Culture
Books
A compendium of idiotic ideas, from hacky sack to influencers
Former Chaser member Dominic Knight explores millennia of bad ideas.
- by Pat Sheil
Latest
Helen Garner’s new book celebrates the purity in observance
The Season is a the acclaimed author’s memoir-diary of her time watching her grandson’s football team. It’s Death in Venice with Sherrin balls.
- by Declan Fry
Tired tropes, purple prose: Murakami’s new novel is for diehard fans only
The writing in The City And Its Uncertain Walls is so overwrought, the prose so purple, I half expected Prince to come back from the dead to sing about it.
- by Bram Presser
Romcom, horror and Indigenous romance: 2024’s best queer YA novels
The queer genre in young adult fiction is booming. Here are four of the year’s best.
- by Frances Atkinson
Michael Caine’s guide to life bursts with legendary anecdotes
Now 90, the storied actor reflects on his long career with charm and honesty. The result is riveting.
- by Peter Craven
Opinion
WordPlay
The most unexpected way influencers are influencing us
It’s all very demure, very mindful.
- by David Astle
The year in books: Writers pick the best reads of 2024
Ian Rankin, Bonnie Garmus, Min Jin Lee and more tell us what they’ve enjoyed reading over the past year.
Cosmic science, dystopian fiction, and other new books
Our reviewers cast their eyes over new fiction and non-fiction releases
- by Cameron Woodhead and Fiona Capp
Obsession, a scandalous separation and the new Helen Garner: Twelve new books in time for Christmas
The lead-up to Christmas is peak book-buying time, and here is a round up of 12 new works that will keep readers entertained, provoked and reflecting.
- by Jason Steger
Opinion
WordPlay
Macquarie’s word of the year is the perfect emblem for a grim era
Over two hours, the panel – myself included – whittled a 65-word longlist down to one worthy winner.
- by David Astle
Author pledges prizemoney to help family out of homelessness
Melissa Lucashenko says she will share the proceeds of her latest literary prize with struggling family members.
- by Linda Morris