Land by Maggie O’Farrell review – an ambitious story of mapmaking in Ireland
Set in the aftermath of the famine, the Hamnet author’s family saga folds in myth and folklore
AI is devoid of meaning and humanity. That’s why its vapid voice suits this political moment
For ease and speed, we are degrading our ability to connect and to organise our societies. We must assert our trust in humans over machines, says Guardian columnist Nesrine Malik
‘Nothing is too much for a child’: the Norwegian books for kids tackling taboo topics from IVF to incest
In the Nordic country, books covering subjects such as childbirth and sex have become bestsellers among younger readers – and an export hit. Behind their success lies a unique philosophy of childhood learning
How our list of the 100 best novels became a page turner
The Guardian’s landmark poll of the greatest novels published in English required collaboration and innovation across multiple desks. This is the story of how it came together
Sajid Javid says backing Liz Truss to lead Tories was his ‘biggest political mistake’
Former chancellor also tells Hay festival ‘good riddance’ to Tory MPs defecting to Reform
‘I am very serious about being silly’: children’s illustrators on the art of storytelling
From The Twits to the Gruffalo… Quentin Blake, Cressida Cowell, Axel Sheffler, Lauren Child and more reveal how they bring children’s books to life
From Make That Movie to Sugar: the week in rave reviews
Sam Campbell’s meta sitcom might well be the funniest show of the year, and Bob Mould and co return to the live stage as loud and joyous as ever. Here’s the pick of the week’s culture, taken from the Guardian’s best-rated reviews
Submissions open for 4thWrite short story prize
Now in its 10th year, the £1,000 competition is held by publisher 4th Estate and the Guardian, and open to Black, Asian and minority ethnic writers in the UK and Ireland
Why I’m grateful to the Pope for his encyclical on AI
The intelligent and thoughtful encyclical is an important warning of the uses and misuses of a rapidly developing technology. Silicon Valley is wrong to dismiss it
Virginia Evans: ‘I loved books about things that can’t exist’
The Women’s prize-shortlisted novelist on taking inspiration from John Steinbeck, Joan Didion and Jhumpa Lahiri, and weeping through Little Women in her 30s
The best recent translated fiction – review roundup
Sisters in Yellow by Mieko Kawakami; All Flesh by Ananda Devi; The White Desert by Luis López Carrasco; The Home of the Drowned by Elin Anna Labba
Prestige Drama by Séamas O’Reilly review – brilliant wry comedy of Derry and the shadow of the past
A British and American film crew descend on the Northern Irish city to film a drama about the Troubles, in a keenly observed and snappily written debut
Obama’s former speechwriter Ben Rhodes examines the US through its 15 most defining speeches
From Frederick Douglass to Obama, Ben Rhodes shares the speeches that explain the US in his new book, All We Say
‘True trailblazer’: British author and activist Maureen Duffy dies aged 92
Duffy wrote novels, plays and poetry, campaigned for gay rights, and was a ‘tireless advocate’ for authors’ rights
Capture by Amanda Lohrey review – a superb novel about a study of alien abductees
The Miles Franklin winner’s plot teeters on the edge of profound silliness, but it’s also a vehicle for making meaning of our lived experiences – and those of others