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New York Times
a day ago
- Entertainment
- New York Times
A Year in the Life (and Mind) of a Precocious Teenager
PAN, by Michael Clune Nicholas, a restive 15-year-old recently diagnosed with a panic disorder, stares out a school window one February morning and observes: 'The sun had lost its winter quality. In winter the sunlight stands apart from things. When the winter sun touches the brick of the path, it's like a hand touching a cheek. But when the spring sun touches brick, it goes into it.' Then, having offered this lush, near-supernatural vision in granular detail, Nicholas tears off a scrap of notebook paper, writes 'SPRING HAS STARTED,' wads it up and chucks it at his classroom crush. This is the rhythm of Michael Clune's first novel, 'Pan' — a steady oscillation between deliciously observed, ferociously strange fragments of consciousness and the social kabuki of the tragicomic teenage bildungsroman. Nicholas lives with his father in the placid suburbs of Chicago. He's preternaturally smart and obsessed with social standing at his Catholic high school. When he starts getting panic attacks, he's advised by a doctor to treat them by breathing into brown paper bags. He tries it, to mixed results. 'They're medical bags,' Nicholas explains to a skeptical nun who thinks he's going to steal things in them. He and his best friend, Ty, take up with Tod, a popular kid — 'he appeared to be possessed by a level of coolness that was totally unique in our high school' — with access to weed. They start going to Tod's barn, where most of the story takes place, and get stoned with Tod's older brother, Ian, and Nicholas's crush, Sarah. The characters trade half-baked argle-bargle ('Do you want to know the secret of how to get solid mind?'), discuss classics ('Maybe daylight is the rock … Sissyfuss's rock') and participate in bizarre rituals set up by Ian, who becomes something of a deranged cult leader. Nicholas's stoner-savant voice ('Bach is like math class for feelings') sometimes swerves into a register well beyond any teenager's ('As the days passed, my consciousness developed a queer economy'). This can be jarring, especially since Clune has so elegantly set up a narrative playground where we can reasonably believe Nicholas is stumbling into Bach, Baudelaire, Camus and Wilde. Reading his experience of these raptures is invigorating and often hilarious. It's not all high art either; Nicholas and Sarah love Boston's 'More Than a Feeling' with an effervescent lack of irony. There are a handful of instances, however, when readers may feel the snag of Wait a minute, that's not Nicholas talking — that's Michael Clune. I was reminded of Robert Hayden's poem 'Those Winter Sundays,' in which we feel the presence of a fully mature author in a scene taking place in his youth. The tacit temporal delta allows the author an idiom ('love's austere and lonely offices') that he wouldn't have had at such a young age. Like 'Those Winter Sundays,' 'Pan' is written in the past tense, but I can recall only two overt acknowledgments of this gulf, one when Nicholas describes the emptiness of his father's walls: 'In reality there probably was something on the walls, but I can't see it from the angle I'm looking at it, coming from the future.' The other happens at the very end of the book, in a two-sentence coda. Still, when we're really in Nicholas's mind, we never want to leave. He loves 'Salome' but says of Wilde's other plays: 'They were about rich English people who ate cucumber sandwiches and did things like threaten to leave the room.' When he feels a panic attack coming on, Nicholas begins reading the first book at his side, a paperback edition of 'Ivanhoe.' As long as Nicholas stays in the story, he can keep the attacks at bay. Unfortunately, he finishes the novel: 'At 4:35 a.m. 'Ivanhoe' ended. I put down the book. … Then I walked downstairs and told Dad that I was having a heart attack.' I used to teach middle and high school, and I remember acutely how often people condescended to my students' feelings, using phrases like 'it's just a phase' or 'puppy love' to describe the emotional realities of human beings at an age when they're most self-conscious, most emotionally volatile, most skinless. Clune understands that at any given stage of our lives, we are yoked to unprecedented subjectivities. Nicholas can't experience suffering outside his own any more than I can experience the pain of childbirth right now. This means compassion is a function of imagination, and watching Nicholas's empathy come robustly alive and calibrate itself against his panic and his parents' divorce, against art and friendship and sex, is thrilling. 'Pan,' named after the Greek god who Nicholas suspects is provoking his panic attacks, is a novel of the racing, wasted, disordered mind: Don't expect much in the way of big narrative twists. This is simply one year in the life of a precocious suburban kid. The juice here is watching Clune's little cyclones of thought, vortical whooshes around art, drugs, sex and analysis. (There is a scene with a therapist and biofeedback monitor that I will never forget.) Clune has previously published excellent works of nonfiction, including 'White Out,' about time and the author's heroin addiction, and 'Gamelife,' a brilliant and strange sequence of essays exploring video games as a metaphysical foil. In his fiction debut, he is writing in the tradition of Proust, Sebald, Jenny Offill, Teju Cole and Nicholson Baker, writers whose eccentricities manifest in singular voices that are propulsive enough without pyrotechnic narratives. Like a great painter, Clune can show us the mind, the world, with just a few well-placed verbs: 'The afternoon wore 'Gilligan's Island' colors … like '60s television, bleeding out a little over the edges of shapes. Like dead people remembering earth.' I could have read 300 pages of just this — Nicholas looking out the window and describing what he saw — and felt that I'd gotten my money's worth. PAN | By Michael Clune | Penguin Press | 323 pp. | $29
