King

Filmmaker Paul Greengrass is often associated with a cinematic aesthetic colloquially known as “shaky cam” — handheld cinematography enabled by lightweight digital cameras that function a lot like another character in the room, on foot, at eye-level, responding and reacting to action and dialogue the way a person would.

It’s a style that has served him well in modern action thrillers like his installments of the “Bourne” franchise, and films depicting recent real-world events like “Captain Phillips” and “The Lost Bus.” Now, Greengrass applies his signature style to the Middle Ages — can shaky cam work in a medieval movie?

It may seem odd, but it’s a brilliant creative choice when considering that while “The Uprising” is technically about the 1381 Peasants’ Revolt in England, that’s not really what it’s about. It’s about right now.

The shaky cam is intended to jolt us into that awareness. When we pick up with our protagonist, a pathetic ploughman (Andrew Garfield) living a grief-filled and wretched existence, a plague has wiped out half the population. A small group of men hoards wealth and resources, while the peasant class is heavily taxed, laws brutally enforced. As Greengrass lays out the bare facts of this situation with a cinematic style that’s more news documentary than stuffy period piece, the parallels to our own current situation are laid bare.

“The Uprising,” which Greengrass wrote and directed, is told in a fairly simple fashion, with an emphasis on visual storytelling and visceral sensation (the disparate English accents are also lost in the melee of the mob). All we need to know is that the council advising the 14-year-old King Richard II (Woody Norman) conspires while the young royal prays and his mother (Katherine Waterston) glowers. Outside, a bloodthirsty mob armed with farm tools marches on London, led in part by Garfield’s ploughman, who started his own local uprising when he fought back against the taxman. He joins forces with Wat Tyler (Cosmo Jarvis), a former soldier, and John Ball (Jamie Bell), a priest deemed heretic, as the crowd demands an audience with the king.

As the chaos unfolds, Greengrass doesn’t pontificate on the morality of these events and, in fact, maintains a rather neutral stance on them for most of the film, withholding judgment. A revolution is not right or wrong for most of “The Uprising.” It is simply inevitable under the conditions the film presents.

The ploughman wants to play by the rules, but it’s how the revolt plays out that radicalizes him. While Greengrass shows us the uprising in all its messy confusion as the logical outcome of oppression, by following our protagonist as he witnesses treachery and deceit, Greengrass ultimately arrives at the belief that revolution is necessary, even in failure, and that freedom is worth more than anything.

The opening and closing of “The Uprising” are bracing and stark in their storytelling — the middle is a bit mushy and confusing. But it’s the performances that carry us through. Garfield, sensitive and earthy, is our bellwether as the events descend into bloody carnage dictated by muddled agendas. When he turns, we turn, and the anguish that Garfield wordlessly conveys is our compass.

Greengrass surrounds Garfield with actors who deliver bigger performances, like Jarvis as the brutish but shrewd Tyler, and Bell as the fervent Ball. Thomasin McKenzie plays a young woman, Alyce, steeped in her own trauma and loss, who attaches herself to the ploughman, and her ability to express wide-eyed, barely contained hysteria and fear is unmatched. Young Norman is riveting as the increasingly dastardly king.

The Peasant’s Revolt of 1381 is a fascinating moment because it’s a time when the notion of democracy wasn’t even a twinkle in a feudal servant’s eye. The mob’s actions are frustrating because they’re religiously bound to the king, who they believe is an emissary of God, and desperate to change their day-to-day existence. When those two instincts collide, it’s bound to be complex and conflicting, and Greengrass delivers that with a boots-on-the-ground style.

The murkiness of it all clarifies by the end of the film, not just in terms of its heroes, villains and message, but Greengrass also situates this story within a recognizable cinematic and storytelling history. There’s a thrill as it all comes together. Greengrass might be taking a big swing (of the scythe), but his blade finds its target nevertheless.

Walsh is a Tribune News Service film critic.

Fort Portal, Uganda – When King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV of Tooro was buried on September 12, the ceremony unfolded under the shadow of a bitter dispute over who should succeed him.

Prince Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma, a 56-year-old news anchor and editor at Uganda Broadcasting Corporation, had been selected by the royal clan to succeed Oyo. During the burial at the Karambi Royal Tombs in Fort Portal, he formally assumed power by casting nine coffee berries into the king’s grave, part of the traditional handover ritual.

But the succession remains contested.

Oyo’s mother, Queen Mother Best Kemigisa, and his sister, Princess Ruth Komuntale, have opposed Kijanangoma’s selection, saying the late king’s will named a son as his heir.

Oyo never married and was not publicly known to have children. After his death, Tooro’s Prime Minister Calvin Armstrong Rwomiire Akiiki announced that the king had left a son whose identity would be revealed at an appropriate time. The child has not been publicly identified.

Oyo’s family says a 2022 will named a son whom he described as his lawfully recognised biological son as heir to the throne. But Babiito clan elders, who are responsible for guarding the Tooro royal lineage, determining succession and safeguarding the kingdom’s traditions, say Oyo had not introduced the child through the customary process and instead backed Kijanangoma as his successor.

“The will is not a determinant of who is supposed to be a king; it is a document that expresses one’s wish,” said Reverend Father Charles Oyo, a Babiito clan elder. “The Musuuga [Babiito clan leader] is above the will.”

Princess Komuntale has accused the elders of trying to take over the throne.

“King Oyo was a very peaceful man, a very humble man,” she said. “I just don’t want these evil vultures to come and steal what he worked so hard for. I continue to stand with my brother.”

The dispute has divided opinion over who should be regarded as Oyo’s legitimate successor. The Ugandan government also became involved in talks aimed at resolving the dispute before the burial.

The child king

Oyo’s own path to the throne began when he was just three years old.

He became king in 1995 after the death of his father, Patrick David Matthew Kaboyo Olimi III, and was recognised as the world’s youngest reigning monarch.

As a child, Oyo was homeschooled, with the palace serving as his classroom. When he later joined primary school, childhood friends remember him as a kind and warm person.

During school holidays, he sometimes sneaked out of the family’s private residence in Buziga, Kampala, to play football in the neighbourhood.

Martin Odong, a radio journalist and childhood friend, remembers him as “friendly, social and compassionate”.

Oyo would stop football games to check on an injured player, regardless of which side they were playing for, Odong said.

His love of football continued into adulthood. He promoted local tournaments, including the Tooro Kingdom MTN Masaza Cup, which was suspended as his health deteriorated.

