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ARTS & CULTURE

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LIFESTYLE

LIFESTYLE

ON SCREEN

Anna Souroullas takes a look at the latest blockbusters, ready-to-stream films, cinema releases and DVDs

KATE

Release Date: 10th September Director: Cedric Nicolas-Troyan Starring: Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Woody Harrelson, Michiel Huisman

Certificate:

In this action adventure, we follow Kate, a ruthless criminal operative. After she’s irreversibly poisoned, she seeks to take revenge on her enemies. On her journey for retribution, Kate forms an unexpected bond with the daughter of one of her past victims. Will Kate succeed in time, or will their crimes go unpunished forever? n

VENOM:

LET THERE BE CARNAGE

Release Date: 15th September Director: Andy Serkis Starring: Tom Hardy, Michelle Williams, Woody Harrelson, Stephen Graham, Naomie Harris and Reid Scott

Certificate: CINEMA

RELEASE

In this sequel, we join investigative journalist Eddie Brock over a year after the events of Venom. Struggling to adjust to life as the host of the alien symbiote Venom, Brock is determined to reignite his career by interviewing Cletus Kasady – a serial killer like no other. He becomes the host of the alien Carnage and after a failed execution attempt, Cletus escapes prison. Will Brock’s super-human abilities be enough, or will Kasady prevail? n

THE CONJURING:

THE DEVIL MADE ME DO IT

Release Date: 6th September Director: Michael Chaves Starring: Patrick Wilson, Vera Farmiga, Ruairi O’Connor, Sarah Catherine Hook, Julia Hilliard and John Noble

Certificate:

DVD

In this chilling story of unknown evil, Ed and Lorraine Warren investigate the dark truth behind a murder. A dazed and bloodied man is discovered walking down a road by a police officer and is accused of murder, but not everything is as it may seem. A supernatural inquiry unlike anything the Warrens have ever seen before leaves these experienced real-life paranormal investigators shocked. The suspect claims to have been possessed, but did they commit their heinous acts unwillingly or of their own free will? n

GOOD READ

Lauren Molyneux curls up with a good book to review the latest best seller

Thought Economics

Vikas Shah

In his thought-provoking debut, Manchester writer, entrepreneur and MBE Vikas Shah collates the perspectives of some of the world’s greatest thinkers, philosophers, literary figures, business leaders, politicians, artists and Olympians on the big questions we have, and currently continue, to face. Framing his discussions around addressing the core concepts of who we are, and what makes us, within Thought Economics, Shah shares the responses he’s been met with whilst engaging in conversation with some of the remarkable people that are currently shaping our century. Providing readers with a variety of insights which seek to broaden our understanding, and perhaps shift our perspectives on the most basic and the most complex of topics, Shah speaks with such accomplished and distinguished figures as Noam Chomsky, Maya Angelou, Melinda Gates, Elif Shafak, Sheryl Sandberg, Muhammad Yuna, Matt Haig, Bertie Ahern, F W de Klerk, Mark Cuban, Laura Bates, Deepak Chopra and Tracy Emin, amongst others, to address concepts of identity, culture, leadership and entrepreneurship, creativity, discrimination, segregation and injustice, conflict, war and peace, democracy and power. Whilst inspiring readers to dig deeper and ask questions of themselves and others, the conversations captured serve not only to stimulate thought and further discussion, encompassing attitudes on everything from spirituality, art, and education to science, government, and history – they do so while retaining a sense of honesty, authenticity and truth and you can’t help but feel quite distinctly whilst reading that you’re changing, perhaps evolving in some way, as a result of the words written on the pages. Thought Economics is a treat for the curious mind, brilliantly captured and put together, providing rich ground for conversation, an apt introduction into modern philosophy and a wide-reaching context for humanity. Engaging from the offset, it’s one that can be read in a single sitting or picked up at leisure to give snippets of inspiration and encouragement and valuable reflections on what it is to be human in a 21st-century world. n

NOVEL INSPIRATION

Julia Jefferson has recently published her second novel, a domestic noir thriller that has received rave reviews

Having always wanted to write a novel, English teacher Julia Jefferson got the idea for her first book three years ago during a conversation with a good friend.

“I have always been an avid reader but never thought I had the stamina to write a book,” explains Julia, who works at Pendle Vale College. “But I was chatting to a good friend who mentioned that there was very little out there in terms of LGBT literature. She had an awful experience as a teenager as her family found it very difficult to accept she was gay and weren’t very supportive.”

Julia’s first book Proud questions the reader’s fixed ideas on gender and sexuality. It also covers the main character’s ‘coming out’ and questions homophobic behaviour and the deep-rooted intolerance displayed within some cultures.

Written under a pseudonym, J J Perri, Proud has received rave reviews on Twitter and Amazon. One reader commented: “This book is very timely. It shows bigotry being confronted not by isolation but by people standing together in the face of intolerance and violence. More power to you J J Perri.”

Another wrote: “The style and construction of the novel with its intermittent flashbacks and the extensive building of the main characters’ lives and personalities is very well executed.”

