The New Year presents the prospect of another beginning and all the anticipation and hope for a bright future.

In the movie Pawn Sacrifice, the possibilities at the beginning of each new chess game are explored in the story of Bobby Fischer, the World Chess Champion from 1972-1975. Fischer was a brilliant, somewhat disturbed, young man who beat Russian player Boris Spassky during the Cold War and transformed the game by inventing a new variant of chess which randomized starting positions, compelling players to rely on their talent and creativity rather than memorization.

One of the quotes in the movie which both affirms the possibilities in each beginning as well as the wonder of Gods expanding creation was an observation made by Father Lombardy, a Roman Catholic priest who was Fischers confidant and coach. He said. After the first four moves, there are 300 million options before a chess player. Thats more than the stars in the sky.

As we move into another beginning and consider the options before us as well as the stars above us, let us find hope in the premises of our faith and the character of our Creator implicit in the biblical story of creation. Here we find the retelling of a well-known fable in antiquity about the beginning; however, this author tells the story with a different emphasis to affirm the Hebrew peoples belief in the goodness of God and Gods creation.

If we can trust that life began in goodness, we can go forward into life with courage and expectation. The evil in the world is not due to some relentless fate; it is a contradiction of the Creators purpose. God does not secretly wish ill for creation or delight in punishing us for some known or unknown wrong committed along the way. Quite the contrary, my friends, God is delighted in our well-being and peaceful coexistence and glorified when our lives are creative, loving, and shining brightly.

When Gods abiding presence came into the world to partake in the human experience, the light of an eastern star announced Christs arrival and another beginning. This light of Epiphany, which led strangers to the Christ child, symbolizes another belief at the heart of our faith. Namely, that Gods redeeming presence is intended for all whom God created and not limited to a chosen few. No human being is excluded from Gods justice and mercy.

Our faith affirms the God who was in the beginning, the God who makes all our beginnings possible and the God who will see our beginnings through to the end. In this New Year as we consider the options and strategies that outnumber the stars in the sky, may this chess analogy offered by American statesman and scientist Benjamin Franklin be a source of inspiration in the way we live our lives.

Chess teaches foresight, by having to plan ahead; vigilance, by having to keep watch over the whole chess board; caution, by having to restrain ourselves from making hasty moves; and finally, we learn from chess the greatest maxim in life that even when everything seems to be going badly for us we should not lose heart, but always hoping for a change for the better, steadfastly continue searching for the solution to our problems.

As it was in the beginning, is now and evermore shall be. Thanks be to God.

Rev. Dr. Blythe Denham Kieffer is pastor and head of staff at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Springfield.

See the rest here:

Kieffer: Finding hope in another beginning - The State Journal-Register

It is ironical that despite shattering many chess records and being the strongest and the highest-rated women chess player (Judit Polgar is the highest-rated player ever but played only in Open section) for many years, a World title proved elusive for 32-year-old Koneru Humpy. Incredibly, it came her way at Moscow when she triumphed in the Womens World Rapid Chess Championship last week after starting as the 13th seed.

The youngest ever to win a World junior title at 14 years, the youngest woman in the world to earn the GM title at that time, Asian Champion, British Womens Champion and numerous titles in Age Categories, none doubted that winning the Womens World Championship would be a natural transgression for Humpy. One of her best performances was at the North Urals Cup, Russia which featured the top ten women players of that time.

Her troubled equation with AICF (Indian chess federation) resulted in her missing a few prestigious events. In fact, in 2015 AICF moved the FIDE Ethics Commission to ban Humpy and take necessary action against her and strip her of the GM and other titles after she withdrew midway through the Commonwealth Championship. It was the Association of Chess Professionals which stood strongly behind Humpy and asked FIDE for a fair enquiry.

Always calm, shy and soft spoken, Humpy always keeps a low profile off-board but once at the chequered board, her personality undergoes a dramatic transformation.

Her brand of fighting chess, dislike for any short draws, made her a feared opponent. Returningbackto chess after two years, after the birth of her daughter, her recent triumph might just spur her on to settle some unfinished business -- that of winning the Womens World Chess Championship. Excerpts...

Your thoughts on this Womans World Rapid chess title?

To be honest, I didnt think that a gold medal and title would come my way when I started the event. I had modest expectations of a medal of any hue. It is no secret that I am more a classical player and the shorter time control formats have never really been my cup of tea. After glancing at the final 12thround pairings, I realised that I had an opportunity to secure silver if I beat Tan Zhongyi. I had the advantage of the White pieces and refused a draw offer and went on to win the game to force a tie for top place. At this point I realised that I had a golden opportunity though it would not be too easy. Adapting to the Blitz format was not easy and I ended up losing the first tie-break because of slow play, that too with the White pieces. I opted for the Modern Defence and tried to complicate as the pressure was high to score a win and stay in the hunt for the title. This was literally a game where I gambled! After winning the game and forcing a tie, the Armageddon too was taxing but by then I was comfortable with the time and position both! It was just my day. After so many years of hard work, finally a World Champion title as a reward. I was so happy and relieved to finally, finally have the tag of World Champion.

Did you make any specific preparation for the World Championship?

I hardly had time as I played the Grand Prix at Monaco where I finished second. There was a 10-day break in between but I played the European Club Cup. With so manybacktobackevents, it was difficult to specifically prepare for this event.

Your father Ashok has been your only coach. Does he still continue to be so?

It has been a while since we stopped working at the board as for the last few years I am preparing on my own. He is more of a mentor and guide now. We discuss strategy for the tournament and things like which opening to play and other things. The fundamentals ingrained by my father have been very strong and have stood the test of time.

From 2007 you were practically the highest rated woman player for a few years, yet the World title eluded you. Do you wonder why?

Yes, I do think it really appears strange. On hindsight, I feel like I played my best chess ever in World championships but the title never came my way and the best I managed was a bronze. I kept getting knocked out. Maybe I was unlucky. We dont know what life will throw at us in the future. We can only focus on doing our job to the best of our ability and see what comes our way.

How much time do you devote to chess?

