Books

“It is a truth universally acknowledged that when one part of your life starts going okay, another falls spectacularly to pieces.

The night before social media in Melbourne lit up with the name TAVI – after the young blogger was announced as an official Festival guest – director Lisa Dempster wrote on facebook: “When I was interviewed for my current role I was asked who my dream festival guests would be.

Feeling stuck for great ideas? A little short of that inspiration you need to get down and serious about your career? It may be time to get off the internet (but come back Monday!) and get reading a good old fashioned book.

It was on a long bus ride toward Sarajevo, past shells of houses full of grass and dirt, that I first became aware of the idea of atrocity tourism.

Melbourne-based critic and journalist Mel Campbell is the author of Out of Shape, her first book, which was released at the start of June.

Anita Desai may be one of India’s best-known living writers, but she appears uncomfortable with the title.

Minutes after finishing High Sobriety – Jill Stark’s memoir about her year without alcohol – I attended a birthday party…for a bar.

Anna Goldsworthy’s new book Welcome to Your New Life documents the wonder and anxiety of bringing her first child into the world.

When the shortlist for the Miles Franklin award was unveiled earlier this week, there was just one thing missing – men.

The newly launched program for the 2013 Sydney Writers’ Festival includes a strong line-up of female thinkers and authors, with festival director Jemma Birrell producing a program that includes a number of sessions focused on feminism and women’s rights.

Michelle McQuaid’s book explores one of the perennial conversations we have about work but never at work and only very rarely with work colleagues: how to deal with a bad boss.

Clare Mann’s Communicate is the kind of book one buys when cranky – and finishes reading ready to use that angry energy in a good way.