Love and a ‘dangerous, dark’ history
Australia’s Shelley Davidow was there when the Berlin Wall fell. Now she can reveal a story of impossible love set against the most heady – and horrific – moments of recent history.
Books
‘A mad twist’: Author responds to critic
Plot twists are a key part of our favourite shows and stories – but do they always work? One of Australia’s favourite writers has a message for a reader who missed the memo.
Why I met Mum for the first time in my 50s
A highly personal quest into her own past prompted Lisa Medved to weave a powerful plot about absent parents and secrets into her critically-acclaimed historical novel.
How to tell if you’re a Mean Girl
From the workplace to parties, Mean Girls live on into adulthood, long after leaving school. And you may be one of them, without even knowing. How’s how to tell.
‘A posh Gwyneth Paltrow, with problems’
Fakes, hypocrites … and murder. All is not well in the ‘wellness’ world, as Lucy Foley shows with her take on the Instagram-curated craze.
Sex joke’s brutal backfire on genius
Everyone knows the name Oppenheimer, thanks to the blockbuster biopic. But an ugly bullying incident in the scientist’s past gives new insight into his character and motivation.
‘You can bet on that’: Radio queen’s rule
Worried our reliance on screens will mean people stop reading and kids forget how to play? Aussies have been there before, a fascinating new book reveals – and look what happened.
Joy, fear and endless shifts: the truth about motherhood
One moment you are invincible, the next you’re overcome by worry and a lifetime of work. There’s something we should know about women, says Cathy Kelly.
‘Women not welcome’ and a vegan biffo
Behind uplifting new Aussie comedy Milking Time lie serious, even confronting, stories – and at least one of them will be relevant to you, reckons Rachael Treasure.
‘I caught my kid looking at fake news’
With up to 63 per cent of kids and teens getting news from social media, how do we help them dodge fake content? Don’t panic, says Kate Temple – there is a way and you can start now.
‘There is no forgetting this book’
From a novel that hooked an entire generation to true stories of extraordinary people in extraordinary times, these are the books our top authors recommend in the run-up to Anzac Day.
‘We live in the shadow of a volcano’
A real-life memory of an island community led by women sparks a story of love, murder and the true cost of ignoring threats, by one of Australia’s best-known writers.
Gaslighting or a real home horror story?
Ever thought there’s something weird about a house or the people in it? You’re not alone – and Lisa Unger knows why.
School conspiracy theorist ‘could be you’
Conspiracy theorists are nuts, right? Not always. A confronting new book about the aftermath of a tragedy shows they can be disturbingly more relatable than most of us wish to believe.
How my vampire cravings began
Jay Kristoff’s strong views on vampires have made him a global star. For him, the monsters are ‘twisted reflections of our own selves’, not tortured Twilight emos.
What about the women when soldiers come home?
Wartime conflict doesn’t end when the guns stop firing, as laid bare by a new book set in the aftermath of World War One, following the Diggers who came home.
How my dog became an author
His debut was a global smash and major movie, but then AJ Finn went off the radar – until ‘a ten-kilo gremlin with a face like a wet cigar’ became his accidental new co-creator.
‘Women assume there are no secrets’
How well we can know someone depends on one thing – and no, it’s not simply trust, argues Fiona Lowe as she examines the real impact of keeping secrets when it comes to relationships.
Lies, rumours and a missing woman
Got a grubby secret to bury? There are people to do that now. Dervla McTiernan on the uncomfortable truth behind her story of a missing tourist, ‘What Happened To Nina?’
Chocolate spies: Our weirdest war
‘Chocolate spies’ sound like something from Willy Wonka – but they were a very real menace in a wild and weird power struggle that impacts how most Australians snack today.
How to find your happy ending
Romance snobs might scoff, but a Mills & Boon title is sold every eight seconds. Few know the phenomenon better than Clare Connelly, who reveals why it is still massive after 50 years.
‘We are all potential criminals’
Dinuka McKenzie makes her living from writing about crime – and she reckons there’s a confronting truth in all of us that explains our fascination with the dark side of humanity.
‘Never sleep the same way again’
Can you commit a crime in your sleep? It seems so. Why Matthew Blake is out to make us think of our nightly habit the way Jaws made us reconsider swimming.
How celebrity book clubs really work
Bad dates, good reads and Reese Witherspoon … plus Oprah, Florence and many more. Why celebrity book clubs wield so much power – and why you stand to benefit.