Oyo died on August 27, aged 34, in the United States while receiving cancer treatment. His body was returned to Uganda for nine days of mourning before his burial at the Karambi Royal Tombs, which coincided with Empango, the anniversary of his coronation.

At St John’s Cathedral, Queen Mother Best Kemigisa remembered her son as someone who had always protected her.

“He was my shield who always stood for me,” she said.

She recalled praying for his life when she was in hospital.

“When I was in the hospital, I said, ‘God, please leave my son alone; take me first,’” she said. “He [God] decided to take him [King Oyo] first. I said, ‘Why? Because he was closer to You than me.’”

Princess Komuntale described her brother as a “funny person” who “always brightened my day”.

Although he was younger than her, she said, he often behaved like the older sibling and protected her and their mother after their father “left to be with the Lord”.

Father Charles Oyo remembered him as a “handsome king who loved his kingdom so much”.

He said Oyo died just as he was “beginning to demonstrate his abilities and capacity as a king”.

A king without political power

Uganda is a constitutional republic, and its traditional kings have no formal political authority. But the kingdoms retain cultural influence and command loyalty among many of their communities.

Uganda abolished its traditional kingdoms in 1967. They were restored in 1993 under President Yoweri Museveni.

Oyo was guided by regents while he was a child and took on the full responsibilities of the monarchy as an adult.

His unusual position meant he met presidents, royalty and other world leaders from a young age. Among them was former South African President Nelson Mandela, who reportedly wanted to meet the young king during a visit to Uganda. Oyo, however, was more interested in playing with his toys behind the VIP tent.

As an adult, he used the platform of the throne to promote issues beyond the kingdom.

In 2020, he climbed the Rwenzori Mountains to draw attention to climate change and the retreat of the glaciers there.

He also supported a campaign to plant 10 million trees across Tooro over five years.

He promoted healthy living and took part in cancer awareness runs. Komuntale called him her “best workout partner”.

Before his death, Oyo had allocated land and begun fundraising for a paediatric hospital in Kyenjojo district. Clan elders have since appealed to the government to complete the project and establish a specialised cancer facility and an international stadium in his memory.

His final months

Oyo’s illness was kept largely private.

According to his sister, he began experiencing pain in his back and rib cage last year. The family initially thought it might be linked to strenuous exercise or ulcers.

He later travelled to Kenya, where he was diagnosed with angiosarcoma, an aggressive form of cancer, before travelling to Germany for treatment and eventually to the US.

“He told us to keep it private, and we respected that,” Komuntale said.

She said that shortly before his death, Oyo spoke to key workers in Uganda about returning home. He wanted to celebrate Empango, the anniversary of his coronation, with his people.

He never made it home.

For Komuntale, the king remained her younger brother even after he became one of Africa’s most recognisable traditional rulers.

She remembered playing dodgeball with him and his love for his three dogs.

“Even though you were crowned a king, you were still a kid who loved to play,” she said.

“I will keep your legacy, what you loved, and we will talk about you every day.”

WEDNESDAY’S RESULTS

City Section

Belmont 66, Annenberg 3

Port of Los Angeles d. Los Angeles Jordan, forfeit

Stern 26, Smidt Tech 0

Southern Section

Aliso Niguel 26, Villa Park 6

Anaheim Canyon 9, Esperanza 6

Aquinas 26, Ontario Christian 21

Bellflower 26, Mayfair 0

Bonita 13, San Dimas 6

Burbank Burroughs 31, South Pasadena 6

Cajon 56, Alhambra 0

California Military Institute 28, Workman 0

Compton Early College 7, Dominguez 6

Desert Hot Springs 20, San Jacinto Valley Academy 0

El Modena 27, El Dorado 6

Elsinore 12, Palm Springs 0

Hacienda Heights Wilson 24, La Puente 0

JSerra 41, Santa Margarita 7

La Canada 24, Temple City 7

La Habra 18, Garden Grove Pacifica 6

Linfield Christian 28, Corona 21

Los Altos 42, St. Lucy’s 14

Millikan 26, Long Beach Wilson 7

Mountain View 25, Bassett 0

Newport Harbor 39, Fountain Valley 0

Palm Desert 24, Valley View 6

Paloma Valley 27, Liberty 0

Pomona 13, Keppel 0

Ramona Convent 36, El Monte Arroyo 6

Rancho Verde 41, Heritage 0

Rosary 12, Irvine 6

Sage Hill 25, Irvine University 18

South Hills 20, West Covina 8

St. Margaret’s 40, Newport Beach Pacifica Christian 12

Tesoro 56, San Juan Hills 27

Vista Murrieta 22, Temescal Canyon 6

Westlake 61, Calabasas 0

Yucaipa 25, Arrowhead Christian 14

Intersectional

Granada Hills Kennedy 19, Vasquez 7

Harvard-Westlake 23, Birmingham 0

Venice 25, St. Monica 0

THURSDAY’S RESULTS

City Section

Cleveland 20, Los Angeles Roosevelt 0

Contreras 6, San Fernando Arroyo 0

Jefferson 43, Santee 0

King/Drew 20, GALA 7

San Fernando Arroyo 19, Contreras 13

Southern Section

Agoura 28, Newbury Park 13

Antelope Valley 6, Lancaster 0

Canyon Country Canyon 37, Golden valley 16

Castaic 13, Saugus 0

Cerritos 20, Artesia 0

Channel Islands 24, Buena 12

Dos Pueblos 27, Ventura 6

Eastside 18, Knight 6

El Toro 19, Northwood 0

Hart 12, West Ranch 6

Highland 26, Palmdale 0

Hueneme 38, Fillmore 12

Lawndale 6, Compton Centennial 0

Lakewood St. Joseph 27, Gardena Serra 0

Mater Dei 26, Sierra Canyon 20

Miller 45, Fontana 0

Newport Beach Pacifica Christian 14, Ontario Christian 0

North Torrance 31, West Torrance 7

Oaks Christian 32, Thousand Oaks 12

Oxnard 13, San Marcos 12

Oxnard Pacifica 6, Santa Barbara 2

Palos Verdes 19, Mira Costa 7

Quartz Hill 2, Littlerock 0

Redondo Union 28, Torrance 0

Rio Mesa 41, Del Sol 6

San Clemente 50, Capistrano Valley 0

Santa Monica 56, Beverly Hills 0

South Torrance 19, El Segundo 13

Warren 38, La Serna 12

Woodbridge 51, Laguna Beach 8

Intersectional

Oceanside 31, Dana Hills 19

FROM the moment the opening note of ‘Circle of Life’ played, I was transported to the African savannah.

