Spectrum
Murder mystery and wartime survival: Eight books to read this weekend
Our reviewers cast their eyes over recent fiction and non-fiction releases.
- by Cameron Woodhead and Steven Carroll
Latest
The Serpent Queen returns, more venomous than ever
Samantha Morton is just as deliciously wicked in the new season of this account of the life of Catherine de Medici.
- by Kylie Northover
She just played Wembley with Taylor Swift. This pop sensation’s rise has been dizzying
With her debut album Vertigo, British pop star Griff is navigating intense new heights.
- by Nick Buckley
Can lessons from the past improve our lives? This book says yes
In his new book, Australian social philosopher and historian Roman Krznaric explores 10 impressively diverse “social innovations” relevant to today.
- by Kurt Johnson
Opinion
Review
A critic’s pick of the best and worst of the Archibald Prize portraits
A handful of works stand out from a selection that seems to have been made for variety rather than quality.
- by John McDonald
Help! My daughter is starting to remind me of myself
What are children if not divine vengeance?
- by James Colley
Subtle and sublime, this album feels like it could have come from half a century ago
The 25-year-old’s new album is a grower that rewards careful listening.
- by Barry Divola and Giselle Au-Nhien Nguyen
Music in the ’80s belonged to Kim Gordon. At 71, she still plays hard
Long after Sonic Youth’s bitter split, artist, writer and musician Kim Gordon is inspiring a new generation of women.
- by Jo Roberts
A gentle love song to a cultural historian’s home territory
Alexandra Harris has written a remarkable book that melds personal memory with investigations of the historical record.
- by Gregory Day
Yes, it’s true. Reading really can affect the way you behave – in a good way
Studies show that reading can have a significant impact on your brain.
- by Jane Sullivan
The satire is as high as this novel’s anti-hero, but the dystopia is bleak
Jordan Prosser’s action-packed first novel will make you laugh but will unsettle you as well.
- by Justine Hyde