News
Our top 10 bestsellers of the week
Crossroads by Jonathan Franzen
Ottolenghi Test Kitchen: Shelf Love by Yotam Ottolenghi & Noor Murad
Home by Stephanie Alexander
Beautiful World Where Are You (Special Edition) by Sally Rooney
Wild Abandon by Emily Bitto
Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty
Whole Notes by Ed Ayres
The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles
The Luminous Solution by Charlotte Wood
The Magician by Colm Toíbín
Our best-seller from the past week is the long-awaited novel from Jonathan Franzen, Crossroads. Set in 1970s…
Our children's and YA top 10 bestsellers of the week
The Song of Lewis Carmichael by Sofie Laguna
Wandi by Favel Parrett
Pony by R.J. Palacio
The Tiny Explorers by Kat Macleod
It’s Not You, It’s Me by Gabrielle Williams
Always by Morris Gleitzman
Polly Pecorino: The Girl who Rescues Animals by Emma Chichester Clark
Bluey: Giant Activity Pad by Bluey
Dark Rise by C.S. Pacat
There’s a Ghost in this House by Oliver Jeffers
In the top spot this week is our September Children’s Book of the Month, a…
Abdulrazak Gurnah wins the Nobel Prize for literature in 2021
This year’s Nobel prize for literature has been awarded to Tanzanian novelist Abdulrazak Gurnah.
Born in Zanzibar in 1948 and based in England, Professor Gurnah currently teaches at the University of Kent. Gurnah has published ten novels as well as a number of short stories. His 1994 novel, Paradise, was shortlisted for the Booker Prize.
The Swedish Academy awarded Gurnah the prize ‘for his uncompromising and compassionate penetration of the effects of colonialism and the fate of the refugee…
What we're reading: Lyons, Kristoff, Clarke, Walton & Aśka
Each week we bring you a sample of the books we’re reading, the films we’re watching, the television shows we’re hooked on, or the music we’re loving.
Lucie Dess is reading Stars in Their Eyes by Jessica Walton & Aska
As soon as I read the blurb for Stars in Their Eyes, I knew I had to get my hands on it. A queer, intersectional meet-cute set at a Con? SIGN. ME. UP.
I can definitely say I was…
The best new crime reads in October
Our crime specialist shares 9 great crime reads to look out for this month.
CRIME BOOK OF THE MONTH
The Shadow House by Anna Downes
When Alex drives up to her new house with her teenage son Ollie and new baby Cara in tow, she feels a surge of relief – and panic. She’s running away from Sydney, from what she’s left behind, and the eco-village of Pine Ridge is the perfect place to start anew: a caring community, a…
On Events, with Chris Gordon
I know I’m not alone in riding the great rollercoaster of emotions over the last few weeks. It has been exhausting and there have been times when I yearned for an entire day in bed with a box of chocolates and a very good novel. I have felt myself drawn to authors whose writing resonates a pragmatic understanding of how we all live. I’ve become tired of reactive declarations and grand sweeping statements. I’m searching now for authors whocan give…
The Goldsmiths Prize shortlist 2021
The shortlist for this year’s Goldsmiths Prize has been announced! This prize was established in 2013 to celebrate the qualities of creative daring and to reward fiction that breaks the mould or extends the possibilities of the novel form. You can learn more about the history of the prize here.
The six titles shortlisted for the 2021 Goldsmiths Prize are:
Checkout 19 by Claire-Louise Bennett
Assembly by Natasha Brown
A Shock by Keith Ridgway
This One Sky Day by…
Finalists for the National Book Awards 2021
The finalists for this year’s National Book Awards have been announced. Since 1950, the National Book Awards have been celebrating the best writing in America.
2021 Finalists for Fiction
Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr
Matrix by Lauren Groff
Zorrie by Laird Hunt
The Prophets by Robert Jones, Jr.