The Lion King is one of the West End’s longest running productions – and with good reason.

The fan-favourite Disney story features everything you could imagine and more if you had brought the film to life.

And Sun Club members can get 10% off tickets with London Theatre Direct, when booking via our Sun Club Promo page.

To get your tickets, sign up to Sun Club for £1.99 a month or just £12 for one year, then head to the Sun Club Offers hub and London Theatre Direct page or click here. 

Of course, I don’t mean real-life lions prowling across the stage. And let’s be honest, none of us would want that either.

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Instead I mean vibrant sets and costumes that bring the audience to the African savannah, but with an artistic touch.

Director Julie Taymor fuses the actors directly into the beautiful animal puppets, rather than hiding them in clunky mascot-like costumes.

Each is like a piece of art bringing the safari animals that feature in The Lion King to life.

Some critics have labelled the puppets as “dated” compared to newer productions such as War Horse or My Neighbour Totoro.

I disagree – everything in the show’s design remains timeless, from the costumes to the sets.

As living artwork parades down the aisles on either side of the theatre, I felt transported to the Pride Lands.

The most mesmerising part had to be when – spoiler alert – the life-sized elephant puppet ambled across the stage, with the same methodic but gentle stomps you’d expect of the magnificent beast in the wild.

It isn’t just the animals that are impressive – across the show much flora and fauna sets scenes and creates a depth to the stage.

Even one of the smallest characters (by size, not personality) – Zazu – was brilliant, where the puppeteer and actor was able to create comedy with a single head tilt, squawk or wing flap.

A memorable moment in the film is the stampede that takes Mufasa’s life.

And it is just as poignant on stage – my heart raced as the staging created a terrifying scene of hundreds of wildebeest stamping towards the audience.

Scenes at Pride Rock are equally as impressive, with the giant rock emerging magically from the floorboards.

Singing, dancing and acting – all simply phenomenal.

And just like the film, there are multiple tear- jerker moments which will leave you wishing you didn’t wear mascara to theperformancee.

George Asprey who plays Scar is one of the West End’s longest running actors having played the role for 17 years, as is his co-star, Shaun Escoffery who plays Mufasa.

In a previous interview, George told Sun Travel: “Allow yourself to just open up to the set and the costumes.

“It is difficult to take everything in, in one sitting, and when you come again, you’ll pick up the different nuances. Maybe in the scenery, for example.”

And in terms of where to sit, the age-old question – do you need to fork out for the posh seats? Not at this show, apparently.

George said: “I’ve had friends right at the front of the stalls and I have had friends right at the bottom end of the upper circle, and I think the one thing about the Lyceum is that all of the viewing is extraordinary.

“I really don’t think there’s a vantage point in the upper circle where you won’t see everything still.

“I think it’s a decent price for a reason and I don’t think it’s not worth it – I wouldn’t avoid coming if you can only afford a certain seat, because you still get a wonderful experience.”

The Lion King is performed eight times a week, with evening performances on Tuesdays through to Saturday at 7:30pm and then the matinee performances take place on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays at 2:30pm.

No performances take place on Mondays.

The show lasts two-and-a-half hours with an interval included.

Click below to sign up to Sun Club and bag your discounted tickets.

18+ Subscription to Sun Club required. Online access required. Save an additional 10 per cent off tickets. Offer ends at 23:59pm on Thursday, December 31, 2026. Sun Club new customer offer: £1.99 per month or £12 for the first year, then £19.99 thereafter unless you cancel at least seven days before your next billing date. Full T&Cs apply, see thesun.co.uk/club.

HIGH SCHOOL FLAG FOOTBALL
TUESDAY’S RESULTS

Southern Section
Adelanto 27, Victor Valley 8
Alta Loma 19, Covina 13
Antelope Valley 18, Eastside 0
Aquinas 41, Arrowhead Christian 6
Arlington 34, Vista del Lago 0
Arroyo Valley 47, Fontana 0
Ayala 18, Glendora 6
Baldwin Park 15, Garey 7
Banning 19, Indio 8
Burbank Providence 19, Pasadena Poly 18
Cajon 14, Vista Murrieta 6
California 19, Mayfair 0
Camarillo 25, Royal 21
Cerritos Valley Christian 19, Village Christian 7
Chaminade 20, Thousand Oaks 7
Citrus Valley 18, Norte Vista 7
Colony 7, Etiwanda 0
Dos Pueblos 49, Lompoc 0
Downey 19, La Serna 6
Eastvale Roosevelt 6, Rancho Cucamonga 0
Edison 39, San Clemente 14
Eisenhower 26, Carter 6
El Rancho 13, Paramont 0
Elsinore 27, West Valley 12
Fillmore 38, Bishop Diego 0
Gahr 60, Long Beach Jordan 0
Garden Grove 34, La Palma Kennedy 6
Grand Terrace 19, Bloomington 14
Hart 46, Golden Valley 6
Heritage 32, Citrus Hill 12
Highland d. Littlerock, forfeit
Hillcrest 25, Canyon Springs 6
Hueneme 37, St. Bonaventure 25
Indian Springs 21, Rialto 19
Jurupa Hills 20, Summit 14
Jurupa Valley 36, San Bernardino 0
Knight 0, Palmdale 0
Liberty 31, Orange Vista 12
Los Alamitos 31, Lakewood 6
Los Osos 29, Ontario 0
Moorpark 20, Oak Park 6
Moreno Valley 39, Valley View 6
Mountain View 13, Pomona 6
Nogales 51, Duarte 0
Norco 33, Riverside North 7
Northview 21, Temple City 6
Oaks Christian 24, Ventura 13
Orange Lutheran 19, Mater Dei 12
Oxnard Pacifica 38, Rio Mesa 20
Patriot 34, Corona 27
Quartz Hill 31, Lancaster 0
Rancho Verde 13, Paloma Valley 7
Rim of the World 20, Colton 14
Rio Hondo Prep 33, Chadwick 0
Riverside Poly 32, Hemet 0
Rowland 19, Whittier 6
Sage Hill 33, San Juan Hills 9
San Gorgonio 14, Kaiser 6
San Jacinto Valley Academy 7, Nuview Bridge 6
Santa Barbara 13, Santa Paula 0
Saugus 14, West Ranch 12
Segerstrom 7, Placentia Valencia 6
Sherman Oaks Notre Dame 52, Louisville 0
Simi Valley 32, Newbury Park 12
St. Paul 24, San Marino 6
Sunny Hills 20, Chino Hills 0
Tahquitz 13, San Jacinto 6
Temecula Prep 47, Desert Christian Academy 0
Temescal Canyon 34, Riverside King 26
United Christian Academy 14, Public Safety Academy 0
Valencia 12, Castaic 7
Vasquez 32, PACS 6
Windward 53, YULA 0

Intersectional
Brentwood 33, Cleveland 7

MONDAY’S RESULTS
No games, Labor Day

LONDON — Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, were surprised by the way Buckingham Palace released a letter that made clear they remain non-working members of the royal family even though they have returned to the United Kingdom.

