1984 by George Orwell. Courtesy Penguin UK
1984 by George Orwell. Courtesy Penguin UK

My favourite reads: Chris Newbould



Biographies feature pretty heavily in my top reads, and if I’m honest that’s my most frequently read genre. I’ve mixed that up with some fiction here, and included a controversial graphic novel selection, courtesy of the one-and-only Alan Moore.

My Life by Fidel Castro and Ignacio Ramonet (2006)

Fidel Castro was one of the most divisive figures of the 20th century, yet steadfastly refused requests to tell his own story until he had stepped down from the Cuban presidency in 2008, after more than five decades in power. Based on more than 100 hours of interviews with the leader of the Cuban revolution, Le Monde journalist Ramonet gets the inside story on Castro’s family life, politics, relationships with Che Guevara and 10 US presidents, involvement in African post-colonial independence movements and much more in this weighty tome.

1984 by George Orwell (1948)

Orwell's political classic is doubtless not the most original book to feature on a top-5 list, but there's a reason it is held in such high regard by so many. How many books, religious texts aside, have given so much to everyday language? Words and phrases like "thoughtcrime" and "Big Brother" come directly from Orwell, and even the least literate soul would understand something being described as "a bit 1984". Orwell's vision of a surveillance society profoundly affected me when I first read it at school, and has continued to do so as CCTV, face recognition and insidious online algorithms creep into everyday life.

The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson (2012)

Starting with the unlikely premise of a rollicking comic-book-style action adventure with a centenarian as its main protagonist, Jonasson delivers one of the funniest, can’t-put-it-down books. Escaping the boredom of his retirement home with nothing but his dressing gown and slippers, Allan Karlsson finds himself in possession of a suitcase full of drug money and on the run from the dealers and police, who are concerned by the disappearance of the absent-minded pensioner who was a key influencer in the 20th century.

Lost in the Funhouse: The Life and Mind of Andy Kaufman by Bill Zehme (1999)

I knew Kaufman as "that bloke out of Taxi" when a friend accused my schtick as frontman of a not entirely successful rock band – adopting a fake persona and serving a buffet in lieu of the fourth song of a set, or ending our set with a treasure trail round central Manchester where treasure hunters could pick up chocolate goodies before being led to a different venue where the band were waiting to perform the last song. It turned out Kaufman had done all this. Here, Zehme gives a fascinating insight into the troubled life and mind of a comic genius from an earlier era.

The Watchmen by Alan Moore, 1986-87 (Single volume graphic novel published 1987)

Listed in Time's Best 100 Novels in the English Language, Alan Moore's anti-superhero novel was perhaps the moment at which comic books became literature. Moore constructs his superheroes to deconstruct them and ask what is a hero and do we need them? It's unlikely we'd have seen the more grown-up heroes of the Marvel and DC cinema universes without Moore's novel, although the author now bemoans the popularity of issue-based comics influenced by his work, and ended his relationship with DC after a rights dispute over the book.

Chris Newbould is a features writer for The National

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Read more:

My favourite reads: Alex Belman

My favourite reads: Rory Reynolds

My favourite reads: Mustafa Alrawi

My favourite reads: Liz Cookman

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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: ARDH Collective
Based: Dubai
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Sector: Sustainability
Total funding: Self funded
Number of employees: 4
COMPANY PROFILE

Company: Bidzi

● Started: 2024

● Founders: Akshay Dosaj and Asif Rashid

● Based: Dubai, UAE

● Industry: M&A

● Funding size: Bootstrapped

● No of employees: Nine

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
Other promotions
  • Deliveroo will team up with Pineapple Express to offer customers near JLT a special treat: free banana caramel dessert with all orders on January 26
  • Jones the Grocer will have their limited edition Australia Day menu available until the end of the month (January 31)
  • Australian Vet in Abu Dhabi (with locations in Khalifa City A and Reem Island) will have a 15 per cent off all store items (excluding medications) 
The Gandhi Murder
  • 71 - Years since the death of MK Gandhi, also christened India's Father of the Nation
  • 34 - Nationalities featured in the film The Gandhi Murder
  • 7 - million dollars, the film's budget 
Tree of Hell

Starring: Raed Zeno, Hadi Awada, Dr Mohammad Abdalla

Director: Raed Zeno

Rating: 4/5

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
 
Started: 2020
 
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
 
Based: Dubai, UAE
 
Sector: Entertainment 
 
Number of staff: 210 
 
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
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Call of Duty: Black Ops 6

Developer: Treyarch, Raven Software
Publisher:  Activision
Console: PlayStation 4 & 5, Windows, Xbox One & Series X/S
Rating: 3.5/5

Jigra
Director: Vasan Bala
Starring: Alia Bhatt, Vedang Raina, Manoj Pahwa, Harsh Singh
Rated: 3.5/5
AT%20A%20GLANCE
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From Europe to the Middle East, economic success brings wealth - and lifestyle diseases

A rise in obesity figures and the need for more public spending is a familiar trend in the developing world as western lifestyles are adopted.

