It's the shoes at the foot of Bishop Brian Tamaki's impressive all-black ensemble that catch the eye as his delegation sweeps up the library stairs at Massey University's North Shore campus.

Why do we collect things and devote so much time, and in some cases money, to surrounding ourselves with common or unusual objects?

Well-pitched tale took 15 years to tell, writes Nicky Pellegrino.

Anne Kennedy is an award-winning poet who has also developed a solid reputation writing novels and screenplays.

A random act of kindness brought 92-year-old fire victim Pearl Sanger close to tears after she received a signed novel from writer Lee Child, not yet released in NZ.

Spirituality and government surveillance are hot topics on Whitcoulls' new Top 100 book list.

"An indescribable scene is occurring on the main road leading out of Napier," the Herald reported on February 5, 1931.

A Harry Potter "superfan" accused of making sinister threats to a female author is facing an FBI arrest warrant in the United States.

The halls of government prove to be an enthralling setting for courtroom drama, writes Stephen Jewell.

Every now and then you get to read a novel that elevates you far beyond the bric-a-brac of everyday routine, takes you apart, reassembles you, and leaves you feeling as though you have been on holiday with a genius.

There are no prizes for guessing what this book is about. This House is Haunted is about a haunted house and, if you like spooky ghost stories, John Boyne’s latest novel does the trick.

Female trainees at Merrill Lynch were handed copies of Seducing the Boys Club: Uncensored Tactics From a Woman at the Top and told to follow its advice

It's a book lover's heaven - more than 80,000 books collected throughout the year are on sale at the Variety Monster Book Fair at Alexandra Park.

Kiwi crime fiction is top class, writes Nicky Pellegrino.

Children in early-childhood education, ages 3 to 5, are to be given ID numbers.

Elena Stejko is an actor, tutor and director.

Lexicographer Dianne Bardsley tells David Larsen about her love affair with words.

Funny, bossy 23-year-old crime writer and engineer has firm ideas on how he wants to be portrayed.

JK Rowling spoke yesterday of her anger after discovering that a lawyer at a firm that represents her had leaked the fact she had published a detective thriller under a false name.

A British law firm has admitted that one of its partners inadvertently leaked that J.K. Rowling had authored a mystery novel, The Cuckoo's Calling.

Hollywood mothers who seem to juggle stellar careers with kids, husbands and travel - all while looking fabulous - pose a threat to women's mental health.