It used to be a tough, disciplined grind of 8 to 10 hours every day without a break -- even on Sunday. I would spend half a day working on chess. Now I spend about three to four hours every day. After the arrival of my daughter, things have changed. I no longer work on festivals and few other days. I have to do a balancing act but I never miss any opportunity that I can spend working on chess.

How much had chess changed after your comeback?

There are a lot of changes. I realised that most of the preparation I had done a couple of yearsbackor earlier was not at all useful or had become redundant. With powerful engines, chess has changed. Younger generation play the best possible opening. When I became a GM, we did not have such exposure to technology. These days if you dont become a GM by 12 or 13 years then there is virtually no future for you as a chess player.

How do you look at the current crop of youngsters?

When I made a comeback at Gibraltar, I met a few of them, most of them just 15 or 16 years old and already enjoying an Elo 2500 to 2600 rating. Frankly, I am overawed and sometimes I feel that I am already a veteran!

Which are your next events and are you expecting invitations to niche events?

Nothing is planned yet but maybe February or March. I have received a few invitations but I have become a bit choosy now. I cannot play all events but play in all official FIDE events. This title has sort of rekindled my hunger for winning a World Womens title.

More here:

Koneru Humpy: Back to the forefront - Deccan Herald

When Doug Pederson and Pete Carroll meet at midfield on Sunday, itll be a meeting of two outstanding, Super Bowl winning head coaches. And thats about all they have in common. Their resumes contrast each other, Pederson is a comparatively young (Pederson played against Carroll when Carroll coached the Patriots) and offensive coach, Carroll is a hugely experienced defensive coach, one can even take note of their most famous plays in the Super Bowl. But the differences extend beyond the bios.

Doug Pederson treats his team to ice cream and beats other coaches in games of golf. Hes The Dad of the NFL.

Pete Carroll is... well, to put it charitably... a weird guy.

First and foremost, he is a 9/11 truther or at least just a guy asking questions.

In particular, Carroll wanted to know whether the attack on the Pentagon had really happened. Chiarelliwho was the top-ranking Army official inside the Pentagon when American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into its western sideexplained that it had. He said he had lost many colleagues. But Carroll didnt stop there. He ran through the whole 9/11 truther litany.

Every 9/11 conspiracy theory you can think of, Pete asked about, said Riki Ellison, the former NFL linebacker who now runs the Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance and introduced Carroll to Chiarelli.

When they show shots of Pete Carroll on the sideline, he looks like a crazy guy hanging around a bus stop.

Turns out he shares some of the same opinions too.

He once had Jordan Peterson speak to the Seahawks. If you dont know who Jordan Peterson is (youre better off not knowing), all you need to know is that Pete Carroll had to apologize for it.

And then there are his music tastes. To each his own, but he listens to the kind of stuff that a man half his age (or in one case, a girl a quarter his age) does. Such as Macklemore. On loop.

Haggerty, 30, has become friends with Seahawks Coach Pete Carroll, 62, who reached out to him last year after falling in love with Macklemores music. Carroll bought an album and spent much of last season playing it on an endless loop in his Seahawks office. Typically, the coach has his sound system cranked so loud his secretary has to turn it down when he steps out of his corner office.

He immediately resonated with the music, Haggerty said. Hes somebody whos 62 years old, but looks like hes 45, and acts like hes 30. Hes just a cool coach and down-to-earth person.

Maybe they also bonded over their theories on 9/11.

Carrolls musical tastes go further down the rabbit hole. He follows Tiesto and One Direction on Twitter. Why does a 68 year old man do this.

Speaking of his Twitter account, he has favorited just five tweets, one of which is his own. He follows Pete Carrolls Gum (which cant even punctuate correctly) and the Bronx Zoo cobra, which is really lame. But worst of all, and I hope youre sitting down for this:

He follows Bill Cosby.

And hes done it for a while, hes pretty far down on his list of follows.

More recently, at the 2019 combine he took his shirt off to meet DK Metcalf.

To be fair to Carroll, Metcalf caught 7 TDs and had a 15.5 yards per catch, and he was drafted seven picks after JJ Arcega-Whiteside, who has 10 catches.

Pete Carroll is a great coach. One who very well might be coaching next weekend while Doug Pederson refines his golf game. But hes also one hell of a weird dude.

Read more here:

Pete Carroll is weird - Bleeding Green Nation

The self-styled intellectual class is growing excitable. Under the onslaught of Trump, Brexit, Europe-wide populism, and Jordan Peterson, can we be certain, they ask, that the open society will continue? The only way on from liberalism, they believe, is backward into the darkness whence we allegedly emerged. Even those who are not enthusiastic about liberalisms tender mercies are required to moderate their hopes for its demise, lest the new nurse turn out to be worse than the serving one. A lot of people, including people who call themselves conservatives, appear to be concerned about the future of liberalism, and this concern is causing the age to be misread.

For the discussion is bogus to begin with. What is called liberalism here is not liberalism at all, but its direct opposite. It is liberalism only in name, and therefore offers no guarantee of an open society at all. By corrupting the meanings of terms like equality, tolerance, and human rights, the liberal ascendancy of the past three decades has overburdened the skeleton of our civilization, leaving it weakened and susceptible to collapse.

We should stop using words like liberalism as though they were not already subsumed in irony, as though the sense of virtue and good intention that they are supposed to connote remained valid. I believe it has become necessary to prefix certain words in our political lexicon to alert bystanders to their hidden corruption. For three decades I have referred to pseudo-liberalism. What we call liberalism is no longer to be thought upright. If it dies, it will be a cause of celebration, not dismay.

This pseudo-liberalism is founded on a lie: the idea that freedom resides in getting whatever you demand and doing whatever you desire. In the words of the diabolical occultist Aleister Crowley: Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law. A moments thought reveals such ideas as civilization-threatening. By definition, what one person demands must be taken from someplace where it already benefits others, and doing exactly what you want will invariably be a cost to someone else or, ultimatelybecause of the complexity of the human instrumentto yourself. There are libraries of philosophy and theology on these topics, but as far as contemporary conversations are concerned, it is as though not a word of this is relevant.

