We start things off this month with our books section, Imprint, which brings you a blend of new and old this month. There's the latest from Patrick McGrath, Trauma; side-by-side with W Somerset Maugham's The Painted Veil (the film version of which has been in cinemas recently). We also have Steve Toltz's new and notable A Fraction of the Whole; The Cleft by Doris Lessing; Rajiv Chadrasekaran's sobering look at America's Iraq adventure, Imperial Life in the Emerald City and crime drama with Ian Rankin's The Hanging Garden.

Plus you can win a copy of Will Chaffey's Swimming with Crocodiles.

Soundscape chats with hip-hop favourites Resin Dogs; and with Melbourne indie-folk sensations Basic Shape. We have the first line-up announcement for the Splendour in the Grass event; and The Scoop this month brings all the glamour and clamour of the MTV Awards.

Flickers has new reviews of the blockbuster Iron Man; the romantic comedy Made of Honour; and the Australian thriller Cactus and a lot more more. We also chat with Noam Murro about his film, Smart People.

Box delves into the drama of Canal Road (while it lasts), and the all-action Gladiators; plus new DVD reviews for films like American Gangster, Cloverfield, Waitress and plenty more.

Our theatre section, Boards brings you the QTC's take on the Pulitzer Prize winning Rabbit Hole; the MTC's comedy The 39 Steps; the STCSA's post-feminist dramedy The Female of the Species; and Bell Shakespeare's Venus & Adonis.

And Vis a vis looks into new exhibitions from Adam Cullen in Sydney; Gordon Bennett in Brisbane and Kim Hoa Tram in Melbourne.

We hope you enjoy it!

The Blurb team