What We're Reading

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.


Emily is reading The Philanthropist by John Tesarsch


The Philanthropist

by John Tesarsch, which Sleepers published in 2010, about a wealthy Melbourne tycoon who is haunted by his past and rapidly running out of things to live for. As bleak as that sounds, the reader is in safe hands as Tesarsch delivers an elegant, truthful story about the end of a man’s life. It was a case of love-at-first-page for me.

Tesarsch writes with quiet assurance and bravely presents a largely unlikeable main character who makes error after error, is up to his neck in self-pity and despite many chances, fails to redeem himself, but is all the more human, and somehow sympathetic, because of this. I couldn’t help feeling fond of him and I’m looking forward to what Tesarsch writes next.

Back to the day job, and I’ve just reached a mid-way twist in the new Patrick Ness novel for YA readers, More Than This, after a beautifully written and poignant first half. I have no idea where this book is going, but I have a feeling that Ness is going to keep on breaking my heart.


Bronte is reading Super Natural Every Day by Heidi Swanson


Over the past few months, I’ve been living with a weekly challenge to test out a new recipe and blogger Heidi Swanson’s

Super Natural Every Day

has been a great resource for hunting down meals to prepare.

The cookbook is divided into sections – breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, treats and drinks – which I enjoy as it’s great to get idea for a bunch of different meals. I also really liked the way each recipe includes alternatives and substitutions, suggesting further experimentation. It’s so easy to fall into a routine with cooking and Swanson has a knack for encouraging me to try new things on old recipes. I love her version of ‘Green Lentil Soup’ (a recipe you can find online here) which is very different to the kind of lentil soup I was making already.

This past week my housemate made granola based on a recipe in here (she substituted coconut butter for unsalted butter and golden syrup for maple syrup) and it was outstanding. I absolutely recommend you try it out.


Nina is reading Sisterland by Curtis Sittenfeld


Readings staff member Annie posted in our

What We’re Reading column a few weeks ago

to say that she was reading Curtis Sittenfeld’s latest novel

Sisterland

. Despite being a big fan of Curtis Sittenfeld, Annie noted she had ‘left the book on the shelf until a friend convinced me to push ahead.’

This resonated with me, as I had done exactly the same thing. I was lucky enough to meet Sittenfeld on a recent trip to New York, and I got a signed copy of Sisterland. And yet, I left the book sitting unread on my shelf for months, because the blurb (and, to be brutally honest, the cover) just didn’t appeal to me. Mostly, I was worried about being disappointed by an author I loved – and Sisterland, with its supernatural element of psychic twins, sounded like a slight departure for Sittenfeld and one that could go wrong.

Inspired by Annie’s comments, I picked up the book and started reading. I’m a little over halfway through the novel now and I’m pleased to say my fears were entirely unfounded (the lesson here – trust in your favourite authors!). Sittenfeld is as astute, intelligent and entertaining as ever and her exploration of family relationships, motherhood, insecurities and loyalty is utterly engaging. I’m looking forward to finishing the novel this weekend (and have it distract me from any unwanted election results).