INTERACTIVE: Our annual guide to the best books to give and receive this Christmas. Guess which ones made the list.

One of the great characters in modern literature could be found in actual life at his amazing house in Auckland's Karaka Bay on Wednesday morning.

10 things about P.D. James, British crime writer who died on Thursday, aged 94.

Stephen Jewell had the pleasure of speaking to author P.D James. The crime queen died today, aged 94. Here's the story he wrote after their chat.

I loved The Hunger Games books, but that doesn't mean I want to see two hours of Katniss whining, writes Rachel Bache. Can we not just cut out the pages that you likely skipped anyway and make a movie that is more than just okay?

In an extract from a new book of photographs by Andris Apse, which pays tribute to the South Island, former All Black captain Anton Oliver tells how the Central Otago landscape reduced him to tears.

New Zealand’s own spice girls of cuisine tell Greg Dixon about eating their way around india, visa hassles and sharing bunks in a train.

Coming out, being rich, feeling broody, getting drunk, dating when you’re famous and why a dog is better than a boyfriend.

Each year American novelist Richard Ford heads to Ireland to shoot woodcock. Robert McCrum joins him on the Irish coast.

Winnie the Pooh has been banned from a Polish playground because of his "dubious sexuality" and "inappropriate" dress.

A New Zealand scriptwriter has told of an epic 10-year struggle to get a movie based on the life of Stephen Hawking made.

Comic book artist Ant Sang talks to David Larsen about his ‘transformational journey’

I've had an email from Ian Braddon-Parsons, disapproving of my November 1 Herald book review of Alexander McCall Smith's Emma.

As Top Gear’s The Stig, Ben Collins knows more than most what the consequences of speed can be. Here, in an excerpt from his new book, he shares top tips on safety, and parking.

The conversation turns to how to end the world when David Larsen talks to writer Jo Walton.

Lena Dunham has apologised for joking about being a "sexual predator" in her memoir.

The ‘incident’ with the Girls’ creator’s younger sister highlights our confusion over children’s sexuality, writes Grace Dent.

For nearly two years Northland doctor Chris Reid photographed his patients. Greg Dixon talks to him on the eve of an Auckland exhibition of the result.