Novelist As a Vocation by Haruki Murakami review – the secrets behind the literary phenomenon
The celebrated novelist offers insights into his ways of working, his direct style and the moments that shaped him in this intriguing book on writing
Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story by Bono review – from Boy to Mandela
In his long but fascinating memoir, the self-confessed ‘speechifying’ U2 frontman isn’t shy of exploring the roots of his pomposity, faith and ‘white saviour’ activism
Only the Strong review: Tom Cotton as hawk … too chicken to take on Trump?
The Arkansas senator’s book may be a calling card for 2024 but he must know he is highly unlikely to be the next GOP nominee
Somebody Loves You by Mona Arshi audiobook review – a vivid coming-of-age tale
The author narrates her powerful debut novel about a British-Indian girl who suddenly loses the ability to speak
Hollywood: The Oral History by Jeanine Basinger and Sam Wasson review – dinner with the stars
From pancakes with Jack Nicholson to drinks with Billy Wilder – stories from the great and good of Tinseltown
The best recent poetry – review roundup
Heritage Aesthetics by Anthony Anaxagorou; Your Emergency Contact Has Experienced an Emergency by Chen Chen; Cane, Corn & Gully by Safiya Kamaria Kinshasa; Slide by Mark Pajak
We Spread by Iain Reid review – a fine piece of weird fiction
A widow finds herself in a sinister care home, in this meditation on ageing, trauma and identity from the author behind I’m Thinking of Ending Things
Show Me the Bodies: How We Let Grenfell Happen by Peter Apps review – a devastating account of failure
This meticulous study shows that the disaster was rooted in contempt by people in power for those without it
A Brief Affair by Alex Miller review – a moving study of female passion
The Miles Franklin-winning author returns to fiction with a deftly woven domestic drama that explores one woman’s state of mind in midlife
Food for Life by Tim Spector review – the science of eating well
The epidemiologist and author of The Diet Myth returns with a comprehensive guide to foods that foster healthy microbiomes
Dinosaurs by Lydia Millet review – can a wealthy man be good?
Minimalist, well-crafted writing highlights a life of philanthropic leisure that’s all light, no shade
Sherlock Holmes: The Valley of Fear review – an elegant last adventure
Effectively filmed for streaming audiences in a sharply told adaptation, this adventure stars Luke Barton as the bumptious master detective
Song of the Cell by Siddhartha Mukherjee review – the little lives within us
A masterclass in cell function that will leave you in awe of biology
Living review – Bill Nighy tackles life and death in exquisitely sad drama
A gentle and poignant Kazuo Ishiguro-scripted remake of Akira Kurosawa’s 1952 film Ikiru about a man dealing with a terminal diagnosis
Ireland’s Call: Navigating Brexit by Stephen Collins review – how Dublin got Brussels on side
Though a forensic study of the Brexit negotiations from an Irish perspective might sound dry, it is anything but