Hell of a Book by Jason Mott
2021 Finalists for Nonfiction
A Little Devil in America: Notes In Praise of Black Performance by Hanif Abdurraqib
Animal rescue stories for junior and middle fiction readers
When I was a kid, the stories I loved most were about animals, and I was particularly fascinated with animal rescue narratives. Well, it turns out this love is perennial and there is a whole new wave of charming books about rescuing animals of all shapes and sizes to inspire and comfort young animal lovers. Here are a few of my recent favourites…
Polly Pecorino: The Girl Who Rescues Animals by Emma Chichester Clark
Polly Pecorino rescues animals, and she…
Mark's Say: October, 2021
Twenty years ago, there were well over 15 bookshops in Melbourne’s CBD. They included iconic names such as The Technical Bookshop, McGill’s, Angus and Robertson, Collins, Reader’s Feast and The Little Bookroom. Of those bookshops only a few remain, such as The Paperback, Dymocks Melbourne and The Hill of Content. The ones that disappeared were likely victims to a combination of rising rents and falling sales, as online shopping began to erode their business.
Despite this, I’d always thought that…
Our children's and YA top 10 bestsellers of the week
Dark Rise by C.S. Pacat
The Song of Lewis Carmichael by Sofie Laguna
Wandi by Favel Parrett
It’s Not You, It’s Me by Gabrielle Williams
Bluey: Giant Activity Pad by Bluey
The Curiosities by Zana Fraillon
Big Dog, Little Dog by Sally Rippin
The Tiny Explorers by Kat Macleod
Seasons in the City by Megan McKean
Squirrel Do Bad by Stephen Pastis
Rocketing to the number one spot this week is the brand new debut YA novel by bestselling fantasy…
Our top 10 bestsellers of the week
Ottolenghi Test Kitchen: Shelf Love by Yotam Ottolenghi & Noor Murad
Wild Abandon by Emily Bitto
Beautiful World Where Are You (Special Edition) by Sally Rooney
Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty
Everything I Love to Cook by Neil Perry
The Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman
Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead
Beautiful World Where Are You Sally Rooney
The Luminous Solution by Charlotte Wood
Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr
Our best-seller from the past week is the…
Celebrate 10 years of Stella
Dreams of the Stella Prize emerged in early 2011 out of a panel held at Readings on International Women’s Day. Now in its tenth year, the Stella Prize has become an indispensable part of Australia’s literary culture, driving book sales, sparking book clubs, and championing the careers of women and non-binary writers.
To celebrate, we’re offering 20% off each past winner of the Stella. We’re also hosting an event to discuss all things Stella on Thursday 7 October. Find out…
Our favourite reads of 2021 so far
We asked staff to let us know which book stands out as exceptional amongst everything they’ve read so far this year. Below are the books they’ve loved the most and you can browse our more extensive collection of favourites here.
Nightbitch by Rachel Yoder
I haven’t yet stopped thinking about Nightbitch by Rachel Yoder. Its dry humour and refreshing weirdness was just what I needed.
— Alison Huber, head book buyer
Wild Abandon by Emily Bitto
Happily for me…
Great graphic novels for middle schoolers
Graphic novels are such a fantastic way for young people to explore complex emotional themes while developing their visual literacy. They’re a wonderful option for voracious and reluctant readers alike who are not quite ready for young adult fiction, but are already pushing away from more junior stories. These graphic novels offer more relatable plots and themes for those 10+ who are beginning to search for greater complexity in their stories.
The Okay Witch and the Hungry Shadow by Emma…
What we're reading: Birch, Marillier & Bitto
Each week we bring you a sample of the books we’re reading, the films we’re watching, the television shows we’re hooked on, or the music we’re loving.
Tye Cattanach is reading Dark as Last Night by Tony Birch
If you wanted to start a fight with me, one of the surest ways would be to try to convince me Tony Birch is not one of the FINEST storytellers in this country. Because, to sound kinda ‘90s right now. HE SO…
New Australian Fiction shortlist spotlight: Lucky's by Andrew Pippos
Lucky’s is one of the six books shortlisted for this year’s Readings New Australian Fiction Prize. This multi-storyline family saga brims with hope and tragedy as it follows the trajectory of a man named Lucky: his failed restaurant chain, his estranged loved ones, and how he plans to win them back.
