Our latest blog posts
Five books I couldn't get out of my head in 2017
Doncaster bookseller Ellen Cregan shares five books that she read this year – and still can’t get out of her head.
My Absolute Darling by Gabriel Tallent
This is a tough book to read. Turtle is 14 and lives in rural California with her doomsday prepping father from which she suffers sexual abuse and terrifying mood swings, often escaping into the woods to avoid him. She is an outcast at school, and beyond a few concerned teachers and unwelcome peers…
Graphic novels & comics we loved in 2017
Our staff share some of their favourite comics and graphic novels from the past year.
‘Like many of my colleagues at Readings, I absolutely adored Eyes Too Dry, the collaborative graphic novel from Alice Chipkin and Jessica Tavassoli. This work is so heartfelt, and I found myself revisiting various sections over the course of the year, long after I’d finished reading the book in its entirety. Beyond just being lovely, I think this is a really important book for…
Our top 10 bestsellers of the week
Stories by Helen Garner
True Stories by Helen Garner
The Travelling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa (translated by Philip Gabriel)
Acland Street: The Grand Lady of St Kilda by Judith Buckrich
A Long Way from Home by Peter Carey
Force of Nature by Jane Harper
First Person by Richard Flanagan
5 Ingredients: Quick & Easy Food by Jamie Oliver
Mythos by Stephen Fry
Tinkering: The Complete Book of John Clarke by John Clarke
Please note: This list doesn’t include sales…
Our children's and YA top 10 bestsellers of the week
No One Likes a Fart by Zoë Foster Blake
Bad Dad by David Walliams and Tony Ross
La Belle Sauvage (The Book of Dust Book 1) by Philip Pullman
Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth by Oliver Jeffers
Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend
The Getaway (Diary of a Wimpy Kid Book 12) by Jeff Kinney
Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls by Elena Favilli and Francesca Cavallo
The Explorer by Katherine…
A monthly update from our Teen Advisory Board
This month was a busy one for the teens, with many facing end of year exams. However, for those who were able to attend our meeting we had a fascinating visit from Jane Pearson, senior editor at Text Publishing.
Jane talked about the skills needed to see the potential in manuscripts when considering the possibility of publication, and the main elements that need to be in place for a successful book; an engaging story, a believable voice and strong character…
Anti-Christmas reads for Grinches
If even the slightest whisper of Christmas cheer feels like fingernails grinding on a a chalkboard then these are the books for you. This list has it all – cults, creepy children, grisly medical operations, frightening dystopian visions of the future, families murdering their own – and you can find even more recommendations in the collection below.
Idaho by Emily Ruskovich
One hot August day a family drives to a mountain clearing to collect birch wood. Jenny, the mother, is…
Literary prize winners to read over summer
Looking for something to read during the holidays? Here are some of the biggest literary prize winners of the past year.
Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders
Winner of the Man Booker Prize 2017
As the American Civil War rages, President Lincoln’s beloved 11-year-old son lies gravely ill. In a matter of days, Willie dies and is laid to rest in a Georgetown cemetery. Newspapers report that a grief-stricken Lincoln returns to the crypt several times alone to hold…
What we're reading: Margareta Magnusson, Nidhi Chanani & Kazuo Ishiguro
Each week we bring you a sample of the books we’re reading, the films and TV shows we’re watching, and the music we’re listening to.
Kim Gruschow is reading two terrific middle fiction books
This past week I read Pashmina by Nidhi Chanani, a really sweet and touching graphic novel about family and choices. There’s lots of beautiful colour and magic as Pri, an artistic Indain-American teen, discovers the homeland her mother fled.
I also just finished The Guggenheim Mystery…
Great books for keeping the kids busy
Over the next few weeks, we’ll be compiling a host of gift guides to help you with your Christmas shopping.
If you have children, you may already know the power of a good activity or novelty book to keep small hands and growing minds fully occupied and entertained. Here are some of our best suggestions for keeping the kids busy during the Christmas season – from babies through to tweens.
OUR TOP PICKS FOR BABIES, TODDLERS & PRESCHOOLERS
20 gift ideas under $20
Over the next few weeks, we’ll be compiling a host of gift guides to help you with your Christmas shopping.
Here are 20 gift ideas for under $20. Plus, you can find even more budget-friendly recommendations by browsing the collections below.
The Botanical Wall Chart by Anna Laurent
Botanical charts have recently experienced a resurgence in interest, both as pieces of art and as objects of scientific and historical significance. This stunning book brings together a collection of some of…
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