Our latest blog posts
Benjamin Myers wins the Goldsmiths Prize 2023
Benjamin Myers is the winner of this year's Goldsmiths Prize for his novel Cuddy. Established in 2013, The Goldsmiths Prize celebrates the qualities of creative daring and rewards fiction that breaks the mould or extends the possibilities of the novel form.
On winning the prize, Benjamin Myers said: 'It’s a big surprise to win the Goldsmiths Prize. I genuinely didn’t think it was going to be given to my book. It probably sounds a bit ingenuous or a little…
What the residents of Sunnydale are reading
Growing up I was only allowed half an hour of TV a day, which at the time felt like deprivation. It did however force me to choose my shows very carefully, and to be honest I am not sure how I managed to watch Buffy the Vampire Slayer, which from memory was at an ungodly hour, but I did. And let me tell you, I loved it.
My fascination with vampires was originally sparked by the film adaptation of Anne…
Our October 2023 children's and young adult bestsellers
Songlines: First Knowledges for Younger Readers by Margo Neale, Lynne Kelly & Blak Douglas (illus.)
Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan
The 169-Storey Treehouse by Andy Griffiths & Terry Denton (illus.)
No Brainer (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 18) by Jeff Kinney
Write Fight Flee! by 100 Story Building
Artichoke to Zucchini by Alice Oehr
Look Who’s Talking (the Bad Guys: Episode 18) by Aaron Blabey
Our books of the month, November 2023
Explore our books of the month for November; each of the below titles has been read and recommended by our booksellers before being selected as our book of the month for its category.
FICTION BOOK OF THE MONTH
Women & Children by Tony Birch
Reviewed by Ruby Grinter, Readings Carlton
'Tony Birch crafts a story that perfectly encapsulates the innocence of childhood, and the creeping recognition of how the world ignores the voices of women and girls.'Lovely, mischievous…
Our October 2023 bestsellers
Killing for Country: A Family Story by David Marr
Lola in the Mirror by Trent Dalton
Philoxenia: A Seat at My Table by Kon & Sia Karapanagiotidis
Edenglassie by Melissa Lucashenko
Stone Yard Devotional by Charlotte Wood
Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi & Geoffrey Trousselot (trans.)
Unfinished Woman by Robyn Davidson
Unruly by David Mitchell
The Seven by Chris Hammer
Wifedom: Mrs Orwell's Invisible Life by Anna Funder
Thoughtful picture books for tough days
These recently published picture books are just the thing for when days don't go to plan.
Woo Hoo! You’re Doing Great! by Sandra Boynton
Whether you are learning to skate, baking a cake, or even making a mistake, this hilarious and heartfelt rhyming book reminds us that trying our best is reason to celebrate. From children trying to master new skills to adults who had a hard week at work, we all get overwhelmed sometimes and need reassurance. And who…
A spotlight on translated fiction this month
This month we're reading fiction translated from Korean, French, German, Portuguese & Albanian.
Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop by Hwang Bo-reum (translated from Korean by Shanna Tan)
Yeongju did everything she was supposed to, go to university, marry a decent man, get a respectable job. Then it all fell apart. Burned out, Yeongju abandons her old life, quits her high-flying career, and follows her dream. She opens a bookshop.
In a quaint neighbourhood in Seoul, surrounded by books, Yeongju and…
News from the Readings x Ubud Writers and Readers Festival trip
Recently our own Mark Rubbo and Chris Gordon accompanied a group of Melbourne readers to the Ubud Writers & Readers Festival.
First, and most importantly Mark Rubbo and I were delighted to welcome new friends to the tour. What a joy to meet in a tropical (read: very hot) environment with people that love to talk, share, drink (gin and tonics being firm favourite bevvy of choice) and read! Our type of people.
On the first night of the tour…
A recipe from Rumi by Joseph Abboud
Rumi is a wonderful collection of over 60 recipes from chef and restaurant owner Joseph Abboud. Below, we're pleased to share a recipe from this heartfelt – and delicous – collection of recipes.
Freekeh, feta and pomegranate salad
Freekeh is wheat, picked green (young) and then toasted or smoked. It comes from the Arabic word farik, which refers to the rubbing of the grains to remove their husks. It’s highly nutritious and it seems the more you eat, the better…
The Gab Williams Prize inaugural winner
The Gab Williams Prize seeks to acknowledge the contribution of young adult author and immediate past manager of The Readings Prize, Gabrielle Williams, who passed away early in 2023.
Unlike the other prize winners, which are chosen by panels of Readings booksellers this prize has been chosen by teens themselves, all aged between 14 to 18, and all participants in The Readings Teen Advisory Board. The board read the shortlist for The Readings Young Adult Prize and came together to…
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