Our latest blog posts

Books that made us cry in 2015

Our staff share the books that made them cry this year.

I read the illustrated edition of Charlotte’s Web to my six-year-old daughter this year. Even though I’d read it before and I knew exactly what was going to happen, I still felt very emotional as we neared the end and shed a few tears when Charlotte died. My daughter was far more stoic. She comforted me with a cuddle and then reminded me that Charlotte would live on through…

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The best book covers from 2015

Staff share their favourite book covers of the past year.

Nina Kenwood fell in love with a lot of pink covers this year

When looking at the covers that stood out to me this year, the colour pink was a recurring theme. I adore the bright, striking design on Fates and Furies – this is the kind of cover I can’t resist when I see it on the shelf. I have to pick it up. (And, I will add, it’s…

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Five books that will get reluctant readers reading

by Holly Harper

Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy

Whenever I’m asked to find a book for somebody 12+ who hates reading, Skulduggery Pleasant is my first port of call. This series really has it all: a skeleton detective and his magical protégée who track down criminals intent on destroying the world. It’s fast-paced and action-packed, the characters are so vivid you’ll wish you could meet them in real life, and best of all, it’s funny. I can’t tell you the amount of times…

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Victorian Premier's Literary Awards Shortlist 2016

The Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards shortlist for 2016 has just been announced.

The winners of the five award categories – fiction, non-fiction, drama, poetry and writing for young adults – each receive a prize of $25,000, and go on to contest the Victorian Prize for Literature.

PRIZE FOR FICTION

Fever of Animals by Miles Allinson

The Other Side of the World by Stephanie Bishop

Clade by James Bradley

Forever Young by Steven Carroll

The World Without Us by Mireille Juchau

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Which literary prize winner should I read over the holidays?

Winner of the Readings Prize for New Australian Fiction 2015

The Other Side of the World by Stephanie Bishop

No 2015 prize list would be complete without mentioning the amazing winner of our own Readings Prize for New Australian Fiction. Stephanie Bishop’s exquisite second novel blew our judges away this year. Chair of judges Elke Power described The Other Side of the World as unforgettable, while our reviewer said the writing had, ‘haunting beauty reminiscent of the writings of Emily…

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What we're reading: Alison Goodman, Anne-Marie Slaughter and Christopher Currie

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 Lady Helen and the Dark Days Club by Alison Goodman

I was lucky enough to score an advance reading copy of Lady Helen and the Dark Days Club, which is the first in a new trilogy by Alison Goodman. It’s a fascinating mash-up of two of the most…

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Children's classics for Christmas

by Holly Harper

Classics are classics for a reason – these stories have resonated with their audiences so deeply that they’ve stayed on bookshelves for years, to be read by one generation after the next. If you’re looking for that perfect gift idea, take a look at our list of favourite kids’ classics.

Enid Blyton

No list of classics would be complete without a few suggestions by Enid Blyton. Since she wrote over 700 books in her lifetime, it’s hard to whittle the

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Bookish gift bundles for $50, $75 and $100

If you’re shopping to a specific budget, we’ve come up with some literary gift bundles for literary types – handily sorted by price. (If you’re seeking gift ideas for $20 and under, you can find 20 of our top picks here.)

Gift ideas for $50, and under

This month, you can purchase the first three books of Elena Ferrante’s astonishing Neapolitan Novels for the price of two. That includes My Brilliant Friend, The Story of a New Name

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