The Sixties generation, which introduced these incoherencies into the bloodstream of modern societies, has not been honest about its own experience of these much-vaunted freedoms, which have left a trail of devastation behind them. One symptom of this is that there is virtually no lucid witness to the errors of pseudo-liberalism, not just in the intimate areas of human relations, but in relation to economics and the movements of people in the modern world. For half a century, these converging strands of insipid thinking have dominated Western societies, steamrolling everything and everyone with the help of corporate money and devious propaganda, their incoherencies protected from scrutiny by the influence and dollars of Big This and Big That, by corrupted media and the force field of political correctness. Self-styled liberals have hijacked the idealism of the young, enlisting them for a project that has the outward appearance of virtue but is rotten to the core. They have convinced even our own children that globalism is an unequivocal good and that human safety and well-being can be maintained without the assistance of the civilization that made all these qualities possible in the first place.

Thus, pseudo-liberalism seeks to turn upside-down the value system of the civilization that once was Christendom, attacking its core institutions and mocking and censoring its history. It justifies genocide in the form of abortion and is clearly intentsometimes unwittinglyupon engineering the cultural and moral demolition of the West itself, by dint of godless relativism, induced migration, the elimination of distinct nations, and the destruction of the nuclear family.

And although this is quite clearly the most intolerant ideology to have emerged in the West since World War II, signs of the demise of this liberalism are met with handwringing from people who ought to know better. All right-thinking people must agree that populism is a bad thing. We must, while admitting its minor blemishes, still accept that what is called liberalism offers the one best way forward for Western societies.

Liberal-progressivismto give it its most informative nameis actually an advanced form of colonialism, imposing itself not just on territories but also claiming dominion over all future time, brooking no dissent and remorselessly punishing recalcitrant doubters. In this sense it is deeply totalitarian, insisting on one best way that cannot be questioned.

In his 1987 essayStories and Totalitarianism, Vclav Havel defined the mechanism of totalitarianism as the assassination of history to achieve both nihilisation of the past and mastery over the future. The instrument of this process he identified as the removal from history of the possibilities of human choice, mystery, and autonomy: History becomes a fixed sequence of unfolding inevitabilities, and the role of human beings is merely to acquiesce and embrace what is pressed upon them.

To put this another way, under the new colonialism the future is a city already constructed, waiting to be moved into. There is no space for human discussion or disagreement. It is already decidedand not, we are archly informed, by some arbitrary human authority but by the mechanistic mind of time, which ordains the course of history according to immutable and unchallengeable laws.

We are now, it is certain, seeing the early stages of the disintegration of this pseudo-liberalism. This liberalism has promised untrammeled economic growth, itself an example of its incoherence: Increasing growth never delivers increasing happiness. Moreover, in ignoring the inevitability of boom-bust, this promise provides an example of pseudo-liberal dishonesty.There is no final glorious destination.

This pseudo-liberalism also promises free speech, while curtailing it in the name of civilityemploying sophisticated abuses of language to impose censorship so as to protect its own incoherence, and arrogating to itself the right to stifle anything that offers a significant threat to itself.It also promises increasingly purer forms of democracy but in reality is pushing us ever closer to mob rule.

Pseudo-liberalism lays claim to the universalization of human rights, but it requires just a moments reflection to realize that what is meant by this is not universal in the least, but a highly ideological recalibration of the balance of power between establishments and minorities, which provide human shields for the prosecution of an undeclared war on what is.

Moreover, it is precisely the pseudo-liberal insistence on a selective understanding of human rights that lies at the heart of the current threat to Europes future. For if universal rights are to trump rights of culture, history, place, locality, home and hearth, the outcome will be the destruction of all culture, loyalty, and trust, creating an intercontinental incontinence that will sweep all order and coherence before it.

What is called liberalism attacks what is most precious in our tradition of community solidarity, opposing those values we have held dearestlove of God, nation, and familyin favor of an empty and faithless materialism and the pseudo-laws of the new ideologies. The flaws of this pseudo-liberalism amount to an indictment that far outweighs even the sum of the promised benefits, for it amounts, in truth, to the negation of democracy, free speech, and meaningful liberty.

It is true that there are actors waiting in the wings who represent something even more illiberal than the present dispensation. But we should not cling to a nurse for fear of something worse.Perhaps somewhere about the precincts of this paradox lies the explanation of why liberals have so far supported the influx of Muslims into Europe: This is part of the liberal program of disintegrating the culture, traditions, and civilization of the West. Often one is forced to wonder if liberals know anything about the nature of Islam and its ambitions, whether they are aware that the Islamic concept of the infidel disqualifies all such peoples from what they think their entitlements. No sane person could ever have accused these pseudo-liberals of being far-sighted. Still, here they have surely surpassed themselves with their willful myopia and stupidity. If they wish to imagine how it will end, I recommend they have a quiet read of Michel HouellebecqsSubmission, which tells of the capitulation of a future French establishment to the blandishments of Islam.

But the problem does not lie merely with pseudo-liberalism. Paradoxically, a dangerous tendency of thought has arisen in late times among conservatives: the idea that any flaws of liberalismsuch as, one presumes, its blind utopian globalism and politically correct excessespale compared to the barbarism to be observed elsewhere in the world. They take this to mean that we should not raise a fuss about what is happening in the West, but rather express gratitude for the openness we enjoy and the tolerance liberals extend to their opponents. This, too, is bogus. Tolerance here, like equality, means something different than it used to. Once, tolerance meant not interfering with, or attempting to suppress, beliefs that contradicted ones own, but this response has given way to a dictatorship of intolerance wherein everything is tolerated except the views of those who do not subscribe to the tenets of pseudo-liberalism.

Liberals speak of what they call the liberal order as though its virtues were self-evident. This allows them to adopt a tone of moral sanctimony. Those who disagree, therefore, mustipso factosuffer from some kind of pathological perverseness: They oppose the good out of fear, vexatiousness, or worse. But the pseudo-liberal sense of the good is selective and self-serving, and has no good plans for those who dissent from it. We have seen this, again and again, and what we have seenat the hands of social justice warriors, LGBT activists, #MeTooers, and the likeprovides evidence of what the liberal end of history would actually look like.

