https://thespineandpage.com/index.html2026-08-19https://thespineandpage.com/share-home.svg https://thespineandpage.com/august-releases-author-insights.html2026-08-19https://thespineandpage.com/share-august-releases-author-insights.svgAugust 18, 2026: New Releases, Author Insights, and Literary ReflectionsToday's literary highlights include new book releases, author interviews, and essays exploring themes from grief to AI's impact on writing. Edwidge Danticat discusses her literary journey, while Katy... https://thespineandpage.com/maltese-version.html2026-08-19https://thespineandpage.com/share-maltese-version.svgThe Maltese VersionA couple's relationship is put to the test as one partner considers taking a job that would leave them apart for a month. The story explores the couple's dynamics, their language and translation... https://thespineandpage.com/parenthesis-contested-literary-tool.html2026-08-19https://thespineandpage.com/share-parenthesis-contested-literary-tool.svgThe Parenthesis: A Contested Literary ToolThe parenthesis has a complex history, with some viewing it as a disposable tool and others as a sophisticated means of expression. (Source: Literary Hub) https://thespineandpage.com/time-family-review-donal.html2026-08-19https://thespineandpage.com/share-time-family-review-donal.svgTime and Family: A Review of Donal Ryan's Where Are the KingsIrish author Donal Ryan's latest novel, Where Are the Kings, explores the complexities of family relationships and the passage of time. (Source: The Guardian Books) https://thespineandpage.com/authors-urge-business-rates.html2026-08-18https://thespineandpage.com/share-authors-urge-business-rates.svgAuthors Urge Business Rates Relief for BookshopsIndependent booksellers and authors call on the government to extend business rates relief to bookshops, citing the impact of rising bills on the sector. (Source: The Guardian Books) https://thespineandpage.com/charles-spencer-publish-book.html2026-08-18https://thespineandpage.com/share-charles-spencer-publish-book.svgCharles Spencer to Publish Book About Late Sister DianaCharles Spencer, Earl Spencer, is set to release a book about his sister Diana, titled Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, in September. The book aims to tell the truth about Diana from her brother's... https://thespineandpage.com/sunrise-obreht-review-secrets.html2026-08-18https://thespineandpage.com/share-sunrise-obreht-review-secrets.svgSunrise by Téa Obreht review - secrets and myths in the American westTéa Obreht's latest novel, Sunrise, delves into the American west, exploring themes of death, miracles, and the power of storytelling. (Source: The Guardian Books) https://thespineandpage.com/bestselling-true-crime-author.html2026-08-18https://thespineandpage.com/share-bestselling-true-crime-author.svgBestselling True Crime Author Dropped by Publisher Amid Abuse AllegationsChristopher Berry-Dee, a top-selling author of true crime in the UK, has been dropped by his publisher Bonnier Books UK following allegations of abuse. (Source: The Guardian Books) https://thespineandpage.com/ukrainian-lessons-charlotte-higgins.html2026-08-18https://thespineandpage.com/share-ukrainian-lessons-charlotte-higgins.svgUkrainian Lessons by Charlotte Higgins review - when art and war collideCharlotte Higgins' book Ukrainian Lessons explores the intersection of art and war in Ukraine, highlighting the ways in which artists and writers are responding to the conflict https://thespineandpage.com/ancient-partnership-behind-our.html2026-08-18https://thespineandpage.com/share-ancient-partnership-behind-our.svgThe Ancient Partnership Behind Our Health and IntelligenceNew research reveals the crucial role of mitochondria in our brain function and overall well-being, shedding light on the reasons behind the importance of sleep, exercise, and a healthy diet. https://thespineandpage.com/audiobook-review-universality-natasha.html2026-08-18https://thespineandpage.com/share-audiobook-review-universality-natasha.svgAudiobook Review: Universality by Natasha BrownA satirical novel that dissects wealth, class, and the media through multiple voices. (Source: The Guardian Books) https://thespineandpage.com/mario-vargas-llosa-final.html2026-08-18https://thespineandpage.com/share-mario-vargas-llosa-final.svgMario Vargas Llosa's Final Novel is a Love Letter to PeruThe Nobel laureate's final novel, I Give You My Silence, is an eccentric love letter to his native country and its music. The book follows the quixotic hero Toño Azpilcueta, a music journalist who... https://thespineandpage.com/ego-trip-kimon-de.html2026-08-17https://thespineandpage.com/share-ego-trip-kimon-de.svgThe Ego Trip by Kimon de Greef review - a bizarre tale of psychedelic toads and hair-raising...A review of The Ego Trip by Kimon de Greef, a book that delves into the world of psychedelic toads