Culture
Books
A late-career marvel and an enriching memoir: The Age Book of the Year winners
The winners have been announced at the opening of the Melbourne Writers Festival.
- by Kylie Northover
Latest
Don’t know what to call it? Just say ‘thing’. Everyone else does
From 10 Things I Hate About You to TikTok trends, the thing about thing is… it’s everywhere.
- by David Astle
Nagi Maehashi, John Farnham and Richard Scolyer win at book awards
A week after a row over recipes, Nagi Maehashi’s Tonight beats Bake with Brooki at the Australian Book Industry Awards.
- by Kerrie O'Brien
Suspense, spells and a deeply moving diary: 10 new books
Our reviewers cast their eyes over new fiction and non-fiction titles.
- by Cameron Woodhead and Fiona Capp
How a Japanese book about a woman who murders her lovers became a global phenomenon
Met with a muted reception in her native Japan, Asako Yuzuki’s Butter won fanfare around the world.
- by Thomas Mitchell
How a seminal American artwork divided Australians
When Jackson Pollock’s Blue Poles was bought in 1973 for $1.4 million by the Whitlam government, it sparked a national controversy.
- by Michael McGirr
Emily Henry’s new romcom proves again she is a formulaic genius
The bestselling author’s latest novel features all the tropes that her dedicated fans know and adore.
- by Jessie Tu
Isabel Allende’s new book is a bold, contradictory enchantment
The Chilean-American author’s latest work is moving, eloquent and breaks all the rules.
- by Peter Craven
Before Pastrygate: Creative rivalries fuelled by plagiarism are nothing new
All artists, good and bad, are influenced by the work of their forerunners. Good artists absorb the work of their mentors, then try to outdo them.
- by David Free
Opinion
WordPlay
Another casualty of the climate crisis? Our coolest words
Don’t let these words get iced out, I can’t (polar) bear it.
- by David Astle
Online pile-ons and culture wars: How did we get here?
Philosopher A.C. Grayling dissects the evolution of cultural warfare and makes a sensible, if optimistic, case for an armistice of sorts.
- by Pat Sheil
Original URL: https://www.smh.com.au/culture/books