Our 2021 judges said of ‘Andrew Pippos brings these characters to life in a way few first-time authors could and has created a charming, familiar delight of a novel…
Best truck books for toddlers
Toddlers and trucks just seem to go together like cheese and tomato, chocolate and ice cream. Playing in the sandpit, driving your truck around the house, vroom vroom, what could be better?
Here are some of our all-time favourite truck books to keep that truck love going strong.
Trucks by Maria Brzozowska
A fun, visual miscellany for younger children who love anything related to cars and wheels!
Each double-page spread features a different group of fascinating vehicles to pore over…
Our top 10 bestsellers of the week
Beautiful World Where Are You (Special Edition) by Sally Rooney
Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty
Beautiful World Where Are You Sally Rooney
The Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman
Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead
The Inseparables by Simone de Beauvoir
The Magician by Colm Tóibín
Sweet Jimmy by Bryan Brown
Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid
The Cat Who Saved Books by Sosuke Natsukawa
The special edition hardback of Beautiful World Where Are You is our best seller…
Our children's and YA top 10 bestsellers of the week
It’s Not You, It’s Me by Gabrielle Williams
The Tiny Explorers by Kat Macleod
The Song of Lewis Carmichael by Sofie Laguna
Squirrel Do Bad by Stephen Pastis
Bluey: Giant Activity Pad by Bluey
Today’s Sun by Greg Driesse
Big Dog, Little Dog by Sally Rippin
Seasons in the City by Megan McKean
Barkly Mansion and the Weirdest Guest by Melissa Keil
Harklights by Tim Tilley
Our top seller from the past week is our YA Book of the Month…
Aurelia & Tahlia's ultimate guide to Leigh Bardugo
by Aurelia Orr & Tahlia MalojerAurelia Orr & Tahlia Malojer are members of the 2021
Welcome to the Grishaverse!
Die-hard fans know Leigh Bardugo as the queen of YA fantasy. Newcomers may know her as the creator behind the critically acclaimed Netflix show ‘Shadow and Bone’.
Whichever path led you here – maybe the phrase ‘bookstagram made me buy it’ rings true to you – read on if you have an appetite for entrancing magic, the stomach for intense heists, an appreciation for complex characters…
Readings to open new shop at Emporium Melbourne
PRESS RELEASE
Independent book retailer Readings is set to open up shop in Emporium, Melbourne by the end of 2021. It has been a tumultuous 18 months for bricks-and-mortar retail, and Readings sees this as reaffirming its commitment to books, the city of Melbourne and the publishing industry.
Mark Rubbo, managing director at Readings, is excited by the project: ‘There is some risk of course as we are banking on the city coming back to life, but we see this…
New Australian Fiction shortlist spotlight: Echolalia by Briohny Doyle
Echolalia is one of the six books shortlisted for this year’s Readings New Australian Fiction Prize. This moving, unflinching novel tells the story of a mother who must go on living after one moment of irretrievable darkness changes everything.
Our 2021 judges describe Doyle’s work as ‘heartbreaking from the very beginning, this beautiful, nightmarish, fearless story grips you and will not let you go’. Staff reviewer, Bec Kavanagh, also says of the novel: ‘ Echolalia is written like a compelling…
A spotlight on translated fiction this month
If you’re looking to read more works in translation this month, here’s five new works of fiction to bring you stories from around the world.
The Woman in the Purple Skirt by Natsuko Imamura (translated by Lucy North)
The Woman in the Purple Skirt seems to live in a world of her own. She appears to glide through crowded streets without acknowledging any reaction her presence elicits. Each afternoon, she sits on the same park bench, eating a pastry and…
Recommended novels centring family sagas
There’s something particularly captivating about multi-generational family sagas, those masterful works that seem to effortlessly trace the ties that bind over decades and sometimes even centuries. These novels invite an intense emotional investment; the ensuing intimacy imbues these stories with incredible staying power. Through accounts of often absorbing detail, they remind us that history is always personal.
