Culture

Books

WordPlay

Opinion

Smaller than a housefly’s scrotum? Germans have a word for that

David Astle Crossword compiler and ABC Radio Melbourne presenter September 20, 2025 — 5.30am

BOOK SALE: two words I can’t resist. Recently, the phrase worked its spell in Hobart, drawing me into a pavilion a stone’s throw from the Derwent. Trestle tables groaned with self-help and espionage, War and Peace , romance and cookery.

Yet the detail to catch my eye was a brisk explainer. The sign showed a stack of books beside an upright ruler, the image explaining how each centimetre of horizontal spine cost a dollar. Sally Rooney, say, would be a steal compared to Liane Moriarty. Cloudstreet was twice the price of Juice , Tim Winton’s more recent novel. It was insane, but simple. Po

See Full Page