Daily Record
24-06-2025
- Daily Record
Scotland's best 'whimsical fairy walks' for family day out this summer named
The country's top fairy trails have been crowned. Scotland's top "whimsical fairy walks" for a family day out this summer have been named. The list was put together by experts at VisitScotland. With June almost over and the middle of summer on the horizon, now is a great time to head out on a family walk. For those who are looking for something to do with their little ones, Scotland is home to numerous fairy walks. VisitScotland shared a roundup of "whimsical fairy walks to explore in Scotland". A total of 11 trails and gardens across the country are featured on the list. One Scottish fairy walk singled out by the experts is Ardkinglas Woodland Garden near the hamlet of Cairndow in Argyll. The garden is known for its popular Gruffalo and Fairy trails. The Gruffalo trail at Ardkinglas Woodland Garden uses boards that show extracts from the Scots version of the famous book to link the story to the surroundings. The 400-metre-long walk features sculptures of characters Mouse and Gruffalo and features recognisable landmarks from the book such as Tod's den, Hoolet's home, and Snake's logpile house. Meanwhile, the garden's Fairy trail is situated in the lower part of the woodlands. It includes a number of specially designed fairy houses for little ones to discover. VisitScotland praised Ardkinglas Woodland Garden for its "atmospheric woodland" and "cathedral-like canopy of soaring trees". The experts also described the attraction as "spellbinding" for both children and adults. A second "whimsical" walk in Scotland named by VisitScotland is The Secret Forest at Kelburn Estate. The estate, which is most well-known for its colourful castle, is home to the Secret Forest. The Secret Forest is comprised of a labyrinthine trail through the estate's surrounding woodlands. It includes houses for giants, swamps for crocodiles, and even a 35-feet-high Pagoda. Elsewhere, VisitScotland also singled out the Loch Lomond Faerie Trail. Located in the village of Luss along the western shore of Loch Lomond, the trail offers a "delightful adventure through our enchanting woodlands" according to its website. The Loch Lomond Faerie Trail features fairy houses, sparkly wings, and "magical" mushrooms. All tickets also include a visit to Faerie Tale Farm, which is home to animals such as Highland Cows, donkeys, goats, and sheep. Another fairy walk named among the most "whimsical" in Scotland is The Bubbling Toad in Gorebridge. Situated just outside of Edinburgh, the attraction features a 'Hollow' filled with scrolls and hanging charms and an area for 'potion-making'. VisitScotland stated: "Scotland's fairy trails and magical walks are perfect for all ages. From castle grounds to city parks, these family-friendly routes will enchant you with awe-inspiring landscapes that feel lifted from a fantasy tale. "Whether you're exploring with little ones or seeking an imaginative escape, these trails promise magic at every turn." More information and the full list of "11 Whimsical fairy walks to explore in Scotland" can be found on the VisitScotland website.
Daily Mirror
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Food reviewer told he has 'no class' after 'rude' act at The Ritz
Toby Inskip, known by his social media handle Eating with Tod, filmed himself enjoying a dining experience at The Ritz, but one 'rude' act left people declaring he has 'no class' A food reviewer on Instagram who regularly films his unique dining experiences across the country has been told he has "no class" after visiting The Ritz. Toby Inskip, known on social media as Eating with Tod, headed to the world-famous hotel to dine in its stunning restaurant, which was recently awarded a second Michelin star. But commenters on his latest Instagram video were not interested in the impressive array of dishes he was served during his visit and could only talk about one thing - his table manners. They claimed one thing he did while tucking into his lavish meal was so "rude" that it put them off the video, with others stating he has "no respect" for the "high-class restaurant". The Ritz is a five-star luxury hotel in London, and its two-Michelin-star restaurant is considered to be one of the most beautiful dining rooms in the world, complete with marble columns, chandeliers, and floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook nearby Green Park. When Tod visited the restaurant, he tucked into a seven-course tasting menu that cost £221 per person. He started with a selection of canapés and a wine list that he claimed was 73 pages long. He filmed himself tucking into pâté that he described as the best he'd ever had before moving on to a "sublime" dish of turbot, followed by truffle pasta. During this segment of his video, he praised The Ritz for their impressive sauces, and was seen drinking the last drops directly from the gravy boat he was given. Next was the "star of the show" - chestnut-fed pigeon. This dish involved several trolleys that were wheeled to Tod's seat, where restaurant staff could be seen making the sauces