Below are ten moving family sagas and you can browse our full collection for even more stories following the fate of families across…
What we're reading: Andrada & de Beauvoir
Each week we bring you a sample of the books we’re reading, the films we’re watching, the television shows we’re hooked on, or the music we’re loving.
Angela Crocombe is reading The Inseparables by Simone de Beauvoir and That Weekend by Kara Thomas
I enjoyed Simone de Beauvoir’s The Inseparables this week. Based on de Beauvoir’s formative childhood friendship with a charismatic, highly religious young woman, it was a beautiful treatise on youthful female friendship. Written with great intensity, admiration…
The best new crime reads in September
Our crime specialist shares 10 great crime reads to look out for this month.
CRIME BOOK OF THE MONTH
I Shot the Devil by Ruth McIver
Ruth McIver’s manuscript of I Shot the Devil won Australia’s Richell Prize for Emerging Writers a few years ago, and on reading the published book, you can see why: this America-set crime novel is riveting from start to end.
Erin Sloane is a journalist who sometimes writes longform crime pieces for Long Island outlet…
New indestructible books for babies
It’s important to introduce books to babies from birth to stimulate learning. They will soon get into the routine of handling books and even learn to turn the pages from a young age. But there’s no doubt they will also chew, slobber, and maybe even throw them, so its good to have books that are washable, safe and sturdy.
Here are a few of our favourite recent, non-toxic, extremely durable baby books.
Today’s Sun by Gregg Dreise
Raise a reader…
Our top 10 bestsellers of the week
Beautiful World Where Are You (Special Edition) by Sally Rooney
Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty
The Magician by Colm Tóibín
The Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman
Beautiful World Where Are You Sally Rooney
The Inseparables by Simone de Beauvoir
Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead
The Great Forest by David Lindenmayer
In Moonland by Miles Allinson
Quarterly Essay 83: Top Blokes by Lech Blaine
The special edition hardback of Beautiful World Where Are You is our best seller…
Our children's and YA top 10 bestsellers of the week
The Song of Lewis Carmichael by Sofie Laguna
It’s Not You, It’s Me by Gabrielle Williams
The Tiny Explorers by Kat Macleod
Let’s Eat Weeds by Annie Raser-Rowland and Adam Grubb
Barkly Mansion and the Weirdest Guest by Melissa Keil
Weird School by Damian Callinan
Bluey: Giant Activity Pad by Bluey
Where are You, Magoo? by Briony Stewart
Big Dog, Little Dog by Sally Rippin
They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera
Our top seller from the past…
New Australian Fiction shortlist spotlight: She is Haunted by Paige Clarke
She is Haunted is one of the six books shortlisted for this year’s Readings New Australian Fiction Prize. This debut collection of short stories is full of wit, humour, and moving moments of empathy and connection.
Our 2021 judges described Clarke’s short stories as a, ‘cohesive and tantalisingly interlinked collection’. Staff reviewer, Stella Charls, also said of the collection: ‘The 18 stories in this collection gently blend the surreal with the all-too-real. Clark’s protagonists are almost all women: witty, raging…
Extract from Questions Raised By Quolls
This is an edited extract from Questions Raised by Quolls by Harry Saddler, out now through Affirm Press. This compelling work of local non-fiction is an eloquent examination of extinction and conservation set against the backdrop of global climate change.
One night I was walking home from Merri Creek at the end of my street in the inner north of Melbourne just after dark when, a few doors from my house, I saw something I’d never seen before: a common…
What we're reading: Yoder & Butcher-McGunnigle
Each week we bring you a sample of the books we’re reading, the films we’re watching, the television shows we’re hooked on, or the music we’re loving.
Joanna Di Mattia is reading Nightbitch by Rachel Yoder
I purchased a copy of Rachel Yoder’s debut novel Nightbitch after I was seduced by a simple 30-word blurb that managed to say a lot while not revealing much at all. Turns out, this is the only way to talk about this novel about…
Recommended children's books and news for September
This month in kids books we travel to the Arctic Circle on a hot air balloon, go on a research trip to study rare sharks, reach the final story in a much loved series, and explore a magical forest as well as the tiny, magical creatures that just might live in our own backyards.
