Six great reads: Trump Island, Albania; DB Cooper revisited; and Alanis oughta know

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"Diverse Summer Reading List Highlights Literature and Cultural Mysteries"

Six great reads: Trump Island, Albania; DB Cooper revisited; and Alanis oughta know analysis cover image

The Guardian 7.6

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Original Article Source: https://www.theguardian.com/news/2025/jun/28/six-great-reads-trump-island-albania-db-cooper-revisited-and-alanis-oughta-know

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Raw Article Publish Date: 28 June 2025

AI Analysis Average Score: 7.6

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TruthLens AI Summary

The summer reading list compiled by the books team offers a diverse selection of literature, catering to various tastes with titles from renowned authors such as Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Alan Hollinghurst, alongside memoirs from celebrity figures like Cher and restaurateur Keith McNally. This carefully curated list encourages readers to disconnect from screens and immerse themselves in both new paperbacks and children's fiction, appealing to a broad audience eager for engaging stories during the summer months. The recommendations reflect a blend of genres, ensuring that there is something for everyone, whether they are looking for compelling narratives or insightful memoirs.

One notable feature of the list is the intriguing story of Sazan, a small island off the coast of Albania, often referred to as Trump Island due to the significant investment made by Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, who are developing the area into a luxury resort. This ambitious project, which has involved spending over $1 billion, is set against a backdrop of stunning natural beauty and complex geopolitical considerations. The island has remained largely untouched until now, but as development progresses, it raises questions about the implications of ultra-luxury tourism in a region marked by its unique landscape and history. Additionally, the article touches on the enduring mystery of D.B. Cooper, the infamous hijacker who vanished after parachuting away with ransom money, and reflects on the cultural significance of his case as well as the ongoing fascination it holds for many, including a bar in Manhattan dedicated to the legend. This blend of literary recommendations and captivating stories provides a rich tapestry of summer reading material.

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Source URL: https://www.theguardian.com/news/2025/jun/28/six-great-reads-trump-island-albania-db-cooper-revisited-and-alanis-oughta-know

Our books team packed for the beach to compile their essential list of summer reading: from novels by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Alan Hollinghurst to memoirs by Cher and Manhattanenfant terriblerestaurateur Keith McNally, there’s something for everyone. Plus they also rounded up the best new paperbacks and children’s fiction. Put those screens away!

“On Sazan, a small island off the coast ofAlbania, the landscape is Jurassic. Ferns, giant lavender, plumbago, rosemary, broom and laurels grow on the mountain at its centre. The view from the top, with its dramatic sunsets, is dizzyingly beautiful.

Albanians call Sazan Ishulli i Trumpëve – Trump Island. Until now mostly untrammelled by development, it is on the verge of becoming a mecca for ultra-luxury tourism, another addition to Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner’s real-estate portfolio … ”

The pair have spent more than $1bn on an Albanian island that will be a luxury resort – once the unexploded ordnance has been removed. Marzio Mian travelled to Sazan to see how the developers’ amibitions intersect with a bigger geopolitical picture.

It’s one of the most famous missing persons cases in history: in 1971, a man held a plane to ransom for $200,000, then parachuted out in his suit and dress shoes, never to be seen again. What happened to him? Daniel Lavelle took a fresh look at a mystery that still has people scrabbling for answers – as well as a Manhattan dive bar dedicated to it.

She made her name with rage-fuelled anthems – and sold 75m records in the process. Speaking to Charlotte Edwardes ahead of her set at Glastonbury on Friday evening, the California-dwelling earth mother explained why she’s ready to let rip again …

Can you imagine Liverpool without its Welsh Streets or London without Battersea Power Station? For 50 years, writes our architecture critic Oliver Wainwright, one small band of activists have been finding creative alternative uses for great buildings their owners couldn’t see.

“I started to notice my interruptions, the creative ways I managed to bring the conversation back to my favourite topic: me. I noticed how, in lieu of listening, my mind would embark on wild and weird adventures, fighting against the odds to relate everything back to my experience. My partner recalled the time that I said, to my embarrassment: “That reminds me of me.”

Ioan Marc Jones did his bit to end the plague of mansplaining, manologuing and bropriating … by shutting up himself

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Source: The Guardian