Blog — Readings Books

Disclaimer: This is a very-much-reflecting-my-own-tastes beginner’s guide to podcasts. It’s not designed to be an exhaustive list but more of a representation of what I’ve personally enjoyed this year when walking to and from work.

Let’s start with the absolute basics.

What even is a podcast and how do I listen to one?

A podcast is basically a radio show you can listen to at any time. You can listen to a podcast by streaming it on your computer (as…

The Moth: This Is a True Story

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25 Dec 2014

Our in-store calendar & diary sale

Our annual calendar & diary sale kicks off today!

We’re offering 40% off all 2015 calendars and 20% off all 2015 diaries when you purchase in-store.

This offer is only available from our Carlton, Hawthorn, St Kilda, Malvern and State Library of Victoria shops, while stock lasts. (Not available online.)

Please note, our State Library and Malvern shops are closed on Boxing Day. You can find the opening hours for our other shops here.

23 Dec 2014

Catch up on a classic over Christmas

Looking for something to read? Forget the new releases and delve into a past gem.

Martin Shaw recommends Steven Amsterdam

We talk a lot about contemporary Australian writing, but seldom do we look back any further than the 3-12 month window that the publishing industry typically revolves around. So what are already the modern classics of Australian Literature?

For my money, one of them is Steven Amsterdam’s first novel from 2009, Things We Didn’t See Coming.

From the splendid…

The Awakening

Kate Chopin

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22 Dec 2014

Our favourite (and worst) Christmas songs

Our staff share their favourite – and sometimes their least favourite – songs on the radio at Christmas time.

I love really old carols that lean more towards the amusingly dramatic than the soppy – ‘God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen’, ‘We Three Kings’ and so on. I’m not sure why, I think perhaps they feel more festive than songs like ‘Grown-Up Christmas List’, which is like nails careening down a blackboard for me. Or maybe it is because they lend…

A Celtic Christmas

Australian Brandenburg Orchestra & Choir,Paul Dyer

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22 Dec 2014

Our favourite (and worst) Christmas films

Our staff share their favourite – and sometimes their least favourite – films for Christmas time.

My all-time favourite Christmas movies are Home Alone and While You Were Sleeping. But over the past few years I started a new tradition for myself of watching super cheesy Hallmark Christmas movies (Hallmark releases a new batch every Christmas). So far this holiday season I’ve enjoyed Christmas Under Wraps (a big-city doctor moves to a small town and learns to appreciate Christmas)…

It’s A Wonderful Life (DVD)

Capra Frank

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22 Dec 2014

Our favourite (and worst) Christmas recipes

Our staff share their favourite – and sometimes their least favourite – recipes for Christmas time.

Christmas is an excuse to combine dairy and liquor at any and every opportunity. Eggnog. Cheese and wine. And the best of them all: brandy butter. Cream together unsalted butter, icing sugar and brandy. I don’t measure anything because it leaves me with an excellent excuse to eat at least half of it along the way while I check the balance of ingredients.
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