Philip Pullman’s Grimm Tales: An Immersive Fairytale for Young and Old review – ‘Instagram theatre’

Sleeping Beauty chic meets the online generation for this plush stage version of Pullman's bestseller, but more love should have been lavished on the acting, writes Matt Trueman

A Million Ways to Die in the West, review – Seth MacFarlane’s first novel

The highest-paid TV writer in history has written a weird western that had Harry Ritchie ploughing through brothel scenes with the glum doggedness he usually reserves for tax returns

A Long Way Down review – ‘Fantastically unconvincing’

This film version of Nick Hornby's 2005 novel is a wince-inducing parade of misjudgments and false notes, writes Peter Bradshaw

Divergent: ‘Shailene Woodley is lovely, but this film is an endless slog’ – first look review

Review: Like the last Hunger Games movie, Neil Berger’s take on Veronica Roth’s bestselling novel is too long and poorly plotted

Five Came Back review – great Hollywood directors and the second world war

Mark Harris's study of the interwoven war careers of Ford, Wyler, Capra, Stevens and Huston impresses Philip French

Other People’s Countries review – memory lane, lovingly explored

Poet and novelist Patrick McGuinness's lyrical recollection of his childhood takes John Banville's breath away

The Real Jane Austen: A Life in Small Things review – ‘an innovative approach’

Paula Byrne examines Austen's life and work vividly through 18 objects connected to her, writes Helen Zaltzman

The Land of Gold review – Sebastian Barker’s fond farewell to paradise

Suffused with a love of God – and Greece – Sebastian Barker's final poems are a holiday for the soul, writes Kate Kellaway

A Sense of Direction review – ’emotional, occasionally hilarious travel writing’

Gideon Lewis-Kraus’s relationship with his father is the heart of this erudite and witty book, writes Daniel Cohen

Running Free review – a year in the Northamptonshire countryside

Richard Askwith returns to his love of running in this compelling memoir, writes Alexander Larman

We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves review – a harrowing family drama

Karen Joy Fowler's tale of a family imploding has a twist – but much more besides, writes Lucy Scholes

What Was Promised review – ‘Tobias Hill’s White Teeth’

Tobias Hill's fifth novel, which follows three immigrant families, confirms him as an outstanding writer of his generation, writes Stephanie Merritt

The French Intifada review – ‘A courageous view of modern France’

Andrew Hussey's study of the legacy of French colonialism deserves our admiration, writes Nick Fraser

A Quiet Word review – ‘lobbyists are too easy a target’

John Kampfner: There's more to crony capitalism than the antics of the sharp-suited lobbyists detailed in this rather partisan study

The Road to Middlemarch review – Rebecca Mead’s overly earnest thoughts on a masterpiece

Rebecca Mead's highly personal tribute to George Eliot's Middlemarch lacks wit and brio, writes Rachel Cooke