Why I turned from love to crime
Sarah Barrie reveals how she was lured from making a living through romance to the grittier side of life – and death – and shares the stories that made her turn.
Dark side of the room: House-sharing horror story
Thought the days of random flatmates were behind you? Cost of living pressures are forcing older people back into house-sharing – and for Jo Dixon, the result was a horror story.
Why baking is bad-ass and crocheting is cool
Heard of the ‘Grandma Era’ hitting young women across Australia? Author NITA PROSE explains the age of the ‘old soul’ never really left us.
Read an extract from Tricia Stringer’s novel Back on Track
Tired out by the festive frenzy and need some light relief? Try this extract from bestseller Tricia Stringer’s new novel, about a very Australian journey – but it’s not a road trip.
Why a tragic loss made me change
At this time of year, many of us consider change. Michelle Upton reveals the personal reason why she shook up her own life and how it has worked out since.
Daniel Craig’s bath book goes viral
A 90-year-old mystery book has become a social media sensation – not just because Daniel Craig was spotted reading it in the bath, but because people are obsessed with solving the puzzle.
Why we obsess over dark stories
We love twisted tales about bad people doing bad things and now a world-famous crime author has shared his theory on why, while name-checking Aussie writers he says are at the top of the game.
Doing this in bed changed my life
Wellness expert and social media star reveals habit that gave him game-changing success. Unlike most “life hacks”, it’s actually enjoyable – but it’s probably not what you think.
Tricia’s train gain amid Covid pain
Most of us take a book when we travel. Bestseller Tricia Stringer took a favourite character on an iconic Aussie voyage – and came back with her next novel.
Ways to encourage kids to ditch screens for books
An Aussie mum-turned-bestselling author reveals her tips and tricks for helping your child become an avid reader.
Find your family’s buried treasure
Digging up your family’s past can become more than just a hobby. For people like bestselling Aussie writer Tania Blanchard, it unearths tremendous rewards, time after time.
‘Politicians abusing, cancelling people’
Her new book reveals a potent source of goodness we can all tap into – now TV’s Julia Baird, who was battling health issues as she wrote, has revealed the “ugliness” that spurred her on.
’Even better’ than original hit
Trent Dalton’s new No1 is being hailed as “even better” than the bestseller that changed his life and became a big-name Netflix show, reveals the woman who helped make him a star.
This fairytale is for adults, not kids
An Aussie mum’s experiences backpacking in the Black Forest – where she came face-to-face with a wolf – prompted her to reboot a classic story. Now her adult retelling is going global.
‘If it won’t make money, give up’
“Adult” pressure to chase money stopped Holly Ringland from doing the one thing that made her happy – until a moment of realisation put her on track to extraordinary success.
Unreal monsters haunt my real world
Predators and corruption face off against love, courage and desperation in Trent Dalton’s new book – and today he reveals how much of it is based on real events and people in his life.
Royal family insider’s deep regret
Jeffrey Archer reveals his intel on how to steal the Crown Jewels came from a member of the Royal household, who is now fretting that there will be serious consequences.
I stopped crying and wrote a comedy
Her fiance was lying naked on a massage table overseas and her Holocaust-survivor grandma was pushing her to use a pregnancy test. So Elise Esther Hearst got creative.
An every woman’s guide to everything a watch can do (other than tell time)
Because, well, it’s complicated.
Vizard’s girl flicks law for new love
“Don’t wait for permission.” Her dad is an Aussie showbiz veteran – but Steph Vizard was terrified of following her own passion, until a life-changing moment made her reassess.
Truly Australian setting for evil
A vet returns to the town where her boyfriend disappeared – and where people think she killed him. It’s “just a story”, but there’s something particularly Australian about it.
Yes please to fashion and books’ long running love affair
Zadie Smith’s latest profile (wearing Tabi boots!) is a reminder of how fashion and literature are ultimate bedfellows.
How Zimmermann became Australia’s fashion unicorn
A new deal reported to be worth 1.75 billion underscores the brand’s global dominance.
Get ready for a summer of jorts
This time around the loosey goosey style is a little more elevated (can you believe it?).
Secret life of 007’s Moneypenny
She’s been beloved worldwide for decades as James Bond’s sidekick-with-spice – but Miss Moneypenny has her own real-life backstory and it is about to be revealed.
‘Meghan is clever’: Why Prince Harry won’t reconcile
Author Jeffrey Archer, who is close to members of the Royal Family, has revealed why Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will not back down from the deep rift with the Firm.
Original URL: https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/entertainment/books