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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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

Max Richter: The Blue Notebooks by Max Richter

The Blue Notebooks, a tenth anniversary rerelease of Max Richter’s second album, is breathtaking. Richter cites Sigur Rós as an influence, evident in the meditative ‘Horizon Variations’. This, along with tracks such as ‘Written on the Sky’, will similarly appeal to Arvo Pärt fans for its elegance and simplicity. The Blue…

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Heartland: Celebrating 50 Years of the Australian Conservation Foundation by Australian Conservation Foundation

This lovely celebration of the fifty year history of the Australian Conservation Foundation is fantastic value. The photography is all the original work of MAPgroup documentary photographers, a non profit organisation with a mission to create a visual archive of Australian life for future generations. Heartland is a beautiful gift and a worthy way to commemorate Australia’s oldest and largest national environmental group.

The Invention of Nature:…

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