Heart of ice – Andrew Miller finds a way to continue in his novels

“My novels are love letters to the world. A lot of what motivated me to write is a feeling of astonishment and a love for the extraordinary things in life. Darkness and anxiety exist in my work, and not by my choosing. You cannot separate one from the other.”

Capitalism as natural no more

The economist idol Adam Smith said capitalism was a natural outgrowth of human nature and inevitable, but Joyce Appleby sees its rise as unlikely from the start.

Three decades of stories cross the Straits

There are two things that have driven Taiwanese writer Chu Tien-wen’s passion for the language arts these 30 years: the desires to unearth humanity and to record modern times.

Trends Lounge book listing

This text explores the careers of every LIFE magazine staff photographer of the 20th century, as well as a handful of others closely affiliated with the magazine, including Alfred Eisenstadt, Margaret Bourke-White, Gordon Parks, Eugene Smith and Joe McNally.

Forever a dissident – Chomsky’s first visit to the mainland

Last Friday, Chomsky spoke about world order at Peking University on his first visit to the mainland. Many Chinese intellectuals believe the lasting influence of his visit will be comparable to the legacy of Bertrand Russell and John Dewey early last century.

Chomsky’s recent books

This text explores the latest developments in US foreign and domestic policy. Chomsky reveals Washington’s plans to further militarize the planet, greatly increasing the risks of nuclear war.

Pearl Buck, eternal friend of China

Pearl S. Buck, the Nobel laureate who introduced China to the US through The Good Earth, is explored in the biography Pearl Buck in China: Journey to the Good Earth by Hilary Spurling, biographer of Henri Matisse and Ivy Compton-Burnett.

An eye for music

In June, he took the new prize for Best Album Design/Packaging at the 21st Golden Melody Awards, a music award annually presented in Taiwan and known as the Chinese Grammys. Seven of the Top 10 pop albums on the Chinese market have packaging designed by Nieh.

Bookworm book listing

This novel about a young woman living in the violent world of Japan’s underground youth culture is both shocking and strangely beautiful. Enchanted by the snakelike forked tongue of a stranger called Ama, nineteen- year-old Lui takes a walk on another side of life.

The PM’s wife who Britain could not hold down

Cherie Blair, wife of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and the first British first lady to hold her own career, was no exception. Ongoing fascination with her life has helped drive sales of her memoir Speaking for Myself, published in May 2008 on the anniversary of the couple’s departure from 10 Downing Street.