house, came inside, refused to leave [the] property. Got into a truck parked in [the] driveway that did not belong to him. Grabbed me and forced me to kiss him.”
She alleged while in her driveway that he “screamed, threatened, put hands on me. Since that night, he has called my friends, family and place of business. He emails me, calls my work, my ex-husband. [He] threatens to kill himself, has his mom message me. [He] calls, texts nonstop, and even when blocked he finds a way.”
“I don’t feel safe and things keep getting worse,” she continued to allege in court documents. He drives by my house every night and messages any guy I try to date or talk to.“
Sara Gilson and Jeremiah “Shawn” Duffey Courtesy TikTok / Sara Gilson
Less than a month later, she filed to dismiss the protective order and the court ordered the dismissal on December 15, 2021.
“[He] has left me alone, and I have no need to worry about his harassment or stalking and have no concern as of now,” she claimed at the time.
Last month, Gilson filed for an emergency protective order against Duffey according to court records obtained by Us.
In her petition filed on June 10, that went into effect the same day and was extended through August 24, she claimed that Duffey had a “firearm on him” and “went on the run.” And at the time, police were searching for him.
She also referred to “pedo charges” in the docs.
In a separate protective order also filed on June 10, a mother in Oklahoma alleged that Duffey had inappropriately touched her 15-year-old daughter at basketball practice.
Influencer Sara Gilson’s late estranged husband Jeremiah “Shawn” Duffey will reportedly not be given a funeral by his ex-wife and children after allegedly killing Gilson and himself. Duffey’s ex-wife, Stephanie Ramsay, told TMZ on Wednesday, July 29, that their five children were responsible for making any decisions about his funeral and burial under Oklahoma law. […]
According to the filing, Duffey was accused of “child abuse” after a fellow basketball coach “observed through a window” that Duffey was “kissing and fondling” the minor on June 9 while taking private meetings with each player to ask about their “basketball goals.”
The other coach called the child’s mother, who claimed in the filing that her daughter later “confided” in her that Duffey had been “sending her inappropriate messages” prior to the alleged office incident.
In her petition, the mother further alleged that “once during an out of town tournament, when the whole team including myself were staying at the same hotel, [Duffey] got her [daughter] to come to his room [and] he touched her inappropriately.”
“[The alleged victim] has also said that he has been giving her money to keep her quiet,” the mother claimed in the docs.
Gilson was reportedly shot and killed by Duffey, two weeks after she accused her former spouse of pedophilia. The pair were found dead in their Oklahoma home on July 23, according to Tulsa’s ABC affiliate.
Per the local outlet, local police officers were called to the scene after a reported shooting left two people dead.
Upon their on-scene arrival, law enforcement officials pronounced Gilson and Duffey dead and interviewed a family member who was present at the time. The unidentified family member alleged that the separated couple died by murder-suicide. An investigation into the fatal incident is ongoing.
According to a radio log exclusively obtained by Us on Thursday, July 30, an unidentified male caller stated that he heard Gilson say, “please don’t kill me” to someone in the room. The man advised the operator that there was a child in the home.
The ex-wife of Jeremiah “Shawn” Duffey, who is accused of fatally shooting wife Sara Gilson before killing himself, claims that he threatened her with a murder-suicide plot multiple times throughout their marriage. In an interview with TMZ published on Wednesday, July 29, Stephanie Ramsay — who began dating Duffey when she was 15 and he […]
A GoFundMe has been established for Gilson and Duffey’s two children as “they navigate the difficult days, months and years ahead.”
“Sara was an incredible mom. Her children were the center of her world, and everything she did was for them,” organizer Brandon Johns wrote on the GoFundMe page. “She loved them fiercely, worked hard to provide for them and dreamed of giving them the best life possible.”
Johns continued, “Thank you for your love, compassion and generosity as we come together to support Sara’s children and honor the beautiful life of an amazing mother, daughter, and friend.”
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for confidential support.
If you or someone you know is experiencing child abuse, call or text Child Help Hotline at 1-800-422-4453.
We all love a good plot, but the really great books cast a spell through the writing itself. They’re beautiful on a sentence-by-sentence level, full of striking images or perfectly crafted turns of phrase, balancing description and character work with pure, almost lyrical prose. Every word is a crucial part of the experience.
