Our latest blog posts

How the Readings Prize carves its own space in Australian literature

by Veronica Sullivan

Veronica Sullivan reflects on the six shortlisted books for this year’s Readings Prize for New Australian Fiction, and considers how this relatively new Prize fits within the literary prize landscape of Australia.

On the eve of the announcement of the winner of The Readings Prize for New Australian Fiction, it seems fitting to cast an eye over the six books on this year’s shortlist and consider what impact winning this particular prize can have on a writer’s life. The $4000…

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What we're reading: Miles Allinson, Heidi Swanson and Robert Galbraith

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.

Fiona Hardy is reading Fever of Animals by Miles Allinson

I’m currently losing all sense of time and place as I read Miles Allinson’s book, Fever of Animals. This is a story set across Melbourne, London, Berlin, Venice – and it’s a story about about grief and relationships, about searching for meaning…

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A recap of our #LoveOzYA Heroes panel

by Isobel Moore

On Monday I had the privilege of chairing our second #LoveOzYA panel of the year. This time we narrowed the discussion slightly to the topic of Heroes.

Panellists included authors Nicole Hayes (One True Thing and The Whole of My World) and David Burton (How To Be Happy), and teenagers Chris (former Inky Awards judge and teen panellist extraordinaire) and Chami (booktuber at Reads Like Wild Fire).

We talked at first about defining heroes, and…

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A quick chat with Christine Manfield

by Chris Gordon

A Personal Guide to India and Bhutan really does seem like the perfect book for lovers of spice and travel. Is that how you would describe yourself?

I am a travel addict and a lover of spicy food, so I seek out those places that inspire me. Travel is always a revelation and this guide book is a wealth of information that I wanted to share with other curious travellers – a comprehensive list of the best places to eat…

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Books we're excited to share with our children

Staff share the books they’re excited to share with their children in the future (real, or imagined).

Chris Gordon, Events Manager:

When we hosted an event with Germaine Greer I was starstruck, but I did manage to make the author laugh a little with my stories of being a mother to a whirlwind of a daughter. Later, as Greer was signing a copy of The Female Eunuch for said daughter, I asked when I should give it to her. Greer…

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Meet our new Grants Officer for the Readings Foundation

by Leanne Hall

We’ve just appointed a new Grants Officer for The Readings Foundation, and we’re pleased to report that she is a delight. Meet Leanne Hall…

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I’m an author/bookseller, and now also The Readings Foundation Grants Officer. That’s a three-part slashie! I worked for many years as a Children’s and YA specialist at Readings Carlton (hello to all the kids I recommended books to – you’re probably all grown up and driving cars now)…

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Which book should win this year's Readings Prize for New Australian Fiction?

Last month, we hosted a Shortlist Showdown with Kill Your Darlings in which six readers and writers made a case for their favourite book from the shortlist to win this year’s Readings Prize for New Australian Fiction.

In anticipation of our announcement of the winner next week, here’s a recap of their arguments which have all been published in full on the Kill Your Darlings website.

Elizabeth Flux makes a case for In The Quiet by Eliza Henry-Jones

“If…

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A window display of Shaun Tan's sculptures

Shaun Tan’s new book The Singing Bones features photographic images of a range of extraordinary clay sculptures created by Tan, each one capturing the essence of a Brothers Grimm fairy tale.

We’re delighted to announce, for one week only, we have a selection of the sculptures on display in our Carlton shop window!

We’ll be returning them to Tan on Monday 26 October, so make some time over the next week to take a look.

Our Carlton shop is located…

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