Rachel Hills is the author of The Sex Myth: The Gap Between Our Fantasies and Reality. Here she tells us the last five books she read.

Only Ever Yours by Louise O’Neill

Louise and I have followed each other on Twitter for about a year, and after seeing the fantastic reviews her book was getting in her native Ireland, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it once it was published internationally. Only Ever Yours weighs in at…

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It’s been a big week for children’s books at Readings. Here’s what’s been happening!

On Tuesday, we enjoyed champagne and cake to celebrate Trace Balla’s win of this year’s Readings Children’s Book Prize. Our managing director Mark Rubbo was as proud as punch to hand over a giant cheque worth $4000 to Trace for her wonderful book Rivertime.

We have sold over 750 copies of the book since announcing the shortlist on March 22nd, so Rivertime is not…

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Looking to join a bookclub for serious readers? We still have spaces available in our contemporary fiction book club held in our Hawthorn shop, starting 20 August.

The first book for August is the winner of this year’s Baileys Women’s Prize for Fiction, How to be Both by Ali Smith.

When and where?

Readings Hawthorn bookclubs meet in the Hawthorn shop, 701 Glenferrie Road on the third Thursday of every month, starting Thursday 20 August, then Thursday 17 September, Thursday…

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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.

Nina Kenwood is reading Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates

I have just finished Joanna Rakoff’s A Fortunate Age, which is a terrific novel, but also a very long and absorbing one, and after spending a few weeks with her characters, I’m ready to spend time with someone new!

To…

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Dear Reader,

It’s time to introduce myself as Readings’ new head book buyer! I’m not really properly new, though; visitors to Carlton might recognise me because I’ve been working part time at the shop for the last twelve years (including recently as a buyer of specialist titles). I’ve been bookselling for twenty years or so while pursuing a parallel academic career path, but I’m now a self-described ‘recovering academic’ because I’ve reset my course to follow my first love –…

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Over the next few weeks we’re participating in a work experience program with students from high schools across Melbourne. Here, Hespa Broomhall tells us what she likes to read, and why.

How would you describe your taste in books?

My taste in books varies, but mainly I enjoy action and sci-fi books with a bit of romance on the side. I like to read YA and adult books.

Tell us about one of your favourite books ever?

One of my…

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Gail Jones discusses her latest novel, A Guide to Berlin, with David Haworth.

David Haworth: This is your second novel in a row that borrows its title from a previously existing work – in this case a story by Nabokov –and also vividly evokes a particular city. In very Nabokovian fashion, the novel is brimming with small, tender details – one could call them easter eggs –which seem specifically designed for lovers of Nabokov and lovers of Berlin. What…

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Congratulations to all the authors longlisted for the year’s Man Booker Prize. 13 books will compete for the £50,000 prize, which, for the second year, allows in writers of all nationalities writing in English.

Chair of the 2015 judges, Michael Wood, comments: ‘The range of different performances and forms of these novels is amazing. All of them do something exciting with the language they have chosen to use.’

The longlist includes three debut writers (Bill Clegg, Chigozie Obioma and Anna…

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Our children’s book specialists pick out six new picture books they love.

Grandma’s House by Alice Melvin

Sally has just arrived at Grandma’s house but where’s Grandma? Join Sally in peering through the cut-out pages from one room to the next, and journeying high up into the fold-out attic as she searches for her grandma.

This picture book pays homage to the precious bond that families share.
– Alexa Dretzke, Hawthorn

Mr Huff by Anna Walker

Bill is having a…

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I spent the past weekend at the Melbourne Convention Centre where Readings had installed a pop-up book shop to cater for the Australian Labor Party faithfuls – for the national media teams, the protesters, the leaders-to-be and the waggishness of many journalists.

We chatted with our greatest social commentators including David Marr, Guy Rundle and James Button. There were wonderful moments as we watched camera men following politicians from one side of the centre, to the next. We admired the…

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