International fiction
Debut fiction to read this month
Proving just how strong the Australian literary scene is at the moment, we have a wonderful selection of ten debut fiction and crime fiction books this month to add to your 'to be read' pile. There are also a couple of excellent international fiction titles to throw into the mix!
🦘 Australian fiction
Translations by Jumaana Abdu
Amid a series of personal disasters, Aliyah and her daughter, Sakina, retreat to rural New South Wales to make a new life. Aliyah…
Audiobook Recommendations for Father's Day
Father's Day is just around the corner, but fortunately in the digital age there are plenty of great gifts that can be snapped up at the last minute, from the comfort of your couch.
A Readings gift card is one example of a fuss-free gift that's sure to delight, but if your dad is a fan of audiobooks, Libro.fm is a great gift option too! We have a Libro store, meaning you can buy audiobooks from Readings, see our curated…
A beginner's guide to Elizabeth Strout
On Elizabeth Strout’s website is this quote:
"We want to know, I think, what it is like to be another person, because somehow this helps us position our own self in the world. What are we without this curiosity?"Elizabeth Strout’s many novels are filled with this curiosity, this empathetic approach to humanity that is both refreshing and comforting to me. She has created a village made up with people that I could be friends with, and those that I…
Sink your teeth into a gripping book series
Are you sick of trying to decide what book to pick up next? Do you get paralysed by indecision looking at your TBR? We have the antidote: read a series!
A long series, or even a nice hefty trilogy, will take away the need to decide as you're pulled from one gripping instalment to the next. Here are some top picks for great series to pick up, no matter your genre of preference.
Fantasy
The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang…
What we're reading: Newman, de Kerangal & Street
Each week our wonderful staff share the books that they've been enjoying.
Chris is reading Sandwich by Catherine Newman
I have been seen.
Reading about a 54 year old woman dealing with parents, adult children, her partner and menopause while on an annual holiday was utterly, wonderfully cathartic. I laughed out loud. I cried. Sandwich needs to be read by everyone. It explains the physical and emotional turmoil of getting older; it shows the inner dialogue of resentment and love…
A spotlight on new translated fiction
This month we're reading fiction translated from: Japanese, French & Italian!
Mina's Matchbox by Yoko Ogawa (translated from Japanese by Stephen Snyder)
After the death of her father, twelve-year-old Tomoko is sent to live for a year with her uncle in a coastal town. It is a year that will change her life. The 1970s are bringing changes to Japan and her uncle's colonial mansion opens up a new and unfamiliar world for Tomoko. Her growing friendship with her cousin…
Most anticipated fiction books for the second half of the year
It's hard to believe we're already in August and publishers have finalised (mostly!) their lists for Summer 2024. It's difficult To eclipse what has already been a very strong year, but we think you'll agree from the preview below that there's much to look forward to in the coming months! Many of our favourite authors are releasing books and we hope to see you as they begin to grace our shelves and online collections.
📚 AUSTRALIAN FICTION
Juice by Tim…
Top picks for book clubs this month
Looking for something juicy to discuss in your book club? Try one of these new releases, chosen by our booksellers to appeal to a wide range of readers and provide plenty to talk about.
Australian fiction
Woo Woo by Ella Baxter
Sabine is having a moment. Her new exhibition, Fuck You, Help Me, is opening soon and, as her gallerist says, 'Hell is an artist three days before their exhibition opens.' But it's not only this coming milestone that…
Our July 2024 bestsellers
For the second month in a row, our bestseller list is topped by Miranda July's tender, hilarious and literary novel, All Fours, about a woman upending her life.
Newcomers this month include cookbooks from two amazing chefs who have made their mark on the Melbourne food scene and are must-haves for your collection: Tarts Anon's Gareth Whitton, winner of the first Masterchef: Dessert Masters last year, has released Tarts Anon: Sweet and Savoury Brilliance; and Andreas Papadakis…
Books set in the film industry
The 2024 Melbourne International Film Festival kicked off this week, so here are some great books set in the film industry to help you get extra excited about cinema and fill the time between screenings!
📽️Literary Fiction
The Whitewash by Siang Lu
It sounded like a good idea at the time: a Hollywood spy thriller, starring, for the first time in history, an Asian male lead. With an estimated $350 million production budget and up-and-coming Hong Kong actor JK Jr…
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