The focus of Truly Madly Guilty is a Sunday afternoon barbecue in the posh suburbs where something happens - something really bad.

Arnold Zable recognises the basic decency of ordinary people and honours their struggles in the face of adversity.

Angela Flournoy is well-practised in dealing with people who insist on seeing her novel through the prism of race purely because all the main characters are African-American.

An inspiring lineup of prize-winning Australian authors is a key Melbourne Writers Festival drawcard.

From Roald Dahl Day to free workshops for teens, curious minds are in for serious treats.

Preoccupation with gender identity is a cultural step backwards, says bestselling novelist Lionel Shriver.

'What happens in the Arctic doesn't stay in the Arctic,' says activist.

Honouring Henry Handel Richardson; help for hopeful writers; a book by young footy players

Kick off creative discussion among your group over a glass or two after attending these key Melbourne Writers Festival events.

It's all very kakos.

Top authors and hot topics headline Melbourne Writers Festival.

A book to be enjoyed by lawyers or anyone who has an interest in the legal profession and some of the best-known cases of the post-war years.

The brief life of Kathleen Kennedy (always Kick) could have come from the pens of Henry James, Shakespeare or Wagner.

JojJo Moyes occupies the top two spots in the bestselling books chart.

Tom Dusevic's memoir tries to make sense not just of the author's own life, but also of the life and identity of his parents.

Gretchen Shirm unveils a complex jigsaw puzzle in Where the Light Falls, written in a clean, detached prose.

Charles Cumming is a former MI6 recruit and is presumably well acquainted with the emotional baggage that comes with being a spy. His hero, Thomas Kell, is a jaded former operative.

One of the dilemmas for historians writing about the French Revolution is how to reconcile two fundamental but contradictory trends, the modernising impulse, and the violence of the mob.

It takes dedication to maintain a surfing habit in New York. For a start, there are no decent waves during the summer.

Tony Atkinson takes the reader for a breakneck ride from his childhood in London in the 1920s through to retirement in present-day Melbourne, including working for the Queen.

Ann Turner is a filmmaker and the great strength of her thriller is its cinematic quality, moving deftly from scene to scene in the vividly realised and dramatic landscapes.

Jessica Valenti has no clear argument, just a general conviction that as a woman she has had it hard.

A Google search let the police mount an operation to crack a gigantic ecstasy tablets deal.

Sarah Drummond's characters and atmosphere are beautifully drawn, and she does not shrink away from depicting the sealers' violence and brutality.

In Kei Miller's novel, a tale is transformed into an allegory of faith and liberation, as well as an implicit comment on the act of storytelling and its importance.