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Books and literature

Books and literature
The latest news, analysis and opinion on Books and literature. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.
last updated:
9 September, 2024
Author Salman Rushdie with his book Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder. Photo: AFP
Crime

New York jury hears attacker repeatedly stabbed Salman Rushdie

Lebanese-American Hadi Matar, 27, is accused of stabbing the Satanic Verses author about 10 times, leaving him without sight in one eye.

TV shows and streaming video

‘One of the greatest Italian novels of all time’ turned into Netflix series

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Art

Wallis Simpson a sexual and criminal deviant in China? A rethink

Wellness

‘I realised it wasn’t all her fault,’ says love expert on fixing marriage

Bestselling author and Instagram influencer Diego Perez, aka ‘Yung Pueblo’, talks about how to have great relationships with less conflict.

Bestselling author, self-help guru and Instagram influencer Diego Perez (left) has been with his wife, Sara, for 17 years, but the early years were “chaotic” because he had no self-awareness, he says. Photo: Diego Perez
Art

Review | Art in Hong Kong, brisk summation of city’s cultural power

Post’s arts editor gives incisive, accessible analysis of Hong Kong’s place in the art world, how it got there and the road ahead.

Fame and celebrity

Who is Amanda Palmer, wife of author Neil Gaiman, who faces rape charges?

Palmer, whose divorce from Gaiman is ongoing, is named in a lawsuit filed this week by Scarlett Pavlovich, one of several women who have recently accused the fantasy writer of sexual assault.

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Anne Hathaway

Who is Lauren Weisberger, author of Vogue-tinted novel The Devil Wears Prada?

Weisberger based her novel on her experience as assistant to Vogue editor and Met Gala chairwoman Anna Wintour. The book was adapted into an Oscar-tipped film and Sir Elton John-scored musical

Meet The Devil Wears Prada author Lauren Weisberger, former assistant to Anna Wintour at Vogue. Photo: @laurenweisberger/Instagram
Sexual harassment and assault

Ex-babysitter sues Sandman author Neil Gaiman for sexual assault

Scarlett Pavlovich also filed lawsuits against Gaiman’s ex-wife, singer Amanda Palmer, who had invited her into the couple’s New Zealand home.

Asian diaspora

Review | Asian-American woman literally moulds her perfect man in Blob: A Love Story

Author Maggie Su’s surreal new novel offers a unique look at humanity as a woman creates her own very handsome Frankenstein’s monster.

Food and Drinks

How ginger transforms dishes, from China to Chicago

Pastry chef Jacky Lee Shing-lam likes ginger’s warming notes, which include many chemicals useful to our bodies, as Dr Vivian Chen, founder of Plateful Health, and Dr Jamie Bering, of the Mayo Clinic in Arizona, explain.

Chinese-American food writer Kevin Pang and health experts weigh in on the benefits of ginger. Photo: Getty Images
Food and Drinks

Chinese-American graphic novel cookbook author on its inspiration

Ying Chang Compestine often explained the names of Chinese dishes to American friends. Then she hit upon a fun way to do so in a cookbook.

Prolific author Ying Chang Compestine, who was written a graphic novel Chinese cookbook with illustrations by UK-based artist Vivian Truong. Photo: Instagram/yingchangcompestine
Art

When Brit art world provocateurs Gilbert & George’s visited China

It was the early 1990s, the mainland was opening up, and coming in hot were the two biggest troublemakers in British art. The man who got them there tells all in his new book.

Asian cinema: Chinese films

Review | In Chinese fantasy Creation of the Gods II: Demon Force a star is born

Wuershan’s rollicking fantasy adventure sequel to his Creation of the Gods has an expanded role for Nashi, and the actress is a revelation.

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Fame and celebrity

The legacies of authors Joan Didion and Eve Babitz, explored in a new book

Highlighting their unique styles and influences, the book lays bare their starkly contrasting personas and yet similarly enduring impact.

