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.

The Fall of Lisa Bellow is an intelligent, engaging novel about trauma, recovery, and the vulnerabilities of teenage girls.

The End of the Day has a rich, wild energy and imagination.

Eliza Henry-Jones explores the drama, horror and aftermath of a bushfire on four generations of one family.

There's a dark current of sardonic realism underpinning the humour in Vivienne Kelly's The Starlings.

• Review

Brian Castro's latest novel can at times be perplexing but it is mostly lively, striking and even exhilarating.

Sheila Kohler captures the silences that surrounded a white South African childhood.

Blue-collar singer Jimmy Barnes officially an award-winning author for his memoir.

Literary news and events.

David Grann tells the story of a shocking 1920s conspiracy to murder people of the Osage Nation to gain the wealth they received from oil rights.