You can find our September picks for YA books here.
KIDS BOOK OF THE MONTH
The Song of Lewis Carmichael by Sofie Laguna, illustrated by…
Recommended YA books and news for September
This month in young adult new releases we have a hilarious Freaky Friday time-slip adventure, a road trip that may be a total disaster or the beginning of an unexpected romance, an identity crisis from an elite ballet dancer, and a new fantasy series by bestselling author Brigid Kemmerer that plays with the Robin Hood trope. Our classic of the month is none other than the legendary Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy in a celebratory 42nd year anniversary edition with…
A spotlight on our books of the month, September 2021
OUR FICTION BOOK OF THE MONTH
In Moonland by Miles Allinson
In present-day Melbourne, a man attempts to piece together the mystery of his father’s apparent suicide, as his young family slowly implodes. At the ashram of Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, in 1976, a man searching for salvation must confront his capacity for violence and darkness. And in a not-too-distant future, a woman with a life-altering decision to make travels through a climate-ravaged landscape to visit her estranged father.
The 2021 Booker Prize shortlist
The shortlist for the 2021 Booker Prize has been announced! The Booker Prize has brought recognition, reward and readership to outstanding fiction for over 50 years. It is awarded annually to the best novel of the year written in English and published in the UK or Ireland.
Below are the six shortlisted titles:
A Passage North by Anuk Arudpragasam
It begins with a message: a telephone call informing Krishan that his grandmother’s former care-giver, Rani, has died in unexpected circumstances…
New Australian Fiction shortlist spotlight: New Animal by Ella Baxter
New Animal is one of the six books shortlisted for this year’s Readings New Australian Fiction Prize. The story follows young embalmer Amelia, who works at her mother’s mortuary.
Our 2021 judges described Baxter’s novel as, ‘a confident and gritty debut’ that 'takes the reader places they will never expect’. Staff reviewer, Izzy White, also said of the novel: ‘Exposed to other people’s grief, trauma and pain on a daily basis, Amelia escapes her mind and body through sex with…
Our top 10 bestsellers of the week
Beautiful World Where Are You (Special Edition) by Sally Rooney
Puff Piece by John Safran
Beautiful World Where Are You Sally Rooney
In Moonland by Miles Allinson
The Magician by Colm Tóibín
Small Joys of Real Life by Allee Richards
The Housemate by Sarah Bailey
On Freedom by Maggie Nelson
The Heron’s Cry by Ann Cleeves
Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty
With Sally Rooney’s Beautiful World Where Are You being one of the year’s most anticipated releases for many…
Winners of the 2021 Environment Award for Children's Literature
The winners for this year’s Environment Award for Children’s Literature have been announced!
Now in its 27th year, the Wilderness Society continues to help celebrate excellence in children’s nature books. The annual awards highlight the best nature-centric works in the categories of children’s fiction, children’s non-fiction and picture books. Every year the Wilderness Society shortlists the best children’s nature books, before a panel of judges crowns a winner.
Below are the 2021 category winners.
FICTION
Our children's and YA top 10 bestsellers of the week
Always by Morris Gleitzman
It’s Not You, It’s Me by Gabrielle Williams
They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera
Exit Through the Gift Shop by Maryam Master
The Song of Lewis Carmichael by Sofie Laguna
Harklights by Tim Tilley
Mim and the Baffling Bully by Katrina Nannestad
My Kind by Eddie Betts
My People by Eddie Betts
Big Dog, Little Dog by Sally Rippin
Our top seller from the past week is Always, the highly anticipated seventh…
Mark's Say: September, 2021
I always get a thrill when one of my colleagues or a friend has a book published, but at the moment, as Victoria enters its fifth week of lockdown with the prospect of it continuing indefinitely, that feeling is bittersweet.