for his dinner right in front of his eyes. He said: "Every bite literally booted my tastebuds for six. I was not wasting anything. Who needs a dishwasher when the food tastes this good?" At this point, he made the faux pas that had people in the comments reeling - he licked his plate. One person commented: "Sorry, but you have no class here. Licking the plate at such a high-class restaurant is totally uncalled for. No respect." Another added: "Looks incredible. Your table manners, not so much. Why? Just why?" While a third posted: "Licking the plate and knife and eating with your hands? In the Ritz? Showing as much class as a school summer holiday." The meal didn't end there, though. Tod was served "the best cheese board" he had ever eaten, coupled with port from 1896 and topped off with a delicious chocolate soufflé for dessert. It seemed that The Ritz staff didn't mind his plate-licking antics either, as the restaurant's Instagram account responded in the comments with a heart-eyes emoji. And as many other commenters pointed out, licking the plate or miming the action is part of Tod's branding. He does a similar thing in many of his videos to show his appreciation for the food, and it isn't meant to be rude. One person stated: "I really appreciate how descriptive this was. Sometimes I'm a bit grossed out by the videos when you do kind of stuff your face, but licking a plate is very fun and feels like what I'd do. I know it's probably all branding. Also, as someone who'll never be able to afford the Ritz, thanks for sharing inside it." Another defended Tod's table manners, writing: "Why are so many people being so mean ... he's having the time of his life! Good on him, I'm so jealous!"
Miami Herald
28-05-2025
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
Think Your F50 is Complete? These Rare Factory Gems Beg to Differ
Having a supercar or any other car whose value rivals that of a small house is only part of the ownership experience. Manufacturers know that without those select few who can afford their flagship models, they would very likely not be in business. To make your ownership experience even more special, and to hopefully have you come back in the future, everyone from Ferrari and Lamborghini to Koenigsegg, Pagani, and Bugatti will include some kind of accessory or item(s) that go(es) along with your new supercar. What happens when those supercars exchange hands, though? It's likely that some of the items that were originally included with the car either get misplaced or the original owner hangs on to them either by mistake or as a keepsake. That's where companies like AutomobiliaX come in, whose sole focus is to make sure that your ownership experience is as complete as it can be by sourcing these special items or accessories. Examples of this vary wildly, from an original Bugatti EB110 Tool Kit to the Porsche Carrera GT Pre-Delivery Package, but here are two snazzy items you might not have known came with one of Ferrari's most prized examples: the F50. It should be common sense, of course, that one can't simply drive a Ferrari F50 in a pair of New Balances. That's where the Tod's Ferrari Driving Shoes come in. The Italian luxury brand Tod's has a history of collaborating with Ferrari on special driving shoes, but the F50 driving shoes were made exclusively for Ferrari F50 owners. The shoes featured an F50 label inside and were made by Tod's "Competition" department to make sure you knew they were special. Finding these is about as rare as hen's teeth, but how sweet would you look coming out of your Ferrari F50 with these bad boys on? Your car might have come with a branded document pouch, but I can promise you it won't beat the official Ferrari F50 document pouch. Not only was it engraved with the original owner's initials, but it also contained a second, numbered inner pouch made by the famed Italian leather craftsmen at Schedoni. Here's the real kicker: in the pouch was a letter from Ferrari that asked you how you felt about your F50 experience. That's the closest you would get to Ferrari calling you up to see how you like your car. Each pouch was also linked to the specific F50 it was delivered with, so even if you happen to find one, the chances that it's the one your F50 came with are even slimmer. This is only scratching the surface of supercar-exclusive accessories, but you get the idea. Owning something like a Ferrari F50 is something truly special that goes beyond just the car, to the items that come with it, and the inevitable social interactions at any show or gathering. It's the beauty of all of that combined that makes our automotive hobby so special. Now, yes, most of us would be satisfied with simply owning an F50, but for those select few who absolutely must have the entire package as the manufacturer intended, you know who to hit up. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
The Aston Martin Mex'Uk Vantage in Photos
More from Robb Report Tod's New Coffee Table Book May Be the Best Shopping Guide to Italy Inside a $12 Million Miami Home Inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright Oyster Just Unveiled a Round-the-World 80-Foot Sailing Yacht Best of Robb Report The 2024 Chevy C8 Corvette: Everything We Know About the Powerful Mid-Engine Beast The World's Best Superyacht Shipyards The ABCs of Chartering a Yacht Click here to read the full article. The Aston Martin Mex'Uk Vantage in white. The Aston Martin Mex'Uk Vantage in red. The Aston Martin Mex'Uk Vantage from the passenger seat. The Aston Martin Mex'Uk Vantage's hood. The Aston Martin Mex'Uk Vantage's steering wheel and console.
