Our latest blog posts

An interview with a teen reader

by Ewen Cusworth

Over the next few weeks we’re participating in a work experience program with students from high schools across Melbourne. Today, Ewen Cusworth from Fitzroy High tells us about his favourite book covers, being a judge for the Inky Awards, and more.

How would you describe your taste in books?

I enjoy reading mostly fiction so stuff like romance, fantasy, sci-fi – with the exception of books on writing such as A Brief History of The Hobbit.

Tell us about…

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We're looking for teenagers to join our Teen Advisory Board

Readings is looking for suitable candidates to join our new Teen Advisory Board.

What is it?

The Readings Teen Advisory Board is a volunteer group that will meet once a month to chat about recent and forthcoming young adult books, write blog posts and short reviews, learn about careers in the book industry, provide feedback to Readings staff members on a range of subjects and have fun!

Who are we looking for?

Teens aged 15-19 with diverse interests and opinions

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The Carnegie & Kate Greenaway Medals winners 2017

The winners of the 2017 CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medals have been announced, and we’re thrilled to see Melbourne author Zana Fraillon listed among the recipients!

The Carnegie Medal is awarded by children’s librarians for an outstanding book written in English for children and young people. The Kate Greenaway Medal is awarded by children’s librarians for an outstanding book in terms of illustration for children and young people. As of 2017, all shortlisted titles are also now eligible for…

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Athina Clarke wins the 2017 ABA Elizabeth Riley Fellowship

We’re so proud of Athina Clarke, our Malvern children’s and young adult book buyer, who has been named the recipient of the 2017 ABA Elizabeth Riley Fellowship for Children’s Bookselling. Congratulations Athina!

Athina has worked at our Malvern shop for five years. She was also the children’s and young adult book buyer at our Port Melbourne shop from 2002 to 2008, and then worked at Penguin Books for some years. During her time at Readings, she has been involved in…

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Our top ten bestsellers of the week

The Ministry of Utmost Happiness by Arundhati Roy

The Clever Guts Diet by Michael Mosley

Hunger by Roxane Gay

The Long Goodbye (Quarterly Essay 66) by Anna Krien

No is Not Enough by Naomi Klein

Open House Melbourne Weekend: 2017 Program by Open House Melbourne (available 23 June)

The Barefoot Investor by Scott Pape

Talking to My Country by Stan Grant

Broken by Emma White

Men Without Women by Haruki Murakami (translated by Philip Gabriel and Ted Goossen)

We’ve…

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Miles Franklin Literary Award shortlist 2017

Congratulations to the authors shortlisted for this year’s Miles Franklin Literary Award!

Here are the five shortlisted books:

An Isolated Incident by Emily Maguire

The Last Days of Ava Langdon by Mark O’Flynn

Their Brilliant Careers by Ryan O’Neill

Waiting by Philip Salom

Extinctions by Josephine Wilson

Speaking on behalf of the judging panel, State Library of NSW Mitchell Librarian, Richard Neville, said: “None of these novels draws on familiar tropes of Australian literature yet each brings a distinctive pitch…

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What we're reading: Yanis Varoufakis, Heather Rose & Naomi Alderman

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.

Angela Crocombe is reading The Museum of Modern Love by Heather Rose

Earlier this week my book club met to discuss The Museum of Modern Love. I had no expectations going in – I only knew that it had won the Stella Prize, and that I had to read it very quickly. And it…

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Australian books to get excited about in the second half of 2017

Here’s a preview of some of the most exciting local releases for the second half of 2017!

FICTION

Deeper Than the Sea by Nelika McDonald (July)

Pulse Points by Jennifer Down (August)

Taboo by Kim Scott (August)

A New England Affair by Steven Carroll (August)

Colombiano by Rusty Young (August)

Whipbird by Robert Drewe (August)

On the Java Ridge by Jock Serong (August)

The Lone Child by Anna George (August)

City of Crows by Chris Womersley (September)

The Choke by…

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A Horse Walks Into a Bar wins the 2017 Man Booker International Prize

A Horse Walks Into a Bar has been selected the winner of this year’s Man Booker International Prize. Israeli author David Grossman and English-language translator Jessica Cohen will share equally in the £50,000 prize.

Grossman’s winning novel is set around a standup comic’s rambling and confessional routine in an Israeli comedy club. Dovaleh Greenstein opens his performance with crude and painful jokes intended to offend his audience, and then slowly disintegrates as he reveals an event from his past that…

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