Nutshell: Ian McEwan's imaginative take on Hamlet and his dilemma
Nutshell is some version of the Hamlet backstory, told from the point of view of a virtuosically bright prince who just happens to be a foetus.
Books
The Spy: A fictional take on Mata Hari that misses the mark
Paulo Coelho's novella about Mata Hari is too short and too slapdash to detain anyone interested in this fascinating woman for long.
A Gentleman in Moscow: A charming argument for courtesy
When he is imprisoned by the Soviet authorities, Count Alexander Rostov determines to make the most of his circumstances in the best possible way.
An ambitious novel of sex and politics
A big-picture novel that may put readers in mind of Graham Greene.
The River at Night: A thrilling tale of survival and horror
It starts as a buddy story but The River at Night turns into something much darker and thrilling.
Maxine Beneba Clarke's 'hard sell' on Indie Book Awards shortlist
Maxine Beneba Clarke thought her memoir, The Hate Race, would be "a hard sell at the end of the day because it was a book about a little black girl". Booksellers proved her wrong.
Override: Can the brain really rewire itself?
Override is an examination of the evolving science of neuroplasticity, a self-help book, a memoir and a quest.
Bring Back the King: The battle to recreate the extinct
Is it possible to use DNA to reverse the process of extinction? Helen Pilcher investigates.
How Bad Writing Ruined the World: The dire influence of Ayn Rand
According to Adam Weiner, the Russian-born American novelist Ayn Rand virtually programmed Alan Greenspan to create modern free-market capitalism.
Fighting with America: Questions abou the future of a relationship
A pivotal part of our relationship with the US will be the new president's response to the rise of China.
Xmas books
If you didn't get these 2016 books for Christmas, pick up a copy for yourself.
Book reviews: Artful Animals
Stephanie Owen Reeder explores the engaging escapades of a range of picture-book animals
A slice of the Jaipur Literary Festival pops up in Melbourne
Melbourne will get a taste of an Indian writers festival with a pop-up festival being held in February
Accolades flow for Melbourne author on US debut
She's already sold the film rights to her first novel, The Dry, but praise from the New York Times is more than welcome to Jane Harper.
A mind-blowing happy birthday to Doobie, Moog and every 50-year-old in the dictionary
Vin Diesel won't appreciate me saying this, but the Hollywood he-man is turning 50 this year. Not that he looks that old. Are you kidding me? My cousin Vinnie can bench-press 300 kilos. If your Whirlpool's broken, you could always scrub your laundry on that man's abs, but birthday candles don't lie.
A messy symphony that almost hits the ultimate crescendo
The best pop songs start out like something you want and then build up to something so much more.
Litbits January 14, 2017
Literary news and events in Canberra.
Comic look at the trials of mothering
Lauren Sams' novel is probably best read as a cautionary tale for new mothers.
With the wave of a wand, J. K. Rowling tops bestseller lists
Bringing back Harry Potter has returned J.K. Rowling to the top of the bestseller lists in a year when children's titles dominated sales in Australian bookshops.
The Conversation Yearbook: The best writing from the academic website
The best of these highlights from The Conversation interrogate the reality behind news report beat-ups of academic findings.
The Semiotics of Emoji: The future of the new visual langauge
Marcel Danesi maintains a healthy level of scepticism about the applications and future of the emoji.
George Lucas: The secrets of a film-maker
Want to know about the making of George Lucas' films? This biography is the book for you.
Treasure Palaces: The impact great museums have had on noted writers
The most memorable essays in Treasure Palaces capture how personal transformation can take place within the halls of these impersonal institutions.
History of Wolves: An impressive tragic novel
We learn quickly that a small child has died. But the question is how and why?
Little Deaths: A new look at a famous New York murder case
Emma Flint is the latest in a string of writers to base a book, play or movie on the notorious case of Alice Crimmins and the murder of her two children.
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