Culture
Books
A glorious debut novel with shades of Zadie Smith and George Saunders
After winning the 2016 Vogel’s Literary Award with a collection of short stories, Murray Middleton spent eight years on his first novel.
- by Helen Elliott
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The letters between two great writers revealing their hidden stories
Years of correspondence between Shirley Hazzard and Elizabeth Harrower reveal much about their unusual friendship.
- by Gail Jones
This book takes you on the run across colonial NSW. Danger lurks at every corner
In the sequel to her novel Benevolence, Julie Janson has produced a gothic historical novel that does justice both to the sorrow and the story of what Aboriginal Australia suffered in the 19th century.
- by Eddie Hampson
Alexis Wright wins Stella Prize with ‘perhaps the great Australian novel’
The Indigenous writer has won the $60,000 award for her acclaimed novel, Praiseworthy, making her the first to win the prize twice.
- by Jason Steger
The Beach Boys tell their own story of triumph and tragedy
It’s not all good vibrations, as our reviewers reveal in this week’s pick of fiction and non-fiction releases.
- by Cameron Woodhead and Steven Carroll
Wryly funny novel by One Day author takes two lonely strangers on a hike
The latest book by David Nicholls is a celebration of the rare connection that can lift people out of seemingly intractable isolation.
- by Daniel Herborn
The top 12 books you should read in May
This month brings lyrics from Kazuo Ishiguro, a Miles Franklin winner’s latest novel, the return of Miranda July, a surprise sequel from Colm Toibin and spacey stories from Ceridwen Dovey.
- by Jason Steger
His book was rejected 13 times, now it’s a hit TV show
Viet Thanh Nguyen’s novel The Sympathizer won him a Pulitzer Prize and employs cinematic tropes, but that doesn’t stop him being a fierce critic of the Hollywood machine.
- by Kurt Johnson
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Literature
Top writers boycott State Library Victoria over accusations of censorship
Some of Australia’s highest profile writers, including a dual Miles Franklin winner, have announced they will no longer work with the library.
- by Kerrie O'Brien
This twisty Western mystery will beguile you
Tana French’s The Hunter brings back the Chicago detective who has taken refuge in the west of Ireland.
- by Sue Turnbull
Dramatic novel asks pertinent questions about mental health treatment
Anne Buist’s experience as a perinatal psychiatrist informs the novel she has written with Graeme Simsion.
- by Jessie Tu