Colm Tóibín: “After Epstein, I wanted to explore why some people feel no guilt”

Colm Tóibín's 'The News from Dublin' is a collection of short stories focusing on people and lives in Dublin, blending intimate character studies with keen observations of social and emotional undercurrents. The stories range in tone and subject but consistently show Tóibín's command of restraint, subtlety and narrative control. His prose often highlights the tension between private inner life and public behavior, illuminating silences, regrets and small revelations. The collection has been praised for demonstrating Tóibín's mastery of the short-story form and for its empathetic but unsentimental portrayals. It continues themes familiar from his novels: memory, identity and the quiet complexities of ordinary lives.

In 'Bad Blood', John Carreyrou chronicles the story of Theranos, a biotech startup founded by Elizabeth Holmes that claimed to have developed a revolutionary blood-testing technology. However, the technology did not work, and the company's success was built on deceit, intimidation, and manipulation. The book is based on extensive interviews with former employees and other individuals involved in the scandal, revealing the toxic company culture, the misuse of investor funds, and the risks posed to patients due to inaccurate blood test results. Carreyrou's investigation led to the exposure of Theranos's fraud, resulting in significant legal and financial consequences for the company and its leaders.