Our latest blog posts

5 literary novels about real life bushrangers

True History of the Kelly Gang by Peter Carey

The winner of the Man Booker Prize and Commonwealth Writers Prize, True History of the Kelly Gang is an astonishing novel. Peter Carey has crafted a fictionalised autobiography of Ned Kelly, undoubtedly Australia’s most famous bushranger, which draws inspiration from Kelly’s iconic Jerilderie letter; Carey’s portrayal of Ned Kelly’s voice is a distinctive vernacular style with little punctuation or grammar. True History of the Kelly Gang is an inventive, immersive…

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Best new children's books in April

by Holly Harper

Mountain climbing adventures, secret tree forts and ballet school – here’s our pick of the best children’s books April has to offer.

READINGS CHILDREN’S BOOK PRIZE SHORTLIST 2016

We couldn’t be more excited about our Readings Children’s Book Prize shortlist! Now in its third year, the prize celebrates the best in new and upcoming Australian children’s authors, and this year’s shortlist has something for everyone.

Here’s the six shortlisted books:

The Bad Guys by Aaron Blabey

Samurai vs Ninja:

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Readings Bargains pop-up shop now open

While we’re working on the design for our new children’s shop, we’ve opened a Readings Bargains pop-up shop at 315 Lygon Street, right next door to our Carlton shop.

All books in our bargain pop-up shop are only $10! Titles currently on offer include cookbooks such as Stefano Manfredi’s Italian Food, fascinating non-fiction reads such as Paul Kelly’s Triumph and Demise, Francesca Beauman’s Bridal pocketbook How to Wear White, and much more – but only while stocks…

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Delicious new cookbooks out this month

by Chris Gordon

Real Food Projects by Kate Walsh

I am not overwhelmed by this delightful book, rather, I am encouraged. I am not filled with guilt as I turn the pages, but rather inspiration. Yes, I say to myself, I could make that. I will make sauerkraut, or preserved garlic (so stupidly easy) and a quick cucumber pickle. I will be the talk of my friends with gorgeous gifts, the school fete committee will be beside themselves and my own family…

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Miles Franklin Literary Award longlist 2016

The longlist for this year’s Miles Franklin Literary Award has been announced. Congratulations to all the longlisted authors and publishers. We’re particularly excited to see our own St Kilda bookseller A.S. Patrić featured!

The longlisted titles are:

Ghost River by Tony Birch (Read review)

Coming Rain by Stephen Daisley (Read review)

Hope Farm by Peggy Frew (Read review)

Leap by Myfanwy Jones (Read review)

The World without Us by Mireille Juchau

The

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Q&A with Will Kostakis

by Isobel Moore

Will Kostakis’ new YA novel is the featured book for this month’s YA Book Club, and we’re delighted that Will himself is joining us on the night. Come along to Readings St Kilda on Wednesday 20 April and make sure to bring your very best questions.

Here, children’s bookseller Isobelle Moore asks Will a few questions about The Sidekicks.

The Sidekicks is set in a Catholic school, with the school administration taking a very conservative stance on LGBTQIA+ lives…

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A beginner's guide to Neil Gaiman

by Lian Hingee

I’m a long-time fan of Neil Gaiman’s novels, and am always trying to put them into the hands of people who haven’t yet discovered his particular brand of intelligent, unexpected, alternative storytelling.

I like to think there’s a Gaiman for everyone, and so here’s my beginner’s guide to prove it.

For someone who wants to laugh

Good Omens is one of the most magnificently funny novels I’ve ever read. It doesn’t matter how many times I dive into my well-thumbed…

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Our top ten bestsellers of the week

Everywhere I Look by Helen Garner

The Road to Ruin by Niki Savva

Our Man Elsewhere by Thornton McCamish

Talking to My Country by Stan Grant

Balancing Act – Australia Between Recession and Renewal (Quarterly Essay 61) by George Megalogenis

When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi

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

The 8-Week Blood Sugar Diet by Michael Mosley

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

A Little Life by Hanya…

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Mark's Say, April 2016

by Mark Rubbo

One of the highlights of the past month for me was hearing indigenous journalist Stan Grant talk about his new book, Talking to My Country at one of our events. Grant is a remarkable and charismatic communicator; he is able to convey what it is like to be black in an overwhelmingly European country, to suffer a thousand cuts and small indignities. His strength is that he does this without bitterness or rancour; there’s some anger but, above all, there…

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