Latest from Books

Books: In the mood for danger
Bridget van der Zijpp’s new novel explores the fleeting, dangerous side of fame.

Books: Intriguing tale of rise of society feminist
The most popular biographies are those that embrace the subject’s life while assuming little prior historical knowledge on the part of the reader.

Journalist who took down a tabloid
Journalist Nick Davies pulled at a thread and everything unravelled, exposing the British tabloid phone-hacking scandal. Next month he is in NZ for the Auckland Writers Festival.

Books: Stumbling through grief to a new life
Is the unhappiness of beautiful people more significant than that of real people?

Author slams Kate as uneventful dresser
Margaret Atwood says Kate hasn’t lived up to the fashion icon reputation of her husband’s late mother, Princess Diana

Shelley Bridgeman: 'Child abuse' book stays
What if some unfit, unthinking parent considers this advice credible? What local authority would want to be associated with that potential parenting disaster?

Steve Braunias: Sit back, relax, scream
On a tropical break, Steve Braunias muses about how it's always worth finding something horrifying to read on your holiday.

Violent child guide stays in libraries
Auckland Council will not be removing a controversial book from its libraries, despite a growing petition claiming it "advocates child abuse".

Books: How to build a life
Australian writer Kate Grenville’s new book is a homage to her mother Nance, an ‘ordinary’ woman who decided she wasn’t going to follow in her own mother’s footsteps. She talks to Linda Herrick.

'Wild Oats' hubby speaks out
At the time, the dramatic move was a bid to save their relationship after Scott had a vasectomy, but now he's spoken out to say that he never wanted to see other people.

X-Files: Search for harsher truths
In the Nineties, when The X-Files was still good, 9/11, broadband and WikiLeaks had not happened.

'Prudish' app that removes swearing is 'censorship' - authors
Authors including Robert Harris, Joanne Harris and Jilly Cooper have condemned an app which allows users to cover up swear words in eBooks.

The story that changed how we see children's books forever
Author Amanda Craig explores how Alice's Adventures in Wonderland changed the way we see children's books forever.

Books: Mildly amusing nonsense
I really like the actress Celia Imrie, one of the stars of the Best Exotic Marigold Hotel movies. So I wanted to like her debut novel, but I struggled at times.

Around the world in 196 books
Realising her bookshelves were a bit on the parochial side, Ann Morgan embarked on a quest to read a book from every country over the course of a year, and blog about it. The response from bibliophiles around the globe was a story in itself.

Travel book review: <I>Thailand's Best Street Food</I>
There's nothing like a little local knowledge - someone who can point a visitor in the direction of the best pub or offer the inside word on where to find the least crowded beach spot and how to get a good price on tickets for the museum or gallery.

Actor-writers to headline festival
Two British actors who have forged successful parallel writing careers will headline the Auckland Writers Festival in May.

How did this 'open marriage' end?
Reliving the fraught decision, Robin Rinaldi wrote: "I refuse to go to my grave with no children and only four lovers. If I can’t have one, I must have the other".

'Deadly' paleo book pulled
Celebrity chef and paleo enthusiast Pete Evans has announced his controversial diet book for babies will be published independently, after publishers dumped the book.

Pete Evans remains positive about 'deadly' Paleo book
'We are part of something very special': Pete Evans insists new Paleo book will be in stores within two weeks after being delayed over controversial baby recipe

Books: Mother's sad, mad decline
Indian novels tend to be sprawling, colourful and chaotic affairs. Em and the Big Hoom is some of those things but not all.

Leaving early to avoid the rush
Sir Terry Pratchett was one of the most successful authors of his generation.

Evans teaches kids about paleo
Celebrity chef Pete Evans was in the classroom on Thursday, teaching students about the benefits of his controversial "Paleo Way" diet, just a day after his children's cookbook was delayed amid fears the recipes could stunt the growth of babies.

Author Terry Pratchett dies
Author Terry Pratchett has died at the age of 66 after a battle with Alzheimer's.

Paleo book fear: 'A baby may die'
"A baby may die if this book goes ahead." Chef Pete Evans' baby cookbook is delayed over fears recipes, including a liver and bone broth one "could stunt growth of kids".