Our latest blog posts
Books I was inspired to read by attending Readings events
Being the events manager of Readings is one of the most fortunate of roles in our little old Melbourne town. One of the greatest treats of my role – apart from meeting all the wonderful authors and readers – is reading books that I might not normally pick up. This activity can lead to surprising delights.
Here is a sample of my surprise reads that turned into treats this year, thanks to our event program.
My top five American novels of the year
Here is the best American literature I read this year, in order, with picks one and two pretty much tied as my equal favourites.
My Name is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout
Elizabeth Strout is one of the best American writers working today, and My Name is Lucy Barton is Strout at the height of her powers. This novel is a masterpiece – short, sharp, thoughtful, simmering with emotion underneath the surface. It delves into trauma, memory, forgiveness and the…
Victorian Premier's Literary Awards Shortlist 2017
The Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards shortlist for 2017 has just been announced.
The winners of the five award categories – fiction, non-fiction, drama, poetry and writing for young adults – each receive a prize of $25,000, and go on to contest the Victorian Prize for Literature.
PRIZE FOR FICTION
Between a Wolf and a Dog by Georgia Blain
The Healing Party by Micheline Lee
Wood Green by Sean Rabin
Waiting by Philip Salom
The Rules of Backyard Cricket by Jock…
Our children's and YA top ten bestsellers of the week
The Midnight Gang by David Walliams and Tony Ross
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (the original screenplay) by J.K. Rowling
Girl Stuff for Girls Aged 8-12: Your Real Guide to the Pre-Teen Years by Kaz Cooke
Ruby Red Shoes Goes to London by Kate Knapp
Wormwood Mire (A Stella Montgomery Intrigue) by Judith Rossell
Lots by Marc Martin
The Song from Somewhere Else by A.F. Harrold and Levi Pinfold
Artie and the Grime Wave by Richard Roxburgh
We…
Our top ten bestsellers of the week
Paul Keating: The big-picture leader by Troy Bramston
The Good People by Hannah Kent
Wedding Bush Road by David Francis
Fight Like a Girl by Clementine Ford
Swing Time by Zadie Smith
The Sellout by Paul Beatty
Light and Shadow: Memoirs of a spy’s son by Mark Colvin
The Barefoot Investor by Scott Pape
The Australian Dream: Blood, History and Becoming (Quarterly Essay 64) by Stan Grant
Smith & Daughters: A Cookbook (That Happens to be Vegan) by Shannon…
The best crossover YA reads of 2016
Whether you’re an adult-aged reader who loves YA, or a teen-aged reader ready to tackle stories pitched for adults. Here are some of our favourite ‘crossover’ releases from the last year.
Recommended YA books for discerning adults
These reads – romance, horror, sci-fi, fantasy, high school politics, real world politics, and more – hooked us from page one. Read them to get swept up in the story, and maybe also read them to remember what it felt like to be…
What we're reading: Robin Talley, Ben Katchor and Steve Hely
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.
Ed Moreno is reading all the beginnings by Quinn Eades
Fans of genre outlaws, revel in Quinn Eades’ heartbreaking, powerful, mindblowingly-visceral all the beginnings. Immerse yourself in a text which bends, breaks and redefines all the rules, and then hands you a perfectly-crafted poem – a Dragonfruited sphere / shining tissue /…
Comics & graphic novels we loved in 2016
Our staff share some of their favourite comics and graphic novels from the past year.
Stella Charls, marketing and events coordinator
This year my favourite graphic novels have been ones that have made me snort-laughing. I’ve picked them up between reading longer books, usually when I’m feeling scatty and just need to sit down and read something straight through. Humour always helps, and these three by exceptionally funny women have been my stand outs from 2016: Miseryland by Keiler Roberts…
St Kilda music picks for summer road trips
The official first day of summer is tomorrow! In preparation, Readings St Kilda Shop Manager Amy Vuleta shares her best album picks to pack for a hot Aussie road trip.
Hunky Dory by David Bowie
Kicking off with hits like ‘Changes’ and ‘Oh! you pretty things’, I challenge you not to have the best time cruising along the highway, just getting right into the best damn seat-dancing those passing trucks and caravans have ever seen. I promise you’ll know all…
The Readings Foundation grant recipients for 2017
The Readings Foundation has announced $128,349 worth of grants to support a range of projects and organisations within Victoria in 2017.
In 2017, The Readings Foundation grant funding will focus strongly on organisations that are delivering literacy and education support to the most disadvantaged people in our community, from as near as Carlton, to as far away as Ballarat.
The Readings Foundation received 67 applications this year, and is pleased to award grants to the following 10 organisations: