There seems to be a trend for long titles with meanings that remain obscure until you've read a decent chunk of the book.

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.

H.G. Wells? Wasn’t he the guy who wrote that Tom Cruise movie?

Britain-based Anna Hansen's star is on the rise, with a new cookbook out and plans for a new London cafe.

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

The opening of Jane Harris' second novel gives little indication of how dark it will become.

Jeanette Aplin lives with her husband on remote D'Urville Island in the Marlborough Sounds, and has recently written about raising kune kune pigs there in The Price of Bacon (Cape Catley).

Anne and David Norman will have their work cut out in turning the Whitcoulls and Borders book retailing chains around.

A good cookbook can open up a world of possibilities for a passionate foodie - and can document their culinary history.

Makeup artist Francois Nars once again creates fresh looks for women, easily replicated at home, with his latest book.

Her work appears regularly in leading British design magazines such as Elle Decoration, she owns the ultra-hip design store Caravan, in London's Shoreditch, leading interiors stylist Emily Chalmers chats about her love of design.

Stan Lee, whose career writing comic books has run from the golden age to contemporary times, is going digital.

Stephen Jewell talks to comic book artist and writer Roger Langridge about taking on cult superhero Thor.

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.

This is the story of a remarkable journey from Sydney, across Australia, the Malay Peninsula, Central Asia, Russia and Europe to London on a decommissioned Australia Post motorbike.

Te Kohe Tuhaka is an actor who has appeared in Shortland Street and Go Girls.

British author Natasha Solomons tells Frances Grant how she has been inspired by her own family history and by her home county of Dorset.

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

Never give up has been this successful writer's mantra.

Thriller writer Gregg Hurwitz talks to Craig Sisterson about shifting from Shakespeare to crime and comics.