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Books March 6, 2023 Issue A Serbian British Writer Revitalizes the Novel of the Émigré Long caught between the Western imagination and the Soviet sphere of influence—much like the Balkans themselves—the novelist Vesna Goldsworthy forges something new. By Thomas Mallon February 27, 2023 The author's work is filled with sharp-eyed observations that render clearly both her home country and her adopted one. Photograph by Siân Davey for The New Yorker Vesna Goldsworthy's life and work have involved multiple migrations: from Belgrade to London; from writing in Serbian to writing in English; from literary scholarship to memoir to poetry and then to the novel. To that last genre, she has now contributed three books, and the latest, "Iron Curtain: A Love Story" (Norton), is yet another departure, from skillful contrivance to full-throated voice. The emotions of this well-conjured novel are raw, its observations acute. Goldsworthy is so intent on getting where she wants to go t...

Carol and I were delighted to be asked to officiate the wedding of Alyssa Aldape and Nick Schaufelberger. When the lovely couple said, "We'll pick the biblical texts we want you speak on," we said, "Sure," because we are accommodating ministers. Most couples pick 1 Corinthians 13 ("Love is patient and kind"), which is sweet, or John 2, where Jesus goes to a wedding and changes water into wine, which is a great trick, or even the Colossians text that's trendy at weddings, "Clothe yourselves with compassion," which is an excellent metaphor that gives you an excuse to talk about how well-dressed everyone is at a wedding. This time, the couple assigned Carol Isaiah 2:3-4, a piece of wedding cake. Carol takes "Come, let's go up to the Lord's mountain, so that we may walk in God's paths" as an excuse to talk about the couple's love for hiking in the mountains. She does not spend as much time explaining how married p...

Do you scrape the burnt bits off a piece of toast? Recent research suggests that might not be a bad idea… It's more than likely you still have some of the habits around eating and cooking that you learned from adults when you were young, maybe without even realising. Perhaps you never lick food off your knife, or you always throw salt over your shoulder to ward off evil spirits. Many of these quirks are probably nothing more than superstition, but one in particular may have been unknowingly prescient a few decades ago, and grounded in a scientific discovery that was yet to happen. In 2002, scientists at the University of Stockholm discovered that it might actually be wise to scrape the burnt bits off your toast. They found that a substance called acrylamide forms when we apply heat over 120C (248F) to certain foods – including potato, bread, biscuits, cereal, and coffee – and its sugar content reacts with the amino acid asparagine. This process is called the Maillard reaction...

As one of the more guarded and offbeat signs in the zodiac, it's sometimes difficult for people who love Aquarians to figure out what makes them happy. While they often appear cold, aloof, unpredictable, or just plain weird, deep down these airy, rebel unicorns just want to be happy and loved like everyone else. First and foremost, Aquarians love giving back. They are generous, selfless people who are obsessed with the welfare of others. While they don't mind donating money to a cause, what really makes them happy is getting out into the world and connecting with others face-to-face. To an Aquarius, this is the most efficient and effective way to create change. Volunteering their time at an animal shelter, a food drive, or a soup kitchen are some of Aquarius' favorite pastimes. Aquarius needs plenty of mental stimulation to prevent boredom. They are naturally curious and love to acquire new knowledge, which means they spend a lot of time reading, watching documentarie...

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Introduction Taking a deep dive into the cosmos to discern the depths of Taurus and Gemini compatibility is an enchanting prospect, indeed. At their core, Taurus men and women are dependable people who evaluate any opportunity that comes their way. Their thoughtful, pragmatic, and sensual thinking defines their strong personality. Conversely, Gemini people have a particular allure that stems from the unpredictable nature of their personality. Gemini is thought to rule the time between around May 21 and approximately June 21 in astrology. While Taurus natives are born between April 20 to May 20 . The ...

Oh, brother! He may have driven you crazy as kids, but there's no one in the world like your him. So when his birthday rolls around, it's time to celebrate that special sibling bond. Just look at the Drummond kids! They're always posting the sweetest birthday Instagrams for each other. Not sure what to write in your own sibling's Instagram post, card, or good morning text? We have you covered with these sweet and funny birthday wishes for a brother or brother-in-law. Because let's be honest, it can be hard to capture that unique relationship! Pair a sentimental birthday message with a heartwarming family quote. There are also silly birthday wishes for all those brothers who are kings of the dad jokes. May we also mention that "brother" doesn't have to mean the kid you grew up with! These ideas are perfect for that bonus sibling, whether through marriage or simply time spent with your family. Just don't forget to grab them a present too— we have ide...