This month we’re reading novels translated from Dutch, Italian, Bulgarian and Catalan. Grand Hotel Europa by Ilja Leonard Pfeijffer (translated from Dutch by Michele Hutchison)

A writer takes residence in the illustrious but decaying Grand Hotel Europa, to think about where things went wrong with Clio, with whom he fell in love in Genoa and moved to Venice. He reconstructs a compelling …

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Alison Lester is a legend of Australian children’s literature and her books have been loved by millions of children and adults over many years. A play of her beloved classic Magic Beach is being performed at Melbourne Arts Centre from May 19-22 and we caught up with Alison on the cusp of this production. Magic Beach was published over 30 years ago, but it is still one of your most popular book…

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The television adaptation of the Heartstopper series by Alice Oseman hit Netflix and I have already binged the entire season! Here are seven graphic novels I think would make great screen adaptions:

The Okay Witch by Emma Steinkellner

Move over Sabrina, there’s a new witch in town. This adorable graphic novel would make an even more adorable television series. Not only is it lots of fun, it…

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The Nutmeg Trail: A Culinary Journey along the Ancient Spice Routes by Eleanor Ford

The one and only Yotam Ottolenghi said publicly that Eleanor Ford is a gastronomic archaeologist and I realised with one quick shiver of delight that surely that is the job of great dreams. Ford’s latest book, The Nutmeg Trail: A Culinary Journey along the Ancient Spice Routes is filled with recipes and stories…

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OUR FICTION BOOK OF THE MONTH Sunbathing by Isobel Beech

Reviewed by Joe Rubbo, operations manager

Sunbathing is the stunning debut novel from Melbourne writer Isobel Beech. It follows the story of a young woman who is invited to stay with her friends Giulia and Fab at Fab’s family home in Abruzzo, in the month prior to their wedding. The village is an oasis, untouched by tourism. The narr…

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All the Little Tricky Things by Karys McEwen

How to Tackle Your Dreams by Fiona Hardy

Heartstopper: Volume 1 by Alice Oseman

World’s Worst Pets by David Walliams

Bad Guys 15: Open Up and Say Arrrgh! by Aaron Blabey

Real Pigeons Duck Trouble by Andrew McDonald & Ben Wood

The Way of Dog by Zana Fraillon

Heartstopper 1: Netflix Tie-in edition by Alice Oseman

Cat Kid Comic Club 3: On Purpose by Dav …

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Bedtime Story by Chloe Hooper

Dropbear by Evelyn Araluen

Yiayia Next Door by Daniel Mancuso and Luke Mancuso

The Murder Rule by Dervla McTiernan

Sunbathing by Isobel Beech

Young Mungo by Douglas Stuart

Wake by Shelley Burr

Then There Was Her by Sophie Cachia

The Palace Papers by Tina Brown

Abomination by Ashley Goldberg.

Our best-seller from the past week is part memoir, part manual from the …

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Our crime specialist shares 11 great crime reads to look out for this month. CRIME BOOK OF THE MONTH Wake by Shelley Burr

It has been nearly 20 years since Evelyn McCreery went missing. She went to sleep one night, in the bed next to her twin sister Mina’s; the next morning she was gone, her bed neatly made, no fingerprints on the windowsill, the only tyre tracks around their desolate fa…

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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. Chris Gordon is reading Love Marriage by Monica Ali

I’m reading the excellent Love Marriage by bestselling and all-round literary rock star Monica Ali. (I fell in love with her work with one of her first novels, Brick Lane.)

If the book was …

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Akuch Kuol Anyieth’s Unknown is a remarkable memoir. It’s a homage to the strength of her mother in protecting her family against all the odds, a story of sadness, anger, humour, determination, survival and love.

In January 2006, Mathew and Mama took Gai and me to enrol at Western English Language School on South Road in Braybrook.

When we arrived, we waited in front of a little glass booth w…

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