Here are our top ten young adult fiction books of the year, voted for by Readings staff. Displayed in no particular order.

Cloudwish by Fiona Wood

Scholarship student Vân Ựớc is usually very practical, so when she wishes that gorgeous Billy Gardiner would notice her and he suddenly does, she is flattered but worried that it is an elaborate joke. You will fall in love with Vân Ựớc as she grapples with high school, romance and the truth of her…

Read more ›

Here are our top ten non-fiction books of the year, voted for by Readings staff. Displayed in no particular order.

Gut: the Inside Story of Our Body’s Most Under-Rated Organ by Giulia Enders

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this fascinating guide to the importance of our gut bacteria and its relationship to health. The gut is the latest mysterious frontier in medical science and Guilia Enders, a scientist with a flair for making complex processes understandable, delves into the latest research…

Read more ›

Here are our top ten crime books of the year, voted for by Readings staff. Displayed in no particular order.

The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

Word of mouth is faster than any train, and this – the story of a woman who catches the same train every morning, pretending to go to the job she lost, then sees something untoward happen out of the window – is a psychological thriller adored by our customers and a worthy…

Read more ›

Here are our top ten middle fiction (ages 8 to 12) books of the year, voted for by Readings staff. Displayed in no particular order.

Molly and Pim and the Millions of Stars by Martine Murray

Molly is resourceful and used to being a bit different, but how will she cope when a small mistake turns her mother into a tree? Her herbalist mother is still in the front garden, nurturing, but very definitely a tree and the neighbours are…

Read more ›

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 The Murdstone Trilogy by Mal Peet

The late, great Mal Peet has been one of my favourite authors since his award-winning YA novel Keeper unexpectedly managed to instil an interest in football in this decidedly non-sporty reader. He started writing at 52, went on to win numerous awards including…

Read more ›

Here are our top ten pop CDs of the year, voted for by Readings’ staff. Displayed in no particular order.

I Love You, Honeybear by Father John Misty

J. Tillman’s newest album has emotion writ large enough to fill every corner of the room, and broad, gorgeous music to match. Shot through with his merry-peculiar tales, shucked off his shoulders like a jacket with pockets full of stories for us to sort through, aided by his ethereal voice, fuzzed-out synths…

Read more ›

Here are our top ten cookbooks of the year, voted for by Readings staff. Displayed in no particular order.

A Modern Way to Cook: Over 150 Quick, Smart and Flavour-Packed Recipes for Every Day by Anna Jones

The quirky and successful food blogger extraordinaire is back with another collection of delicious, healthy, inspiring vegetarian recipes. Jones’s no-fuss, no-mess approach is refreshing and accessible. I love that the book is divided into time slots (recipes for under 15, 20, 30 or…

Read more ›

Here are our top ten art and design books of the year, voted for by Readings staff. Displayed in no particular order.

The Social Studio by Grace McQuiltern

This book documents the vibrant social enterprise of The Social Studio in Collingwood. Through fashion, food, art and community the Studio unites distinct cultures in a celebration of knowledge, skill and diversity. The book includes a mix of artworks, fashion photography, food, interviews and portraits of more than 50 of Melbourne’s most…

Read more ›

Here are our top ten fiction books of the year, voted for by Readings staff. Displayed in no particular order.

The Story of the Lost Child by Elena Ferrante (translated by Ann Goldstein)

Rumour has it Richard Flanagan only allows himself to read six pages a day of Ferrante. He’s more restrained than me, not to mention the many other Ferrante fans I know. I did to The Story of the Lost Child, the final book in the Neapolitan…

Read more ›

Here are our top ten DVDs of the year, voted for by Readings staff. Displayed in no particular order.

Small Is Beautiful

Small Is Beautiful is a special documentary. Filmed in Portland, Oregon, Australian filmmaker Jeremy Beasley documents the tiny house movement, a grassroots response to the housing affordability crisis that currently affects so many people across the developed world. Beasley follows four people, each at various stages of building and living in their homes with little or no prior…

Read more ›