Our latest blog posts
Lessons learned from fictional mothers
This Mother’s Day, our staff reflect on some of the most important lessons they’ve learned from fictional mothers – in books, TV, films, and more.
‘In the world of fictional mothers, Lorelei Gilmore has taught me to embrace pop culture at every opportunity, Emily Gilmore showed me to take no shit from anyone, Tami Taylor demonstrated how to have a successful marriage (nine parts love and kindness, one part great hair), Ellen Ripley was the ultimate maternal badass, Molly Weasley…
What we're reading: Alice Munro, Bill Hayes & Sophie Hénaff
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.
Bronte Coates is reading The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
After deciding to read something ‘topical’ for our next meeting, my book club picked The Handmaid’s Tale. With a buzzing new series currently streaming, and seemingly endless think pieces on this book’s relevance to today’s politics, it seemed am obvious choice. I fell in…
What we're planning to see at Emerging Writers' Festival 2017
This year’s program for the Emerging Writers’ Festival has been announced. Here, our staff share their top picks.
Leanne Hall recommends…
I’m very excited that there’s going to be a focus on writing young adult fiction with the Masterclass: YA event at the Wheeler Centre. There’ll be panels, workshops and conversations with a wide range of YA authors, editors, booksellers and academics – essential for anyone who has a passion for youth literature. Decolonial Narratives and the Diaspora (in the…
Recommended new kids' books in May
This month, we celebrate our Readings Children’s Book Prize winner, as well as dogs and mums, and new books from Aaron Blabey, Jen Storer and Ailsa Wild.
(Find our best recommendations for teen books this month here.)
READINGS CHILDREN’S BOOK PRIZE
Congratulations to Karen Foxlee for winning the Readings Children’s Book Prize with her wonderful fantasy adventure book, A Most Magical Girl. Our judges were mightily impressed with this novel for readers of 9-12. Chair of judges and…
Recommended new YA books in May
In May we celebrate Australian young adult writing with a new anthology full of our favourite authors, eagerly read Patrick Ness’s latest novel and immerse ourselves in alternate worlds where tattoos and magic prevail.
(Find our best recommendations for kids’ books this month here.)
LOVEOZYA PICKS
It’s all-Australian and all-amazing – the Begin, End, Begin: A #Loveozya Anthology brings together some of our best YA authors to exercise their short story writing muscles. Edited by agent-at-large, blogger, editor, writer…
Staff music picks, free events & pre-order new Radiohead
PRE-ORDER OKNOTOK 1997-2017
Radiohead’s landmark album, OK Computer, is set to be rereleased in a special 20th anniversary pack on Friday 23 June, and our music and DVD manager Dave Clarke is extremely excited.
He writes: ‘The year is 1997. I have just turned 29, I am obsessed with something called Saturn Return’s, and with an album by English alternative rock group Radiohead. That album is OK Computer, and it became my constant companion while considering major life…
Three classical albums we're loving in May
by the Grigoryan Brothers
If you say the words ‘Grigoryan brothers’ to most classical music fans, they’ll smile and nod knowingly. Renowned for their musicianship since they were teenagers, they’ve released five albums together: pretty much all of them have been nominated for awards. They’re played all the time on ABC Classic FM, and in people’s homes around the world. Slava Grigoryan’s most recent album featured beautiful arrangements of the Bach Cello Suites that I still listen…
Our children's and YA top ten bestsellers of the week
A Most Magical Girl by Karen Foxlee
Begin, End, Begin (A #LoveOzYA Anthology) edited by Danielle Binks
The Bad Guys Episode 5: Intergalactic Gas by Aaron Blabey
A Court of Wings and Ruin (A Court of Thrones and Roses Book 3) by Sarah J. Maas
The Dark Prophecy (The Trials of Apollo Book 2) by Rick Riordan
Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls by Elena Favilli and Francesca Cavallo
Release by Patrick Ness
Our top ten bestsellers of the week
Fighting Hislam by Susan Carland
Work Strife Balance by Mia Freedman
Into the Water by Paula Hawkins
Depends What You Mean by Extremist by John Safran
The Museum of Modern Love by Heather Rose
The Australian Bird Guide by various
House of Names by Colm Tóibín
Anything is Possible by Elizabeth Strout
The Dry by Jane Harper
The Pleasures of Leisure by Robert Dessaix
Last week’s bestselling books include three new non-fiction reads from well-known figures in the Australian media…
What we're reading: Lil Wayne, Shaun Considine & Hera Lindsay Bird
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.
Mark Rubbo is reading Spoils by Brian Van Reet
Set in Iraq in 2003 just after the US invasion, Spoils is a moving and complex novel that examines the illogicality of war and allegiances. Van Reet is a veteran of the Iraq war, so brings a special perspective to this complex story. His writing is…
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