Young Eve Babitz and Joan Didion. Photos: The Huntington Library*, Handout
United States

Onyx Storm author Rebecca Yarros meets superfans as new book tops charts

Yarros was interviewed by Olympic gymnast Laurie Hernandez, answered fan questions and took photos with them in Manhattan.

Rebecca Yarros (right) takes photos with audience members who attended a fan event at The Town Hall in Manhattan, New York, about Yarros’ new book Onyx Storm, on January 24, 2025. Photo: CJ Rivera/Invision/AP
United States

100 years after The Great Gatsby’s release, novel makes ‘new connections’

F. Scott Fitzgerald’s 1925 novel has inspired social movements and a Leonardo DiCaprio film. The author’s hometown is marking its centenary.

Hong Kong culture

Her 1,000-piece collection of Hong Kong memorabilia tells the city’s story

From dolls, ceramics and vintage textiles to posters, books and souvenirs, Tarlan Amigh is on a mission to tell the real story of Hong Kong.

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Food and Drinks

British-Chinese author’s hopes for her A to Z of Chinese food

In An A to Z of Chinese Food (Recipes Not Included), London writer Jenny Lau picks apart food clichés to explore what it means to be Chinese.

Jenny Lau of Celestial Peach at the launch of her book An A-Z of Chinese Food, in London. The British-Chinese writer hopes it inspires East and Southeast Asians around the world. Photo: Ming Tang-Evans
History

UK security service MI5 to reveal some of its secrets in exhibition

A World War II-era guide to tailing a target, and files on notorious double agents such as Kim Philby, feature in MI5: Official Secrets show.

Fame and celebrity

Who is Skip Bayless’ long-time wife, the PR guru Ernestine Sclafani Bayless?

Who is Skip Bayless’ wife, amid allegations the former sportscaster made unwanted sexual advances toward a Fox News employee?

Art

How Jimmy Carter’s art shows a different side to late US president

He favoured woodwork over golf, made chairs and painted artworks that sold for thousands. Art is part of the late US president’s legacy.

Jimmy Carter’s painting Cardinals. Photo: The Carter Center
Fame and celebrity

Meet poet Terrance Hayes, who is rumoured to be dating Padma Lakshmi – again

They dated briefly in 2021 and were seen together numerous times in 2024; Hayes is a well-known literary figure and has 2 children from a previous marriage, to fellow poet Yona Harvey.

Top Chef star Padma Lakshmi is rumoured to be dating poet Terrance Hayes. Photos: @padmalakshmi/Instagram, @operaphila/Instagram
South Korea

New Korean books in English to look forward to in 2025

Nobel Prize laureate Han Kang’s translated novel We Do Not Part leads a strong line-up of new English-language Korean literature this year.

Fame and celebrity

Meet Harlan Coben, the bestselling author behind Netflix show Missing You

Netflix just released Missing You, adapted from powerhouse author Harlan Coben’s novel of the same name, making it the ninth such project on the platform – so who is he?

Asian cinema: Hong Kong film

4 notable Monkey King adaptations in Hong Kong cinema. One stars Donnie Yen

We recall Journey to the West film adaptations, from Stephen Chow’s turn in the title role to one in which Donnie Yen plays the Monkey King.

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Donnie Yen as Monkey King in a still from The Monkey King (2014).

Author Ian Rankin on his favourite books and being a ‘frustrated rock star’

The writer of the Inspector Rebus novels talks about his new book Midnight and Blue, being an author, and books that have given him pleasure.

Ian Rankin, author of the bestselling Inspector Rebus novels, reveals his favourite book, what he’s reading now and more.
Profile

Melanie Cheng on leaving Australia for Hong Kong, and becoming a doctor and author

The Australian GP and writer talks about meeting other girls ‘like her’ and the magic of writing a passion project.

Artificial intelligence

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is profiled in new biography by Chinese journalist

Zhou, founder of tech media Pandaily, personally knew Altman a decade ago at Stanford and interviewed him in November 2023.

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