The start of a new month means that there's a new issue of Readings Monthly available online and in our shops. Below you can read the foreword from the latest issue – and keep an eye on the blog for more updates and recommended new releases throughout the month!
At Readings we’re very excited to launch our second year of A Day in Carlton. It has grown significantly in size and ambition. Once again, it is based solely in Carlton, within walking distance of Readings Carlton, but this year we have expanded our footprint to include four new venues – La Mama, the Carlton Courthouse, the University of Melbourne and CO.AS.IT. The number of events has more than tripled from last year, going from 8 to over 30. We have around 70 authors participating throughout the festival, including Trent Dalton, Sofie Laguna, Maxine Beneba Clarke, Don Watson, Barry Jones, Jessica Au and many more.
There are kids’ events, walking tours and even a cheesemaking workshop with the author of Burrata (and owner of That’s Amore) Giorgio Linguanti. We will also be announcing The Readings Prize winners in a special ceremony at La Mama and all are welcome to come and toast their achievements. I could keep going on, but I recommend you delve into the program here. Events are already starting to fill up, so I suggest booking your tickets with haste.
I wish I could take the credit for this extravaganza, but A Day in Carlton is the handiwork of our community engagement and programming manager Christine Gordon and Readings chairman Mark Rubbo. They’re the ones vaulting through the Readings Carlton door on the front cover of this Readings Monthly.
Earlier this year we opened a Readings shop in the new Market Pavilion precinct in Chadstone Shopping Centre. A key feature of the shop is an enormous lantern that runs down its length. Designed by Kerstin Thompson Architects and artist Ed Linacre, the lantern is constructed with recycled books. It has just been shortlisted in both the Design Anthology and the Australian Design Review Awards. We’re very lucky to have such a beautiful piece gracing our shop and for anyone interested in design and sustainability it is well worth a look.
