Culture
Books
From Madonna to Piss Christ: why religion ruled the 1980s
A new book explores why ’80s artists like Madonna and Jean-Michel Basquiat mined Christian imagery for their work.
- by Nathan Smith
Latest
This tale of 17th-century witchcraft has an unnerving narrator like no other
Inspired by Denmark’s real-life witch trials, Olga Ravn’s haunting novel reimagines the lives of women accused of sorcery.
- by Declan Fry
These collections from local poets will make you feel everything from warmth to rage
Poet and critic Thuy On looks at five recent Australian poetry collections.
- by Thuy On
Axed literary magazine Meanjin finds a new home after shock closure
Melbourne University Press closed the much-loved literary magazine last year, saying it was losing too much money.
- by Kerrie O'Brien and Linda Morris
Opinion
WordPlay
Wordle just repeated a solution – and fans now fear the worst
The puzzle’s fans are pondering the question: is Wordle running out of words?
- by David Astle
‘Imagine six impossible things before breakfast’: Star writer’s plan to inspire young readers
Andy Griffiths, the author of beloved books such as the Treehouse series and the BUM trilogy, is Australia’s new Children’s Laureate – and he is on a mission.
- by Kerrie O'Brien
Book clubs swept away by Wuthering Heights amid anticipation for new film
To prepare for Emerald Fennell’s film, young readers are seeking out Emily Brontë’s Gothic novel – and the “unhinged gossip” it contains.
- by Callie Holtermann
Inside the mind of a billionaire who helped ruin everything
In his first novel in nearly a decade, George Saunders enters the consciousness of a dying oil magnate.
- by Melanie Kembrey
Opinion
WordPlay
Spotify has more than 1300 musical genres – and glitch, wrock and zeuhl are not the weirdest
From Kobaian space operas to Javanese onomatopoeia, an audit reveals some interesting music styles.
- by David Astle
Goblins, murder and Tucker Carlson: 10 new books to enjoy
Our reviewers cast their eyes over new fiction and non-fiction titles
- by Cameron Woodhead and Steven Carroll
Newcastle Writers Festival invites Randa Abdel-Fattah amid questions over funding
Newcastle Writers Festival has defied a national firestorm over the Palestinian-Australian author that led to the cancellation of Adelaide Writers’ Week.
- by Linda Morris