Of grieving, books, mystery, protest and power
Book reviewer COLIN STEELE reflects on his top five books for 2025.
Books
This year’s most borrowed title from ACT Libraries' 1.4 million borrowed items was Orbital by Samantha Harvey.
Children's author David Walliams says he has not been informed about allegations raised by his publisher after HarperCollins said it was cutting links with him.
British comic and children's author David Walliams has been dropped by his publishers after allegations of harassment of its female employees.
Books
Garner’s intimate mix of the mundane to the profane
"Garner mixes the mundane with the profane, juxtaposing washing the dishes with the creativity of writing." COLIN STEELE reviews the collected diaries of "national treasure" Helen Garner.
Books
Virginia Giuffre’s memoir sells one million copies
The posthumous memoir of Virginia Giuffre, a prominent accuser of Jeffrey Epstein, has sold one million copies worldwide.
Books
What’s with Christmas when it comes to murder mysteries?
Why are there so many murder mysteries set at Christmas, asks book reviewer COLIN STEELE.
“My father, who was in advertising, had heard of this new little industry that was just developing called market research and he made an appointment for me to go to a job interview." ROD HENSHAW talks to social psychologist Hugh Mackay.
Jane Harper is credited with creating a new sub-genre of crime fiction, Australian rural noir, writes book reviewer ANNA CREER.
Airbrushing and exhortations: Ita Buttrose reflects on her life in media – well, some of it, writes DENIS MULLER.
How we communicate information and entertainment has changed dramatically over the millennia, writes book reviewer COLIN STEELE.
British-Hungarian writer David Szalay has won the Booker Prize, the UK's most prestigious fiction award.
Former Prince Andrew’s biographer predicts ‘lots more to come’, after years charting his vices, writes DENNIS ALTMAN.
Book reviewer ANNA CREER looks at three new titles by crime writers at the top…
Helen Garner has been named the winner of the Baillie Gifford Prize for nonfiction at a ceremony in London for her "addictive" diaries.
Miles Franklin Award-winning author Sofie Laguna’s new novel, The Underworld, has been billed as “one for every reader you know,” but especially for anyone who has ever been 14.
Ian McEwan and John Banville are two of the leading contemporary British writers, but their latest books are not their best, says reviewer COLIN STEELE.
Authors Darren Rix and Craig Cormick have won the 2025 ACT Book of the Year for their novel Warra Warra Wai.
Author Mick Herron… “The intelligence services were protecting this guy who was a murderer.”