So let us not be frightened into shoring up that which is finally disintegrating. Pseudo-liberalism is finally disintegrating under belated retaliation from those it treats with contempt, as well as the weight of its own senselessness. The liberal state of affairs is a bit like the current state of rock n roll: Though on its last legs, no one can imagine what, if anything, comes next.This for a time appeared to be the strongest card of the self-proclaimed liberals: that they did indeed represent the end of history.Now, what is (often pejoratively) calledpopulismhas arisen to put paid to that idea.

This populism may represent the future, in one form or another, or simply the precursor to something we are not yet able to imagine.Butwhatever it is, it seems our only hope. The choice we face is not between left and right, orstill lessliberal and far right. Certainly, the choice is not between a continuation of the present pseudo-liberalism or a descent into Islamismthe first willinevitably give way to the second. Rather, the choice is between civilization and its antithesis. It could hardly be more serious.The time has come tolet the delusions of the Sixties finally die in their dilapidated beds.

John Watersis an Irish writer and commentator, the author of ten books, and a playwright.

Read this article:

The End of Pseudo-Liberalism | John Waters - First Things

George R.R. Martin holding Privilege by first-time novelist Jason Rothery.

Courtesy of manufacturer

In 2012, after 15 years as a professional theatre artist, I returned to graduate school at York University in Toronto, where unlike my undergrad experience no one was reading No Logo and Adbusters and railing against capitalism. Instead, debates focused on identity and gender, safe spaces and trigger warnings. Halloween costumes provoked protests, Bill Cosby and Harvey Weinstein were revealed as predators and Jordan Peterson was making waves on YouTube.

Then the Steven Galloway scandal hit. Then-chair of UBCs creative-writing program my alma mater Galloway was suspended.

Inspiration struck. I abandoned my dissertation, flew to Belize, found a hammock and pounded out a draft of a novel called Privilege, about a young university professor navigating a charged campus climate.

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After months of rewrites and revisions, I googled Canadian publishers, drew up a list of houses that accepted unsolicited submissions and sent off my manuscript.

Rather than eating my fingernails awaiting responses, I volunteered at an elephant sanctuary in Cambodia. I was lodging in a tree house when the first rejection arrived: This is not for us.

The first of many rejections to come.

Eight months later, back in Calgary, I bought a condo. In the midst of moving house, my phone rang. Did I know anyone in Winnipeg?

Hi, the gravelly voice intoned. Did you submit a book to Great Plains Publications?

A year into the publishing process, I finally admitted my social-media allergy to Great Plains lone publicist. My Facebook profile had been dormant since 2012, I abhorred Twitter and didnt even have a data plan. The publicist began coaxing me into the 21st century and as Privileges release date approached, I joined Instagram. (Have I mentioned my handle is @jasonpatrickrothery?)

On Oct. 24, six days before Privilege would launch at a Calgary-area Bavarian-style sausage and beer haus called Wurst, I received a text from my good friend Clayton McKee. Clayton had read an early draft of Privilege, consulted on an especially tricky section and championed the book ever since.

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His message read, Guess whos going to spend Halloween in Santa Fe with George R.R. Martin?

Like most of the planet, Im a huge Game of Thrones fan, and awed by Martins success. Clayton had won an all-expenses paid trip to an event hosted by the beloved fantasy fiction icon.

A few bewildered exchanges later, Clayton wrote: Get me a copy of your book so I can give it to him.

Despite Claytons enthusiasm, I did not think hed meet Martin in person. Rather, I imagined an auditorium full of adoring contest winners, their liege lord seated in an Iron Throne replica, doling out nuggets of wisdom before absconding to his secret lair to put the finishing touches on The Winds of Winter.

Nonetheless, at Claytons insistence, I nervously scribbled out an inscription to one of the most famous authors in the world, and popped Privilege in the post, certain that George Hold the Door Martin would never lay eyes, much less hands, on my book.

Busily preparing for the launch, I forgot about Claytons forthcoming adventure. On Oct. 30, Privilege debuted to a lively crowd of 50-odd family, friends and strangers. Halloween morning, I dragged myself out of bed, got the coffee gurgling, walked my dog around the block and checked my phone for messages. There was the photo: A grinning George R.R. Martin, holding up, and pointing at, Privilege.

The accompanying text read: Boom!!!!!

I called Clayton immediately. My similarly groggy friend recounted spending an hour hanging out with Martin one-on-one, personally handing Martin my book, watching Martin flip through the first few pages and smile as he read the inscription.

Hes a voracious reader, Clayton said, suggesting that Martin might actually read Privilege.

I was shocked and instantly anxious. I suspected I was standing on a PR gold mine, but by what means, and with which tools, was I supposed to tap the vein?

I e-mailed the photo to some friends. The first response Wait, WHAT?! was followed by, ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!!!

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Now what should I do?

Posted the pic front and centre on my website. Now what?

Sent it to the publicist at Great Plains. (Wow!) Now what?

Instagram. Now what?

Messaged a business consultant buddy: Any idea how I can leverage this for, like, publicity?

More hashtags, he told me.

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I added ample hashtags.

Now what?

Now what? has become my new mantra.

After Privilege launched, I thought the heavy lifting was over with. This is like thinking youve finished raising your child the day you give birth. Books can live long lives and travel far and wide. Publicity efforts are not only continuing but shared.

Great Plains has been wonderful to work with, but its publicist is only one person with limited resources. In consulting with various writers, Ive realized the size of the publisher is irrelevant. With such a monumental amount of stuff out there, every writer is locked in a perpetual arms race for eyeballs.

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No natural-born huckster I doubt many artists are Im doing whatever I can to grab attention: spamming 400 e-mail contacts, promotional Instagram posts, pestering people for Goodreads reviews. Ive called in every favour I can think of and sent copies of Privilege to every media outlet that might be interested.

Will Martin read Privilege? Has the photo boosted interest? Affected sales? As Ygritte tells Jon Snow, I know nothing.

