The winners of this year's National Book Awards have been announced! Since 1950, the National Book Awards have been celebrating the best writing in America.

Fiction

James by Percival Everett

The Mississippi River, 1861. When the enslaved Jim overhears that he is about to be sold to a new owner in New Orleans and separated from his wife and daughter forever, he decides to hide on nearby Jackson's Island until he can formulate a plan. Meanwhile, Huck Finn has faked…

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As a UNESCO City of Literature, Melbourne Naarm has a proud history when it comes to literary endeavours. It houses Australia's oldest public library, State Library Victoria; The Wheeler Centre, a vibrant hub for a diverse range of organisations focused on literature and ideas; was home to Cole's Book Arcade, the world's largest bookshop of its time; and of course Readings (and numerous other bookshops) has also played an important role over more than five decades…

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2024 has been a great year for Australian fiction, with new releases from beloved authors like Tim Winton, Robbie Arnott, Liane Moriarty and Anita Heiss; but there have also been lots of incredible new books from first-time authors who you might not have heard of. Here are our top picks for amazing debuts that you need to be sure not to miss and new authors you should keep your eye on!

Big Time by Jordan Prosser

Big…

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So you've got a crush, but you're not sure how to let the person know? Well good news! I have the perfect collection of books and gifts to help get the message across this holiday season! From the obvious to the subtle, you're sure to find something to make it clear how you feel.

Poems for Love

Ready to just take a leap of faith and make it abundantly clear how you feel? Then really, you can't go past a…

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Australia's Richard Flanagan has been named the winner of the Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction 2024 for his book Question 7. The Baillie Gifford prize is the UK's premier annual prize for nonfiction, celebrating exceptional nonfiction writing, across everything from current affairs, politics, science and sport, to history, travel, biography and the arts.

Richard Flanagan is now the first author to 'win the double' of both the Booker Prize for Fiction – which he won in 2014 for his…

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As we head into the festive season, it's time to start prepping your Christmas presents. If you want to reduce your spending, find a more sustainable option or just give something personal with a lot of heart, then a homemade gift is perfect! Whether you're a veteran crafter or want to pick-up a new skill, these books will provide plenty of inspo and handy tricks to help you get on top of your gift list with minimal stress and expense.

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The festive season is well and truly here, so get in the Christmas spirit with one of these beautiful new picture books. From heartwarming stories of love in all forms, to light-hearted adventures with unruly animals, these books are a delightful way to share the festive spirit with little ones and get them excited about the magic of Christmas.

Bluey: Christmas Holiday Treasury by Bluey

Celebrate Christmas and the holidays with the Heeler family! Join Bluey and Bingo in six…

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Australian Society of Authors (ASA) has announced joint winners for the 2024 Barbara Jefferis Award: Sara M Saleh for Songs for the Dead and the Living and Lucy Treloar for Days of Innocence and Wonder.

Administered by the ASA, the award celebrates women in literature and is awarded biennially for ‘the best novel written by an Australian author that depicts women and girls in a positive way or otherwise empowers the status of women and girls in…

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Each week our wonderful staff share the books that they've been enjoying.

Kim is reading Recognising the Stranger by Isabella Hammad

Reading Recognising the Stranger, Isabella Hammad’s Edward Said lecture, and knowing that it was delivered on September 23rd 2023, gives this small 80 page transcript an indescribably horrific weight.

A brilliant and clear essay, this is essential reading for all of us interested in the function of literature.

Baz is reading Hurricane Season by Fernanda Melchor, translated by…

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The Broadsheet Melbourne Cookbook: The New Classics offers a new culinary snapshot and features recipes for 80 of the city’s most-ordered dishes from venues including Hope Street Radio, Embla, Enter Via Laundry, France-Soir, Gimlet, Stokehouse, A1 Bakery, Pidapipó, Tarts Anon and more. Try this recipe from Florian and begin the process of mastering a deceptively simple dish with a loyal following.

Herb and Gruyère omelette with dressed leaves

Florian

This omelette has been on the menu since we opened the…

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