The letter, sent on behalf of King Charles III to senior government and military officials, caught the couple off guard when it was released to the media on Monday in part because they were given little time to review or comment on its contents, a person familiar with the discussions said.

The couple’s representatives received a copy of the letter just one hour and 12 minutes before it was released to news outlets, the person said. That left them with little time to respond because they were unable to reach Harry, who was in a meeting, until just two minutes before the letter was released, the person added.

The letter said Harry and Meghan would continue to refrain from using the formal royal titles, such as his royal highness and her royal highness, as they have done since stepping back from official royal duties in 2020. Any charity work the couple undertakes will be carried out in a private capacity, and operational security decisions are matters for the relevant police agencies, the letter said.

“To help avoid doubt or confusion, The King has directed that (this) information be shared,” the Lord Chamberlain, the most senior official in the royal household, said in the letter.

Harry and Meghan stepped back from royal duties in 2020 when they moved to North America to make their own living through lucrative deals with Netflix and Spotify. At the time, Queen Elizabeth II made clear that the couple could not be part-time royals and they had to give up their royal positions if they wanted to pursue such commercial arrangements. Charles reiterated that position after he became king in 2022.

The couple’s reaction to the letter, which confirms that their status remains unchanged, highlights tensions surrounding their return to the U.K. Some palace observers have expressed concern that Harry and Meghan’s presence in Britain could allow them to establish a sort of parallel royal court that would compete with working members of the royal family.

The security question is particularly sensitive because Harry has fought a long-running battle with the government for the restoration of publicly funded police protection, which was canceled when the couple gave up their royal roles.

Any decision about whether to restore the couple’s round-the-clock police protection is a matter for a government panel known as RAVEC, or the Royal and VIP Executive Committee. The committee is expected to meet this week, the person familiar with the discussions said.

Kirka writes for the Associated Press.

Patsy Kensit, who first appeared on Emmerdale in 2004 before leaving two years later, is back in the village and has recalled how she made one demand when she returned to Emmerdale as Sadie King for a six month stint

Patsy Kensit made one demand when she returned to Emmerdale – that Sadie King wouldn’t be killed off.

Iconic character Sadie is back in the Dales, arriving this week by helicopter in a nod to her previous arrival in the village a number of decades ago. Patsy, 58, first appeared in 2004 before leaving two years later, but is back in the village once more after two decades for a six months stint.

She’s quickly at the heart of the action when it was revealed that Sadie had been having an affair with Jimmy King (Nick Miles), who died in a devastating marquee car crash and left Nicola King (Nicola Wheeler) struggling with the financial burden of raising their kids and trying to fund university education for their eldest.

It was a joy for Patsy to return, but she had one demand for bosses. “It came out of absolutely nowhere, which is sometimes the nicest way things can happen,” she says.

“I said, ‘I don’t want to kill the character off, though, because I would love to think that she may return again.’ So the team of writers are phenomenal… and people will be shocked.”

Such was her return a secret that she booked into a hotel up North with a fake name to keep things under the radar. “The hotel, I had to put under a fake name there. And my agent and I came up and sat and chatted and just was like, ‘Yeah, you know, why not? Let’s do it,'” she says. Of how it’s changed since her first stint 20 years ago, she added: “I think one episode I’m in 60 scenes or something… It used to be six days a week when I did it first time around.”

Her return doesn’t just impact grieving Nicola’s life, but Sadie soon crashes into a number of her character’s conquests.

Her tryst with Robert Sugden (then played by Karl Davies and now played by Ryan Hawley) was a big part of her original appearance, as was her romantic connection with Cain Dingle (Jeff Hordley).

“Ryan and I have had a lot of stuff to do together… He’s very funny, and that’s been great,” she says, “It was quite a daunting day with Jeff Hordley scenes. It was all about putting that relationship to bed. There was a lot she revealed that happened to her after he left her on the runway.

“Jeff’s such a brilliant actor, as is everyone on the show. I’m learning so much every day again… but we decided to sort of play against that and just make it a real conversation between two people that had shared some time together.”

Her return marks the reunion of two of the soaps ‘super b***ches’ as Claire King’s Kim Tate goes head to head with Patsy’s Sadie. On working with the soap legend, she says: “Claire King is the queen, and I’m so happy to be working with her.

“I’ve got so much respect for Claire… I’ve always been a super fan. Our paths cross a couple of times and then some barbed comments, which is very Dynasty.”

Despite her glittering acting career, it didn’t stem the nerves when she returned to Emmerdale this time around. “I was so nervous my first week. Mark [Charnock] called me up just to say, look, you know, ‘We’re so thrilled that you’re coming back,'” she says.

“And I said, ‘Mark, I’m just I’m absolutely s***ing myself.’ And he said, ‘You know what? It would be weird if you weren’t.'”

“There’s nothing like a warm Yorkshire welcome… It’s the nicest place to work. Everyone genuinely cares about the show. It’s hard work, I’m not going to say it isn’t, but it’s rewarding,” she says.

Patsy feels very “protective” over Sadie and she is thoroughly enjoying living vicariously through her character.

“For me, it’s a role that I’ve really cherished, and I’m very protective about her. It changed my life when I did it, you know, 20-odd years ago, and it’s just wonderful to be back for a little while and just get to say all those horrible things to people with delight,” she says.

“It’s wonderful to live vicariously through this woman who seems to have no shame in her game. But does she really have what she had before when she left? They’re really taking apart who the woman is.”

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Emmerdale’s Claire King revealed her heartache over co-star Olivia Bromley’s exit from the ITV soap, following Dawn Fletcher’s death

Emmerdale actress Claire King has shared her heartache over co-star Olivia Bromley’s exit from the soap, following an explosive episode.

The 30-year-old has played Dawn Fletcher in the long-running ITV programme for eight years, sharing the screen with Claire’s Kim Tate, her stepmother.

Fans were left shocked when her character was killed off in devastating scenes on her tragic wedding day, after prematurely giving birth to a baby boy with partner Joe Tate. In the emotional footage, she suffered internal bleeding and sadly died after giving birth.

