Latest news with #WhatHappenedto
Hamilton Spectator
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
Book Review: Jess Walter's 'So Far Gone' sets a redemption story in fractured, modern America
When the history of the United States in 2025 is written, perhaps one of the best things that will be said is: 'Well, it made for some great art.' Consider 'So Far Gone,' the new novel by Jess Walter. Set in present day America, it opens with two kids wearing backpacks knocking on a cabin door. 'What are you fine young capitalists selling?' asks Rhys Kinnick, before realizing the kids are his grandchildren. They carry with them a note from Kinnick's daughter, describing dad as a 'recluse who cut off contact with our family and now lives in squalor in a cabin north of Spokane.' It's a great hook that draws you in and doesn't really let up for the next 256 pages. We learn why Kinnick pulled a Thoreau and went to the woods seven years ago (Hint: It has a lot to do with the intolerance exhibited by no small percentage of Americans and embodied by a certain occupant of the White House), as well as the whereabouts of Kinnick's daughter, Bethany, and why her messy marriage to a guy named Shane led to Kinnick's grandchildren being dropped off at his cabin. In a neat narrative gimmick, the chapters are entitled 'What Happened to ___' and fill in the main strokes of each character's backstory, as well as what happens to them in the present timeline. Told with an omniscient third-person sense of humor, the book's themes are nonetheless serious. On the demise of journalism in the chapter 'What Happened to Lucy,' one of Kinnick's old flames and colleagues at the Spokesman-Review: She 'hated that reporters were expected to constantly post on social media… before knowing what their stories even meant.' Or Kinnick's thoughts as he holds a .22 Glock given to him just in case by a retired police officer who is helping him get his grandkids back from the local militia: 'The shiver that went through his arm! The power!… The weight of this gun was the exact weight of his anger and his fear and his sense of displacement… That's where its incredible balance lay.' As Kinnick links up with various characters and drives across the Northwest in search of his daughter and grandchildren, the plot unfolds quickly. Most readers won't need more than a day or two to reach the final page, which satisfies the Thoreau quote Walter uses in the story's preface: 'Not till we are lost… 'till we have lost the world, do we begin to find ourselves.' ___ AP book reviews:
Winnipeg Free Press
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
Book Review: Jess Walter's 'So Far Gone' sets a redemption story in fractured, modern America
When the history of the United States in 2025 is written, perhaps one of the best things that will be said is: 'Well, it made for some great art.' Consider 'So Far Gone,' the new novel by Jess Walter. Set in present day America, it opens with two kids wearing backpacks knocking on a cabin door. 'What are you fine young capitalists selling?' asks Rhys Kinnick, before realizing the kids are his grandchildren. They carry with them a note from Kinnick's daughter, describing dad as a 'recluse who cut off contact with our family and now lives in squalor in a cabin north of Spokane.' It's a great hook that draws you in and doesn't really let up for the next 256 pages. We learn why Kinnick pulled a Thoreau and went to the woods seven years ago (Hint: It has a lot to do with the intolerance exhibited by no small percentage of Americans and embodied by a certain occupant of the White House), as well as the whereabouts of Kinnick's daughter, Bethany, and why her messy marriage to a guy named Shane led to Kinnick's grandchildren being dropped off at his cabin. In a neat narrative gimmick, the chapters are entitled 'What Happened to ___' and fill in the main strokes of each character's backstory, as well as what happens to them in the present timeline. Told with an omniscient third-person sense of humor, the book's themes are nonetheless serious. On the demise of journalism in the chapter 'What Happened to Lucy,' one of Kinnick's old flames and colleagues at the Spokesman-Review: She 'hated that reporters were expected to constantly post on social media… before knowing what their stories even meant.' Or Kinnick's thoughts as he holds a .22 Glock given to him just in case by a retired police officer who is helping him get his grandkids back from the local militia: 'The shiver that went through his arm! The power!… The weight of this gun was the exact weight of his anger and his fear and his sense of displacement… That's where its incredible balance lay.' As Kinnick links up with various characters and drives across the Northwest in search of his daughter and grandchildren, the plot unfolds quickly. Most readers won't need more than a day or two to reach the final page, which satisfies the Thoreau quote Walter uses in the story's preface: 'Not till we are lost… 'till we have lost the world, do we begin to find ourselves.' Weekly A weekly look at what's happening in Winnipeg's arts and entertainment scene. ___ AP book reviews:
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Book Review: Jess Walter's 'So Far Gone' sets a redemption story in fractured, modern America
When the history of the United States in 2025 is written, perhaps one of the best things that will be said is: 'Well, it made for some great art.' Consider 'So Far Gone,' the new novel by Jess Walter. Set in present day America, it opens with two kids wearing backpacks knocking on a cabin door. 'What are you fine young capitalists selling?' asks Rhys Kinnick, before realizing the kids are his grandchildren. They carry with them a note from Kinnick's daughter, describing dad as a 'recluse who cut off contact with our family and now lives in squalor in a cabin north of Spokane.' It's a great hook that draws you in and doesn't really let up for the next 256 pages. We learn why Kinnick pulled a Thoreau and went to the woods seven years ago (Hint: It has a lot to do with the intolerance exhibited by no small percentage of Americans and embodied by a certain occupant of the White House), as well as the whereabouts of Kinnick's daughter, Bethany, and why her messy marriage to a guy named Shane led to Kinnick's grandchildren being dropped off at his cabin. In a neat narrative gimmick, the chapters are entitled 'What Happened to ___' and fill in the main strokes of each character's backstory, as well as what happens to them in the present timeline. Told with an omniscient third-person sense of humor, the book's themes are nonetheless serious. On the demise of journalism in the chapter 'What Happened to Lucy,' one of Kinnick's old flames and colleagues at the Spokesman-Review: She 'hated that reporters were expected to constantly post on social media… before knowing what their stories even meant.' Or Kinnick's thoughts as he holds a .22 Glock given to him just in case by a retired police officer who is helping him get his grandkids back from the local militia: 'The shiver that went through his arm! The power!… The weight of this gun was the exact weight of his anger and his fear and his sense of displacement… That's where its incredible balance lay.' As Kinnick links up with various characters and drives across the Northwest in search of his daughter and grandchildren, the plot unfolds quickly. Most readers won't need more than a day or two to reach the final page, which satisfies the Thoreau quote Walter uses in the story's preface: 'Not till we are lost… 'till we have lost the world, do we begin to find ourselves.' ___ AP book reviews: Rob Merrill, The Associated Press
