Is There Such a Thing as a Male Book?

Richard T. Kelly responds to Bookdiva columnist Molly Flatt’s musings on what makes a ‘female’ book, from the XY chromosome perspective.

The Master and his Dour, Black Shadow

Richard T. Kelly’s second column this month sees him powering through New Labour memoirs; a task not as laborious as it may initially appear…

Talent, Tears & Big Boys’ Rules: The aesthetics and psychology of cricket

In the first of two columns this month, Richard T. Kelly takes time out to finally get round to reading a title from his ‘TBR’ pile – Christian Ryan’s Golden Boy: Kim Hughes and the bad old days of Australian cricket, and finds himself mulling over what it is to be a Captain.

‘Teach Your Children Well…’: The Books Our Kids ‘Should’ Read

Is there room for Dickens? Richard T. Kelly on what books children ‘should’, or can, or want to read… and is there any way at all to make thirty kids in a classroom pay attention?

When to Stop Writing: Notes on Finishing a Novel

Decisions, decisions.

Richard T. Kelly wrestles with the end…

Talking Heads on Writing Books: The art of literary chat on TV

Richard T. Kelly takes a trip down memory lane, celebrating the days when literary chat was not something to be ashamed of, with the help of the BBC’s In Their Own Words: British Novelists series.

Ecstasies of Pop and Rock: Pete Townshend and the Faber music list

Richard T. Kelly examines the influence of The Who’s guitarist and songwriter on Faber and Faber’s broad-ranging music list, takes a look at contemporary music writing, and Rob Young’s new study of English music over the last 200 years through a pagan veil.

Friends & Enemies of ‘The Hitch’: Christopher Hitchens’ memoir

Journalistic firebrand Christoper Hitchens, whose memoirs were published recently, is a man who has not been afraid to make enemies over the course of a long and distinguished career. Richard T. Kelly argues that’s a good thing indeed.

The Richard T. Kelly Column: Fit to Wear the Shirt – In praise of quality football books

This month, Richard T. Kelly examines the phenomenon of football publishing and the different types of books that it gives rise to, as well as explaining why he won’t be cheering for England at the forthcoming World Cup.

The Richard T. Kelly Column: What is to be Done? On political arguments in book-form

With one week to go until the culmination of a fascinating General Election, Richard T. Kelly considers the art of the political argument in book form.

The Richard T. Kelly Column: Gothic, The Beast That Will Not Die

For the first of his exclusive monthly columns for Bookhugger, novelist and screenwriter Richard T. Kelly explores the enduring popularity of the Gothic in literature and film – from Bram Stoker to Stephanie Meyer.