Touching on the episode in a press roundtable, Claire described their final few moments together on set as “heartbreaking”.

“But we did have a good laugh that week because we were all outside this massive marquee where we were doing all the wedding stuff and car crash, and it’s all supposed to be tragic but we were all actually having a good life.

“We had some really nice people on set that day. Great crew, and it was just a bit of camaraderie.

“But I could see as the days went on to the final day she was getting more and more sort of angst and things.”

Dawn made a big impact when she arrived in the Dales almost a decade ago, and has been at the centre of huge storylines since then – including the moment she found her long lost son, and her on-off romance with ex-husband Billy.

Olivia was told of her character’s fate earlier this year, with bosses teasing the huge exit plot. However, despite the advanced warning, she admitted that she found it tough to bid farewell.

“It was the toughest storyline I’ve done during my time in the soap,” she told the Mirror.

“I was surprised by how emotional I found it and it was way more emotional than I was expecting. I did cry.

“It is very strange to kill off your character as an actor and in front of your colleagues. But that said, what a gift to be given. Often people leave and just slip off.”

She added: “Psychologically, now I have had time to reflect, I know it’s good for me, because I can say bye to my Emmerdale chapter. It’s been brilliant. I was originally only signed up for 12 episodes and I’ve stayed eight years!”

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King Harald, Europe’s oldest monarch, was viewed as a reformer who embraced inclusivity.

Norwegians are saying goodbye to King Harald ⁠⁠at ⁠⁠the Royal Palace in Oslo where he lies in state, with many well-wishers remembering a unifying leader who was on the throne for 35 years.

A national period of mourning was declared in the Nordic kingdom following the death of Europe’s oldest monarch on Friday, aged 89. Thousands have gathered in the capital since then to pay their respects and lay flowers. He was known in Norway as a reformer and the embodiment of a tolerant and open nation who embraced inclusivity.

“He has meant a great deal and has been a unifying king,” Line Stousland, 49, told AFP news agency. “He has been a king of the people, like a grandfather to the whole nation”.

King Harald died in Oslo University Hospital where he had been since August 17. He was suffering from haemolytic anaemia, a condition caused by an abnormally rapid destruction of red blood cells that leads to fatigue and shortness of breath.

A date for the funeral has not yet been set.

Flags are flying at half-mast throughout Norway with portraits of him in gala uniform spotted everywhere, from bus stops to offices, shops and public buildings.

As Norwegians mourned, the transition to a new reign began immediately. Harald’s 53-year-old son, who will be known as King Haakon VIII, became Norway’s new ‌‌monarch the moment his father passed away. He is due to ‌‌take the oath in front of parliament on Tuesday, when he will swear to defend Norway’s constitution and laws.

Haakon takes over a monarchy hailed for its modernity and modesty, but which has been beset by a series of recent scandals. Earlier this year, two high-profile Norwegian politicians and the crown princess were linked to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

A police investigation was opened into former Prime Minister Thorbjorn Jagland on suspicion of corruption, while the princess’ 29-year-old son, Marius Borg Hoiby, the new king’s stepson, was sentenced in June to four years in prison on two counts of rape and 32 other charges, including domestic violence.

“An era has ended. A new one begins. The king is dead. Long live the king,” Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store said in a speech shortly after meeting the new monarch. “We will remember King Harald for his love for his people, for his humour and warmth and for his unwavering faith in us.”

Aug. 28 (UPI) — King Harald V of Norway died early Friday in an Oslo hospital where he was undergoing treatment for a rare blood disorder. He was 89 years old.

He passed peacefully at 6:35 a.m. local time, according to the Royal Palace, which said the royal flag was flying at half mast on the palace roof.

Family were called to his bedside after his condition worsened on Thursday at the national hospital, 10 days after he was admitted suffering from complications from haemolytic anaemia, a rare blood condition that depletes the number of red blood cells, causing fatigue and shortness of breath.

Harald leaves behind his wife Queen Sonja, also 89, the new king, Haakon, their daughter Princess Märtha Louise and six grandchildren.

King Haakon, 53, was due to hold an extraordinary council of state with the government later on Friday.

Harald’s cousin, King Charles, was among the first to pay their respects in a message in which he also wished Haakon, to whom he is godfather, “success and good fortune” as he assumes the monarchy.

In a statement on X, Charles and Queen Camilla said they were profoundly sad to hear his “dear cousin,” had died, extending their “deepest and most heartfelt condolences” to Queen Sonja and all her family, and saying Britain shared Norway’s grief at what he said was a time of “such heartbreaking loss.”

He said Britain and Norway shared a particularly close relationship dating back more than 120 years, with London one of the first capitals to recognize it following independence from Sweden in 1905 and that the allies’ bond was further strengthened by their shared “dreadful trials” during World War II.

Born in 1937, Harald’s mother brought him and his siblings to Sweden when the Nazis occupied Norway in 1940 and when U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt offered them refuge, moved to Washington for the remainder of the war, returning to Norway in 1945.

After becoming crown prince at the age of 20, Harald served in the military and went up to Oxford University in 1962 where he studied studied social science, history and economics at Balliol College.

He broke with royal tradition in the face of the opposition of his father, King Olav V, by marrying the then-Sonja Haraldsen, the daughter of a businessman, in 1968, instead of a scion of one the European royal families.

Harald stepped up as regent in 1990 after Olav became ill and ascended the throne in 1991 after his father died on Jan. 17 of that year.

Emmerdale star Nick Miles, who played Jimmy King on the ITV soap for more than two decades, has addressed final scenes which saw the beloved character killed off in a crash

Nick Miles has addressed his exit from Emmerdale – just hours after his character was killed off in explosive scenes. The actor, 63, has played Jimmy King on the long-running soap since 2004, but departed the Yorkshire-based serial in scenes that aired on Thursday evening.

Viewers will know that, in recent times, Jimmy and wife Nicola had been looking to the future, and had even planned to renew their wedding vows. Jimmy had not disclosed to Nicola about his financial troubles though, but tragedy struck when he crashed crashed into the wedding marquee where Joe Tate and Dawn Taylor were having a heart-to-heart.

No explanation has been offered yet as to what caused the fatal crash but actor Nick, who previously starred in The Bill, has spoken out about the sudden departure.

Asked by co-star Nicola Wheeler, who plays his on-screen wife, in a video that appeared on Emmerdale’s official Instagram why his character had to go, he simply reasoned: “Everybody I know who read that script, the first thing they said was that it made me cry.”

