Each week we bring you a sample of the books we’re reading, the films we’re watching, the television shows we’re hooked on or the music we’re loving.

Chris Somerville is reading The Verificationist by Donald Antrim

Currently I’m reading Donald Antrim’s third novel, which is about twenty psychoanalysts meeting in a pancake restaurant. When the narrator, Tom, tries to instigate a food fight one of his dinner companions forces him into a bear hug, resulting in Tom leaving his body…

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I want to talk about why a Nick Cave song should never have featured in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 and why never the twain should have met.

So first things first… How is it that Harry and Hermione are dancing in a barren landscape to ‘O’ Children’ by Nick Cave when:

a.) This section is not even in the book
b.) We know Harry doesn’t love Hermione
c.) We know Hermione doesn’t love Harry
d.) We…

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To celebrate #HarryPotterBookNight tonight we’ve written some Harry Potter themed blog posts.

Emily Gale talks about how her opinion of the Harry Potter series changed after reading them with her children. Read it here.

Chris Gordon explains why a Nick Cave song should never have featured in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1. Read it here.

Bronte Coates shares some of her best ideas for Harry Potter spin off novels, and who should write them. Read it…

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As a die-hard fan of both the boy wizard AND adaptations, interpretations, re-dos of all kinds, I’m looking forward to the inevitable Harry Potter spin off novels that someone will one day write. Here’s a sample of some I would gladly welcome into my arms.

Dumbledore’s off-screen adventures, as told by Kate Beaton

Beaton’s smart and funny, sometimes sexy, comics would no doubt capture the essence of a young Dumbledore – the world’s greatest ever wizard (sorry Gandalf). And can’t…

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As a species we’re impressed by the idea that loving someone the minute you clap your eyes on them is a sign of purity. Some sort of mystical superiority. This extends to art in the sense that we’re eager to declare ‘I’m your biggest fan’ or to insist that we loved an author long before the rest of the world caught on. I know I’m not immune to this, but one author I didn’t get straight away (one I scoffed…

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I am writing this column from Jaipur Literature Festival; it’s early days yet but yesterday I was privileged to hear one of my favourite authors, Paul Theroux, speak about his career as both a travel writer and novelist; having had three novels published and needing to make a living he thought travel writing was the way to go so he hopped on a train in London and travelled to India, Asia, Russia and back, which resulted in one of the…

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We were sad to hear of the recent death of children’s book illustrator Margaret Bloy Graham, who was 94.

Although you may not recognise Margaret Bloy Graham by name, it’s very likely you’ll know Harry the Dirty Dog, her famous character, which she created alongside her then-husband Gene Zion (followed by No Roses For Harry, Harry By The Sea, and Harry and the Lady Next Door).

Harry was originally published in black-and-white. Margaret added colour in…

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Each month we choose a newly released book that we feel is perfect for a book club. Then we roadtest it. We read the book (and encourage you to read along with us), and at the end of the month, we’ll share our thoughts about its potential for book clubbers, and also our own book club discussions about the book.

Our pick for February is Anne Tyler’s A Spool of Blue Thread.

If you’re also planning to read A…

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The American Library Association (ALA) have announced their top books for children and young adults, including the influential Caldecott, Coretta Scott King, Newbery and Printz awards.

The winners include:

Randolph Caldecott Medal for most distinguished picture book for children:
The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend by Dan Santat

Coretta Scott King Award for an author:
Jacqueline Woodson (author of Brown Girl Dreaming)

Printz Award for young adult novel:
I’ll Give You The Sun by Jandy Nelson

John Newbery…

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Bryan Stevenson’s memoir, Just Mercy, is a profoundly important work.

Lauded as a real-life Atticus Finch, Stevenson grew up a member of a poor black community in the racially segregated South. He was a young lawyer when he founded the Equal Justice Initiative, a legal practice dedicated to defending those most desperate and in need. One of his first cases was that of Walter McMillian, a young black man who was sentenced to die for a notorious murder he…

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