Books - The Malaysian Insider

J.K. Rowling explores North American magic in new writing

Fans of "Harry Potter" author J.K. Rowling are in for a treat this week when her digital publisher website Pottermore releases a series of four pieces of writing about wizardry entitled "History...

Publisher pulls book by Canadian serial killer

A book by one of Canada's most infamous serial killers, Robert Pickton, who was convicted in 2007 of killing drug addicts and prostitutes and butchering their remains at his pig farm, has been...

Stephen King honoured with endowed chair at alma mater

Best-selling novelist Stephen King, best known for terrifying readers with hair-raising stories including "The Stand" and "It", landed a new distinction when his alma mater, the University of...

Bruce Springsteen memoir coming in September

Rock legend Bruce Springsteen will explain his rise to fame and the struggles behind his songs in a memoir to be released in September, his publisher announced on Thursday. The book will be...

New ‘Harry Potter’ book arriving this summer

"Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Parts I & II" will be going on sale in the US and Canada on July 1. Published by Scholastic, the latest book in the wizardry series is in essence a script to...

‘Alice in Wonderland’ in the spotlight at California book fair

From February 12-14 thousands of book lovers, rare book dealers and scholars will converge at the Pasadena Convention Center in Pasadena, southern California for the 49th California International...

A good book can change your life, according to new research

New research out of the UK has found yet another benefit of picking up a good book, with avid readers likely to feel satisfied with their lives. The study, conducted by the University of...

Illustrator McGuire wins France’s top comic book prize

American illustrator Richard McGuire (pic) was awarded France’s top comic book prize on Saturday at the prestigious Angouleme festival. McGuire, 58, won the “Fauve d’Or” prize for his...

DC to publish new comics based on Hanna-Barbera characters

DC Entertainment will release a new, modern line-up of comics based on some of Hanna-Barbera's iconic Saturday morning cartoon characters reimagined in a contemporary way. The new comics will...

First children’s book in 14 years wins UK’s Costa prize

Britain's Frances Hardinge became the first children's author since Philip Pullman 14 years ago to win the prestigious Costa Book of the Year award in London yesterday. Hardinge's "The Lie...

Lost Beatrix Potter children’s story uncovered a century on

A newly discovered story written more than a century ago by the cherished British children's author Beatrix Potter will be published in September, Penguin Random House announced Tuesday. "The...

‘The Innocent Killer’ to get UK and Commonwealth release

The hit documentary might be available to all Netflix subscribers around the world, but until now, the book that inspired "Making a Murderer" was only available in the US. However, on Monday,...

‘Crime queen’ Agatha Christie remembered 40 years after her death

January 12 marks the 40th anniversary of the death of Agatha Christie, one of the all-time greatest crime novelists. Here's a round-up of the movies, exhibitions, books and sights to check out...

Emma Watson’s feminist book club officially opens

Emma Watson's feminist book club is now open for fans and feminists to join. After announcing plans to start a book club on Twitter Wednesday, Watson made good on her promise by launching a...

Shunned by establishment, Israeli novel on taboo love flourishes

A love story between an Israeli Jew and a Palestinian Muslim has become an unlikely bestseller, after Israel's education ministry refused to allow the book in the high school curriculum. Dorit...

Harper Lee’s ‘Go Set A Watchman’ tops 2015 US bestseller list

Harper Lee's second novel "Go Set a Watchman" topped the US bestseller list in 2015, selling 1.6 million copies more than half a century after her Pulitzer-winning first book was published. The...

Anne Frank’s diary goes online despite rights dispute

A French academic and an MP published online Friday the famous diary of Anne Frank, despite a dispute with rights holders as to whether the work is now in the public domain. The duo claim...

Anne Frank Fund fights plans to publish diary online

An academic and a French MP have announced plans to publish online on Friday the famous diary of Anne Frank, with the organisation holding publication rights threatening legal...

Chrissy Teigen cookbook already a bestseller

Swimsuit model and mother-to-be Chrissy Teigen is the latest Hollywood beauty to release a cookbook. Set to release in February, "Cravings: Recipes for All the Food You Want to Eat" is a...

A look back at 2015 book releases in architecture

2015 saw the release of dozens of new books on architecture from Lego to African Modernism. Here's a look at some of this year's highlights. "Architecture Now!," by Philp Jodidio The 10th...