Each week, we're sharing cultural experiences you can access from home during the pandemic, such as online concerts, theater and art. This week we suggest:

• A self-guided tour of the Pyramids of Giza courtesy of Google. Then, for extra credit join the more than 120,000 already signed up to take Harvard's free course: Pyramids of Giza: Ancient Egyptian Art and Archaeology which started Oct 1.
• Virtually wander the 18th century sidewalks that Alexander Hamilton trod in "the greatest city in the world." Hamilton fans and history buffs can explore the theatre district and New York City from their couches October 7 and 14 during a two-part HamilTour (cost $22 for both tours).

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In our weekly "Culture Corner" we're sharing cultural experiences you can access from home during the pandemic, such as online concerts, theater and art. This week we suggest:

• The Royal Opera House's cabaret-inspired production of Georges Bizet's Carmen which is available through Oct 17. This 2018 production divided opinion, some loved it, others found it bizarre, not least due to Carmen's first appearance wearing a gorilla suit (apparently a reference to Marlene Dietrich singing the song "Hot Voodoo" in a gorilla suit in the film Blonde Venus.) For just £3 or US$3.20 you can judge for yourself. Or, if you prefer a more traditional performance, head for the Vienna State Opera.
  

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Each week, we're sharing cultural experiences you can access from home during the pandemic, such as online concerts, theater and art.

This week we suggest you explore the rich history of Indian dance with a short introductory video mostly focused on the Bharatanatyam tradition, one of eight dance styles recognized by India's National Academy of Music, Dance and Drama. Sometimes written as one word, sometimes two, Bharata natyam is a modern descriptor consisting of the first letters of bhava (emotions), raga (melody) and tala (rhythm), coupled with natya, the Sanskrit word for dance. With its roots in the southern state of Tamil Nadu, it is generally considered the oldest classical dance style in India, dating back to at least the 2nd century AD. There are many amazing performances available on YouTube including this.

Conventionally, Bharata natyam was a solo dance performed by women used to illustrate stories from the Hindu religious texts. Then, in 1910, the colonial British government banned temple dancing and the Indian community pushed back, embracing the form and expanding it outside the temples and across the country. Today, Bharatanatyam is a staple of popular dance and Bollywood movies, for example the 2016 time-traveling romance Baar Baar Dekho (Look Again and Again) which earned over 55 crore (US$650) at the box office. If you're in the mood to give Bollywood dance a go yourself, try this Bollywood dance workout!

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Each week, we're sharing cultural experiences you can access from home during the pandemic, such as online concerts, theater and art. This week we suggest:

• A two part radio play based on Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's novel Half of a Yellow Sun set during the Nigeria-Biafra War of the late 1960s. This two-hour BBC production is dramatized by Janice Okoh. Episode 1 is available now until about Oct 2. Episode 2 is available until about Oct 9.

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Each week, we're sharing cultural experiences you can access from home during the pandemic, such as online concerts, theater and art. This week we suggest:

• Top Story, an apocalyptic comedy by Sebastian Michael. A meteor the size of LA is about to hit the earth. In London two friends, Gus and Talfryn, spend their last seven days avoiding the outside world, reinventing the rules of chess and fantasizing about saving the world... all without leaving their sofa. This production was performed in January 2013 at The Old Vic Tunnels, which was an arts venue set in 30,000 square foot of abandoned railway tunnels under London's Waterloo railway station. It is currently available for free with donations welcome and encouraged.
  

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Has your book group ever become frustrated by members who join in book discussions without having finished the book -- or, in some cases, without even starting it?

If so, you're not alone. According to our research, 15% of reading group members say their book club has experienced problems around this issue; and a quarter of those who left a previous book club due to dissatisfaction cited frustration over members attending without having read the book, or not attending meetings at all, as a factor in their decision to leave.

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