The Architect’s Apprentice by Elif Shafak – old Istanbul brought to life
A tale of Ottoman intrigue, youthful curiosity – and a boy’s love for an elephant. By Aditi Sriram
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 review – Jennifer Lawrence still engages in this operatic nightmare
The YA drama seems to be evolving toward superheroism, showing Katniss Everdeen’s development into a sleek, black-robed ninja, writes Peter Bradshaw
Behind the Beautiful Forevers review – a triumph for David Hare and Meera Syal
Meticulously detailing the endless grind of Mumbai slum life helps this spirited adaptation of Katherine Boo’s award-winning reportage avoid any danger of quaintness, writes Michael Billington
The English and Their History review – ‘a book of resounding importance to contemporary debates’
Robert Tombs’s lucid, definitive and delightful history is a triumph, writes Richard Davenport-Hines
The Burning Room by Michael Connelly review – a cold case hots up for Harry
Michael Connelly’s 19th Harry Bosch novel is a clever, classy page-turner, writes Alison Flood
Yeah Yeah Yeah review – Bob Stanley’s compendious trip through pop history
Bob Stanley’s trawl through five decades of music is packed with anecdotes, analysis and fascinating footnotes, writes Anita Sethi
The Making of Home review – Judith Flanders’s history of how our houses became homes
A fascinating 500-year history charts the transformation of our houses from uncomfortable workplaces into cosy sanctuaries, writes Ben Highmore
Revival by Stephen King review – ‘the best opening he has ever written’
Stephen King’s latest mystery, set in smalltown, baby-boomer America, starts off strongly but loses its way, writes Ben East
Amnesia review – Peter Carey turns to hacktivism in his diffuse 13th novel
Peter Carey’s new novel is less about cyber warfare than the overlooked history of ill will between Australia and America, writes Anthony Cummins
Blue Note: Uncompromising Expression review – a lavishly illustrated history of the great jazz label
Richard Havers’s book about Blue Note records, with its details of the inspirations and excesses of the label’s major talents, amounts to a history of jazz itself, writes Peter Conrad
Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow: My Life review – how Sophia Loren ‘the toothpick’ became a star
Barbara Ellen enjoys the Italian actress’s tale of her journey from extreme poverty to becoming one of Hollywood’s great beauties
The Old Vic: The Story of a Great Theatre from Kean to Olivier to Spacey review – how a temperance hall became a theatrical landmark
Women of God and stage greats all have a part to play in Terry Coleman’s captivating history of the robust Old Vic, writes Kate Kellaway
Where I’m Reading From: The Changing World of Books by Tim Parks review – ‘it only makes you want to read more’
Tim Parks’s brilliant, erudite essays about the role of writing in the digital age demand to be read, says Tim Adams
Not My Father’s Son: A Family Memoir review – Alan Cumming recalls pain without self-pity
Alan Cumming’s violent upbringing taught him the value of putting on an act, writes Damian Barr
Itchcraft by Simon Mayo – review
GrrlScientist: Our teen-aged hero, Itch, is back. This, the third book in a mystery-thriller trilogy, follows Itch’s continuing adventures as he and his friends try to outwit criminal masterminds who are desperately seeking radioactive chemical element 126 -- an element that still lurks out there. Somewhere.