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Entering dark age of imperialism
American sci-fi author Paolo Bacigalupi tells Stephen Jewell how his ruthless corporations’ environmental impact could be mirrored in real life.

Book Review: <i>Sunset Park</i>
Paul Auster writes splendidly about disaffected, damaged people, usually alienated from society in some way, often isolated, physically and/or psychologically.

Travel book: <i>New Zealand: Eye on the Landscape</i>
Yes, another coffee table book on New Zealand, but this one is a bit unique.

Book Review: <i>Landfall 220</i>
After an interregnum of six years following the "retirement" of Justin Paton (the quotation marks are an intriguing addition by the publisher) in 2004, during which "guest editors" steered the ship, Landfall has a permanent editor again.

Book Review: <i>Up From the Blue</i>
Even though 2011 is still new, I suspect this debut novel from US author Susan Henderson will be one of my standout reads of the year.

A persistent battle against the hypocrites
Author Armistead Maupin tells Eva Wiseman about championing marginalised people.

Book Review: <i>The Lonely Polygamist</i>
Rocketing up the New York Times Bestseller list, this book has been praised for its intricate plot, its scope and daring, and its bold and sweeping narrative.

Book Review: <i>From Those Wonderful Folks Who Gave You Pearl Harbor</i>
There are some genuinely entertaining moments in this homage to advertising's "golden age", no question. The odd bit of craziness, too, though nothing particularly lewd, salacious or revealing.

Book Review: <i>Settlers' Creek</i>
Carl Nixon's first two books signalled a writer worth watching. His new work, Settlers' Creek, is a Pandora's box.

Book Review: <i>Object of Beauty</i>
How much you'll enjoy this novel from American actor and comedian Steve Martin will depend on how engaged you are with recent art history.

<i>Book reviews</i>: Striking visions of places and people
Peter Simpson reviews three new books about NZ artists.

Home handy-woman (+recipe)
One of New Zealand's best-loved chefs has updated some of our favourite recipes with a healthy twist.

Books to change your life
Books can help explain the challenge of transitions, says Margie Elley-Brown

Secret to being a good parent? Take your pick
A great parenting debate is about to be reopened as authors publish books with clashing prescriptions. But will parents be any the wiser?

Travel book: <i>Greek Pilgrimage</i>
If you're fascinated by the extraordinary creativity of the ancient Greeks, who 2500 years ago laid the foundations of Western civilisation, then this is the perfect book to take on a pilgrimage to modern Greece.

Book Review: <i>The Hundred Foot Journey</i>
I picked up this book based on the cover recommendation by travelling gastronome Anthony Bourdain...

Book lover: Stephanie Dowrick
New Zealand-Born Dr Stephanie Dowrick's books include Forgiveness & Other Acts of Love, Choosing Happiness, In the Company of Rilke, and her most recent one, Seeking the Sacred.

Book Review: <i>Do No Harm</i>
A frighteningly plausible story breathes life back into the psychological thriller genre.

Our food, Our way (+recipe)
An English couple who now call New Zealand home present a grown-up jelly with a berry and rosé twist.

The world of gastronomy
Books editor Linda Herrick checks out what's cooking in the international market.

<i>Damien Grant</i>: Create your own luck
In The Black Swan Nassim Taleb describes a black swan as a significant unexpected random event that has a large impact. The question is, how do we best position ourselves to benefit from or minimise the negatives of such events?