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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Go Set A Watchman by Harper Lee

The Girl With the Dogs by Anna Funder

The Mindfulness Colouring Book: Anti-Stress Art Therapy for Busy People by Emma Farrarons

St Gill & His Audiences by Sasha Grishin

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

The Eye of the Sheep by Sofie Laguna

Millie Marotta’s Tropical Wonderland: A Colouring Book Adventure by Millie Marotta

A Doubtful Inheritance by Ted Todd

Millie Marotta’s Animal Kingdom by Millie…

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Events Manager Chris Gordon shares her top five picks from our August event calendar

Dinner with Simon Bryant

I’m such a huge fan of Maggie Beer and her Chef, Simon Bryant and we are so delighted to be able to bring the very first, surely, celebrity chef to our favourite cafe in Hawthorn. It will be such a treat to dine with Simon, to hear his take on where fine dining and cooking are heading, and to settle back enjoying…

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Here’s our recommend reading list for this year’s Melbourne Writer’s Festival. (You can find the full program of MWF here.)

Feminist read

We recommend: The Wife Drought by Annabel Crabb
Runner up: Dietland by Sarai Walker

Anti-bullying

We recommend: So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed by Jon Ronson
Runner up: Bad Behaviour: A Memoir of Bullying and Boarding School by Rebecca Starford

Historical fiction

We recommend: The Paying Guests by Sarah Waters
Runner up: The Dust That Falls from Dreams…

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As well as a host of amazing local authors, there are so many wonderful international authors visiting our city for the Melbourne Writers Festival this year! (You can find the full program here).

Here are ten internationals we can’t wait to see.

Naomi Klein

Naomi Klein is an award-winning journalist, syndicated columnist and author of such groundbreaking books as The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism, and This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs. the Climate.

See her…

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