Culture
Books
What to read: A tale of heaven and hell, and the end of a giant shark
Our reviewers cast their eyes over recent fiction and non-fiction.
- by Cameron Woodhead and Fiona Capp
Latest
‘Most potent use of language’: Why poetry is having a comeback
Jazz Money is one of the headliners for a month-long celebration of the best in Australian verse, as an official poet laureate looms on the horizon.
- by Lenny Ann Low
How these five Brisbane writers have changed the literary landscape
From Trent Dalton to Melissa Lucashenko, Brisbane is blessed with a host of Australia’s best writers.
- by Jason Steger
What do you call it when a helpline doesn’t help?
As the muzak played, I pondered the broken promise of the word’s meaning.
- by David Astle
Book of the day
Review
Enjoyed White Lotus? Here’s a novel that has fun skewering privilege
Emily Perkins’ new novel Lioness delivers a courageous if unsettling message.
- by Gretchen Shirm
Exclusive subscriber discount: 10% off Booktopia
Herald subscribers can enjoy 10% off on orders from Booktopia.
Has history ‘defanged’ Martin Luther King’? This biography says yes
Jonathan Eig’s new look at the life of the African-American activist argues he was no saint, but a man of courage with a moral vision.
- by Shane White
The 12 best books to read in August
From a young Rupert Murdoch to talking organs - here’s what to read this month.
- by Jason Steger
How many names can a stadium have?
“What the heck is Melbourne Rectangular Stadium?” is a fair question Matildas fans might be asking this World Cup.
- by David Astle
One of ‘the world’s great booksellers’ ends a long chapter at Readings
Mark Rubbo has been at the heart of the Australian book business for nearly 50 years, nurturing Australian writers and writing.
- by Jason Steger
Another quietly riveting, emotionally potent novel from Mark Brandi
The young protagonist in Brandi’s fourth novel Southern Aurora grabs an unusual chance of improving his fortunes.
- by Daniel Herborn