RISING from its gritty past, Richmond has blossomed into the "it" place to shop, live, drink and dine. Providing bidding stays within cooee of the quote, this little house is exactly the sort of property first-home buyers have been fighting over for months. The floor plan ticks all the boxes:..read more

THE full range of Australian writing and publishing is reflected in this year's shortlist for The Age Book of the Year awards. There are new names and old favourites, published by a mix of independents and multinationals. The books' subjects vary hugely, from post-apocalyptic survival to Charles Darwin, from the..read more

WHAT THEY SHOULD DO is ban Carlton footballers and their fans from becoming politicians. Playing to the home crowd at Princes Park is one thing, but after Justin Madden's divisive comments last week can they really be trusted in the wider world?

HEART AND SOUL By Maeve Binchy Orion, 464pp, $35 PLAYING THE GAME By Belle de Jour Orion, 320pp, $32.99 UNDER CONTROL By Mark McNay Canongate, 320pp, $27.95 PICK OF THE WEEK COOEE By Vivienne Kelly Scribe, 320pp, $32.95

The inspirations for fiction are many and the characters brought to life varied, as these four first novels suggest, writes Jo Case. Turtle By Gary Bryson Allen & Unwin, $27.95 Cooee By Vivienne Kelly Scribe, $32.95 The Twelfth Fish By Graham Perrett Vulgar Press, $32.95 Fugitive Blue By Claire Thomas..read more