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Five reasons we love Mister Cassowary by Samantha Wheeler
Mister Cassowary is one of the six books shortlisted for this year’s Readings Children’s Book Prize. Here are five reasons why we think it’s brilliant.
1. It’s about a real kid with real problems.
After his Grandad Barney passes away, Flynn and his dad head up to the old family banana farm in Mission Beach to get it ready for sale. Ten-year-old Flynn is having a hard time connecting with his dad, who’s usually away working in the mines and…
Things my mother taught me
In Things My Mother Taught Me, a diverse range of Australian identities each reflect on the role that their mother has played in shaping them into the people they are today.
With Mother’s Day (Sunday 8 May) just around the corner, our staff have reflected on what their own mothers have taught them.
‘When I was growing up my mum made her own preserves from home-grown fruit, most of our clothes were hand-made, and we never had store-bought biscuits…
Our top ten bestsellers of the week
Everywhere I Look by Helen Garner
The Natural Way of Things by Charlotte Wood
My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante (translated by Ann Goldstein)
Heart Hungers by Winsome Thomas
The Waters of Eternal Youth by Donna Leon
A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
Massoni: Rinaldo & Leon by Michele Massoni-Dubuc
The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen
The Killing Season Uncut by Sarah Ferguson with Patricia Drum
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
Two major literary prizes were…
Our children's and YA top ten bestsellers of the week
The Treehouse Fun Book by Andy Griffiths, Jill Griffiths and Terry Denton
I am Doodle Cat by Kat Patrick and Lauren Marriott
In My Heart: A Book of Feelings by Jo Witek and Christine Roussey
Pig the Winner by Aaron Blabey
The Bad Guys: Episode 1 by Aaron Blabey
Rockhopping by Trace Balla
Crazy Weird: WeirDo Book 6 by Anh Do and Jules Faber
Pax by Sara Pennypacker and Jon Klassen
Girl Detective: Friday Barnes Book 1 (Special edition) by…
Tomorrow, When the War Began makes its television premiere
The first episode of ABC3’s new adaptation of John Marsden’s groundbreaking Tomorrow series kicks off tomorrow night at 7:30pm. Here at Readings we are SO excited.
This series follows a group of teenagers-turned-guerrilla soldiers after the invasion and occupation of Australia by an unnamed foreign power. The seven novels in the series were all published between 1993 and 1999, and have since been translated into five languages. The Tomorrow series remains one of the most significant contributions to the Australian…
What we're reading: Justine Larbalestier, Maggie Nelson and Sulari Gentill
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 My Sister Rosa by Justine Larbalestier
I’ve been wanting to read Justine Larbalestier’s My Sister Rosa since it started doing the rounds with my workmates at the beginning of this year. This story of Che, a young man trying to keep the world safe from his pathological younger sister…
10 books for Mother's Day (that aren't pink)
Sometimes Mother’s Day gift ideas can feel a little too same-y. Some mothers like horror! And politics! And sport! Here is a list of books to buy a mother for Mother’s Day that aren’t about cooking, child-rearing, baking, gardening, heartbreak or personal triumph.
From the Outer edited by Nicole Hayes and Alicia Sometimes
In this terrific anthology dedicated to AFL, Nicole Hayes and Alicia Sometimes bring together 30 personal stories from unexpected voices: those who are female, Indigenous or gay…
Literary bundle ideas from our Faber 3-for-2 offer
Throughout April, we’re offering a special offer on a select range of award-winning and popular Faber titles – buy two books, and receive a third book for free. Find out more here.
Here are some suggestions for which three books to buy – based on what kind of book you’re looking for.
Smart fiction exploring family dynamics
Suggested bundle…
Family Life by Akhil Sharma
Bark by Lorrie Moore
Swimming Home by Deborah Levy
Why…
These three novels all explore…
Great reads for tweens becoming teens
Bridging the gap between middle fiction books and young adult books can be tricky for readers. Here are some books that speak to those late childhood and early teen years. (As an added bonus, many of the authors listed here have terrific backlists to dive into if they prove a hit with your young reader.)
TRICKY RELATIONSHIPS
Tweens are often coming to terms with shifting friendships and first crushes – as well as growing independence and responsibility in familial roles…
Best Translated Book Award shortlist 2016
The ten fiction finalists and six poetry finalists for this year’s Best Translated Book Awards have been announced.
These sixteen finalists represent an incredible array of writing styles and reputation. These titles were selected from the nearly 570 works of fiction and poetry published in English translation in 2015 and are translated from nine different languages and thirteen different countries.
Fiction:
A General Theory of Oblivion by José Eduardo Agualusa, translated by Daniel Hahn (Portuguese, Angola)
Arvida by Samuel Archibald…
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