The Weekend Edit: Shane MacGowan, Henry Kissinger and Christmas lunch in a box

Enjoy this week's features and longer reads

Sunday, December 3, 2023 Welcome to the Weekend Edit, where we highlight the best features, columns and reviews from The Independent, delivered straight to your inbox.   This week's highlights include Dorian Lynskey's wonderful tribute to hell-raising and hard drinking Pogues' frontman Shane MacGowan, Jon Sopel on the Henry Kissinger he knew and can a £215 chef Christmas lunch box really worth the money? Read on to find out…   For unlimited access to Premium insight along with ad-free reading, the daily edition newspaper, exclusive newsletters and more, you can subscribe for just £20 for 1 year. ENTERTAINMENT Shane MacGowan was a chaotic hellraiser and a natural storyteller who could give you a whole life in a handful of lines Dorian Lynskey on the chaos and contradictions that made The Pogues' frontman one of the greatest songwriters of our time, with 'a mouth like a war zone, a laugh like a poltergeist and a voice like a ragged flame'. Read more Shane MacGowan in Barcelona during The Pogues' heyday. Saving Private Ryan got the praise – but The Thin Red Line wins the battle of the war films Saving Private Ryan got the praise – but The Thin Red Line wins the battle of the war films Pauses, pain and the Pulitzer: How Annie Baker became the world's coolest living playwright   From Mick Jagger to Warhol and Madonna – who is Mr Chow, the man who ran the 'Studio 54' of restaurants? Pauses, pain and the Pulitzer: How Annie Baker became the world's coolest living playwright From Mick Jagger to Warhol and Madonna – who is Mr Chow, the man who ran the 'Studio 54' of restaurants? HEALTH & LIFESTYLE 'You're paying not to feel terrible the next day': Are we being ripped off by the high cost of non-alcoholic booze? More Brits than ever are trading their gin and tonics for alcohol-free alternatives that look and taste almost identical. But if they contain none of the same alcoholic ingredients – and therefore aren't subject to the same taxes – why are they so eye-wateringly expensive? Kate Ng speaks to manufacturers about the pricey truth behind drinking's hottest new trend Read more Non-alcoholic cocktails still seem to be subject to mind-bogglingly high prices. Surely it's in everybody's best interest to make them more affordable? Is a £215 chef's Christmas lunch in a box worth it?     Is a £215 chef's Christmas lunch in a box worth it? Why the Spanish are calling bull on M&S's chorizo paella croquetas   Why the Spanish are calling bull on M&S's chorizo paella croquetas   COMMENT This is the Henry Kissinger that I knew and will remember Even up until his final moments, world leaders would seek Henry Kissinger's counsel. His legacy may be complex, but his deep knowledge of the 20th century was simply unrivalled. His death is a huge loss, writes Jon Sopel Read more This is the Henry Kissinger that I knew and will remember I have Muslim and Jewish family – I want to talk about antisemitism AND Islamophobia You can be horrified by Hamas' massacre of Israelis and condemn Israel's ongoing killing of thousands of innocent Palestinians, writes Jemima Khan. This conflict has rendered each side deaf and impervious to the other's suffering and fear Read more I have Muslim and Jewish family – I want to talk about antisemitism AND Islamophobia I have deep feelings for Palestine and Israel – and had to march for both I attended the pro-Palestine march and antisemitism rally on the same day to show solidarity with people who want to live in peace, writes the Reverend Richard Coles. The only solution to the current crisis is political – even if it is difficult not to see that as an impossible dream Read more I have deep feelings for Palestine and Israel – and had to march for both The images coming out of Gaza and Israel on social media are horrifying – but we mustn't look away Videos from the conflict are so harrowing I flinch to view them, writes Alan Rusbridger. But I'm glad someone is there to bear witness to the horrors, and while they risk their lives to capture these images, it's the least I can do to confront them Read more The images coming out of Gaza and Israel on social media are horrifying – but we mustn't look away Who are you calling nerd? Me, hopefully… As the nerd emoji is deemed offensive and insulting, self-confessed dork Sam Leith says everyone is missing the point. The geeks have inherited the earth and it is pretty much the coolest thing to be right now Read more Who are you calling nerd? Me, hopefully…   Subscribe today to enjoy: Advert-free reading across independent.co.uk Full access to Premium analysis, opinion and longer-form articles The Independent Daily Edition newspaper The Independent app with daily puzzles and audio readings of articles Exclusive subscriber-only newsletters SUBSCRIBE: £99 £20 FOR 1 YEAR The Independent proudly partners with Refuge and the National Domestic Abuse Helpline: 0808 2000 247   Join the conversation and follow us: Download the free Independent app Please do not reply directly to this email   You are currently registered to receive marketing emails from The Independent.    To unsubscribe from these emails or to manage your email preferences please click here.   This e-mail was sent by Independent Digital News and Media Ltd, 14-18 Finsbury Square, London EC2A 1AH. Registered in England and Wales with company number 07320345 Read our privacy notice and cookie policy