Our latest blog posts

What we're reading: Alejandro Zambra, Naomi Alderman and Veronica Roth

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.

Lian Hingee is reading The Power by Naomi Alderman

Margaret Atwood’s endorsement (‘Electrifying! Shocking!’) is prominently displayed on the front cover of Naomi Alderman’s new book and it’s an apt one. Alderman was selected as a protégé by Atwood in 2012, and The Power is a glorious inverse companion piece to The Handmaid’s Tale.

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Our non-fiction Stella Sparks

The Stella Prize has recently announced their non-fiction Stella Sparks campaign, which highlights the impact of non-fiction writing by women on Australian culture and society. A nonfiction Stella Spark is the book, essay, article or other piece of nonfiction writing by an Australian woman that struck a spark for you. You can find out more about this fantastic campaign here.

Here, our staff share their own non-fiction Stella Sparks.

‘Anna Krien is a brilliant writer and a brilliant thinker…

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Australian books being adapted for the screen in 2017

2017 is another massive year for book-to-screen adaptations, and we’re particularly excited to see these four books from Australian authors make their big (and small!) screen debuts.

Lion: A Long Way Home by Saroo Brierley

At the age of five, Saroo Brierley became lost on a train in India. Not knowing the name of his family or where he was from, he survived for weeks on the streets of Kolkata, before being taken into an orphanage and adopted by a…

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Summer highlights in kids' and young adult books

by Leanne Hall

This summer, we’ve been busy reading in parks, on beaches, and in the frozen food aisle of our local supermarket. We’ve come across some great picture books for nervous new Preps, adored Raina Telgemaier’s new spin on Ann M. Martin’s The Babysitter’s Club series, and slipped into a seriously psychedelic adventure for tweens.

SUMMER PICKS IN PICTURE BOOKS

Anyone who has ever been the owner of a ball-obsessed dog will appreciate the antics of Arlo in The 12th Dog

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Finalists for National Book Critics Circle Awards 2016

The finalists for the National Book Critics Circle (NBCC) awards have been announced. The NBCC honours outstanding writing and fosters a national conversation about reading, criticism and literature.

Fiction

Moonglow by Michael Chabon

LaRose by Louise Erdrich

Imagine Me Gone by Adam Haslett

Commonwealth by Ann Patchett

Swing Time by Zadie Smith

Non-fiction

Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City by Matthew Desmond

Stamped From the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America by Ibram X. Kendi

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Indie Book Awards shortlist 2017

This year’s shortlist for the Indie Book Awards has been announced.

Each year, independent booksellers from around the nation get together and vote for their favourite titles in four different categories, as well as their favourite book overall. Here are the shortlisted titles in each category.

Fiction

The Good People by Hannah Kent

Truly Madly Guilty by Liane Moriarty

Where the Trees Were by Inga Simpson

The Last Painting of Sara de Vos by Dominic Smith

Non-fiction

The Hate Race

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

Girl Stuff for Girls Aged 8-12 by Kaz Cooke

Unleashed (The Adventures of Dog Man Book 2) by Dav Pilkey

The Midnight Gang by David Walliams and Tony Ross

Double Down (Diary of a Wimpy Kid Book 11) by Jeff Kinney

In My Heart by Jo Witek and Christine Roussey

Danger Ahead (Friday Barnes Book 6) by R.A. Spratt

Wormwood Mire (A Stella Montgomery Intrigue) by Judith Rossell

We Found a Hat by Jon Klassen

Miss Peregrine’s

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Our top ten bestsellers of the week

The Barefoot Investor by Scott Pape

The Dry by Jane Harper

Fight Like a Girl by Clementine Ford

The Sellout by Paul Beatty

The Good People by Hannah Kent

Music and Freedom by Zoë Morrison

The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben

Community by Hetty McKinnon

Neighbourhood by Hetty McKinnon

Confabulations by John Berger

Scott Pape continues his reign at the top of our bestsellers list with his indispensable money guide, The Barefoot Investor, and we’re pleased to…

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Introducing the SLV Thursday night book club

Run by State Library Victoria (SLV), the Thursday night book club will be held every Thursday night from 2 February to 6 April 2017. It combines an author Q&A with a lively book club discussion. Each session will take place in the Palmer Hall at the SLV, between 6pm to 8pm, and will focus on one of 10 recently released books by Melbourne authors.

The Thursday night book club is free to attend and no booking is required.

Here is…

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What we're reading: Liane Moriarty, Kevin Kwan and Melina Marchetta

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.

Lian Hingee is reading Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

I’ve just finished reading Big Little Lies, which is the second book by Liane Moriaty that I’ve read and, coincidentally, the second book by Liane Moriaty that I’ve absolutely loved.

A death occurs at the Pirriwee Public School ‘Audrey and Elvis’ themed trivia night…

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