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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.
General view in Central district of Hong Kong. Xia Baolong, Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office has called on HK to improve its executive-led governance model, arguing the legislative and judicial branches should support the government as they perform “on the same stage” and should not undermine each other. 26JAN26 SCMP / Jelly Tse
Architecture and design

How buildings and cities shape our lives, from ancient Rome to Hong Kong today

Architectural scholar Stefan Al compresses 2 million years of human habitation into 258 pages in his new book, Dwelling on Earth.

Chinese culture

She rejected her Chinese heritage as a child. Now, she writes about it

Space

How should we greet aliens? Neil deGrasse Tyson has the answer

TV shows and streaming video

Meet Belmont Cameli, who plays Garrett Graham in Amazon Prime Video’s Off Campus

In the wake of the smash hit Heated Rivalry, Amazon Prime Video’s latest series is creating buzz – so just who is the show’s heartthrob?

Belmont Cameli is the resident heartthrob of Amazon Prime Video’s new show, Off Campus, in which he plays hockey star Garrett. Photo: @belmontcameli/Instagram
European cinema

Who was Marguerite Duras? Decoding the French cinema radical’s dual identity

Born in French Indochina in 1914, Duras was a visionary who treated the silver screen as a canvas for her haunting psychological experiments.

Music

‘This is insane!’ Korean-American rapper Dumbfoundead on family, music and Beef

A writer on Beef season two, battle rapper Dumbfoundead has taken his underground rap mentality with him from the gutter to the stars.

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TV shows and streaming video

‘Sex is a language in this show’: Heated Rivalry’s Rachel Reid and Jacob Tierney

Author Rachel Reid and director Jacob Tierney talk about writing sex scenes, realising they had something big, and upcoming sequels.

Heated Rivalry director-screenwriter Jacob Tierney and Rachel Reid, whose books are the basis of the series, are pictured in New York on April 18, 2026. The pair talk about the success of the HBO Max show based on Reid’s Game Changers book series, the joy of writing sex scenes and sequels in the works. Photo: Invision/AP
Hong Kong

Poison books: Hong Kong joins the search for Victorian-era arsenic-laced tomes

Victorian-era books may contain arsenic in their bindings. One Hong Kong University book conservator went on the hunt for such toxic volumes.

Chinese culture

As I see it | How ancient Chinese philosophers make sense of modern headaches

Scholar Daniel A. Bell has written an entertaining new book, exposing a new generation to ancient Chinese wisdom on the issues of our day.

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Architecture and design

How the Beckhams and Ellen DeGeneres are inspiring the cottagecore trend

Brands like LoveShackFancy and Summerill & Bishop are embracing the aesthetic, while even Meghan Markle has her own line of orchard-inspired products.

Cottagecore’s appeal lies in its promise of escape: a quieter life, closer to nature. Photo: Handout
Asian cinema: Hong Kong film

What happened when Ann Hui adapted Eileen Chang’s classic stories?

Director Ann Hui has adapted three of Eileen Chang’s stories for the big screen. We look at two: Love in a Fallen City and Eighteen Springs.

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Chow Yun-fat (left) and Cora Miao in a still from Love in a Fallen City (1984), directed by Ann Hui.
Chinese culture

As I see it | How to win friends and influence people in ancient China

Although the ancient text Guiguzi may not be widely read, its contents remain a prescient guide for job interviews, marketing and even diplomacy.

Fame and celebrity

Meet RoseMarie Terenzio, close friend of JFK Jr and Carolyn Bessette

As the obsession over FX’s Love Story continues, some are turning to Terenzio’s books – JFK Jr and Fairy Tale Interrupted – for a more accurate account of ‘America’s prince’ and his wife.

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Luxury brands

A new monograph celebrates the storied legacy of shoemaker Roger Vivier

The book takes you inside the world of the brand, and its launch coincided with the opening of Maison Vivier, a restored hotel particulier in Paris.

