Staying In

Read The Typing Lady & Other Fictions By Ruth Ozeki

The Typing Lady & Other Fictions is a dazzling collection of short stories by Ruth Ozeki, says our resident book reviewer Belinda Bamber. A filmmaker and Zen Buddhist priest who lives in Massachusetts, Ozeki won the 2022 Women’s Prize for Fiction with The Book of Form and Emptiness, and was shortlisted for the Booker Prize in 2013 with A Tale for the Time Being. Her latest publication, a short story collection, is our book club pick of the month. As Ozeki tells C&TH, ‘I don’t write books to find myself, because I’m not convinced there is a self to be found. But I do write books to find out about myself – or rather my selves. In Buddhism, the self is a fluid construct, an ever-evolving, ever-changing story that is inextricably entangled with – and contingent upon – the causes and conditions that arise in the world. So, as a writer shaped by Buddhism, every novel or story is an exploration of these fictional selves and the interplay between them and the world. To paraphrase Walt Whitman, we contain multitudes, and I write in order to study these multitudes. Thankfully, none of my novels has brought enlightenment. That would be terrible. I’d have no reason to write!’ Read the full interview here. The Typing Lady & Other Fictions is out now, £18.99

Going Out

Book A Cotswolds Farm Retreat

Craving a weekend away? The Cotswolds’ latest opening is Alcoves, a pretty pair of cabins on a working family farm near Broadway. The work of artist Tom Evetts, these rural retreats offer a slice of quiet luxury in the countryside – think reclaimed timber interiors, with Christopher Farr check headboards, Piglet bedding, log burners and oil paintings on the walls – tucked away within an old row of oak and lime trees that have sheltered this patch of land since the 18th century. How you choose your time here is up to you: explore local walking routes, play a game of tennis on the Alcoves courts, wind down in a sauna or sink into a rather impressive bathtub to watch Jersey cattle graze across the field. Opens 1 June 2026, with cabins starting from £200 per night with a two-night minimum. alcoves-cabins.co.uk

Property Of The Day

If you were a billionaire, what would you spend your money on? For tech entrepreneur Sergey Frolovichev the answer was simple: a Batman-worthy underground lair inspired by his favourite film, The Dark Night (2008). The workshop (or ‘batcave’) is only accessible via a hidden staircase found in a corner of the games room and concealed by retracting floorboards.

On the market for £29.95m, draperlondon.com

Little Luxury

Just in time for summer, beloved jewellery brand Missoma and eyewear label Jimmy Fairly have teamed up on a sunglasses capsule. The eight-piece collection includes two frames, the Elvissa and the Melissa, which are both core Jimmy Fairly styles and come in a range of colourways – with the Missoma touch added through sculptural arms and gold molten detailing. £150, missoma.com

Competition Time

Le Chameau has crafted some of the world’s finest Wellington boots since its founding in Normandy in 1927. And now’s your chance to win two pairs of Saint Hubert Wellington boots (worth £280 each), plus two boot bags and care kits. Enter here.

Psssst…

If you haven’t tried Bubala yet, you’re missing out. It’s one of London’s most beloved spots for Middle Eastern, veggie food, and now the group has announced a fourth branch will open in Covent Garden this September. Don’t miss the Best of Bubala menu (a generous sharing-style spread of the eatery’s favourite dishes) which is a steal at £39pp. Think honey halloumi, pillowy laffa bread, burnt butter hummus and tahini smacked cucumbers.

Whatever You Do, Don’t

Forget your SPF today. There’s a reason skincare experts and dermatologists are always going on about wearing daily sunscreen on your face: it reduces your risk of sun damage as well as slowing photoaging – with some studies suggesting it could actually reverse the damage caused to skin. Here are the best face SPF creams to wear during the heatwave and beyond.

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