Julia adds: “The LGBT genre for young adults is quite niche so I found marketing the book quite difficult, but I have had some great feedback, which has made it all worthwhile. I loved writing it!

“I had a lot of inspiration for this book and I learnt so much. I spoke to many people who gave me lots of motivation and I found that by the time I had finished it, I felt very humbled. I really understood what it must be like for these people to feel you have to hide who you really are.”

Last year’s lockdown sparked Julia’s second book The Beginning is the End, a psychological domestic noir thriller charting the relationship between a young couple Layla and Matt: “The book is written in the third person and has a dual narrative. One of the character’s narrative works back from the end while the other narrative works from the beginning to the end – they meet in the middle when it becomes clear what is happening and who the villain is.

“The structure of the novel means that the reader is aware from the beginning that the story ends tragically,” says Julia, who self-published the book with Amazon.

“My sister and niece helped proof read and after reading the first two chapters, as delicately as they could, told me they thought it was little awkward. It’s always difficult to accept criticism and I think I was a little prickly but when I asked them to explain further, they said it sounded like it had been written by an English teacher!

“When I read it back I could see how contrived and affected it actually was. With their input and honesty, I totally re-wrote it and just let it flow and it worked much better.

“For a while it was definitely a work in progress but I now have a Kindle version and paperback version. It’s amazing to be able to do that – especially when the book arrives through your letterbox!”

Reviews for The Beginning is the End have been similarly positive. One reader comments: “This was scary. A real thought-provoking psychological thriller that kept me gripped to the end.”

Another adds: “A pacy read. The characters are convincing and the switch between time frames deftly handled. An enjoyable read that reveals the art of manipulation and how that becomes a dangerous and destructive force within a relationship.” n

THIS BOOK IS VERY TIMELY. IT SHOWS BIGOTRY BEING CONFRONTED NOT BY ISOLATION BUT BY PEOPLE STANDING TOGETHER IN THE FACE OF INTOLERANCE AND VIOLENCE

Proud by J J Perri and The Beginning is the End by Julia Jefferson are available in Kindle and paperback version from: amazon.co.uk

how and when you would like to sell them. They can purchase items from the customer or they can sell them directly through the auction.

House clearances are another big area for Lancashire Auction House, where Mark will visit the property, discuss and quote for clearing whole or part clearances. Any items that can be auctioned will then be deducted from the quote, helping cover the cost of clearing the house and in some cases making a tidy profit for the client.

WE’RE PLANNING TO EXPAND OUR LIVE AUCTIONS OVER THE COMING MONTHS AS THERE IS A GROWING DEMAND FOR THEM

Live auctions currently take place on a Monday evening, where clients can bid for goods on the phone, online or

GOING, GOING… GONE!

From vintage toys to military memorabilia, house clearances to classic cars, if you have something that you want to sell, the team at Lancashire Auction House are the go-to people to help you out, writes Meena McDonald. Photography: Andrew Tighe

It’s not unusual for people to have items that are no longer of interest to them which just sit at home gathering dust. Instead, why don’t you auction them and make some money from them?

Lancashire Auction House would be delighted to take them off your hands, in particular vintage toys, militaria, jewellery and antiques.

Established in 2018 by husband and wife team Mark and Sue Galbraith, the business has expanded rapidly over the past few years. They take great pride in the items they auction which include period furniture, vintage collectables, classic cars, motorbikes and religious memorabilia.

The expert team will be delighted to help you value your items and establish at the welcoming Lancashire Auction House premises at Rawtenstall, where refreshments will also be available.

Online auctions are ongoing via easyliveauction.com and clients can bid for a wide range of unusual items via their secure online site.

Sue commented: “We find clients really enjoy coming into the auction house where they can browse the many unique items we have on display. They often end up purchasing many more products than they’d originally anticipated! We’re planning to expand our live auctions over the coming months as there is a growing demand for them.”

Clients of the Lancashire Auction House range from early 20s right through to pensioners and include collectors, traders and the general public, many of whom have become regular clients. Some are looking to refurbish their homes with distinct and interesting items so the auction house is ideal for them.

Having set up secure online trading facilities before lockdown, Lancashire Auction House was able to continue trading online via easyliveauction.com during this period. Many other organisations in the area unfortunately were not able to do this, so Mark and Sue helped numerous local charities selling items for them to raise much-needed cash to get through the challenging times.

So, if you’re looking to sell items you no longer require or would like a house cleared, then get in touch with the friendly and knowledgeable team at Lancashire Auction House, who will be delighted to have a chat with you, make you a drink and see how they can help you. n

SOME ARE LOOKING TO REFURBISH THEIR HOMES WITH DISTINCT AND INTERESTING ITEMS SO THE AUCTION HOUSE IS IDEAL FOR THEM

Lancashire Auction House Unit 5 Brookside Business Park Burnley Road, Rawtenstall BB4 8LP 01706 213333 07538 141436 mark@lancashireauctionhouse.co.uk lancashireauctionhouse.co.uk

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