Rating: 3/5

Bonobos. They share 98.7 per cent of our DNA. They're slimmer and lankier than chimpanzees. They can be taught to use sign language. They're vocal, sociable, and "extremely amorous". They even (ahem) use the missionary position.

Dirty But Clean is back with the third novel in what could be loosely termed his "Poor White Trash" trilogy. His first, the fresh and adventurous Vernon God Little, rocketed him to overnight fame and Booker Prize stardom.

Rating: 4/5 Verdict: The party gets serious

Rating: 4/5. Verdict: Laceratingly funny

Rating: 5/5. Verdict: More essential short films, video clips and cool grooves

Rating: 4/5. Verdict: Australian country-rocker delivers deep feelings and a physical punch

Rating: 3/5. Verdict: Beautiful but sometimes idle fifth album from Tennessee's finest.

Poetry usually arrives in the form of the traditional "slim volume" - elegant packages of 40-80 pages, like smoked salmon slices. By contrast, 99 Ways into New Zealand Poetry, all 624 pages of it, landed on my desk with a thump.

Rating: 3 out of 5

Rating: 4 out of 5

Rating: 3 out of 5

Rating: 4 out of 5

Rating: 3 out of 5

Spanish star and ex-rugby rep Javier Bardem tells Michele Manelis why he's tackling something lighter.

Golden romance true to history.

Rating: 2/5 Verdict: Clumsy Remake

What it lacks in emotion and inspiration, it makes up for in lovely scenery and chick flick escapism, writes Francesca Rudkin.

Heavy metal legends Metallica rocked Auckland's Vector Arena last night in the first of two sold out gigs.

Rating: 4/5 Verdict: Fraser stretches out on ambitious third outing.

Rating: 3/5. Verdict: Good vibes from the country's hardest working reggae outfit

Put on trial and found wanting.

She belies the conceit that readers only want primary characters who are likeable.