Culture
Books
This Australian psychological thriller examines death penalty with a horrific twist
Our reviewers cast their eyes over recent fiction and non-fiction releases, including an engaging account of the seven Cleopatras and Geoffrey Robertson’s crisply argued case for prosecuting Putin.
- by Cameron Woodhead and Steven Carroll
Latest
This retelling of Huckleberry Finn is a masterful satire of race
Percival Everett tells the story of Mark Twain’s classic from the point of view of Jim, the runaway slave who befriends Huck.
- by Declan Fry
Exclusive
Literature
The day I shopped for hair products with Booker Prize winner Paul Lynch
Booker Prize winner 2023 Paul Lynch is in Australia to talk about his award-winning book Prophet Song.
- by Helen Pitt
This memoir on grief is a treasure chest of honesty and raw humanity
When her partner of 25 years died, Nova Weetman found the necessity of work and her two children kept her connected to reality.
- by Michael McGirr
These are the 10 events not to miss at Sydney Writers’ Festival
This year’s literary feast offers a tantalising menu for lovers of all sorts of writing.
- by Jason Steger
Determined, tone-deaf and glib: Rebel Wilson tells her own story
Wilson is a talented actor, but she can’t replicate that talent in her memoir.
- by Stephen Brook
Opinion
WordPlay
Australia leads the world in the use of this oxymoronic term
During this year’s budget there was one recurrent word association that appeared more than others.
- by David Astle
Colm Toibin didn’t think he’d write a Brooklyn sequel. So why has he?
The Irish writer’s latest novel returns to the world of Eilis Lacey.
- by Jason Steger
Eleven years ago, she won NSW’s most prestigious book prize. She just did it again
Ali Cobby Eckermann always wanted to be a writer. Now she’s received the highest accolade in the NSW Premier’s Literary Awards for the second time.
- by Kerrie O'Brien
Three writers named 2024 Best Young Australian Novelists
Now in its 28th year, the prize is given to an Australian writer of fiction aged 35 or under.
- by Melanie Kembrey
A frantic call from a sinking ship: this novel opens with a coroner’s report
Miles Franklin winner Shankari Chandran has an agenda in her new book Safe Haven, as our desire not to see has only been strengthened.
- by Helen Elliott