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When a son's thoughts turn to murder For years, Charles Hills was a figure in London literary circles. But what drove him to the brink of murder? His friend, Granta editor Jason Cowley, traces the story of Hills's mental and spiritual decline, from gifted youth to Oxford student and finally to his cell in Belmarsh prison |
Who calls the tune in the new music age?
Extravagant parties, huge advances and even bigger egos. That was the music business in the 1980s and 1990s. Now, it's in meltdown. Writer Miranda Sawyer, who worked on Smash Hits in its heyday, asks key players if the industry can be saved
'It didn't try to make pregnancy all bad'
Juno has broken the mould of high-school movies - and won Oscar nominations too - by tackling the downsides of teenage sex frankly and skilfully. We took a group of young people to see it and asked if they related to its message
How I shot my sister Annie ...
Annie Leibovitz has photographed celebrities from Lennon to the Queen, but how would this complex character react to being on the other side of the lens - with her sister as film-maker? Barbara Leibovitz reveals all to Rachel Cooke
Never mind the height of a building - feel its intelligence
Stephen Bayley: The right sort of contrast between high and low, old and new, is enriching
Hot Chips off the old block
How one comprehensive has fostered a whole generation of cutting-edge pop
You only win when you're singing, girls
A stage version of the US phenomenon High School Musical is exciting British fans
All roads lead to Reno
An alt.country star's novel comes with added music
The whole world in his hands
Classical: The peerless activist-artist Daniel Barenboim is back - and at the peak of his musical powers
It's the way they tell 'em
Art: An exhibition exploring the idea of universal humour in contemporary art is no laughing matter
Is there a Scouse in the house?
Theatre roundup: 3 Sisters on Hope Street | Uncle Vanya | The Importance of Being Earnest
I'm an adulterer, and so's my wife
Theatre: A Pinter double bill examines two couples twisted by thoughts - and actions - of betrayal
Teenager with talent to burn
Pop: Someone should tell Adele Adkins that she really is a star because she doesn't seem to believe it herself
When two into one doesn't quite go
Dance: A combination of Sleeping Beauty and Swan Lake looked good - but wasn't
Chips served with a simpler gravy
CD of the week: Made In The Dark by Hot Chip
Pop, world and jazz CD releases
American Music Club: The Golden Age | Jack Johnson: Sleep through the Static | The Duke Spirit: Neptune | Rivers Cuomo: Alone: The Home Recordings of Rivers Cuomo | Shelby Lynne: Just A Little Lovin' | Kenny Wheeler: Other People
The death of innocents
Film of the week: Nick Broomfield's reconstruction of the Haditha killings is a moving account of that bloody debacle
There goes the neighbourhood
Other films: Cloverfield | Still Life | Overlord | Things We Lost in the Fire | Over Her Dead Body | Penelope | Underdog | Asterix at the Olympic Games | Freebird
Other DVD releases
Hallam Foe | Atonement | Frau im Mond/Woman in the Moon
Philip French's screen legends
No 2: Celia Johnson 1908-87
Trailer trash
The dirt on the South Bank Show Awards | Nick Broomfield
Why Monty's got the wow factor
TV: Around in the World in 80 Gardens | The Art of Spain | Grand Designs | EastEnders
Four decades on, tears for a gay man
Radio: The BBC and The Closet | Alexis Korner, Rhythm and Blues Champion
Who are you calling mad?
Lisa Appignanesi's richly researched Mad, Bad and Sad asks why women are perceived as being more prone to mental illness than men, says Viv Groskop
The spooks who ruled the States
Hugh Wilford's masterful study of the CIA, The Mighty Wurlitzer, points up its unparalleled influence on American affairs, says Peter Preston
Evil comes in many guises
Stephen King's Duma Key and John Grisham's The Appeal both have truly terrifying writers, says Peter Guttridge
Failures of the Fourth Estate
Flat Earth News by Nick Davies turns the spotlight on the workings of the press, says Mary Riddell
If Steiner isn't worthy, who is?
George Steiner's My Unwritten Books displays the downside of being a polyglot, says Peter Conrad
39 steps from Marquez
Francesca Segal at Hay Cartagena
Truth and lies on the front line
James Meek's We Are Now Beginning Our Descent ranges from London to the war zone, says Tim Adams
Before he lost control
Paul Morley's Joy Division Piece by Piece and Kevin Cummins's photographs capture a band on the cusp, says Sean O'Hagan
Please mind your language
The art of rhetoric gets a modern twist in Jay Heinrichs's Thank You For Arguing, says Peter Kimpton
You've got a date with destiny ... unfortunately
Destiny rules in Glyn Maxwell's The Girl Who Was Going to Die, says Adam Mars-Jones
Domestic comedy
Stephanie Cross on When We Were Bad | Callisto | The Happiest Man in the World | Ten Days in the Hills
Lost leader
Stephanie Cross on Daughter of the East | The Forger | Dynasties
Over the moon
Robin McKie on Dark Side of the Moon