Nicola was with him in his final moments, telling Jimmy she loved him and holding his hand, as he imagined their vow renewal. With Jimmy gone, Nicola wept before fleeing the marquee just as it exploded.

Just moments before, everything played out as Nicola raced into the marquee to find her husband, was in a bad way and suggested he might not be making it out.

In heart-wrenching scenes, Jimmy shared his love for his wife, but sadly he succumbed to his injuries and died in the car. Moments later the marquee looked as though it was about to be engulfed in flames.

Fans were certainly not impressed with the shock death, with one writing: “He deserved better.” Another said: “I’m still in bits what an episode. Bravo to the cast,” as a third added: “I can’t get over the episode. I was in tears.”

Another fan commented: “I hate that they are getting rid of [name].” A further post read: “He deserved something more epic,” as a final fan said: “You’ve done [name] dirty!”

Other fans confessed they couldn’t believe the show was getting rid of the character. Another fan said they were “fuming” given the character had been a apart of the show for so long.”

Emmerdale airs weeknights at 8pm on ITV1 and ITVX. *

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Aug. 27 (UPI) — The family of King Harald V of Norway gathered at his bedside in an Oslo hospital on Thursday with the Royal Household saying the 89-year-old’s condition was “extremely serious.”

Royal family members were seen arriving by car at Oslo University Hospital, including daughter-in-law Crown Princess Mette-Marit, with Queen Sonja and Crown Prince Haakon canceling all royal engagements.

Norwegian media reported that Princess Astrid, Harald’s sister, was also in attendance.

NRK, the state-owned broadcast network, said the people of Norway should brace for “the worst.”

“The whole nation is with us as we send warm thoughts to the king and the rest of the royal family,” Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said in a statement.

The king has been hospitalized for the past 10 days due to complications related to haemolytic anaemia, a rare blood condition where red blood cell attrition exceeds the rate at which they can be replaced, causing fatigue and breathing difficulties.

His condition unexpectedly worsened on Monday and deteriorated still further overnight.

The king has been hit by succession of health issues dating back to 2024 when he had a pacemaker fitted after being taken ill in Malaysia during a holiday, leading to him partially stepping back from royal duties in line with his advanced agee, including a “permanent reduction” in his public engagements.”

He was hospitalized for an infection and dehydration in February during a private visit to Tenerife with Queen Sonja, who is also 89.

His son, Prince Haakon, 53, is next in line in the succession.

There has never been any hint Harald might abdicate to allow Prince Haakon to take over, having long argued that the oath he took before the Norwegian Parliament when he ascended the throne in 1991 was for life.

HIGH SCHOOL FLAG FOOTBALL
TUESDAY’S RESULTS

Southern Section
Agoura 28, Oak Park 6
Anaheim 32, El Dorado 6
Arlington 28, Nuview Bridge 0
Ayala 12, Shadow Hills 0
Burbank Burroughs 6, Hart 0
California Military Institute 45, Lakeside 13
Canyon Springs 14, Vista del Lago 0
Cerritos Valley Christian 20, Bellflower 0
Chino Hills 6, Capistrano Valley 0
Colony 13, Garey 7
Colton 24, Carter 0
Dos Pueblos 21, Westlake 19
El Segundo 7, Peninsula 6
Elsinore 26, San Jacinto 0
Golden Valley 8, Lancaster 6
Heritage 19, Orange Vista 6
Mater Dei 38, Esperanza 0
Mission Viejo 12, Crean Lutheran 6
Monrovia 44, Arroyo 0
Lakewood St. Joseph 26, Redondo Union 12
Oaks Christian 13, Oxnard Pacifica 7
Ontario Christian 12, Newport Beach Pacifica Christian 7
Orange Lutheran 24, Downey 19
Oxnard 47, Highland 20
Ramona 34, San Jacinto Valley Academy 0
Rancho Verde 32, Perris 0
Redlands East Valley 34, Eastvale Roosevelt 0
Rialto 31, Jurupa Hills 0
Rim of the World 35, Bloomington 18
Sage Hill 26, Corona 2
San Bernardino 64, Rubidoux 0
San Clemente 27, Northwood 6
Santa Barbara 33, Rio Mesa 7
Santa Fe 15, San Gabriel 0
Santa Margarita 13, Aliso Niguel 7
Santa Paula 52, Del Sol 0
Sierra Canyon 53, Alemany 0
South Torrance 47, West Torrance 0
St. Lucy’s 21, Chaffey 6
Sunny Hills 40, Moreno Valley 20
Temecula Prep 26, Xavier Prep 0
Temescal Canyon 40, Tahquitz 6
Troy 14, Los Osos 13
Upland 13, Cajon 12
Western Christian 25, La Serna 18
Whittier 19, Alhambra 0

Intersectional
Mira Costa 38, San Pedro 6

MONDAY’S RESULTS

City Section
Foshay 39, Bernstein 6
Foshay 45, Hawkins 6
Fremont 38, Diego Rivera 0
Hawkins 46, Bernstein 6
Sotomayor 18, Huntington Park 6
South East 13, Elizabeth 6

Southern Section
Adelanto 31, Kaiser 6
Anaheim 32, El Dorado 6
Aquinas 59, Banning 0
Arroyo Valley 20, Victor Valley 0
Ayala 12, Yorba Linda 0
Baldwin Park 24, Ontario 6
Bonita 27, Garey 0
California 31, El Rancho 14
California Military Institute 19, Temecula Prep 7
Cantwell-Sacred Heart of Mary 18, Rio Hondo Prep 14
Cathedral City 21, West Valley 0
Cerritos Valley Christian 24, Artesia 6
Chaminade 35, Royal 24
Chaparral 30, Hemet 13
Chino 26, Brea Olinda 7
Colony 35, Chaffey 0
Corona del Mar 26, Fountain Valley 7
Corona Santiago 18, Eastvale Roosevelt 0
Crean Lutheran 20, South Hills 6
Downey 24, Tesoro 0
Edison 53, Marina 0
Eisenhower 18, Bloomington 6
Elsinore 6, Miller 6
Foothill 19, Millikan 18
Gahr 34, Buena Park 0
Glenn 8, Bell Gardens 6
Grand Terrace 12, Colton 0
Hacienda Heights Wilson 25, Workman 0
Hillcrest 21, Vista del Lago 0
Huntington Beach 24, Los Alamitos 6
Jurupa Hills 7, San Gorgonio 6
Laguna Beach 19, Arlington 6
La Habra 13, Villa Park 2
Lancaster 26, Rosamond 0
La Quinta 13, Indio 12
La Serna 20, Bishop Amat 7
Long Beach Wilson 20, Mayfair 0
Mountain View 19, La Puente 7
Moreno Valley 25, Norte Vista 6
Newport Harbor 20, Woodbridge 7
Norco 19, Corona Centennial 6
Ontario Christian 13, Serrano 0
Orange 26, Western 0
Palm Desert 12, Woodcrest Christian 6
Paloma Valley 35, Heritage 20
Paramount 13, Los Osos 12
Placentia Valencia 21, Tustin 0
Pomona 6, Calvary Baptist 0
Portola 31, Laguna Hills 0
Rancho Mirage 19, Jurupa Valley 12
Rancho Verde 13, Rancho Christian 6
Rialto 18, Summit 7
Rim of the World 12, Carter 0
Riverside King 28, Corona 13
Riverside North 24, Valley View 14
Riverside Poly 13, Rancho Cucamonga 12
San Gabriel 7, Rowland 6
San Marino 8, Claremont 6
Sierra Vista 13, Ramona Convent 12
South El Monte 26, El Monte 0
St. Paul 26, Lakewood 12
Sunny Hills 38, Katella 0
Troy 20, Cerritos 19
Valencia 33, Hueneme 8
Western Christian 21, Upland 6
Woodcrest Christian 20, Redlands Adventist Academy 14
Yucaipa 7, Ramona 0