and the dark tale of Octavio Rettig, a self-proclaimed practitioner of indigenous medicine. https://thespineandpage.com/masterful-account-fiction-britain.html2026-08-17https://thespineandpage.com/share-masterful-account-fiction-britain.svgA Masterful Account of Fiction in BritainPhilip Hensher's book is a comprehensive and engaging history of the novel in Britain, spanning over two centuries. (Source: The Guardian Books) https://thespineandpage.com/something-like-happiness-tom.html2026-08-17https://thespineandpage.com/share-something-like-happiness-tom.svgSomething Like Happiness by Tom Newlands review - a tender take on hard times, anger and autismTom Newlands' novel explores the complex relationships between Frazer, Caitlin, and their five-year-old son Jamie, who has autism. The story delves into the couple's struggles with anger, domestic... https://thespineandpage.com/robert-harris-agrippa-gripping.html2026-08-17https://thespineandpage.com/share-robert-harris-agrippa-gripping.svgRobert Harris's Agrippa: A Gripping Portrait of Ancient Rome's RivalriesRobert Harris's latest novel, Agrippa, delves into the world of ancient Rome, focusing on the life of Agrippa, Octavius's right-hand man. Harris's narrative weaves a complex tale of power struggles... https://thespineandpage.com/ghost-mountains-kulbhushansingh-suryawanshi-1fb531.html2026-08-17https://thespineandpage.com/share-ghost-mountains-kulbhushansingh-suryawanshi-1fb531.svgThe Ghost of the Mountains by Kulbhushansingh Suryawanshi review - the secrets of the snow leopardA compelling and intimate look at the elusive snow leopard, a mountain-dwelling species that is often misunderstood and endangered. (Source: The Guardian Books) https://thespineandpage.com/sky-city-jacqueline-crooks-b4a298.html2026-08-17https://thespineandpage.com/share-sky-city-jacqueline-crooks-b4a298.svgSky City by Jacqueline Crooks review - an ambitious, lyrical portrait of traumaJacqueline Crooks's second novel, Sky City, is a haunting and polyphonic meditation on trauma and belonging that explores the lasting impact of childhood trauma on a person's life. https://thespineandpage.com/daron-acemoglu-book-examines-e2377d.html2026-08-17https://thespineandpage.com/share-daron-acemoglu-book-examines-e2377d.svgDaron Acemoglu’s New Book Examines the Crisis of Liberal DemocracyEconomist Daron Acemoglu explores the decline of liberal democracy in his latest book, attributing its struggles to the left’s shift from economic class to identity politics. He proposes a... https://thespineandpage.com/beauty-good-rosalind-belben-0f6cdc.html2026-08-17https://thespineandpage.com/share-beauty-good-rosalind-belben-0f6cdc.svgIs Beauty Good by Rosalind Belben review - the literary equivalent of free jazzRosalind Belben's novel Is Beauty Good is a unique and thought-provoking exploration of the human experience, delving into themes of beauty, nature, and the loss of the natural world. https://thespineandpage.com/delicate-exploration-mother-daughter-1bc3f8.html2026-08-16https://thespineandpage.com/share-delicate-exploration-mother-daughter-1bc3f8.svgA Delicate Exploration of Mother-Daughter Relationships in Rachel Aviv's 'You Won't Get Free of It'Rachel Aviv's latest book, 'You Won't Get Free of It', is a collection of six stories about mothers and daughters, delving into the complexities of their relationships and the impact of mental health... https://thespineandpage.com/tom-overton-biography-john-f37721.html2026-08-16https://thespineandpage.com/share-tom-overton-biography-john-f37721.svgTom Overton's Biography of John Berger: A Vibrant Exploration of the Pioneering CriticTom Overton's biography of John Berger, 'John Berger: From Life', offers a vibrant and detailed exploration of the pioneering critic's life and work. The book delves into Berger's complex and... https://thespineandpage.com/james-cahill-beverly-hills-84e22a.html2026-08-16https://thespineandpage.com/share-james-cahill-beverly-hills-84e22a.svgJames Cahill’s ‘The Beverly Hills Housewife’ Explores Hockney’s Iconic PortraitJames Cahill’s new book delves into David Hockney’s 1966/7 painting *Beverly Hills Housewife*, using it as a lens to examine the artist’s relationship with Los Angeles, his friendship with art... https://thespineandpage.com/irvine-welsh-can-nothing-d0ae41.html2026-08-16https://thespineandpage.com/share-irvine-welsh-can-nothing-d0ae41.svgIrvine Welsh's Can Nothing Save Us? Explores Generational Despair in a Late-Career TriumphIrvine Welsh's latest novel, Can Nothing Save Us?, is a bold American family saga that delves into intergenerational nihilism and societal decline. Set against the backdrop of Las Vegas and the... https://thespineandpage.com/category-the-book-trade.html2026-08-19 https://thespineandpage.com/about.html https://thespineandpage.com/sources-and-methods.html https://thespineandpage.com/corrections.html