What I do know is that the fate of my book is largely in my hands. Im proud of Privilege and want people to read it, but no one can read a book they arent aware exists.

The photo of Martin holding Privilege is a talisman of sorts. It reminds me that success is at least partly luck, that stars align in magical ways and most importantly we must be prepared to capitalize on that luck, and those unlikely alignments.

To which end, care to follow me on Instagram?

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How first-time novelist Jason Rothery landed an endorsement from George R.R. Martin - The Globe and Mail

The latest lifestyle, fashion and travel trends

A new year means a new opportunity to put down Netflix and get back into reading.

Luckily, there are plenty of new books to look forward to in 2020 - from a new Marian Keyes novel, to Dolly Alderton's fictional debut and a Booker winner Graham Swift's latest page-turner.

Whether you're aiming to read one book per month, smash out a novel a week or simply bump up your summer holiday reading list, below is our pick of what to devour this year.

Uncanny Valley: A Memoir by Anna Wiener

Release date: January 23, 2020

After leaving New York and her job in publishing for a tech start-up in San Francisco, Anna Wiener's rose-tinted glasses soon dull as she discovers a world of casual sexism and technology addiction.

You can buy it here.

Grown Ups by Marian Keyes

Release date: February 6, 2020

The latest novel from the beloved Irish author, Grown Ups delves into the Casey family whose secrets start to spill after one member gets concussed.

You can buy it here.

Hood Feminism: Notes from the Women White Feminists Forgot by Mikki Kendall

Release date: February 25, 2020

Required reading for any feminist, Kendall explores why mainstream feminism neglects to see how race, class, sexual orientation and disability intersects with gender with a clear-eyed assessment of how to fix it.

You can buy it here.

Here We Are by Graham Swift

Release date: February 27, 2020

Set in Brighton in 1959 this end-of-the-pier story from the Booker winner tells of the off-stage drama between a magician, his assistant and compre.

You can buy it here.

The Mirror & the Light by Hilary Mantel

Release date: March 5, 2020

The long-awaited conclusion to the Wolf Hall trilogy comes in at a whopping 912 pages, tracing the final years of Thomas Cromwell.

You can buy it here.

Our House is on Fire by Malena and Beata Ernman, Svante and Greta Thunberg

Release date: March 5, 2020

After the Swedish teenage climate change activist captivated the world in 2019, Greta Thunberg along with her sister, opera singer mother and actor father write about the story of a family led to confront a crisis.

You can buy it here.

Capital and Ideology by Thomas Picketty

Release date: March 10, 2020

Arguments for participatory socialism from this revolutionary thinker the book is described as 'a retelling of global history, a scathing critique of contemporary politics, and a bold proposal for a new and fairer economic system'.

You can buy it here.

This Lovely City by Louise Hare

Release date: March 12, 2020

A post-war novel that transports readers to Brixtons Windrush community in the 1950s following jazz musician Lawrie Matthews as he tours Sohos music halls and rallies with his local community.

You can buy it here.

My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell

Release date: March 31, 2020

The protagonist reflects on her relationship with her English teacher 17 years later when he's accused of sexual assault by another former student.

You can buy it here.

The Better Half by Sharon Moalem

Release date: April 7, 2020

Physician explains why women are genetically superior and makes a case that, genetically, females are stronger than males at every stage of life.

You can buy it here.

If I Had Your Face by Frances Cha

Release date: April 23, 2020

A debut novel about four young women struggling to survive in Seoul, where extreme plastic surgery is as commonplace as routine as getting a haircut.

You can buy it here.

Clothes and Other Things That Matter by Alexandra Shulman

Release date: April 23, 2020

The former British Vogue editor on the meaning of clothes and why we wear them, a must-read memoir for even those beyond the fashion set.

You can buy it here.

Death in her Hands by Ottessa Moshfegh

Release date: April 23, 2020

An elderly widow is caught up in a murder mystery when she finds a note in the woods that says: "Her name was Magda. Nobody will ever know who killed her. It wasn't me. Here is her dead body."

You can buy it here.

The Ratline by Philippe Sands

Release date: April 23, 2020

Love, lies and justice following the trail of Nazi fugitive SS Brigadesfhrer Otto Freiherr von Wchter, who was indicted for mass murder at the end of WWII in 1945 and spent three years hiding in the Austrian Alps.

You can buy it here.

Skincare by Caroline Hirons

Release date: April 30, 2020

The internet's authority on skincare, Caroline Hiron's debut non-fiction book is a no nonsense guide to skincare - and getting the nation off face wipes for good.

You can buy it here.

What Have I Done? An honest memoir about surviving post-natal mental illness by Laura Dockrill

Release date: May 7, 2020

Children's author and Adele's best friend recounts her period of post-partum psychosis and the recovery that came with it.

You can buy it here.

The Lying Life of Adults by Elena Ferrante

Release date: June 9, 2020

A new novel, again set in Naples, from the best-selling author of My Brilliant Friend.

You can buy it here.

Olive by Emma Gannon

Release date: June 11, 2020

Host of the acclaimed Ctrl Alt Delete podcast, Emma Gannon will release her debut novel, Olive, this June which sees the titular character navigate life when her best friends start to branch away into marriage and motherhood.

You can buy it here.

Beyond Mere Order by Jordan Peterson

(Daniel Hambury/@stellapicsltd)

Release date: June 2020

More lore about how to live life from the controversial Canadian.

Summer by Ali Smith

Release date: July 2, 2020

The finale to her seasonal quartet, written as it happens. Smiths fourth and final instalment is separate to the former three but interconnected, just as the seasons are.

You can buy it here.

The Hungover Games by Sophie Heawood

Release date: July 2, 2020

Heawood's wry account of her journey into motherhood when she finds herself pregnant and single with a penchant for partying.

You can buy it here.

How Do We Know We're Doing It Right: & Other Essays on Modern Life by Pandora Sykes

Release date: July 16, 2020

A collection of essays from the journalist and podcast host that touch on happiness to wellness; womanhood to consumerism and the anxieties and agendas that consume our lives.

You can buy it here.