Intersectional
Bell 33, Bell Gardens 0
Brawley 37, Xavier Prep 0
Inglewood 12, King/Drew 6
Mary Star of the Sea 21, Port of Los Angeles 12
Warren 26, Wilmington Banning 7

HIGH SCHOOL FLAG FOOTBALL
Tuesday’s results

Southern Section
Agoura 46, Rio Mesa 0
Antelope Valley 12, Adelanto 0
Aquinas 32, Jurupa Hills 6
Arlington 20, Riverside North 0
Arrowhead Christian 40, Nuview Bridge 0
Arroyo Valley 31, Citrus Hill 0
Baldwin Park 40, Calvary Baptist 6
Beaumont 62, Rancho Cucamonga 12
Cajon 65, Indian Springs 0
California Military Institute 44, Rancho Mirage 0
Camarillo 34, Buena 0
Canyon Country Canyon 18, Lancaster 6
Cerritos Valley Christian 27, Glenn 12
Channel Islands 21, Newbury Park 7
Colony 8, Los Osos 6
Compton 14, Mayfair 6
Corona del Mar 20, Santa Margarita 14
Esperanza 15, Anaheim 0
Fountain Valley 36, Sunny Hills 12
Gahr 34, Claremont 0
Great Oak 21, Temecula Prep 0
Harvard-Westlake 20, Village Christian 0
Highland 22, Eastvale Roosevelt 14
Hillcrest 6, Norte Vista 0
Hueneme 26, Saugus 7
Fountain Valley 36, Sunny Hills 12
JSerra 40, Woodbridge 21
La Mirada 12, Pioneer 0
Los Alamitos 31, Costa Mesa 6
Knight 50, Rosamond 0
Miller 19, Colton 0
Millikan 32, Palos Verdes 12
Monrovia 20, San Gabriel 12
Northview 41, La Puente 8
Oxnard Pacifica 34, Valencia 12
Ramona 8, Moreno Valley 6
Redondo Union 12, Downey 6
Rim of the World 39, Entrepreneur 0
Rowland 21, Nogales 0
San Gorgonio 45, Bloomington 7
Santa Barbara 27, Simi Valley 12
Santa Monica 26, Windward 0
Schurr 12, San Marino 8
St. Lucy’s 40, Mark Keppel 0
Temescal Canyon 14, Elsinore 7
Torrance 12, El Segundo 0
Trabuco Hills 30, Portola 0
Troy 25, Orange 12
Upland 39, Rialto 26
Ventura 25, Castaic 7
Victor Valley 14, Eastside 0
Vista del Lago 14, Heritage 12
Warren 14, Sonora 6
Westlake 53, Oak Park 20
West Valley 44, San Jacinto 6
Yucaipa 47, La Sierra 18

Intersectional
North County San Marcos 44, Dana Hills

Monday’s results

City Section
AMIT 18, Diego Rivera 0
Eagle Rock 33, Sotomayor 0
Franklin 31, Contreras 0
Franklin 31, King/Drew 14
Granada Hills Kennedy 18, Bishop Alemany 6
King/Drew 40, Contreras 0
Monroe 19, Reseda 0
New Designs University Park 27, West Adams 0
Panorama 6, Sotomayor 0
Panorama 23, Eagle Rock 22 (OT)
San Fernando 32, Reseda 0
San Fernando 24, Monroe 0

Southern Section
Artesia 40, Oxford Academy 6
Ayala 12, Sunny Hills 6
Azusa 33, Alhambra 7
Baldwin Park 32, Workman 6
Bell Gardens 15, Norwalk 7
Bishop Amat d. Sacred Heart of Jesus, forfeit
Cajon 68, San Bernardino 0
California 20, La Habra 0
California Military Institute 31, Nuview Bridge 0
Castaic 6, Santa Paula 0
Cerritos 21, Montebello 6
Chaparral 20, Linfield Christian 18
Chino Hills 12, Northview 0
Colony 20, Montclair 0
Corona Centennial 28, Riverside Poly 26
Covina 29, Sierra Vista 13
Culver City 33, Immaculate Heart 18
Downey 26, Aliso Niguel 7
Eastvale Roosevelt 18, Patriot 13
El Dorado 32, La Palma Kennedy 19
Etiwanda 20, Corona Santiago 12
Foothill 34, Placentia Valencia 7
Fountain Valley 18, Sage Hill 0
Gabrielino 32, Arroyo 7
Godinez 36, Garden Grove Santiago 6
Glendora 39, Alta Loma 18
Hemet 25, Desert Hot Springs 24
Hillcrest 39, Jurupa Valley 0
Jurupa Hills 26, San Jacinto 0
La Canada 20, West Covina 0
Laguna Hills 41, Katella 6
Lakewood 6, Paramount 0
Lakewood St. Joseph 34, Cypress 6
La Serna 28, La Mirada 14
Liberty 24, Vista del Lago 0
Long Beach Wilson 19, Bellflower 6
Los Alamitos 52, Loara 6
Los Altos 24, Rosemead 0
Los Osos 7, Don Lugo 0
Magnolia 14, Cantwell-Sacred Heart of Mary 6
Millikan 49, Santa Fe 6
Murrieta Mesa 45, Lakeside 0
Murrieta Valley 34, Elsinore 6
Nogales 12, Charter Oak 0
Oaks Christian 30, Oak Park 20
Ontario 21, Hacienda Heights Wilson 6
Ontario Christian 32, Chaffey 0
Orange 6, Irvine 0
PACS 13, Rosamond 12
Palm Desert 18, La Quinta 6
Ramona Convent 21, Rio Hondo Prep 6
Rancho Alamitos 13, Bolsa Grande 6
Rancho Cucamonga 24, Norco 13
Redlands East Valley 13, Riverside King 7
Riverside North 24, Heritage 13
Saddleback 18, Tustin 6
San Dimas 38, Duarte 0
San Gorgonio 18, Ramona 13
San Juan Hills 6, Northwood 0
Santa Ana Valley 26, Bell Gardens 18
Sherman Oaks Notre Dame 20, Mayfair 13
St. Margaret’s 34, Crean Lutheran 26
Temecula Prep 47, Rancho Christian 6
Temescal Canyon 20, Paloma Valley 19
Tesoro 19, Portola 14
Valencia 12, Vasquez 0
Villa Park 20, Segerstrom 0
Western Christian 72, United Christian Academy 0
Whittier 20, Western 7
Yorba Linda 40, Garden Grove Pacifica 6