With that in mind, this list looks at some phenomenal books that are brilliantly written. They go beyond simply having solid worldbuilding or memorable characters; here, the flow of the words is what’s special. Whether lyrical, restrained, philosophical, or emotional, the titles below represent literature at its finest.
‘All the Light We Cannot See’ (2014)
“Open your eyes and see what you can with them before they close forever.” This one was made into a TV series, but the book is a lot better. It introduces us to Marie-Laure, a blind French girl, and Werner, a gifted German orphan whose talent for engineering draws him into the Nazi war machine during World War II. Their seemingly separate journeys gradually converge amid the destruction of occupied France.
The writing style in All the Light We Cannot See is very lyrical, made up of short, striking sentences and chapters (often just a few pages long), and with a focus on sensory details. In particular, Anthony Doerr vividly brings to life Marie-Laure’s impressions of sound, taste, touch, and smell. Character-wise, the novel paints all of the main players in shades of gray; even the good ones are flawed, and even some on the bad side are tragic rather than outright evil.
‘A Gentleman in Moscow’ (2016)
“We are the books we read and the things we love.” This one was also made into a series (featuring a fantastic Ewan McGregor), though, again, reading the novel is a more rewarding experience. The main character here is aristocrat Count Alexander Rostov, who, after the Russian Revolution, is sentenced to lifelong house arrest inside Moscow’s luxurious Metropol Hotel. Over decades, he watches Soviet history unfold beyond the hotel’s walls.
Although cut off from the outside world, Rostov has a surprisingly full life in his confined environment. He discovers purpose, friendship, and love in the hotel, forming a particularly close bond with the nine-year-old Nina and, years later, her daughter Sofia. Rather than plot machinations, the book keeps us engaged through tone, pacing, characterization, and warm prose, as ornate as the hotel itself. Rostov thinks and speaks in a refined, literate way, brought to vivid life by author Amor Towles‘ skilled pen.
‘The Book Thief’ (2005)
“I have hated the words, and I have loved them.” This one has some parallels to All the Light We Cannot See, though it’s a little more fantastical and colorful. Narrated by Death itself, The Book Thief tells the story of Liesel Meminger, a young girl growing up in Nazi Germany whose love of books becomes both a source of comfort and an act of quiet resistance after her foster family begins sheltering a Jewish refugee in their basement.
The framing device is the most striking aspect of the book. Choosing Death as narrator could easily have become a gimmick, but author Markus Zusak makes it an intrinsic part of the story and themes. The Grim Reaper’s weary compassion and dark humor add another emotional layer to the novel. At the same time, Zusak’s descriptions and metaphors are vibrant and memorable, with a treasure to be found on almost every page.
‘Life of Pi’ (2001)
“I must say a word about fear. It is life’s only true opponent.” Yann Martel recently published a great new novel called Son of Nobody, though Life of Pi remains his undisputed masterpiece. It centers on sixteen-year-old Pi Patel, who is stranded on a lifeboat in the Pacific Ocean after a cargo ship sinks, his only companions a hyena, a zebra, an orangutan, and a Bengal tiger.
This premise sets the stage for an unusual survival story, as well as a meditation on faith, truth, and the stories people choose to believe. Martel’s storytelling here is philosophical but lively, full of rich descriptions and intense, naturalistic imagery, nimbly fusing adventure and religious allegory. The narrative structure is inventive, too, unfolding in three different sections and times, each casting the previous one in a new light, and shifting our understanding of the plot.
‘East of Eden’ (1952)
“And now that you don’t have to be perfect, you can be good.” One of Steinbeck‘s essential novels, East of Eden chronicles multiple generations of the Trask and Hamilton families in California’s Salinas Valley. It’s one of the most ambitious family sagas in American fiction, drawing inspiration from the story of Cain and Abel (the title is a Bible quote) and delving deep into big themes like love, jealousy, inheritance, and good versus evil.
Here, Steinbeck’s prose feels deceptively simple, with seemingly offhand sentences carrying hidden meaning or very deliberate word choices. The writing is full of warmth and wisdom, particularly when it comes to the character studies. Figures like Samuel Hamilton, Lee, Adam Trask, and Cathy Ames have remarkable psychological depth, making their triumphs and failures feel relatable and almost timeless. Not for nothing, Steinbeck considered it his magnum opus.
