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Book of the dayFictionReviewThe stories of an early aviator and a 21st-century Hollywood star are deftly woven into an intricate, satisfying narrative The early history of aviation is full of courageous, fascinating women: Amy Johnson and Amelia Earhart are probably the best known. With the fictional Marian Graves, Maggie Shipstead creates a compelling, original heroine all her own. In this enthralling novel, Graves disappeared in 1950 while attempting to fly around the world – longitudinally, passing over both north and south poles.

Stream teamMoviesYes, this 1995 romcom is completely ridiculous – but try not being charmed by Sandra Bullock and Bill Pullman While You Were Sleeping is the feelgood movie I always find myself revisiting at this time of year. It is kind of ridiculous – but it is also funny, charming and utterly determined to lift your spirits. Lucy Moderatz (Sandra Bullock) works as a token collector for the Chicago L train.

The ObserverHolocaust This article is more than 6 years oldSpy mystery of British sisters who helped Jewish refugees flee the NazisThis article is more than 6 years oldProducers of biopic tell of CIA files on opera-loving secretaries Ida and Louise Cook who repeatedly flew to Germany to rescue refugeesThe extraordinary story of two British sisters who became unlikely heroines in helping Jews to flee Nazi persecution is to be told on the big screen.

Word of Mouth blogLife and styleThe meatkini - so last yearWearing meat is nothing new, as seasoned internet users will know. Have you seen meat couture worn with more aplomb? In pictures: the wearing of meat That old debate over Lady Gaga ripping off Grace Jones's style may have fizzled out like it was some - oh, I dunno, inconsequential bitchy spat between a pair of stroppy divas - but the pop-performance artist's audacious style hit the headlines again this week.

Top 10sFictionFrom Elena Ferrante to Taffy Brodesser-Akner, writers have captured the pressures that being a mother can inflict on marriage and on the creative self What surprised me most when I became a mother was how unfeasibly demanding the job was. This work was 24/7, three six five, and nobody even acknowledged that it was work, nor that mothers were doing it, that they were doing all of it, all of the time.

The ObserverScamsTravellers are getting seemingly convincing messages asking them to provide bank card details and threatening their reservation will be cancelled Travellers using the popular hotel website Booking.com are being warned not to fall for scam emails asking them to confirm their hotel payment, after a hack of Booking.com’s email system. In recent weeks the Observer has been contacted by a number of customers claiming that they had received scam emails from within the Booking.

ShortcutsSexCould internet-enabled Fundawear revolutionise long-distance relationships?They call it Fundawear: a bra, his and hers electric pants, and an app to control them. Its creators Durex Australia claim it could be the "future of foreplay", enabling long-distance lovers to touch and tease each other from halfway across the planet. Or at least have a bit of a cheeky grope. The technology made its debut in a video posted on the company's YouTube page on Wednesday, of a young couple giggling as the man uses the power of the internet to prod his beloved girlfriend in the breast.

The ObserverCuba This article is more than 13 years oldFidel Castro's Potbelly amigo Max Marambio finds brother Raul Castro is not so friendlyThis article is more than 13 years oldMax Marambio had it all from the Cuba leader Fidel Castro. Now Raul Castro wants him on corruption chargesA globe-trotting guerrilla befriends a dictator, goes into business and makes a fortune but ends up accused of corruption and betrayal. How the story ends remains unclear, but Max Marambio's rise and apparent fall could already fill several novels – and shed light on Castro rule in Cuba.

Victorian politics This article is more than 10 months old‘She said yes’: with no French getaway on the cards, Victorian MP Nathan Lambert proposes in parliamentThis article is more than 10 months oldApplause erupts from both sides of the chamber after Labor MP’s romantic gesture in his first speech Follow our Australia news live blog for the latest updates Get our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcast Amid a busy parliamentary schedule, new Victorian Labor MP Nathan Lambert could not see any romantic “French holidays” on the horizon to pop the question to his partner.