Tony Birch is a friend and a habitué of our Carlton shop; he’s lived in Carlton for years and several present and former staff were his students when he taught creative writing at the University of Melbourne. He used to…
Dear Reader, September 2021
In the best of times, it takes a mighty collective effort to put together the Readings Monthly. Each issue is literally months in the preparation, and many of our staff members contribute to the final product. As is true for any kind of work during this time, the pressures of lockdown make this task exponentially more difficult, and so I’d just like to acknowledge the hard work of everyone involved, and single out in particular our tireless editor, Jackie Tang…
What we're reading: Trethewey, Murphy & McCrossen
Each week we bring you a sample of the books we’re reading, the films we’re watching, the television shows we’re hooked on, or the music we’re loving.
Gabrielle Williams is reading Memorial Drive by Natasha Trethewey.
I’m reading Memorial Drive by Pulitzer-Prize-winning poet Natasha Trethewey. The synergy of growing up on Memorial Drive in Mississippi, and then writing a memorial to her mother who was murdered by her stepfather, isn’t missed by Trethewey. Firmly placing us on the streets she…
Susanna Clarke wins the Women’s Prize for Fiction 2021
Susanna Clarke has won the 2021 Women’s Prize for Fiction for Piranesi, a highly original and haunting work that transcends genres.
This elegantly crafted novel about a man who lives in a fantastical House is both an exploration of the meaning behind language, and a timely study of solitude and isolation.
Bernardine Evaristo, Chair of the judging panel, commented: ‘With her first novel in seventeen years, Susanna Clarke has given us a truly original, unexpected flight of fancy which…
The Wainwright Prize 2021
The winners of the much-loved Wainwright Prize for UK Nature Writing and for Global Conservation Writing have been announced!
Now in its eight year, The Wainwright Prize for UK Nature Writing is awarded annually to the book which most successfully inspires readers to explore the outdoors and to nurture a respect for the natural world. In 2020, the prize was extended to include a second category for books about global conservation and climate change.
2021 winner of the Wainwright Prize…
On Events in September, with Chris Gordon
Over the last few weeks, I’ve been fortunate enough to read an early copy of Delia Falconer’s collection of essays, Signs and Wonders. The book explores how it feels to live as a reader, a writer, a lover of nature and a mother of small children in an era of profound ecological change. It is brilliant and we are lucky to have an online event with Falconer on Monday 4 October. One of the themes of the collection is…
Our top 10 bestsellers of the week
In Moonland by Miles Allinson
Beautiful World Where Are You (Special Edition) by Sally Rooney
Small Joys of Real Life by Allee Richards
Puff Piece by John Safran
Beautiful World Where Are You Sally Rooney
Dear Son edited by Thomas Mayor
The Yes Woman by Grace Jennings-Edquist
The Secrets of Women’s Healthy Ageing by Cassandra Szoeke
The Magician by Colm Tóibín
The Great Forest by David Lindenmayer, with photographs by Chris Taylor, Sarah Rees, and Steve Kuiter
Our best-seller from…
Our children's and YA top 10 bestsellers of the week
Harklights by Tim Tilley
Always by Morris Gleitzman
Where’s Bluey? A Search-and-Find Book by Bluey
Can You Dance? by Sally Morgan
My Kind by Eddie Betts
It’s Not You, It’s Me by Gabrielle Williams
My People by Eddie Betts
The End of the World is Bigger than Love by Davina Bell
My Dad by Susan Quinn
Bluey: My Dad is Awesome by Bluey and Bingo
Our top seller from the past week is Harklights by Tim Tilley, a great middle…
MWF Digital 2021
The global pandemic has created unique challenges for literary festivals seeking to meaningfully connect authors with readers. Thankfully, the brilliant minds that put together Melbourne Writers Festival have created the MWF21 Digital series for us to enjoy – even while we’re unable to come together in person.
MWF Digital allows you access to exclusive streams from some of the globe’s biggest names. Hear Pulitzer-Prize winning Jhumpa Lahiri discuss her latest novel Whereabouts and perhaps follow it up with Rachel Cusk…
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