What trashy novels taught me about life
‘These books are “women’s fiction”, frivolous works, not the sort of thing a serious reader should bother with. Those critics are wrong.’ Photograph: Romas Foord/The Observer
‘These books are “women’s fiction”, frivolous works, not the sort of thing a serious reader should bother with. Those critics are wrong.’ Photograph: Romas Foord/The Observer
They’re derided as being frothy thrillers bursting with sex and shopping. But for Sarah Hughes, these so-called ‘bonkbusters’ are filled with words of wisdom about friendship and feminism
Sun 31 Jan 2021 05.00 EST
It was the covers that first drew me in. Four children staring out in fear seemingly trapped behind a window, someone somewhere clearly wishing them harm; a girl with long hair in a Victorian nightdress menaced by a giant red and green plant.
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1964: This was taken when I was seven, in Kuching, Malaysia. I was born in Kuala Lumpur and my dad, who ran an import-export business, had been transferred there. I was sent to a prep school in England at the age of nine. I grew up wanting to be a vet, but I was too sentimental. But I fancied being an actress too, and I got into the Bristol Old Vic theatre school
1983: Things happened very quickly for me with acting. My screen break was the 1982 TV mini-series The Woman In White, then came hit British film Local Hero. I was marine researcher Marina [pictured], a mystical character. The sea was so cold we had to redo one scene because I turned blue. I loved working with Peter Capaldi, and had no idea he’d do what he’s done since. I didn’t have expectations of my own career, but was pleased to be working. I did keep being put back in the box of playing the English rose, which is so boring
The Knights played well on the road in the 1
st half as they built a lead at the halftime. Brooklyn Gifford had another great shooting night hitting 6-3’s in the game helping Kuemper lead 17-6 after the 1
st quarter. Things continued to go well in the 2
nd quarter and Kuemper went into the haltime up by 6. They held onto the lead into the 4
th quarter before a few late turnovers allowed St Albert to take the lead and hold onto it late. The Knights did have a shot to win or tie it late but it didn’t fall.
The Carroll Tigers fought all night against the Raccoon River Conference’s number one team Ballard Bombers, but fell just short of knocking them off. The first quarter would be all Carroll as they would lead for most of the quarter and end with the 9-8 lead. The returning Ella Collison would lead the team with seven points in that quarter. Collison sustained a knee injury after Tuesday’s contest against Winterset, but was feeling great and was scoring great against the Bombers. Heading into the second quarter against the undefeated Bombers, the Tigers would keep the game close to them going into halftime trailing 19-17. Collison would lead all scorers with 10 first half points. Also scoring for the Tigers that half was Gabi Hammer with five points and Camryn Schable with two points.
The Tigers suffered a couple of blows on Tuesday as they dropped a conference home game to fall to 3-3 overall and 1-3 in the Raccoon River Conference and they lost Ella Collison their leading scorer and rebounder early in the game to an injury.
Carroll had tied the game at 4 and 8 before Collison left the game and Winterset began to take control. The Huskies closed the quarter on a 6-0 run and led 14-8 heading into quarter two. Things didn’t get better for Carroll. They struggled on the offensive end to get good looks against the zone defense and Winterset took over the backboards on both ends of the floor. Jena Young went off for the Huskies in the 1