The story of the shipwrecked James Morrill is one of survival and sanctuary with the Aboriginal people of far north Queensland.

In Dominic Smith's reimagining of 19th-century bohemian Paris, Louis Daguerre is obsessed with capturing 10 images before he dies.

Each story in Alison MacLeod's fine collection examines what it means to be alive.

Rich People Problems is focused on an extended, ultra-rich Singaporean clan, it is full of conniving relations and conspicuous consumption and reads something like the Asian century's answer to Dynasty.

Behind the smiling portraits and the sad, droopy moustache, was a dark side to Henry Lawson – alcoholism and domestic violence

There are flaws in The Hot Guy but it will keep you turning the pages.

James Boyce's investigation of the gambling industry in Tasmania is an eye-opening tale.

Timbuktu had always been seen as a kind of African El Dorado. But no westerner knew for sure because they'd never found it.

It is extraordinarily difficult to authors to be able to support themselves purely with their writing, so they often have to take on other work to make ends meet.

A slim volume of poetry written by a Canadian poet who made her name on Instagram outsold all other authors at this year's Sydney Writers' Festival which delivered its second biggest box office takings in 20 years.

Literary news and events in Canberra.

• Books

Chloe Esposito's 'feminist' debut novel is full of sex, conflict and humour. No wonder it's been snapped up by Hollywood.

The author found Jane Austen's Persuasion a great help in writing her new novel.

• Wordplay

Spoken English isn't always correct in its usage and the consequences of that are not always obvious.

This biography is strongest in the case it makes for the virtues of Elizabeth Jane Howard's fiction and in its depiction of the sensibility that drew her into the orbit of so many dreadful men.

• Turning Pages

George Saunders and Colson Whitehead have both produced acclaimed bestselling novels where historical reality gradually morphs into fantasy

• Interview

Inga Simpson's memoir is so imbued with her feelings for nature that it has brought a greater freedom in her fiction.

• Review

Three Australian memoirs ask how self-respect can be reclaimed after a difficult early life.

This books tells the story of the people and places that turned Brunswick Street into Melbourne's bohemian boulevard

Having experienced what it's like to be Shia in Sunni-dominated Pakistan, comedian Sami Shah knew a thing or two about terrorism before coming to Australia.

Reni Eddo-Lodge discovered a disturbing lack of knowledge in Britain about black history and the nation's involvement in slavery.

Pixar wasn't always the film-industry success that it is now. This is the story of how Lawrence Levy turned the company round.

Author Mikhail Zygar says the Russian leader is not a grimly determined master strategist.

• Review

Mohsin Hamid's small, imaginatively written novel about the plight of two refugees packs a powerful punch.