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Books and literature

Books and literature
The latest news, analysis and opinion on Books and literature. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.
last updated:
9 September, 2024
A Burmese python, the apex snake species in Hong Kong. Photo: Adam Francis
Animals

Hong Kong ‘snake bible’ author on why you should learn to fear them less

The coming Year of the Snake is a great time to learn more about them, says Adam Francis, an enthusiast for the reptiles and for Hong Kong.

Donald Trump

Who is Donald Trump’s Gen Z adviser, Alex Bruesewitz – who fainted on stage?

Women and gender

Opinion | Chiung Yao’s celebration of women’s freedom goes deeper than her paeans to love

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Chinese culture

How snake went from evil temptress to righteous demon in Chinese mythology

The best known Chinese folk representation of snakes is the Legend of the White Snake. The snake’s role in it has gone from bad to good.

Nüwa, the creator deity in Chinese folklore, is often depicted with a human head and serpent-like body. Photo: Pictures From History/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
China’s Communist Party

China stamps out AI misuse to preserve national literature and ideology

Beijing seeks to balance AI use to boost the economy while combating deepfakes, digital misinformation and altering of public perception.

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Tourism

Walk in Gabriel García Márquez’s footsteps on a trip through Colombia

See where García Márquez got the inspiration for magical realist novels including One Hundred Years of Solitude, now a Netflix miniseries.

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Asian diaspora

China’s ‘most famous woman’ on a career spent introducing it to the world

Her TV shows gave US viewers tastes of Asia and brought the world to Chinese homes. Yue-Sai Kan talks bridging the gap between East and West.

Television presenter, entrepreneur and philanthropist Yue-Sai Kan was called “the most famous woman in China” by People Magazine. Photo: Courtesy of Fadil Berisha
Fashion

Christmas 2024 gift guide: elegant pieces from Cartier, Gucci and Hermès

Chloé and Tod’s apparel as well as an Assouline book for the coffee table round out a wish list of premium present ideas for your loved ones.

Asian cinema

5 notable screen adaptations of Chiung Yao romance novels

More than 70 adaptations of the prolific Taiwanese romance author’s books were made for TV and cinema. Some made stars of their cast members.

Celebrity children

Who are J.K. Rowling’s 3 ultra-private children – Jessica, Mackenzie and David?

Harry Potter fans are counting down the days (well, years) until the release of HBO’s TV series adaptation of the famous books by J.K. Rowling – but who are her children?

J.K. Rowling is married to Neil Murray and shares two children with him, including Mackenzie (pictured). Photos: FilmMagic, Getty Images
Hong Kong

PostMag Christmas gift guide: 9 ideas for your “could be better” aunt

From a calendar for a beauty expert and a festive luxury hamper to chocolate truffles, chen pi, sparkling tea and a home-grown all-use cologne.

Gifts to please the fussiest auntie, like this hamper from The Peninsula. Photo: The Peninsula
Chinese culture

Obituary | Chiung Yao, Taiwanese romance novelist, dies aged 86

Writer known for novels including My Fair Princess reportedly leaves suicide note saying ‘I choose this way to go home gracefully’.

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Japan

Why Japanese author Mieko Kanai charms readers overseas, but not at home

Mieko Kanai was seen as a contender for the 2024 Nobel Prize in Literature, but in Japan her books are rarely even reviewed.

Fame and celebrity

Oprah Winfrey starts new YouTube podcast and shares book club pick

In partnership with Starbucks, The Oprah Podcast started with Winfrey’s latest book club pick, Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan.

Oprah Winfrey interviews Claire Keegan on “The Oprah Podcast”. Photo: YouTube/@Oprah
K-pop idols

Korean author on being your true self, as her hit guide appears in English

K-pop stars helped Kim Su-hyun’s I Decided to Live as Me fly off shelves in Asia. An English translation may help more find their own path.