Fall: The Last Days of Robert Maxwell by John Preston

Release date: July 16, 2020

True-life investigation of the rise and fall of the notorious business tycoon Robert Maxwell, by the writer of A Very English Scandal.

You can buy it here.

Boris Johnson by Tom Bower

(AP)

Release date: July 2020

After Corbyn, the biographer nobody wants turns his attention to the PM.

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The best books to look forward to in 2020 - Evening Standard

Arthur Levine, Special to USA TODAY Published 11:22 a.m. ET Jan. 3, 2020 | Updated 4:33 p.m. ET Jan. 3, 2020

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With the opening of two heavily hyped Star Wars: Galaxys Edge lands, the Force continues to be strong at Mickeys theme parks on both coasts. The Dec. 5 debut of Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance at Disneys Hollywood Studios, part of Walt Disney World in Florida, rounded out the initial phase of the revolutionary land in grand style. It just may be the most sophisticated and arguably, the best attraction that Disneys merry band of Imagineers has yet developed. Rise is scheduled to open on Jan. 17 at the Disneyland version of Galaxys Edge in California.

But its not going to beall lightsabers and droids all the time. There are a ton of other new attractions, shows, updates, dining experiences, and more coming to Disneyland and, especially, Walt Disney World in 2020.

We are creating an idealistic Disney bubble so that guests can feel like they are in a magical place, says Bob Chapek, chairman of Disney parks, experiences, and products, about everything that is on the way.

Disney World:Rise of the Resistance puts riders in the middle of an epic 'Star Wars' battle

With Goofy serving as the engineer of a train ride that (in typical theme park fashion) will go horribly wrong, passengers will be transported into Mickeys cartoon realm when they ride Mickey & Minnies Runaway Railway.(Photo: Disney)

Who wouldnt want to be in a Mickey short cartoon? asks Kevin Rafferty, show writer and creative directorfor Walt Disney Imagineering. Thats his pitch for Mickey & Minnies Runaway Railway, which is scheduled to open March 4 at Disneys Hollywood Studios. Based on the wacky and highly stylized look and feel of the new Mickey Mouse series, the attraction the first ride-through experience to feature the beloved icon will incorporate the shorts offbeat humor and cadence while adhering to cartoon logic and physics, according to Rafferty.

With Goofy serving as the engineer of a train ride that (in typical theme park fashion) will go horribly wrong, passengers will be transported into Mickeys cartoon realm.

We have a winner, Chapek enthuses and predicts that Runaway Railway will be the sleeper hit of the year. A veteran Imagineer who has worked on many of the parks most popular attractions, Rafferty says that the Mickey ride is his favorite.

Youll also be able to catch an original cartoon in the style of the Disney Channel series at the new Mickey Shorts Theater. It will open in March at the Studios park as well.

Remys Ratatouille Adventure is based on Pixars Ratatouille and will take passengers through Gusteaus restaurant where they will experience culinary calamities from the perspective of Remy, a rat who aspires to be a gourmet chef.(Photo: Disney)

Epcot is undergoing a major transformation that will introduce new lands, welcome new additions, and update components of Disney Worlds second theme park. Trackless vehicles will be featured in Remys Ratatouille Adventure, which is scheduled to open at the France pavilion in the summer. Like a similar attraction at the Walt Disney Studios Park in Paris, it will be based on Pixars Ratatouille and will take passengers through Gusteaus restaurant where they will experience culinary calamities from the perspective of Remy, a rat who aspires to be a gourmet chef.

Epcot's new HarmonioUS is the largest nighttime spectacular ever created for a Disney park.(Photo: Disney)

The longstanding nighttime presentation, IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth, closed in 2019 and ceded the World Showcase Lagoon spotlight to Epcot Forever, a temporary show now playing that pays homage to the parks history. It will be replaced in 2020 by HarmonioUS, which Chapek touts as the largest-scale evening show that Disney has ever developed. Floating fountains and set pieces, a barrage of lights and lasers, and, of course, booming and blazing pyrotechnics will be choreographed to classic Disney songs as performed by a global array of musicians.

Angela Lansbury, who played Mrs. Potts, will coach would-be chanteuses in Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along, coming to the France pavilion.(Photo: WALT DISNEY PICTURES)

Curtains will rise on a trio of new Epcot films, all scheduled to debut on Jan. 17. You could put your warbling to the test and be the guest of Mrs. Potts herself, Angela Lansbury, as she coaches would-be chanteuses in Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along, coming to the France pavilion.

Comic actors and frequent collaborators (as well as Canucks) Eugene Levy and Catherine OHara will co-host Canada Far and Wide in Circle-Vision 360, the new in-the-round movie opening at the Canada pavilion. In-theater effects will punctuate Awesome Planet, a film to be shown at The Land pavilion that will celebrate the awesome place we call home.

Since most of us cant resist the lure of our mobile phones, we may as well use them in pursuit of fun during our Disney World visits. Epcot will introduce the latest version of its high-tech scavenger hunt, Disneys Duck Tales World Showcase Adventure. Using the Play Disney Parks mobile app, you and your buddies could join Donald and the gang for an interactive mission throughout the park.

Visitors will board a space elevator that will whisk them 220 miles above the Earth to Space 220 where they will enjoy a meal while gazing at the cosmos through expansive windows.(Photo: Disney)

An out-of-this-world dining experience awaits at Space 220, coming to Epcot this winter. Visitors will board a space elevator that will whisk them 220 miles above the Earth to a space station where they will enjoy a meal while gazing at the cosmos through expansive windows. Heres hoping Tang-infused martinis will be on the menu.

Back on terra firma, the France pavilion will welcome the new restaurant, La Crperie de Paris, featuring both sweet and savory versions of the yummy pancakes. Regal Eagle Smokehouse, opening this winter at Epcots American Adventure, will be serving barbeque and craft beers with the Muppets' Sam the Eagle ashost. Over at Disneys Hollywood Studios, more smoked delicacies will be available at the new Roundup Rodeo BBQ table-service restaurant coming to the parks Toy Story Land.

