Our latest blog posts
What we're reading: Sarah Crossan, Lydia Davis and Alexander Chee
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.
Nina Kenwood is reading Harry Potter And The Cursed Child by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany
Like most of the world, I’ve been reading the new Harry Potter. I must confess: I’m enjoying it, but I don’t love it. I’m a huge fan of the original series, and it’s been a…
Our top kids' book picks for August
From a traditional Wurundjeri welcome, to the world’s first computer programmer, these are our top children’s book picks for the month of August.
KIDS’ BOOK OF THE MONTH
Welcome to Country by Aunty Joy Murphy & Lisa Kennedy
Respected senior Wurundjeri elder of the Kulin alliance, Aunty Joy Murphy, comes together with indigenous artist, Lisa Kennedy, to present an incredibly important picture book that belongs on the shelves of home and school libraries alike.
Welcome to Country is a celebration…
Our top young adult picks for August
From dangerous cults to the Miss Drag Teen Scholarship Pageant, these are our top young adult picks for the month of August.
YA BOOK OF THE MONTH
The Boundless Sublime by Lili Wilkinson
Ruby’s life is falling apart. After a shattering loss, she’s heartbroken and vulnerable and feeling utterly alone.
Then she sees beautiful, angelic Fox handing out water bottles on a street corner, and she thinks for a moment that her world has been saved. He is kind and…
Mark's Say, August 2016
Later this month sees the Melbourne Writers Festival return to Federation Square with a great line up of Australian and International guests. The Festival gets off to a wonderful start on 26 August with the announcement of the winner of the Miles Franklin Award and an address by Maxine Beneba Clarke, author of the powerful new book The Hate Race – if you haven’t seen Maxine speak before I urge you to do so, she is a brilliant writer and…
Great MWF reads for armchair travellers
Here are eight books that will transport readers to other lands – all from authors appearing in this year’s Melbourne Writers Festival program .
The Wonder Trail by Steve Hely
Part travel guide, part pop history, part comic memoir, The Wonder Trail is the story of Steve Hely’s riotous journey from Los Angeles to the bottom of South America. Throughout his travels, Hely encounters the colourful, the wild and the downright absurd. An award-winning humour writer, Hely has been on…
Emily Bitto interviews Kate Mildenhall
by Emily BittoEmily Bitto interviews Kate Mildenhall about her debut novel, Skylarking.
At a low point during the writing of her debut novel, Skylarking, Kate Mildenhall wrote herself a letter in the voice of her main protagonist, a young nineteenth-century woman called Kate Gilbert.
‘I don’t totally believe in that idea of channelling characters,’ Mildenhall tells me, ‘but writing the letter did have the impact of being able to do that for me. She said to me, this is what…
Let's talk about Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
by Dani Solomon, Nina Kenwood and Bronte CoatesThe eighth Harry Potter story (the script of the new West End play) was released on Sunday, and we have LOTS of feelings about it. Here are some important thoughts we had after finishing the book.
Please note – this blog post contains spoilers.
Scorpius is our new favourite character.
Okay, we freaking love Scorpius. He is delightful – a knowledge-hungry, good-hearted, resilient Slytherin with big dreams for the future, and an excellent sense of humour. Plus, his friendship with…
Our children's and YA top ten bestsellers of the week
Welcome to Country by Joy Murphy and Lisa Kennedy
The Boundless Sublime by Lili Wilkinson
Run, Pip, Run by J.C. Jones
All My Treasures: A Book of Joy by Jo Witek and Christine Roussey
The World’s Worst Children by David Walliams and Tony Ross
Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J.K. Rowling
Quidditch Through the Ages by J. K. Rowling
Charlie and the War Against the Grannies by Alan Brough
…
Our top ten bestsellers of the week
Harry Potter And The Cursed Child by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany
Truly Madly Guilty by Liane Moriarty
Amazinger Face by Zoe Foster
The North Water by Ian McGuire
When the Music’s Over by Peter Robinson
The Dry by Jane Harper
The Black Widow by Daniel Silva
A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty
The eight Harry Potter story was released yesterday at exactly 9.01am and we celebrated with…
A snapshot of our Harry Potter memory wall
Yesterday we celebrated the release of the eighth Harry Potter story. As part of the festivities, we invited readers to share their favourite Harry Potter memories, and here are just a few of the messages we loved best…
Harry Potter taught a small 11 year old dyslexic girl to read. Thank you. – A 25 year old.
I still remember the first time I read about Dumbledore’s death at the hands of Snape + being in absolute shock!
“After all…