Our latest blog posts

Novels to get stuck into now The Good Wife has ended

If – like many of our staff – you’re feeling bereft to see The Good Wife come to an end, here are six recommendations for novels to help fill the void…

For an all-too-brief romantic affair…

The End of the Affair by Graham Greene

If thinking of Will and Alicia still makes you sad, you’re not alone – it still makes us sad too. (We’re sure there’s a German word for it.) In Graham Greene’s classic novel, a flourishing love…

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11 guests to see at the Melbourne Jewish Writers Festival

The Melbourne Jewish Writers Festival celebrates books and writing by and about Jewish people from Saturday 21 May to Monday 23 May. Here are 11 festival guests to check out from the program. (You can browse the full program here.)

Nir Baram

Nir Baram, born in Jerusalem to an Israeli political (Labor) family, has worked as a journalist, editor, and advocate for equal rights for Palestinians. He is the author of five widely translated novels. Journey Along the Green

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Our top picks of the month for book clubs

For a stylish, sophisticated afternoon tea…

The Course of Love by Alain de Botton

The Course of Love is the long-awaited return to the novel form by philosopher Alain de Botton. In its pages, De Botton traces the story of a marriage – from the first thrill of lust, to the joys and fears of real commitment, to the deep problems that surface slowly over two shared lifetimes – and touches on many interesting questions along the way. Plus, this…

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Our top ten bestsellers of the week

Everywhere I Look by Helen Garner

The Course of Love by Alain de Botton

The Last Painting of Sara De Vos by Dominic Smith

The Natural Way of Things by Charlotte Wood

Our Tiny, Useless Hearts by Toni Jordan

My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante (translated by Ann Goldstein)

The Genius of Birds by Jennifer Ackerman

The Fighter by Arnold Zable

Talking to My Country by Stan Grant

Eligible by Curtis Sittenfeld

Last week’s bestselling books includes three wonderful novels…

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What we're reading: Cassandra Clare, Yangsze Choo and Jean-François Vernay

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.

Mike Shuttleworth is reading A Brief Take on the Australian Novel by Jean-François Vernay

The French writer and academic Jean-François Vernay has done a tremendous service to Australian readers and writers.

A Brief Take on the Australian Novel gives us a brisk 200 year tour of the preoccupations and patterns of Australian writing…

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Inside a teen reader's head

by James Rex

We grill our work experience student James Rex on his reading habits, and his love for Lord of the Rings.

If you could be transported into the Lord of the Rings trilogy, which story would you want to be part of, and why? Would you try alter the plot in any way, or would you try let it unfold naturally?

I’d probably be a hobbit, staying far away from all the trouble and enjoying my comfy hole while I…

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Last-minute gift ideas for Mother's Day

Mother’s Day is this Sunday, 8 May. Here are some last minute gift ideas for last-minute shoppers! Come by one of our shops to pick up your gift, or to talk with our booksellers in person.

This Annoying Domestic Life by Oslo Davis

Designed for mums, dads, kids and old people on all levels of the angst spectrum, Oslo Davis’ new ‘mindless colouring book for the whole goddamn family’ is another hilarious take on the annoyances of modern life that’s…

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Children's new releases in May

by Holly Harper

From revenge-seeking guinea pigs to ancient Greek gods, here’s our roundup of the best kids’ books out in May.

Our Children’s Book of the Month

After his mother dies, Peter finds solace in the form of an orphaned fox cub, Pax. They grow up together, learning to love and trust each other until the day when Peter learns he’s being sent to stay with his grandfather… without Pax. Under direction from his stern father, Peter throws Pax’s favourite toy soldier…

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Young adult new releases in May

by Holly Harper

From zombie movies to the Scottish Highlands, here are our picks for the best young adult new releases in May.

#LoveOZYA

The Lifespan of Starlight by Thalia Kalkipsakis was one of our favourite #LoveOZYA reads of 2015, so it’s incredibly exciting to see the sequel, Split Infinity, is out this month. After the events of the first book, Scout has become a talented time skipper on the run from a government intent on recapturing her. This is romantic sci-fi…

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