Intersectional
Carson 25, Mater Dei 19
Granada Hills Kennedy 18, Alemany 16
Indio 12, Central 6
Mountain View 25, South East 14
Shadow Hills 13, Brawley 12

Nearly every week, I pass a colleague in the office who taunts me with four words: “Count of Monte Cristo, Count of Monte Cristo,” as he shakes his head. He’s disappointed his favorite book didn’t make the cut of our 101 best book club picks list, which served as the 2026 LA Times Festival of Books curtain-raiser. I don’t mind the barb. There’s nothing more exciting than an impassioned reader — even when they’re wrong. I’m all for rallying around a book or author and debating their merits like it’s a sporting match. Our book lists, after all, aren’t meant to be final verdicts. They’re invitations to read more (and, maybe, better).

To compile our expansive list we surveyed more than 200 bookish luminaries — along with a few zealous book club members. Our readers had their own ideas for their top book club picks, many of which we deeply considered. Here you’ll find some of our worthy Los Angeles Times reader selections.

“Fahrenheit 451” by Raymond Bradbury

“A favorite book my book group read and discussed is ‘Farenheit 451.’ It was fascinating to see what the past thought the future might bring,” reader Margaret Hardy writes of the 20th century classic. “In terms of technology and control by the government we are seeing today what Bradbury was thinking about in 1953. We felt that the future was found in the past. It was a chilling read.” Equally chilling is that the book often shows up on banned books lists — not unlike in its narrative.

“Homegoing” by Yaa Gyasi

“You missed ‘Homegoing’ by Yaa Gyasi!” reader Melanie H. writes of the critically acclaimed Ghanian historical fiction novel. “My book club read it and I was enthralled. I can’t stop thinking about it ever since. The amount of research and empathy into every single character and era Gyasi put into this story is incredible. It altered my brain and to this day I tell everyone about this book.”

“Giovanni’s Room” by James Baldwin

Reader Roxanne Yahner writes, “It is beautifully written, elegant and eloquent, and there is no preparing anyone for the sheer inexorable force of Baldwin’s language. This novel expresses the personal — and historical — grief of two gay, perhaps bisexual, men as they explore their sexuality at a time and place where such behavior was dangerous. The reader aches for these men and feels their grief. Some in our book club were disturbed by this novel, but all agreed they were deeply moved by it.”

“The Satanic Verses” by Salman Rushdie

Several readers wrote to us recommending Rushdie’s magical realist epic. “It’s such a complex, yet entertaining novel. We learned a lot about the tenets of Islam as woven into the story,” Ellyn Moscowitz shares about their book club pick. “It provoked great discussions about death, afterlife, religion in general and great character studies.”

“Geek Love” by Katherine Dunn

Reader Francesca Smithwick-Driver chose this as a book club pick in the ‘90s for her group and the 1989 National Book Award fiction finalist remains a favorite.

“[It’s] about a family who runs a carnival of ‘freaks.’ The story is told by an albino dwarf. There are strong themes about what it is to be normal, falling in and out of love with yourself — your family — and the world around you. Wonderfully written scenes about horrible things and beautiful things. I still remember the discussion of my book club — from ‘why in the world did you recommend this disgusting book’ to ‘what a book’ … I couldn’t wait to get back to it each time I put it down.”

“The Master and Margarita” by Mikhail Bulgakov

Reader Kate Karp, who has a cat who resembles a key character in this Russian classic, writes: “[It] turned out, no surprise, to have been the inspiration for the Stones’ ‘Sympathy for the Devil.’” She notes it also requires multiple readings to grasp all the subplots — but it’s worth it.

“Klara and the Sun” by Kazuo Ishiguro (and “Chain Gang All-Stars” by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah)

“I am terrible at book clubs because I have found that I am a very picky reader who simply will not read a book that I do not enjoy,” reader Mike Gascoigne writes. “That said, in a book club I did very much enjoy Kazuo Ishiguro’s ‘Klara and the Sun’ and Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah’s ‘Chain Gang All-Stars.’ There was a lot to discuss about both titles including AI/robots, intellectual enhancements, climate change, reality television, prison reform/abolition and human nature.”

“All the King’s Men” by Robert Penn Warren

“‘All the King’s Men’ is a powerful summer read — a Pulitzer-winning novel that feels strikingly current,” reader Ken Muche writes. “Set in the 1930s South, Willie Stark’s political rise echoes modern demagogues, reminding us how easily power can blur truth. Even more important, the novel invites reflection on our own bad life choices — showing that taking accountability for one’s actions is the first step toward forgiveness, peace, and ultimately, a more grounded kind of happiness.”

(Grove Press / Black Cat)

“Girl, Woman, Other” by Bernardine Evaristo

Reader Seth Kivnick’s pick is this work of fiction that co-won the Booker Prize in 2019, he notes that the compelling book describes the Black women in the British Isles who came from all walks of life and different countries. “[It] appealed to male and female club members.”

“Hell of a Book” by Jason Mott

“It’s good-humored without being comedy or satire but opens serious friendly discussions about contemporary problems,” reader Christine Almeida writes of the novel that won the 2021 National Book Award for fiction. “Our library-based book club talked about it for a solid 90 minutes without straying from what the book itself had to offer its readers.”