Roundup Rodeo BBQ is a new table-service restaurant coming to Toy Story Land in 2020.(Photo: Disney)

Cirque du Soleils tent-like theater at Disney Springs, the shopping, dining, and entertainment district at Disney World, has been dark since the long-running show, La Nouba, closed at the end of 2017. But it will spring to life on April 17 when the avant-garde troupe opens Drawn to Life. Created in collaboration with Disney, the production will feature the studios animated movies and characters.

The Magic Happens parade, debuting Feb. 28, will feature characters from Disney and Pixar films such as Frozen, Sleeping Beauty, Moana, and Coco.(Photo: Disney)

Disney parks love a parade, and beginning Feb. 28, the Magic Happens procession will step off at Disneyland. Mickey Mouse and his buddies will be at the helm, and other floats will feature characters from Disney and Pixar films such as Frozen, Sleeping Beauty, Moana, and Coco.

This parade celebrates the way magic affects both the characters in the stories and the guests who are watching, says Jordan Peterson, show director. Magic Happens is like a love letter to those special transformative moments.

Marvel, a key branch of the Disney empire, will establish more of a presence at the U.S. parks with the opening of the Avengers Campus at Disney California Adventure Park, part of Californias Disneyland Resort, in 2020.(Photo: Disney/Marvel)

Marvel, a key branch of the Disney empire, will establish more of a presence at the U.S. parks with the opening of the Avengers Campus at Disney California Adventure Park, part of Californias Disneyland Resort, in 2020.

The highlight of the new land will be an interactive attraction featuring Spider-Man. Recruits aboard Web-Slinger vehicles will help Spidey collect Spider-Bots, pesky surveillance devices developed by the nefarious Otto Octavius, otherwise known as Doctor Doc Ock Octopus.

The Web-Slinger technology is extraordinary, Chapek says, because it enables guests to act like Spider-Man. I think it is going to blow everyone away.

Youll also be able to order oversized and miniaturized food items at Pym Test Kitchen, courtesy of the Pym Particles developed by Ant-Man and The Wasp. Other over-muscled comic book heroes from Black Panther, Thor, Guardians of the Galaxyand Doctor Strange will take up residence at the Avengers Campus.

Walt Disney once said, Disneyland will never be completed ... as long as there is imagination left in the world. With everything that is planned for 2020, his ethos would seem to pervade all of the Disney parks. But Walts clarion call for expansion and renewal even applies to his parks original attractions.

Sixty-five years after it debuted, Snow Whites Scary Adventures is getting a makeover. When it reopens this year, the classic dark ride will be spiffed up inside and out and feature new technology such as laser projections and LED black lighting as well as new scenes such as the princess waking from her deep slumber.

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New at Disney World and Disneyland in 2020: Avengers Campus, Epcot updates - USA TODAY

The Cardinals conducted their customary day-after-the-season proceedings Monday. Coach Kliff Kingsbury held a news conference. Players cleared out their lockers. Backup quarterback Brett Hundley was off to travel the world, hopeful to dive in Australias Great Barrier Reef.

OK, unless youre Larry Fitzgerald, that last one isnt quite so routine.

Anyway, its time to put the season to bed. Here are five final thoughts on the 2019 Arizona Cardinals and what they mean for 2020.

Vance Josephs retention

Kingsburys announcement that Vance Joseph will return as defensive coordinator was no surprise. Kingsbury values stability, and firing Joseph would have meant a fourth coordinator in four years.

I never wavered in that, Kingsbury said. His approach, knowing what I know of him and watching him work, things I saw from the first day I was with him, I knew I wanted him to be here.

Joseph also had the support of the...

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From Kyler Murray to Patrick Peterson: Five final 2019 thoughts and a look ahead to 2020 - The Athletic

By Ela on November 25, 2018 | 72 Comments As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases

This Vegan Shepherds Pie is the perfect comfort food which is gluten-free and easy to make. Made with lentils, veggies, and mashed potatoes! A great meat-free dinner recipe which is flavorful and very tasty!

Delicious lentil veggie pie with mashed potato topping. Thats what I made for dinner quite often during the past few weeks. However, when I use this phrase to name this dish, nobody will find my recipe, obviously. Its probably easier and much shorter when I call it Vegan Shepherds Pie.

The name isnt very important though. The taste is what matters. And let me tell you, this dish tastes awesome. And its free of lamb (the main ingredient of a regular Shepherds Pie).

I know, I didnt want to write about the name any longer, however, some people mix up Shepherds Pie and Cottage Pie. The difference between a Shepherds Pie and a Cottage Pie is the filling. As mentioned before, a Shepherds Pie contains lamb, whereas a Cottage Pie contains beef.

Of course, as a vegan, I definitely wont use lamb or beef. I made this meat-free recipe with lentils instead. Because not only are lentils delicious, they are also rich in protein, fiber, many minerals and therefore very healthy. And cruelty-free.

I made this Vegan Shepherds Pie with onion, carrots, peas, corn, and celery. You can also add broccoli, cauliflower or any other veggies of choice. What about mushrooms?! Yes! Why not. Simply add what you love most and leave out what you dislike. Dont be afraid to experiment.

You probably already have all ingredients at home to make this healthy Vegan Shepherds Pie. The recipe isnt complicated at all and is ready in less than one hour. All you need is lentils, potatoes, veggies of choice, a couple of condiments and a baking dish. Thats it.

I really love to vary my dishes and try out new recipes. Also, its so much more fun to experiment in the kitchen.

The recipe serves 4 but my boyfriend actually went completely crazy about this Vegan Shepherds Pie when I made it for the first time. We both gobbled up the whole dish within minutes, haha. Guess what we had for Thanksgiving this year? Yes, this yumminess, of course. And I cant wait to make it again soon.

If you make this tasty dish and maybe even take a photo of it, then I would love to see it. You can DM it to me on Instagram. Dont forget to tag me in your Insta caption + photo with @elavegan and use the hashtag #elavegan and I will gladly check out your post.

And if you love casseroles, then definitely also check out my Creamy Potato Bake, my Hearty Vegan Moussaka, and my Easy Broccoli Quinoa Casserole.