Kim Su-hyun’s I Decided to Live As Me has sold millions of copies in Asia since 2016. The South Korean author shares her excitement about a new English-language translation. Photo: Penguin Life
Hong Kong

PostMag Christmas gift guide: 10 ideas for your favourite couple

From eco-friendly bedding and bamboo sheets, to handmade incense and festive perfume, here are 10 picks for that one couple closest to your heart.

SCMP Highlights

Recap | Explore Fan Ho’s iconic Portrait of Hong Kong photos from his final book

Discover captivating images by renowned photographer Fan Ho, who was known as the ‘Cartier-Bresson of the East’, showcasing Hong Kong in the 1950s and 1960s.

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Hong Kong

PostMag Christmas gift guide: 8 ideas for your trendiest friend

From stylish bamboo bags to limited-edition watches and, yes, a map, here are 8 thoughtful suggestions for the trendiest person on your gift list.

Our guide takes the guesswork out of getting gifts for the ultimate aesthete. Photo: YiWooo
Taiwan

How a Jesuit priest and Chinese literary icon Sanmao found love beyond romance

Father Barry Martinson and Chinese literary legend Sanmao’s friendship blossomed into a deep connection, marked by shared passions and mutual support.

Food and Drinks

How tinned seafood has gone gourmet, handpacked and charmingly packaged

‘Tin-fluencers’ have helped change the food’s image, moving customers away from low quality, mass-produced brands to more sustainable artisanal-style producers.

Fame and celebrity

Who is Prince’s first wife, choreographer and actress Mayte Garcia?

They may have divorced long before Prince died, but Mayte Garcia had the singer’s baby and was the subject of his hit The Most Beautiful Girl in the World

Prince’s first wife, Mayte Garcia, recently sold the rights to her memoir for a biopic slated to get made next year. Photos: @maytejannell/Instagram; Getty
Food and Drinks

Chefs say understanding flavour is their holy grail. This book defines it

Dr Arielle Johnson on why she wrote Flavorama – A Guide to Unlocking the Art and Science of Flavour and how she is bringing science to food.

The five tastes as illustrated in a slice of tomato, in Arielle Johnson’s book Flavorama – A Guide to Unlocking the Art and Science of Flavour. Photo: Flavorama
Old Hong Kong

How one man’s fascination with an abandoned building created the Fringe Club

In his new book, Benny Chia, founder of The Fringe Club, recounts his obsession with a building that became the heart of Hong Kong’s cultural life

Fashion

Annie Hall to Hokusai – 4 fashion and art books to grace your coffee table

Whether they’re fashionistas or art enthusiasts, your friends will love these beautiful books this Christmas.

Obituaries

Yeh Chia-ying, China’s ‘daughter of poetry’, dies at the age of 100

Literary scholar is remembered for her passion for classical Chinese poetry and charisma that inspired generations of writers and students.

Yeh Chia-ying spent seven decades researching and promoting classical poetry across mainland China, Taiwan, the United States and Canada. Photo: Xinhua
Fame and celebrity

Who is Courtney Burgess, the Diddy witness who calls him ‘Lucifer’?

Diddy and the late Kim Porter’s sons Christian Combs and Quincy Brown have filed a cease-and-desist order after music manager Courtney Burgess published what he claims is Kim Porter’s ‘tell-all’ book.

Courtney Burgess (right) has published a book he claims is based on the diaries of Diddy’s late ex-partner and mother to three of his children Kim Porter. Photos: AFP; @courtney.bnj/Instagram
Fame and celebrity

Cormac McCarthy’s ‘secret muse’ was 17 when they first had sex, she says

American author Cormac McCarthy was 42 when he met 16-year-old Augusta Britt, who she says inspired characters in some of his famous novels.

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Chinese culture

Letters | Multilingual writers enrich the world’s literary canon

Readers discuss the challenges and rewards of writing in a non-native language, the decline in student performance in Hong Kong and hiring civil servants with disabilities.

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