Culture
Books
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WordPlay
You might not know it, but you’re probably a ‘citizen scientist’
The term might be controversial, but the practice has become vital to most research fields.
- by David Astle
Latest
Striking debut novel with echoes of David Foster Wallace
Reading Ask Me Again is like a long catch-up phone call with an old friend.
- by Eddie Hampson
The Victorian madame whose name lives on in popular culture
Madame Brussels made her reputation running a brothel in Melbourne. Today, she has a laneway and cocktail named in her honour.
- by Simon Caterson
Love historical crime fiction? This sensual novel will grip you
Jane Sullivan’s Murder in Punch Lane is elegantly structured and moves deftly between fact and fiction.
- by Carmel Bird
Perth indie bookshop takes novel approach to moving this weekend
Keep your eyes peeled when driving along Beaufort Street this weekend; you might see an unusual sight.
- by Emma Young
Sorry, Bumble, it’s not you. I’d just rather read a steamy book
Reality is making celibates of us all and romance novels are having a renaissance.
- by Genevieve Novak
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
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
Exclusive
Investigations
Emails reveal State Library discussed political, religious views of writers
New documents reveal a former federal Labor MP and board member discussed the views of a writer whose workshop was later cancelled.
- by Kerrie O'Brien
The stunning photos that captured British theatre royalty’s trip Down Under
The stand-out element of Shiroma Perera-Nathan’s account of the tour of Australia and New Zealand by acting couple Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh’s in 1948 is the photographs.
- by Tom Ryan
In crime fiction, where there’s Smoke there’s always fire
Former journo Michael Brissenden has written a cracking novel set in the aftermath of a Californian wildfire.
- by Sue Turnbull