Our latest blog posts

Our top 10 bestsellers of the week

Live Lead Learn by Gail Kelly

The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood (including sales of other editions)

Back to Broady by Caroline van de Pol

The Barefoot Investor by Scott Pape

Halliday Wine Companion 2018 by James Halliday

Watching Out by Julian Burnside

The New Puberty by Amanda Dunn

Every Lie I’ve Ever Told by Rosie Waterland

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson

Taboo by Kim Scott

Gail Kelly sits at the top of our…

Read more ›

The winners of the Environment Award for Children’s Literature 2017

The winners of this year’s Environment Award for Children’s Literature were announced over the weekend. This annual Award is organised by the Wilderness Society and encourages children to take an interest in nature and feel a sense of responsibility for the places we love and our unique wildlife.

Here are the winners for all three categories…

Non-fiction

Chooks in Dinner Suits by Diane Jackson Hill and Craig Smith

Chooks in Dinner Suits is the warmly funny account of one man’s…

Read more ›

Our children's and YA top 10 bestsellers of the week

The 91-Storey Treehouse by Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton

Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls by Elena Favilli and Francesca Cavallo

The Bone Sparrow by Zana Fraillon

Wonder by R.J. Palacio

Lion (Young Readers’ Edition) by Saroo Brierley

The Wayward Witch and the Feelings Monster (Polly and Buster Book 1) by Sally Rippin

A Most Magical Girl by Karen Foxlee

The 13-Storey Treehouse by Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton

The Treehouse Fun Book 2 by Andy Griffiths, Jill Griffiths…

Read more ›

Ned Kelly Awards shortlists 2017

The Australian Crime Writers Association has announced the 2017 shortlists for the Ned Kelly Awards for the best in Australian crime writing.

Here are the shortlists in each category:

Best Fiction

Crimson Lake by Candice Fox

The Golden Child by Wendy James

An Isolated Incident by Emily Maguire

Police at the Station and They Don’t Look Friendly by Adrian McKinty

The Rules of Backyard Cricket by Jock Serong

Out of the Ice by Ann Turner

Best first fiction

Burn Patterns

Read more ›

What we're reading: Jennifer Down, Ben Aaronovitch & Les Twentyman

Each week we bring you a sample of the books we’re reading, the films and TV shows we’re watching, and the music we’re listening to.

Jo Case is reading The Mouth that Roared by Les Twentyman with Robert Hillman

I initially picked up a copy of Les Twentyman’s memoir, written with award-winning author Robert Hillman, because it was on my desk. But I’m now carrying it around because it’s so compelling, charismatic and full of rough-hewn heart.

Les is that…

Read more ›

Our top picks of the month for book clubs

For a provocative discussion…

Vengeance is Mine, All Others Pay Cash by Eka Kurniawan (translated by Annie Tucker)

Eka Kurniawan’s English-language debut, Beauty Is a Wound, was released to much acclaim in 2015, introducing the Indonesian writer to a whole new audience. Told in short, cinematic bursts, his follow-up is gloriously pulpy as it continues to explore familiar themes of female agency in a violent and corrupt male world. Kurniawan is not for the faint-hearted, but his gritty, comic…

Read more ›

Five new books that challenge the status quo

The following five books all challenge certain accepted truths. Angela Saini and Carina Chocano dig into questions of gender identity, Indigenous editor Shireen Morris shows us to think more deeply about constitutional recognition, Julian Burnside demystifies legal principles being thrown around in today’s politics, and Tim Flannery makes a case for us to not lose hope over climate change.

Inferior by Angela Saini

For centuries science has told us that men and women are fundamentally different. But this is not…

Read more ›

10 pawsome picture books about dogs

by Leanne Hall

Dogs make truly excellent characters in picture books, due to their superior handsomeness, poor impulse control, waggy tails and co-dependency. Here are our favourite picture books for canine appreciators.

(Do you also love cats? Find 10 meownificent picture books about cats here.)

Poor Louie by Tony Fucile

Anxious chihuahua Louie finds himself losing attention and space to the growing tribe of human babies being produced by family friends. When his own owners start tending to their own bump, and…

Read more ›

10 meownificent picture books about cats

by Leanne Hall

Cats make truly excellent characters in picture books, due to their natural charisma, sinuous curves, acrobatic moves and unique life outlook. Here are our favourite picture books for feline admirers.

(Do you also love dogs? Find 10 pawsome picture books about dogs here.)

Blue Ethel by Jennifer Black Reinhardt

Ethel the cat is initially embarrassed when she accidentally dyes her fur a different colour, but she soon finds another colourful cat friend and embraces the joys of being different…

Read more ›

Indigenous Australian voices & stories to read this month

We’re pleased to have a host of books exploring Indigenous culture and perspectives out this month – including compelling fiction from two award-winning authors, a revitalising collection of essays from Indigenous voices, and a vibrant board book from a first-time children’s author.

Common People by Tony Birch

Tony Birch is a much-loved author here at Readings, and so we’re delighted to have a brand-new collection of stories to delve into this month. These remarkable and surprising stories explore the lives…

Read more ›