Each week we bring you a sample of the books we’re reading, the films we’re watching, the television shows we’re hooked on, or the music we’re loving.

Chris Gordon is reading Cook, Eat, Repeat by Nigella Lawson

I was not in Australia when Nigella Lawson came to captivate us all but I did manage to purchase her latest cook book, Cook, Eat, Repeat at a marvellously bargain price this week, all in the comfort of my own work place.

I love reading Nigella’s writing. I’m grateful that she has no hidden pleasure food and gives a recipe for fish finger sandwiches with as much love and detail as she does for brownies with cherries. I like that there is a whole chapter dedicated to tinned anchovies. I like that she encourages the spread of butter on bread so thick you can see your teeth marks in it. Her writing is filled with ideas and memories of her mother and her grandmother. She shares tales of her children’s favourite dishes and of their collective groans about her behaviour. Nigella Lawson makes me feel normal and makes me happy. I’m glad she is world famous – imagine if there were more women talking up family and food and the importance of conversations amongst their everyday work. Good lord, I think we would be better off; we would all be a little kinder to one another at least. It would be deliciously free-ing. (A little like the joys of crème brulee for one – page 89. You’re welcome.)

Lian Hingee is reading Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld

Curtis Sittenfeld is one of those authors people seem to get get quite fanatical about. I’ll admit that I’m not that familiar with her oeuvre, having read only Eligible (and even then, more for the Pride & Prejudice than the Curtis Sittenfeld), but when Romantic Comedy hit our shelves I was pretty confident it was something that I’d enjoy.

It’s the story of Sally Milz, a successful comedy writer for a late-night skit show called Saturday Night Li–, sorry, The Night Owls, who bucks the average-Joe-dating-a-supermodel trend to find herself – an average Joanne? – romantically involved with globally-adored pop idol Noah Brewster. Starting in the 2018 before running smack-bang into the global pandemic, this witty and razor-sharp novel was a remarkably satisfying bit of fluff. Funny, smart, with plenty of heart and a Happily Ever After to satisfy even the most jaded reader.