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Nine books to read in November
Frantumaglia: Bits and Pieces of Uncertain Origin by Elena Ferrante (translated by Ann Goldstein)
Elena Ferrante fans, rejoice: a collection of her non-fiction writing has now been released. Frantumaglia is a riveting compilation, over the course of her writing career, of Elena Ferrante’s letters to her publisher, interviews with editors and journalists, and responses to readers’ questions. Our reviewer writes: ‘The material collected here further reveals Ferrante as a remarkable writer and deeply original thinker across a range of subjects…
Q&A with Matthew Griffin, author of Hide
American author Matthew Griffin chats with our own bookseller Jason Austin about his powerful debut novel, Hide. (You can also read Jason’s rave review of the book here.)
First of all let me say congratulations! I loved Hide so much, not just for the exquisite writing but also for the subject matter. Your novel tells the story of two men, Wendell and Frank, who meet and fall in love at the conclusion of WWII and follows them into…
Our children's and YA top ten bestsellers of the week
Gemina (The Illuminae Files_02) by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
When the Lyrebird Calls by Kim Kane
We Found a Hat by Jon Klassen
Artie and the Grime Wave by Richard Roxburgh
Pig the Elf by Aaron Blabey
Apocalypse Meow (The Bad Guys Book 4) by Aaron Blabey
Do Not Open This Book by Andy Lee and Heath McKenzie
Lots by Marc Martin
Girl Stuff for Girls Aged 8-12: Your Real Guide to the Pre-Teen Years by…
Our top ten bestsellers of the week
The Good People by Hannah Kent
Fight Like a Girl by Clementine Ford
The Sellout by Paul Beatty
The Boy Behind the Curtain by Tim Winton
Music and Freedom by Zoë Morrison
The Wrong Side of Goodbye by Michael Connelly
The Newsman: 60 Years of Television by Mal Walden
Bush Heritage Australia: Restoring Nature Step by Step by Sarah Martin
The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben
The Whistler by John Grisham
Hannah Kent’s heartrending new novel is our…
What we're reading: Jean Webster, Darren Purchese and Cath Crowley
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.
Lian Hingee is reading Daddy Long-Legs by Jean Webster
When I was still brand-new at Readings I was chatting to one of my workmates about our mutual love for Anne of Green Gables (Gilbert Blythe 4eva) and she encouraged me to read the classic Daddy Long-Legs. She even brought in her own…
Mark's Say, November 2016
Over a few beers after a brilliant conversation between Stan Grant and Richard Flanagan, the talk naturally moved to politics and football. It was the week before the AFL Grand Final and a moment of Trump’s strengthening in the polls. George Megalogenis, who’d joined us, was worried; so were we all. Then Richard opined that the fate of the US election lay in the upcoming Grand Final: ‘If the doggies win, then Trump’s lost.’ What the connection between the AFL…
A recipe from Smith & Daughters - Warm Spanish Doughnuts with Chocolate Pâté
Shannon Martinez and Mo Wyse are the brains behind celebrated vegan restaurant Smith & Daughters, and they’ve just released their first cookbook, Smith & Daughters: A Cookbook (That Happens to be Vegan).
We’ve featured a delicious recipe from the cookbook below, and if you drop by our Carlton shop on Thursday 3 November you can meet the talented duo themselves! Find details here.
WARM SPANISH DOUGHNUTS
Rejoice! The doughnut recipe! Shannon’s got many a doughnut recipe up her…
Sex in young adult literature
Digital content coordinator Bronte Coates reflects on why sex in YA books matters, and shares some recommendations for books that handle the topic thoughtfully and honestly.
The first time I came across a sex scene in a book was in the second book of John Marsden’s Tomorrow series when Ellie decides to ‘go all the way’ with her boyfriend Lee. Both of them have complicated feelings about this decision. They also have multiple conversations about these complicated feelings (in book…
Paul Beatty wins the 2016 Man Booker Prize
The Sellout has been named the winner of this year’s Man Booker Prize for Fiction, making Paul Beatty the first American writer to win this prestigious Prize.
A laugh-out-loud, blistering satire on race relations in contemporary America, The Sellout sits comfortably alongside works by Mark Twain and Jonathan Swift.
Chair of the 2016 judges, Amanda Foreman, says: ‘ The Sellout is a novel for our times. A tirelessly inventive modern satire, its humour disguises a radical seriousness. Paul Beatty slays…
Eight terrific free events at our St Kilda shop
Our St Kilda shop has a jam-packed event program for the rest of 2016. Come down to 112 Acland Street and join in the fun.
Jacinta Halloran on her new novel
Jacinta Halloran will discuss her new novel, The Science of Appearances, which explores an era of social constraint and profound scientific discovery, with fellow author Leah Kaminsky.
When? 6.30pm, Thursday 3 November
Bookings? Free, but please book here.
A bookshop gig with Harry Howard and the NDE
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