The best movies, TV, music, podcasts and books of the year (so far)
As a sort of mid-year stocktake, our critics have picked their favourite pieces of pop culture from the first half of 2022.
- by Debi Enker, Garry Maddox, Melanie Kembrey, Barry Divola and Robert Moran
Latest
The economist who does all the ‘weird’ saving experiments so we don’t have to
The “patron saint of saving”, Jessica Irvine, concedes her budgeting obsession borders on the weird but it’s also an altruistic way of paying her bills.
- by Melanie Kembrey
The top 10 books you should read in May
Explore lust, sex and dating in Heart Land, read Selma Blair’s memoir or dive into new works from celebrated authors Elif Batuman and Mieko Kawakami.
- by Melanie Kembrey
Can they change your mind? Sydney Writers’ Festival reveals bold line-up
Damon Galgut, Hanya Yanagihara and Sarah Winman are among the international authors appearing at this year’s event.
- by Melanie Kembrey
Craig Ruddy, artist of controversial Archibald Prize-winning portrait, dies of COVID aged 53
The artist, whose memorable portrait of the late actor David Gulpilil was at the centre of a legal battle, died on Tuesday night.
- by Melanie Kembrey
The most anticipated books of 2022
There are plenty of great reads on the way including new books from Geraldine Brooks, Hanya Yanagihara, Haruki Murakami and Nick Cave.
- by Melanie Kembrey
Amanda Lohrey gets the PM’s nod of approval for The Labyrinth
This year’s winner of the Miles Franklin award has now won the $80,000 Prime Minister’s Literary Award for fiction.
- by Melanie Kembrey and Jason Steger
She’s a millionaire, so why is Zoe Foster Blake still writing picture books?
To some, she is the beauty mogul and young rich-lister whose skincare start-up swelled into a multi-million dollar empire. To others, she’s the fart woman.
- by Melanie Kembrey
‘I get completely lost in it’: why more people are tuning in to music lessons
An increasing number of adults are learning instruments as we live longer and become more conscious of the benefits of staying mentally and physically active.
- by Melanie Kembrey
Liane Moriarty planned a ‘year of joy’, but all she wanted to do was write
Author Liane Moriarty planned to give herself a “year of joy” – spending extra time listening to music and reading poetry – but instead she wrote another sure-fire hit novel.
- by Melanie Kembrey
Freedom is more than just another word, says Maggie Nelson
The American writer compares writing her new book, On Freedom, to wrestling with an octopus.
- by Melanie Kembrey