A new book shows another side to ‘the guy who punched a shark’

The book lover’s favourite season continues into October. Christmas is looming, which means publishers are bringing out the big guns: door-stoppers, page-turners and enough literary catnip to see us through to summer. There are heavy hitters making much-anticipated returns and a few unexpected turns from local favourites. So let’s take our reading inspiration from Rocky Balboa, whose creator, Sylvester Stallone, has a memoir out this month, and remember: “Nobody owes nobody nothing. ” To the bookshop, then.