This Vegan Shepherds Pie is the perfect comfort food which is gluten-free and easy to make. Made with lentils, veggies, and mashed potatoes! A great meat-free dinner recipe which is flavorful and very tasty!

Prep Time25 mins

Cook Time20 mins

Total Time45 mins

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: British, Irish

Keyword: Cottage Pie, gluten-free, Shepherds Pie, vegan

Servings: 4

Calories: 458kcal

Watch the video (scroll down a bit) to see all instruction steps.

Peel and chop potatoes, transfer them to a pot with salted water and bring to a boil. Cook on medium heat for about 15 minutes or until tender, drain.

Transfer back to the pot, add vegan butter, plant-based milk, nutmeg, black pepper and sea salt to taste and mash with a potato masher (don't use a food processor or blender).

In the meantime, heat oil in a skillet over medium heat, add onion, garlic, carrot, celery, and all spices. Fry for about 3 minutes.

Add tomato paste, soy sauce, balsamic vinegar and stir to combine.

Add cooked lentils, corn, and peas and pour in the red wine and vegetable stock. Bring to a boil and let simmer for about 5-7 minutes or until slightly reduced.

Preheat oven to 390 degrees F (200 degrees C).

Spoon the lentil mixture into a baking dish (I used a square 9" baker). Spoon the mashed potatoes over the lentil mixture.

Bake for about 15 minutes, then broil for a few minutes to get it golden brown on top.

Garnish with fresh herbs and enjoy!

Nutrition Facts

Vegan Shepherd's Pie

Amount Per Serving

Calories 458 Calories from Fat 72

% Daily Value*

Fat 8g12%

Carbohydrates 66g22%

Fiber 13.5g54%

Sugar 8.5g9%

Protein 16g32%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Calories: 458kcal | Carbohydrates: 66g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 8g | Fiber: 13.5g | Sugar: 8.5g

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Vegan Shepherds Pie | Gluten-Free Recipe - Elavegan

These delicious vegan collard greens are simple enough for a weeknight meal but have enough flavor to serve to guests or as a holiday dish. You can whip up this tasty side dish in less than 30 minutes.

Using just a few ingredients, these warm savory greens are easy to cook, versatile and flavorful. Theyre ready in less than 30 minutes and add flavor to any dinner table.

What to serve with collard greens? I love my Vegan Mashed Sweet Potatoes, Vegan Sweet Potato Casserole, and Butternut Squash Soup.

Before we start cooking, the collard greens need to be trimmed. You may choose to keep the thick central ribs intact or remove them, based on personal preference. For this recipe, I remove them.

Once youve removed the stems, stack the leaves on top of each other. Using a sharp knife, cut thin strips across the leaves, creating long ribbons. Once youre done, give it a few horizontal chops to create shorter ribbons.

Now the collard greens are ready to be cooked!

In this recipe, well cook the collard greens with garlic, onion, and tomatoes to create a savory, tasty side dish.

Heres everything youll need:

This recipe can easily be doubled, however, I recommend cooking in batches as the collards will fill up the pan until they are cooked down.

Pro-Tip: Use a large, heavy-bottomed skillet to cook collard greens.

1. Prepare the collard greens: Prepare the collard greens by removing thick central ribs, stacking up the leaves, and slicing into thin strips.

2. Cook garlic and onion: Heat a large, heavy-bottomed skillet over medium-low heat. Add the garlic and onion and cook until the onions become translucent and fragrant, about 8-10 minutes.

3. Add tomatoes: Stir in the tomatoes and increase heat to medium. Cook until soft, about 3 minutes.

4. Add remaining ingredients: Add the chopped collard greens, salt, pepper, paprika, vinegar, and stir until the greens are coated with the mixture. Reduce the heat to low, and cook until the greens are wilted and dark green, about 15-20 minutes, stirring frequently.

Pro-Tip: If using fresh tomatoes, you may need to add a tablespoon or two of veggie broth or water to make sure theres enough liquid to cook the collards in.

To Store in the Fridge: Cool down completely before storing in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

To Warm Up: When ready to serve, warm up on a pan. Add a tablespoon of water to add moisture, if needed. Alternatively, use the microwave to warm up.

These vegan collard greens have a fresh and tangy flavor, which makes them perfect for pairing with any main course. A few of my favorite options are:

If you tried this Vegan Collard Greens recipe or any other recipe, dont forget to rate the recipe and let me know what you think. You can also follow me on Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook for more delicious recipes!

These delicious vegan collard greens are simple enough for a weeknight meal but have enough flavor to serve to guests or as a Thanksgiving side dish. Quick and easy to make, they come together in less than 30 minutes.

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes

Servings: 2 servings

Calories: 143kcal

Prepare the collard greens by removing thick central ribs, stacking up the leaves, and slicing into thin strips.

Heat a large, heavy-bottomed skillet over medium-low heat. Add the garlic and onion and cook until the onions become translucent and fragrant, about 8-10 minutes.

Stir in the tomatoes and increase heat to medium. Cook until soft, about 3 minutes.

Add the chopped collard greens, salt, pepper, paprika, vinegar, and stir until the greens are coated with the mixture. Reduce the heat to low, and cook until the greens are wilted and dark green, about 15-20 minutes, stirring frequently. Add a few tablespoons of water, if needed, throughout the cooking process (*see note).

Turn off heat and serve.

*If the collard greens start to stick to the pan, you can deglaze the pan with a bit of water (I recommend 1 tablespoon of water at a time, as needed) to prevent sticking.

Calories: 143kcal, Carbohydrates: 17g, Protein: 5g, Fat: 8g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Sodium: 613mg, Potassium: 531mg, Fiber: 6g, Sugar: 6g, Vitamin A: 5401IU, Vitamin C: 50mg, Calcium: 276mg, Iron: 2mg

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: vegan collard greens

Sapana Chandra is a certified health coach, author of Plant Power Bowls, and founder of Real +Vibrant. Here youll find simply delicious vegetarian recipes with step-by-step photo instructions recipes youll be excited to enjoy and share with your loved ones.

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Vegan Collard Greens (Quick and Easy) - Real + Vibrant