Marcel Theroux: The Book That…

What do writers read? Marcel Theroux, author of Far North, tells us about the books that have made him laugh, made him cry, kept him awake at night and more.

The Book Doctor at large

The Book Doctor – a National Help Service for those with problems of a bookish disposition (don’t forget that you too can ask the Book Doctor for help). Without further ado, here are this month’s victims, erm, patients…

Booker Prize 2009 longlist announced

The longlist for this year’s Man Booker Prize has been announced – featuring a title from Bookhugger publishers Faber & Faber.

July historical fiction round-up

Our roundup of the best new historical fiction for July and August traverses the battlefields of the First and Second World Wars to the wilds of the North Carolina mountains stopping at a mysterious manor house and Shakespeare’s London along the way…

July reading-group round-up

Looking for ideas for new titles to read with your reading circle or book group? Let us help. Here are some titles which have reading guides ready and waiting for you to stimulate discussion and debate.

A Poem a Week from Faber

Discover a new poem every week. From great new voices to cherished classics, 52 Poems brings you a weekly dose of remarkable poetry.

Part two of an interview with Kazuo Ishiguro

Kazuo Ishiguro is the multi-award winning author of six novels, the latest being Never Let Me Go (2005). He received an OBE for Services to Literature in 1995, and the French decoration of Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in 1998.

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The Booklist: Shimmering Cities

Standing tall against the wind and rain, bathed in sunshine and heat haze; drifting in the imagination, or seeped in emotion, magic and memories warm and tragic, cities are as fertile as the earth for the written word.

An interview with Petina Gappah

Petina Gappah is a Zimbabwean writer whose short fiction and essays have been published in eight countries. She is currently completing The Book of Memory, her first novel. Here, she talks to George Miller about her early life, the grim reality of modern Zimbabwe, and her debut collection of short stories, An Elegy for Easterly.

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Extract and reading guide for One Morning Like a Bird

Read an extract from Andrew Miller’s critically acclaimed novel, set against the backdrop of the Second World War.

Jane Aitken from Gallic Books on the joys of French fiction

Jane Aitken, Managing Director of Gallic Books, talks about what French fiction got to offer to an English-speaking audience, and the challenges of marketing it in an already crowded marketplace.

This is How: the reviews (and an extract!)

M.J. Hyland’s latest novel This is How is really making an impact on the literary scene, with fantastic reviews coming in all the time. Here are some of Canongate’s favourites.

Part one of an interview with Kazuo Ishiguro

Kazuo Ishiguro is the multi-award winning author of six novels, the latest being Never Let Me Go (2005). He received an OBE for Services to Literature in 1995, and the French decoration of Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in 1998.

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Andrea Japp: The French Connection

French author Andrea Japp continues her series of mystery novels, featuring Agnes de Souarcy, this month with the third in the sequence, The Divine Blood. Set in 14th century Normandy, the books combine crime fiction with historical detail, and have proved a hit both in her native France and abroad.

An interview with Oliver Balch

Oliver Balch works as an independent journalist in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where he writes regularly for the Guardian. He talks to George Miller about Viva South America!, his journey around that continent, following in the footsteps of Simon Bolivar.

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July non-fiction roundup

From rappers Public Enemy to Leon Trotsky, Stalin’s public enemy number one; from the deepest oceans to the tallest mountains; and from France to the Indian subcontinent, you can’t say our round-up of the best summer non-fiction hasn’t got something for everyone.

Best of the Web: check out Anna Sam

Anna Sam is making a big splash with Checkout, her account of the eight years she spent working behind a French supermarket checkout. Here’s some of the best coverage, and a link to her appearance on BBC Radio 4′s Midweek too.

Andrew Lambert on Franklin

Andrew Lambert re-examines the life of Captain Sir John Franklin with his customary brilliance and authority. In this riveting story of the Arctic, he discovers a new Franklin: a character far more complex, and more truly heroic, than previous histories have allowed.

Bright shiny video interview with James Frey

After battling with alcohol addiction and spending time in rehab, James Frey wrote A Million Little Pieces, which was published to critical acclaim. He wrote the sequel, My Friend Leonard, about life after rehab.

July contemporary fiction round-up

A round-up of some of the best and brightest stars in the fiction firmament, these are all books recently released or being published during July and August – perfect for summer holidays and lazy summer days.

The July Competition [closed]

This month’s competition has great prizes from all our publishers. In fact we think they’re such great prizes we’re sure you won’t mind digging around a little for the answers.

Far North: Imagining a Near-Future Dystopia

Marcel Theroux’s novel Far North was recently published by Faber. Here the author explores the origins of the book.