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Australian books to get excited about in the first half of 2017
Here’s a preview of some of the most exciting local releases for the first half of 2017!
FICTION
An Uncertain Grace by Krissy Kneen (March) – A thought-provoking erotic sci-fi told in five parts.
From the Wreck by Jane Rawson (March) – Inspired by the life of George Hills, who survived the sinking of the steamship Admella off the South Australian coast in 1859.
Do You Love Me or What? by Sue Woolfe (March) – A collection of eight sparkling…
What we're reading: Neil Gaiman, Claire-Louise Bennett and Jacinta Halloran
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.
Lian Hingee is reading Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman
I’m a bit of a Neil Gaiman fangirl, so I was beyond delighted to get my hands on an advanced copy of Norse Mythology. Perhaps sick of being badgered by fans, Gaiman’s started going the Netflix route – announcing new titles scant months before they’re…
Winners of the Caldecott, Newbery and Printz awards
The American Library Association (ALA) have announced their top books for children and young adults, including the influential Caldecott, Coretta Scott King, Newbery and Printz awards.
The winners include…
John Newbery Medal winner:
The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill
Randolph Caldecott Medal:
Radiant Child: The Story of Young Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat by Javaka Steptoe
Coretta Scott King (Author) Book Award:
March by Andrew Aydin and John Lewis (illustrated by Nate Powell)
Coretta Scott King (Illustrator) Book Award:…
20 compelling Australian stories
Here is a list of 20 true stories from Australian voices. (And you can find even more recommendations in the collection below.)
My Place by Sally Morgan
First published in 1987, My Place is a milestone in Aboriginal literature. Sally Morgan relates her experiences growing up in suburban Perth in the fifties and sixties. Through the memories of her childhood and adolescence, vague hints and echoes begin to emerge and a previously hidden story unfolds – a mystery of…
Our children's and YA top ten bestsellers of the week
Girl Stuff for Girls Aged 8-12 by Kaz Cooke
Unleashed (The Adventures of Dog Man Book 2) by Dav Pilkey
Dog Man (The Adventures of Dog Man Book 1) by Dav Pilkey
Australian Animals by Alphaprints
Ada Twist, Scientist by Andrea Beaty and David Roberts
Pax by Sara Pennypacker and Jon Klassen
Lion by Saroo Brierley (Young Readers’ Edition)
Salty Dog by Gloria Rand and Ted Rand
The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling
Our top ten bestsellers of the week
The Barefoot Investor by Scott Pape
Lion: A Long Way Home by Saroo Brierley
Fight Like a Girl by Clementine Ford
The Dry by Jane Harper
The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben
The Good People by Hannah Kent
The Sellout by Paul Beatty
Black Rock White City by AS Patrić
Difficult Women by Roxane Gay
Fucking Apostrophes by Simon Griffin
Our bestselling books of last week include three wonderful Australian novels (The Dry, The Good People…
What we're reading: Alejandro Zambra, Naomi Alderman and Veronica Roth
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.
Lian Hingee is reading The Power by Naomi Alderman
Margaret Atwood’s endorsement (‘Electrifying! Shocking!’) is prominently displayed on the front cover of Naomi Alderman’s new book and it’s an apt one. Alderman was selected as a protégé by Atwood in 2012, and The Power is a glorious inverse companion piece to The Handmaid’s Tale.
…
Our non-fiction Stella Sparks
The Stella Prize has recently announced their non-fiction Stella Sparks campaign, which highlights the impact of non-fiction writing by women on Australian culture and society. A nonfiction Stella Spark is the book, essay, article or other piece of nonfiction writing by an Australian woman that struck a spark for you. You can find out more about this fantastic campaign here.
Here, our staff share their own non-fiction Stella Sparks.
‘Anna Krien is a brilliant writer and a brilliant thinker…
Australian books being adapted for the screen in 2017
2017 is another massive year for book-to-screen adaptations, and we’re particularly excited to see these four books from Australian authors make their big (and small!) screen debuts.
Lion: A Long Way Home by Saroo Brierley
At the age of five, Saroo Brierley became lost on a train in India. Not knowing the name of his family or where he was from, he survived for weeks on the streets of Kolkata, before being taken into an orphanage and adopted by a…
Summer highlights in kids' and young adult books
This summer, we’ve been busy reading in parks, on beaches, and in the frozen food aisle of our local supermarket. We’ve come across some great picture books for nervous new Preps, adored Raina Telgemaier’s new spin on Ann M. Martin’s The Babysitter’s Club series, and slipped into a seriously psychedelic adventure for tweens.
SUMMER PICKS IN PICTURE BOOKS
Anyone who has ever been the owner of a ball-obsessed dog will appreciate the antics of Arlo in The 12th Dog…
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