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Justin Bieber Sells Entire Music Catalog for $200 Million as Financial Woes Push Him to the Brink
Justin Bieber sold his treasured 300-song catalog in a desperate bid to line his empty pockets. Sources say the former teen idol shopped his life's work to Hipgnosis Songs Capital for a reported $200 million in 2022 to keep his head above water. A new documentary charges Justin, 31, was near 'financial collapse,' with one industry insider claiming that despite rolling up between $500 million and a billion dollars during his career, he 'was broke.' 'Selling this catalog was like selling a part of himself,' a source says. 'But given the choices he's made, he had no options.' As the National ENQUIRER has reported, the onetime chart-topping pop icon has reportedly lived like a king, splurging on high-end real estate, elaborate parties and private jets — despite not working in years. His last studio album was 2021's Justice and, before joining SZA for her Grand National Tour concert at SoFi Stadium on May 23, the last time he performed live was in February 2024. Despite that, 'he's blowing through cash like there's no tomorrow,' says an insider. That includes dropping a small fortune on six lavish homes and reportedly splashing out $300,000 at the upscale restaurant Nobu during this year's Coachella music fest. Just as troubling, sources say Justin has alienated himself from his former inner circle — unfollowing his former manager Scooter Braun and his assistant Allison Kaye, who juggled nearly every aspect of his life before quitting in January. The 'Sorry' singer also cut ties with his head of security and road manager, Kenny Hamilton, and longtime pal and head of his fashion brand, Ryan Good, who was the best man at his 2018 wedding to model Hailey Baldwin. 'Justin is managing himself through his own family office now, and there's skepticism on if he can do it alone,' veteran music executive Chris Anokute said. The What Happened to Justin Bieber? documentary claims the star's massive debt hit def-con proportions when he chose to walk away from a reported $90 million payday after abandoning his Justice world tour in 2022. Sources say he canceled the tour to prioritize his health after being diagnosed with type 2 Ramsay Hunt syndrome, a virus that inflames the nerves and causes shingles and chickenpox. In a statement shared on social media at the time, Justin said, 'After getting off stage, the exhaustion overtook me, and I realized that I need to make my health the priority.' 'Justin gave up his songs to save his life,' a source says. 'Now he's working without a net.'
Daily Mirror
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Justin Bieber's ex-pals claim he's in a cult and being 'isolated' from friends
Former pals of Justin Bieber have spoken out to claim he is in a 'cult' run by his church pastor Judah Smith, who has laughed at the accusations Former pals of Justin Bieber have reportedly claimed he is in a 'cult' - and that his church pastor is behind the singer cutting certain friends out of his life. The 31-year-old is said to have been shrinking his circle over the past few years and become increasingly 'isolated.' Concern has been growing for the former child star - who shot to fame at the age of just 15 with hits like One Time and Baby - who has been looking dishevelled and withdrawn from public life recently. He hasn't released any music for four years and there have been worries about his mental health and possible drug use, according to reports. In his latest social media post, he also admitted 'hurting others' in a candid confession. Taking to Instagram, he said: "I'm just an averaged flawed guy, I've done things that have hurt others, I continue to do and say things that hurt others unintentionally. Yet I woke up this morning with another opportunity to grow and not be so selfish today. Love draws us in. Love doesn't condemn. Love believes the best. Love hopes all things and endures all things. It doesn't keep record of wrong. Love helps u to forgive and love even your enemies." Now there are fears the star - who became a dad for the first time in August last year when wife of almost seven years Hailey, 28, gave birth to their son Jack Blues - is being influenced by his pastor, Judah Smith. In a clip from TMZ documentary 'What Happened to Justin Bieber', sources close to the singer said: "Let's be honest, the people who get cut out of Justin's life are pointing the finger at Judah, and saying that there's something that he's saying or doing with Justin that makes Justin not trust all these people that have been around him and helped him in his career, and personally, up to this point." But Judah has shut down any cult rumours. In another clip shown in the programme, he hits back: "OK, if we're in a cult, we're the worst cult in the histories of all cults. What kind of cult only meets once a month, guys?" TMZ claim to have been told that Judah and Justin ambushed his former manager Scooter Braun - who is Jewish and discovered Justin - asking him 'Why don't you love Jesus?' The pair are also said to have grilled Ryan Good, who was best man at Justin's 2018 wedding, about his dating and sex life. Both men are no longer thought to be friends with Justin and TMZ says their sources say Ryan has now left Justin and Judah's church, Churchome, because he thought it was a cult. One source in the documentary said: "Ryan really thought [what happened] was invasive and it really turned him off from the church." Another source added: "We're told that this is when Ryan started to feel that Churchome was a cult. That's when he started using the cult word." The Mirror has reached out to Justin's reps for further comment on this story.