One in five deaths around the world is now caused by bad diet, with obesity the fastest growing global risk. A high body mass index is also the top cause of metabolic diseases relating to death and disability in Kuwait,  Qatar and Oman – and second on the list in Bahrain.

In Britain, heart disease, lung cancer and Alzheimer’s remain among the leading causes of death, and people there are spending more time suffering from health problems.

The UK is expected to spend $421.4 billion on healthcare by 2040, up from $239.3 billion in 2014.

And development assistance for health is talking about the financial aid given to governments to support social, environmental development of developing countries.

 

Education reform in Abu Dhabi

 

The emirate’s public education system has been in a constant state of change since the New School Model was launched in 2010 by the Abu Dhabi Education Council. The NSM, which is also known as the Abu Dhabi School Model, transformed the public school curriculum by introducing bilingual education starting with students from grades one to five. Under this new curriculum, the children spend half the day learning in Arabic and half in English – being taught maths, science and English language by mostly Western educated, native English speakers. The NSM curriculum also moved away from rote learning and required teachers to develop a “child-centered learning environment” that promoted critical thinking and independent learning. The NSM expanded by one grade each year and by the 2017-2018 academic year, it will have reached the high school level. Major reforms to the high school curriculum were announced in 2015. The two-stream curriculum, which allowed pupils to elect to follow a science or humanities course of study, was eliminated. In its place was a singular curriculum in which stem -- science, technology, engineering and maths – accounted for at least 50 per cent of all subjects. In 2016, Adec announced additional changes, including the introduction of two levels of maths and physics – advanced or general – to pupils in Grade 10, and a new core subject, career guidance, for grades 10 to 12; and a digital technology and innovation course for Grade 9. Next year, the focus will be on launching a new moral education subject to teach pupils from grades 1 to 9 character and morality, civic studies, cultural studies and the individual and the community.

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Central%20Bank's%20push%20for%20a%20robust%20financial%20infrastructure
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Friday’s fixture

6.15pm: Al Wahda v Hatta

6.15pm: Al Dhafra v Ajman

9pm: Al Wasl v Baniyas

9pm: Fujairah v Sharjah

.

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ENGLAND WORLD CUP SQUAD

Eoin Morgan (captain), Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler (wicketkeeper), Tom Curran, Joe Denly, Alex Hales, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, David Willey, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood

5 of the most-popular Airbnb locations in Dubai

Bobby Grudziecki, chief operating officer of Frank Porter, identifies the five most popular areas in Dubai for those looking to make the most out of their properties and the rates owners can secure:

• Dubai Marina

The Marina and Jumeirah Beach Residence are popular locations, says Mr Grudziecki, due to their closeness to the beach, restaurants and hotels.

Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh482 to Dh739 
Two bedroom: Dh627 to Dh960 
Three bedroom: Dh721 to Dh1,104

• Downtown

Within walking distance of the Dubai Mall, Burj Khalifa and the famous fountains, this location combines business and leisure.  “Sure it’s for tourists,” says Mr Grudziecki. “Though Downtown [still caters to business people] because it’s close to Dubai International Financial Centre."

Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh497 to Dh772
Two bedroom: Dh646 to Dh1,003
Three bedroom: Dh743 to Dh1,154

• City Walk

The rising star of the Dubai property market, this area is lined with pristine sidewalks, boutiques and cafes and close to the new entertainment venue Coca Cola Arena.  “Downtown and Marina are pretty much the same prices,” Mr Grudziecki says, “but City Walk is higher.”

Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh524 to Dh809 
Two bedroom: Dh682 to Dh1,052 
Three bedroom: Dh784 to Dh1,210 

• Jumeirah Lake Towers

Dubai Marina’s little brother JLT resides on the other side of Sheikh Zayed road but is still close enough to beachside outlets and attractions. The big selling point for Airbnb renters, however, is that “it’s cheaper than Dubai Marina”, Mr Grudziecki says.

Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh422 to Dh629 
Two bedroom: Dh549 to Dh818 
Three bedroom: Dh631 to Dh941

• Palm Jumeirah

Palm Jumeirah's proximity to luxury resorts is attractive, especially for big families, says Mr Grudziecki, as Airbnb renters can secure competitive rates on one of the world’s most famous tourist destinations.

Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh503 to Dh770 
Two bedroom: Dh654 to Dh1,002 
Three bedroom: Dh752 to Dh1,152 

ACL Elite (West) - fixtures

Monday, Sept 30

Al Sadd v Esteghlal (8pm)
Persepolis v Pakhtakor (8pm)
Al Wasl v Al Ahli (8pm)
Al Nassr v Al Rayyan (10pm)

Tuesday, Oct 1
Al Hilal v Al Shorta (10pm)
Al Gharafa v Al Ain (10pm)

Our family matters legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

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The Arts Edit

A guide to arts and culture, from a Middle Eastern perspective

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