Latest from Books

Top five favourite NZ novels named
The votes have been tallied from a recent poll on nzherald.co.nz to find readers' favourite novel by a New Zealand author.

Jackie Collins planned to reveal 'secret affairs'
Jackie Collins was planning to reveal all about her "secret affairs" before she died.

Book claims David Cameron took part in obscene act with dead pig
A new biography claims Britain's Prime Minister once put a "private part of his anatomy" into a dead pig's mouth.

Oz author knocks Rowling off book list
An Australian writer has ousted J.K. Rowling from the number one spot of most popular children's books in New Zealand.

Jackie Collins dies, aged 77
Jackie Collins has died aged 77 after a long battle with breast cancer.

Colouring-in craze takes adults back to childhood
They're the colours of contentment, apparently.

Comic goes cosmic on a galactic mission
Dressed in her black stiletto boots and long elegant locks, Gilda Kirkpatrick is not your stereotypical image of a comic book artist.

Banned book may become Hollywood movie
The teen novel Into The River may become a Hollywood movie as news of its banning in New Zealand sparks worldwide debate.

Man Booker Prize short list released
The Man Booker Prize short list of six top novels was released last night - but this year the prestigious award does not have a New Zealander among the top picks.

Twelve Questions: Ted Dawe
Ted Dawe is the multi-award-winning author of several young adult novels including Into the River, which is currently banned.

Did Anne Boleyn write a song pre-execution?
Forgotten for nearly 500 years, the sheet music owned by Henry VIII's second wife could shed new light on her life - and loves, says Ivan Hewett.

Editorial: Let parents guide kids' book choices
Fears that young people are influenced by popular culture should not be the basis for arbitrary banning of award-winning books.

Verity Johnson: We need to talk about sex and censorship
Forgive the pessimism, but I don't think that banning one book is going to help.

Steve Braunias: The secret diary of ... Into the River
"I've counted the number of times that offensive words appear in Into The River. It's got the c-word nine times, the f-word 17 times and s-h-i-t 16 times."

Voldemort - why you're saying his name wrong
JK Rowling says Harry Potter fans have been pronouncing villain Lord Voldemort's name wrong for years.

Toby Manhire: Book ban proves it - we're not safe
From Into The River to Little Red Riding Hood, there's much to disapprove of, Toby Manhire finds. What should be banned next? There is a long list that isn't getting any shorter.

Socialite to write kids sci-fi book
Socialite Gilda Kirkpatrick has teamed up with local astrophysicists to write a new children's book.

Marvel reveals Native American super hero
Comic book giant Marvel has added a Native American and a Korean-American teenager to its list of superheroes, pushing forth with its bid to diversify and smash racial boundaries.

Searches for banned book increasing - Trade Me
There's been an exponential increase in the umber of people searching for controversial young adult novel 'Into the River' online.

'It's hard to watch someone die from something within their control'
Glenn Colquhoun is a GP and writer. The first poet to win the Reader's Choice Montana Book Awards for his bestselling book Playing God, he headlines this weekend's Going West book festival

James Meffan: YA fiction is 'difficult territory'
This is the age when youth shades into adulthood, writes James Meffan. Much literature that really engages people at this stage in life deals with transition and change.

Star Wars confirms first gay character
After finally including non-white leads in the forthcoming 'The Force Awakens', it's been announced a new novel will include the franchise's first openly gay lead.