Instead of the legend, meet Alexander the man
Leading her latest column of new books, ANNA CREER reviews a biography of Alexander the Great, a man its author says, "spent his whole life unsure of who he really was”.
Books
Two cultural icons of the 20th century – Marilyn Monroe and Stephen King – have been assessed through their books. In Monroe's case, the books she read or owned; in King's, the books he wrote early in his career. COLIN STEELE reviews them.
The Marion Halligan Award, which recognises a work demonstrating uniqueness and literary excellence that transcends genre, has been awarded to The Dingo's Noctuary, an illustrated verse novel by Judith Nangala Crispin.
"NZ crime fiction is characterised by its distinctive rural and urban settings as well as its often gritty realism," says book reviewer ANNA CREER.
Books
Omar’s new book finds humanity in surreal worlds
"The Vape Lord of Queanbeyan, reads like the rantings of a lunatic, like prophecy, like poetry, like messages passed between the cells of some imaginary jail. There really isn't another book like it," writes JUDITH NANGALA CRISPIN.
Books
Two books about two very famous Cornwells
COLIN STEELE reviews two books that cover the lives and work of two global bestselling authors, who are coincidentally both Cornwells.
Books
Writers’ group reveals shortlists for literary awards
The ACT writers’ group, MARION, on Thursday released the shortlist for the 2026 ACT Literary Awards, to be announced on July 2.
ANNA CREER reviews new, gripping novels by two Melbourne-based, female crime writers.
Book reviewer COLIN STEELE looks at the autobiographical accounts of the disparate lives of two British celebrities.
The National Library is seeking public donations to support a major digitisation project that will bring the manuscript collections of twenty Australian women writers online for the first time through Trove.
The extraordinary fascination with all things Jane Austen continues unabated, writes book reviewer ANNA CREER.
"Raef does not make his own bed but he does lie in it, a lot." CHARLES WATERSTREET reviews Ross Fitzgerald's latest riotous novel, Rogue: A fictitious memoir.
Canberra theatre figure Marya Glyn-Daniel, a multi-talented author, costume designer, playwright and producer has died. She was 85.
To read books or not to read? That is the question, says book reviewer COLIN STEELE who is reviewing three books about, well, books! Looking after them, looking out for them and loving them in libraries.
The question of whether audiobooks count as reading is about to get more complicated thanks to a feature from a major tech firm.
HELEN MUSA reports on a National Library exhibition that showcases the remarkable, decades-long efforts of the NT's Papunya community to record, preserve and sustain its language and culture.
Female writers are currently dominating the Australian crime fiction scene, with more women writing crime, psychological thrillers, and domestic noir than men, writes reviewer ANNA CREER.
COLIN STEELE reviews two new books by Australian authors that take their inspiration from dark themes.
Reviewer ANNA CREER takes a look at a couple of new crime books – one "cosy", the other not so much.
