Books

THE MEMORY OF LOVE BY AMINATTA FORNA, BLOOMSBURY, $32.99. Set in Sierra Leone, the book interweaves the story of two generations. Professor Elias Cole tells of life on campus in Freetown in the late 1960s, his passion for the beautiful Saffia and his relationship with her charismatic but dangerously politically active husband. Listening to this […]

TIGERLILY’S ORCHIDS BY RUTH RENDELL, HUTCHINSON, $32.95. Ruth Rendell is such a master of mystery that not only is it impossible to guess the identity of the killer, for a long while it’s hard to figure out who is going to die. Luckily, not one of the characters that live in the apartments of London’s […]

THE CHANGI BROWNLOWBY ROLAND PERRY, HACHETTE AUSTRALIA, $35. The Changi Brownlowis the moving and powerful story of Peter Chitty – a farm hand with unfathomable physical and mental fortitude from Snowy River country – who was one of seven in his family who volunteered to serve in World War II. Set in the worst conditions […]

IN OFFICE HOURSBY LUCY KELLAWAY, FIG TREE, $29.95. Sharp, witty, poignant, observant,In Office Hours, by British Financial Times columnist Lucy Kellaway, ticks all the boxes – especially the in-box – for a Bridget Jones-style romantic comedy for the email, text and iPod generation. High-flying executive and mother of two, 46-year-old Stella Bradberry, is inches away […]

IT TASTES BETTER BY KYLIE KWONG, LANTERN, $69.95. Restaurateur and TV chef Kylie Kwong is passionate about sustainable food and ethical eating, and this book is a tribute to that ethos. Kylie heads off on an inspiring journey around Australia to meet the farmers and producers who are dedicated not only to organic produce, but […]

As the MasterChef cook-off closes it kitchen for another series, LUCY CHESTERTON discovers that the challenges are far from over for Callum and Adam. Like ill-fated macaron towers under the scrutiny of the MasterChef judges, Callum Hann and Adam Liaw have finally collapsed after a boil-over finale at the weekend. For fresh-faced Callum, his confidence […]

Turning 90 gave Johnny Lockwood the perfect excuse to reconnect with his old friends at what was once Australia’s favourite address. Nothing got tongues wagging in the 70s like Number 96 – the racy TV ratings smash of its day that went where no show had gone before. Leading the cast was battling deli owner […]

Things are heating up in and out of the kitchen. Is Claire engaged? Are the chefs feeling the pressure? Plus Marion’s mega deal. Jonica Bray gets all the goss. Making a rare public appearance outside the MasterChef kitchen, contestant Claire Winton Burn showed off more than just a first look at her lawyer beau Trevor […]

Like an undiscovered lottery winner, there’s a record store employee out there who’s unaware that country music darling Catherine Britt wants to reward him. “Bless him!” laughs the Aussie singer. “Elton John was browsing and looking for new talent and the guy said, ‘Listen to this girl. She’s only 16 and she sings and writes […]

The MasterChef favourite missed out on the title, but has won a much greater prize, writes LUCY CHESTERTON. Marion Grasby might not have won MasterChef, but as she looks adoringly at her boyfriend Tim Althaus across a windswept South Australian beach it’s obvious she has won something even sweeter – his heart. As Marion leaps […]