The title character of the last novel by Canadian comic novelist Mordecai Richler is the ultimate unreliable narrator.

To release two albums at the same time is nothing for prolific Japanese experimental noise rock trio Boris, whose sound moves from thrashy punk through to psychedelia and ambient drones.

Commonplace books are literary scrapbooks - "salads of many herbs" as one compiler put it. They are eclectic, idiosyncratic repositories of bits and pieces that have taken a person's fancy.

Edna O'Brien turned 80 last year. The energy and immediacy of these 11 stories makes that hard to believe.

The Cure played their first show in the Sydney Opera House on Tuesday night as the centre-piece of Vivid Live

Silo Theatre's ambitious season opening is an all-too-rare opportunity to see the work of an African-American playwright on the Auckland stage.

Monica Ali's new novel is unconvincing but entertaining. Where would Princess Diana be now if she faked her death?

It's always been her defence. She was born this way. Born as an egg flanked by male strippers. A raw piece of meat.

Death casts a long, dark shadow across the fourth feature by the Mexican-born director of Amores Perros, 21 Grams and Babel.

Alexandria in the 4th century is the setting for Oscar-winning director Alejandro Amenabar's latest drama.

That wimpy kid hasn't toughened up yet but he's back for another round of pre-teen embarrassments, reports Michele Manelis.

What a great read. Frances Walsh's book is a fascinating work of New Zealand social history written with wit, intelligence and a refreshing lack of condescension towards the ideas and attitudes of the last century.

For the magic of a novel two things are required: beautiful writing and brilliant storytelling.

Chipper British synth pop might be a common description of new releases these days but Friendly Fires continue to keep it fresh on their second record.

This young rapper and production whiz has an ego the size of Kanye West's - and he's still only 20.

This award-winning Australian folk-rock-blues outfit is much tougher than their fragile name suggests.

Taking a sharp look at humanity's foibles.

The fact that a reality television show features in Camilla Lackberg's mesmerising new novel will mean little to New Zealand readers of this best-selling Nordic writer, but her fellow Swedes might discern a little score-settling.