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BOOKS

Ten essential summer reads according to the Swedish bookstore voted world’s best

Recently chosen as the best bookstore in the world by the London Book Fair, The English Bookshop in Uppsala knows a thing or two about the written word. The Local asked owner Jan Smedh to hand-pick ten must-read titles for the summer.

Published: 11 July 2018 06:59 CEST
Ten essential summer reads according to the Swedish bookstore voted world's best
The English Bookshop in Uppsala. Photo: The English Bookshops in Stockholm and Uppsala.

Fiction

“Less” by Andrew Sean Greer

“This great, funny, empathic book about a middle-aged writer and his insecurities won the Pulitzer this year.”

Read more about the book here.

Classics

“The Garden Party” by Katherine Mansfield

“The perfect time to reacquaint yourselves with this 1922 New Zealand summer classic.”

Read more about the book here.

READ MORE: This is the world's best bookstore and it's in Uppsala, Sweden

Short Stories

“That Was A Shiver – and Other Stories” by James Kelman

“The Booker Prize winning Scottish author is back with a collection of compelling characters.”

Read more about the book here.

Mystery

“Plaid & Plagiarism” by Molly MacRae

“A cozy crime with a murder in a Scottish bookshop – what more can you ask for?”

Read more about the book here.

Noir

“The Smack” by Richard Lange

“Lange is one of the very best writers of SoCal/Border Noir and this new book about a failing con artist going for the big score is another great read.”

Read more about the book here.

Science Fiction

“Illuminae” by Amie Kaufmann/Jay Kristoff

“The year is 2575 and two mega-corporations are at war. Heart-stopping adventure.”

Read more about the book here.

Four best summer reads. Photo: The English Bookshops in Stockholm and Uppsala

Fantasy

“The Summer Dragon” by Todd Lockwood

“High fantasy adventure with dragons and politics – perfect immersive read about two siblings and their dragons.”

Read more about the book here.

Paranormal/Urban Fantasy

“White Silence” by Jodi Taylor

“A gripping supernatural thriller with lots of twist by this English writer.”

Read more about the book here.

Young Adult

“Who Runs the World?” by Virginia Bergin

“Welcome to the matriarchy. Set 60 years after almost all men have been wiped out by a virus. 14-year old River thought men were extinct – then she meets Mason…”

Read more about the book here.



 

Hey look- it’s the kiddo! I’ve been down and out with a cold/flu for last few days, ran out of photos, and have exactly zero energy to take any more today, so I went waaaaay back in my phones to see if I had anything to use well I get my energy back and came across this nugget ? Rory helped me set up a bunch of photos to use while we were in America, and decided that she should really be IN the photos so here we are- she’s giving her best “girls rule” pose which I love ? I picked this book up awhile ago because I LOVE the cover- I really need to get around to reading it now ? . . QOTD: Rory would like to know what your Hogwarts house is- she’s a Gryffindor (because she wants to be Hermione- we spent about 6 weeks straight having to refer to her as Hermione- she wouldn’t answer to Rory ?) and I’m a Ravenclaw ? . . #whorunstheworld #girlpower #welcometothematriarchy #virginiabergin #littlefeminist #rainbowbooks #rainbowshelves #bookrainbow #shelfie #coverbuy #bookstagram #bookishpeepsies #bookishphotography #yareads #yabooks #yareader #yalit #ireadbooks #booksofinstagram #readersofinstagram #littlebookworm

A post shared by Samantha Hunt (@she_who_reads_) on Jun 26, 2018 at 7:26pm PDT

Non-fiction

“I Found My Tribe” by Ruth Fitzmaurice

“A moving tale about an Irish writer who recovers from family trauma by swimming in the Irish Sea.”

Read more about the book here.

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HEALTH

LISTED: The 14 sun creams Spain wants to take off the market

If you're looking for the right sun protection this summer, then you should be aware that the Spanish Ministry of Health has requested that 14 sunscreens be withdrawn because their SPF doesn't correspond to what is advertised.

Published: 28 July 2021 12:32 CEST
LISTED: The 14 sun creams Spain wants to take off the market
The Spanish Ministry of Health requests the withdrawal of 14 sun creams. Photo: MYCHELE DANIAU / AFP

The Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products (AEMPS) and the Ministry of Health, requested on Tuesday the voluntary withdrawal of 14 sun creams because the sun protection factor (SPF) that they advertise does not correspond to the labelling.

The results were discovered during a recent trial AEMPS carried out to guarantee that the sun protection factor is the one announced by the manufacturers. The trials focused on sunscreens with SPF 50 or SPF 50+, especially those with very light creams, mists and sprays. The agency chose 19 products from companies in different countries, of different sizes and price points.

Only five of the 19 creams analysed provided protection that was consistent with its labelling.

Five of the sun creams had an SPF much lower than that indicated on their labels, always below an SPF factor of 29.9. These are:

  • Abelay Sunscreen SPF50 from Ab7
  • Mussvital Photoprotector Spray Ultra Light 50+ aerosol from Peroxfarma
  • Eucerin Sun Sensitive Protect Sun Spray Transparent Dry Touch SPF 50 High by Beiersdorf AG
  • Hawaiian Tropic Silk Hydratation Solar Mist air soft SPF 50+ (High) by Wilkinson Sword
  • Australian Gold SPF Botanical SPF 50 continuous spray by Biorius

Nine of the sunscreens were found to have an SPF of between 30 and 49.9, instead of the advertised 50. These were:

  • Les Cosmetiques Sun Ultimate Sensitive SPF 50+ sun spray for sensitive skin from Carrefour
  • Belle & Sun Invisible Sun Mist SPF 50 by Perseida Beauty
  • Isdin Photoprotector Fusion Water SPF 50 from ISDIN daily use facial sunscreen
  • Farline sun spray SPF 50+ 200 mL Very High Protection
  • Babaria Solar Protective Mist SPF 50 by Berioska
  • Seesee Transparent Sun Spray SPF 50+ by Cosmetrade
  • Piz Buin Hydro Infusion Gel Sun Cream SFP 50 High Protection by Johnson & Johnson Santé Beauté
  • Ladival Sensitive Skin SPF 50+ from STADA Arzneimittel AG
  • Lancaster Sun Sensitive Luminous Tan Comfort cream SPF 50+ by Coty

No incidents of sunburn related to any of these products have been reported, however the Ministry of Consumption has started to investigate possible illicit advertising and unfair practices, and where appropriate, will sanction the manufacturers.

According to Weather Online, the UV Index in Spain and other Mediterranean countries is a lot higher than in northern European countries. Indices of 9 and 10 are common, whereas, in the UK, the UV Index rarely exceeds 8.

If you’re looking for extra protection this summer, a new app, UV-Derma has been released by professors from the University of Malaga, which calculates how long you can stay in the sun before burning. 

READ ALSO: Climate crisis: Spain records hottest year in 2020

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