Rizzoli has published the monograph Roger Vivier: Heritage and Imagination. Photo: Handout
The Netherlands

Lost remains of French musketeer d’Artagnan may have been found in Dutch church

DNA testing is under way to verify ⁠the skeleton. D’Artagnan, fictionalised in Alexandre ⁠Dumas’ novel The ⁠Three Musketeers, died in 1673.

An excavation pit opened in the floor at the Peter and Paul Church in Maastricht, Netherlands, where archaeologists believe they may have uncovered the skeletal remains of musketeer d’Artagnan. Photo: Reuters
Fame and celebrity

Who was Lauren Bessette, Carolyn Bessette’s sister who died with her?

Ryan Murphy’s Love Story charts the whirlwind romance between Carolyn and JFK Jr – and new episodes feature Lauren Bessette, played by Sydney Lemmon.

Locals' Guide

Insider’s guide to Johor Bahru, Malaysia

Derelict houses reborn as hip cafes and a showcase for local fashion talent are some of the draws in Johor’s capital, actress Debbie Goh reveals.

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Food and Drinks

The ‘soju artist’ teaching the world to drink soju with an English guide

‘Soju artist’ Kim Wan-jun has published the English translation of his book on the drink’s history, etiquettes and social rituals.

Kim Wan-jun is the author of How to Drink Soju: A Guide to K-Drinking Culture & Games, a 300-page book now translated into English. Photo: Instagram/funnyjun_
China society

As I see it | Rescuing a key Confucian text from centuries of ignominy

The release of an authoritative translation of Kongzi Jia Yu finally places a once-suspected forgery among the traditional canon.

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Art

They were both couriers. One wrote a bestselling book, the other made a film

I Deliver Parcels in Beijing author Hu Anyan and videographer Kong Yiu-wing talk about making art out of hard, blue-collar labour.

Fame and celebrity

Horrible stuff, some fun, then awful again: Christina Applegate’s life story

American actress Christina Applegate opens up about abuse, trauma and living with multiple sclerosis as she releases her memoir.

FILE - Christina Applegate appears at the Annual Backstage at the Geffen Gala in Los Angeles on March 22, 2010. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles, File)
Food and Drinks

Eat, read, discuss: welcome to the rise of literary dinners in Hong Kong

Food and books are being combined to turn a solitary pastime into a tasty one that fosters connection and discussion for Hongkongers.

Diane Wang (left) and Jess Cheung, founders of Gentle Books, attend a literary dinner event in Chai Wan, Hong Kong. The city is seeing a rise in book clubs and events pairing dining and reading. Photo: Dickson Lee
Fame and celebrity

Meet Sarah J. Maas, bestselling author of A Court of Thorns and Roses

BookTok may have criticised her for a lack of representation and problematic themes in her works, but the Jewish writer has sold 75 million copies of her books.

Fame and celebrity

Meet Larry David’s daughter Cazzie David, who just published a new book

The eldest daughter of the Curb Your Enthusiasm star famously dated Pete Davidson before he moved on to Ariana Grande.

Art

‘Beautiful and unexpected’: join Pulitzer Prize winner on a Hong Kong stroll

‘Trust’ author Hernan Diaz talks about his lauded 1920s New York-set novel and architectural power symbols on his first visit to Hong Kong.

Pulitzer prize winner Hernan Diaz, in Central. Hernan Diaz is in the city for Hong Kong International Literary Festival (HKILF). 03MAR26 SCMP / Jonathan Wong
Trending in China

China Qing era spawned female authors, poets, despite restrictions on women in arts

Like much of the world, China experienced a notable rise in women authorship during the 19th century, with three poets making a particularly profound impact.

The Qing era saw a rise in female authors, particularly poets, despite widespread restrictions on women in the arts. Photo: SCMP composite/Wikipedia/legacyprojectchicago.org
Tourism

Gripping samurai exhibition explores Japan’s warrior class, cuts through myths

From armour to art, ‘Samurai’ at the British Museum traces the Japanese elite class’ evolution and cultural impact, from anime to Star Wars.

Asian diaspora

How Asian-American couple’s Tubby Nugget went from silly doodle to viral fame

The husband-and-wife creators of Tubby Nugget reflect on their character’s incredible success as they release their first graphic novel.

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