The Latest Breaking News on Books

From lanterns to the grid: How India is finding ways to see and work after dusk

In the 1950s, Hindi writer Phanishwar Nath Renu wrote a short story called Panchlight – named for the petromax lamp, a corruption of “Petromax light” that had worked its way into the rural vernacular. The story describes a village’s encounter with this object: a source of light but also a…

Newslaundry · Apr 24

Joe Dunthorne: ‘Growing up in Swansea, I developed an allergy to Dylan Thomas’

The author on feeling Thomas Hardy’s pain, being duped by Donna Tartt and how reading his sister’s copy of Trainspotting made him want to write

The Guardian - UK · Apr 24

The Tale of KAHO: Haruki Murakami announces release date for first novel in three years

‘The Tale of KAHO’ marks Japanese author’s first full-length work with a woman as the sole protagonist

The Independent UK · Apr 24

New director to repair cancelled Adelaide Writers' Week

Adelaide Writers' Week's new director wants to help repair the festival after it was cancelled following a boycott for dropping a Palestinian-Australian author.

AAP · Apr 23

‘Extraordinary and original poet’ JH Prynne dies aged 89

The maverick writer and scholar was a pioneer in 60s avant garde circles, and emerged as a cult figure despite an aversion to publicity, and poetry that was hard to parse

The Guardian - UK · Apr 23

After collapse and controversy, Adelaide writers’ week has a new director: ‘I don’t envy anyone in this position’

Rosemarie Milsom, who formed and runs Newcastle writers festival, will take over from Louise Adler after the literary festival imploded over invitation to Randa Abdel-Fattah

The Guardian - AU · Apr 23

A Family Matter by Claire Lynch audiobook review – an award-winning story of homophobia and divorce

Dual timelines reveal the real reason a mother was forced to leave her daughter in the 80s, in this Nero prize-winning novel inspired by real-life events

The Guardian - UK · Apr 23

Exclusive: Her Highness Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi Doesn’t Want to Be “The Only Woman in the Room” as She Breaks Boundaries in Publishing and Fashion

The royal opens up to 'Marie Claire' about giving women in publishing a seat at the table and her budding fashion brand inspired by historic queens.

Marie Claire · Apr 23

David Malouf, Australian writer whose work spanned the ancient world and 70s Brisbane – obituary

Remembering Babylon was shortlisted for the Booker prize but none of his novels were made into films because, he said, ‘almost nothing happens’

The Guardian - AU · Apr 23

David Malouf, Australian author of Remembering Babylon and Ransom, dies aged 92

Acclaimed Brisbane-born writer was known for his work exploring his own childhood, great myths and colonial Australia

The Guardian - AU · Apr 23