Umma’s Table by Yeon-sik Hong review – Seoul food to make you purr South Korea’s reputation for comic art continues to blossom in this feline tale of feasts and filial duty
Indian Sun: The Life and Music of Ravi Shankar by Oliver Craske – review A life of the Indian maestro reveals both his vast influence and complicated morals
Funny Weather: Art in an Emergency by Olivia Laing – review Laing combines passion and curiosity in a collection of art-based essays and profiles that reflect the uncertainty of our age
Redhead By the Side of the Road review – another gem from Anne Tyler A mundane life is once again thrown into turmoil in the US writer’s best novel in some time
In brief: The Bass Rock; Radical Acts of Love; Letters of Note: Mothers – review The subjugation of women throughout history, how to accept death without despair and a selection of letters about mothers
How Much of These Hills Is Gold by C Pam Zhang review – an impressive debut The western novel is seen through fresh eyes in this tale of two orphans struggling to survive
My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell review – grooming as a teen love story This debut novel about a girl’s relationship with her teacher is compulsively readable
Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell review – tragic tale of the Latin tutor’s son A fictionalised account of the short life of Shakepeare’s son, Hamnet, is a work of profound understanding
Remaking One Nation: The Future of Conservatism by Nick Timothy – review A thought-provoking challenge to conventional rightwing thinking
Cancelled culture: at-home substitutes for major theatre, art and music events The Observer’s critics offer creative alternatives to cancelled or postponed arts events
Children’s books roundup – the best new picture books and novels In difficult times, a mysterious robot, a ‘Green Book’ campervan tour, hard lessons in survival, an accidental detective and more
Bina by Anakana Schofield review – ‘for every woman who has had enough’ Seventysomething Bina has taken to her bed in a quirky novel that captures the mind’s twists and turns with crow-black humour
I, Cinna (the Poet) review – Tim Crouch and Jude Owusu are dream teachers A gift for homeschoolers, Owusu dazzles as the poet from Julius Caesar, drawing young viewers into the creative process
Think Again by Jan Morris review – diary of a remarkable writer Unfettered by time and space ... this beguiling journal opens a window on to a long and well-remembered life
The Treatment by Michael Nath review – London’s wild side Partly based on the Stephen Lawrence case, this is an ambitious, darkly comic investigation into corruption and revenge