‘The Secret History’ (1992)
“Beauty is terror. Whatever we call beautiful, we quiver before it.” The Secret History opens with a confession: a group of elite classics students has murdered one of their closest friends. From here, the book slowly reveals why it happened. We focus on Richard Papen, an isolated young man who becomes increasingly entangled in an insular, intellectually intoxicating circle of friends studying ancient Greek.
The writing is brilliant throughout, referencing and paying tribute to a lot of classic literature and Greek mythology. Aesthetically, the writing is elegant and immersive, conjuring up a world of fire-lit common rooms and grand libraries, desirable yet mysteriously off-putting, toxic even. Suitably, every conversation, lecture, and dinner party also carries an undercurrent of unease; the characters are smart but arrogant, and their search for beauty and knowledge leads instead to moral decay. The Secret History is intellectual and gripping at the same time.
‘Blood Meridian’ (1985)
“Whatever in creation exists without my knowledge exists without my consent.” Blood Meridian is widely considered to be Cormac McCarthy‘s finest achievement. Inspired by historical events along the Texas-Mexico border, it revolves around the unnamed Kid as he joins the Glanton gang, a brutal group of scalp hunters led by the mysterious, terrifying Judge Holden. The tale is violent and almost mythic, boasting breathtaking descriptions of deserts and mountains along with random outbursts of bloodshed.
Here, McCarthy uses biblical cadences and a ridiculously expansive vocabulary (some ancient terms will have readers reaching for a dictionary), every word contributing to a feeling of cosmic dread. The sentences tend to be punchy and often lack apostrophes or commas, which some critics view as an homage to Faulkner. Taken together, the result is a kind of Gothic anti-Western, a relentlessly grim, bleak, macabre dissection of evil.
‘The Sun Also Rises’ (1926)
“You can’t get away from yourself by moving from one place to another.” The Sun Also Rises is one of Hemingway‘s most well-rounded books, boasting his signature precise, economical prose. It’s about American journalist Jake Barnes, who travels through Spain and France with a group of expat friends in the years after World War I, searching for meaning, love, and distraction. Along the way, Jake falls in love with Lady Brett Ashley.
As usual, the writing style is understated and stripped back, almost hard-boiled. The dialogue is usually simple, and the descriptions are sparse. Rather than explicitly explaining his characters’ inner lives, Hemingway depicts longing, disappointment, jealousy, and loneliness through what remains unsaid. He called this “iceberg theory,” where the limited information we have access to hints at greater, unseen complexity.
‘One Hundred Years of Solitude’ (1967)
“It was as if God had decided to put to the test every capacity for surprise.” A landmark of magical realism, One Hundred Years of Solitude follows seven generations of the Buendía family in the mythical town of Macondo, where ghosts converse with the living, miracles occur without explanation, and history seems destined to repeat itself forever. Here, the extraordinary coexists with the ordinary.
The prose is confident and sincere, presenting the impossible with complete matter-of-factness. García Márquez‘s long, flowing sentences make everything feel simultaneously epic and personal, touching on themes of memory, solitude, and love. Each magical event serves a symbolic purpose, and certain images, color-coded in one of the book’s more accessible techniques, recur throughout. One Hundred Years of Solitude continues to be held in high regard and is considered one of the great classics of world literature.
‘The Great Gatsby’ (1925)
“So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.” Narrated by Nick Carraway, The Great Gatsby tells us about millionaire Jay Gatsby’s obsessive pursuit of his lost love, Daisy Buchanan, against the glittering backdrop of America’s Jazz Age. The Great Gatsby captured the Roaring Twenties like lightning in a bottle, a world of glamorous parties and lavish mansions, but also illusion and destructive ambition, where cracks show in the American dream.
Nearly every page of the book contains sentences that have become part of literary history, from the brilliant opening line (“In my younger and more vulnerable years, my father gave me some advice that I’ve been turning over in my mind ever since”) to the gorgeous, haunting final paragraph. Likewise, several of F. Scott’s Fitzgerald‘s literary symbols continue to endure, the green light most of all.
Entertainment
Ian McKellen didn’t know Anthony Mackie was Captain America when they met on“ Avengers: Doomsday”
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Sorry, Cap!
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