20 gift ideas under $20
Over the next few weeks, we’ll be compiling a host of gift guides to help you with your Christmas shopping.
Here are 20 gift ideas for under $20. Plus, you can find even more budget-friendly recommendations by browsing the collections below.
The Botanical Wall Chart by Anna Laurent
Botanical charts have recently experienced a resurgence in interest, both as pieces of art and as objects of scientific and historical significance. This stunning book brings together a collection of some of the best examples from all over the globe. Each one has been selected by botanist Anna Laurent, and is accompanied by text that explains its historical and botanical contexts.
The Hating Game by Sally Thorne
The Hating Game is a hilarious and sexy workplace comedy from a terrific new Australian writer. Lucy Hutton, baker-of-cakes and usually a determined people-pleaser, has finally had enough. Ever since she met Joshua Templeman he’s been nothing but hostile. Over months in a shared office they’ve faced off against each other and now that a big promotion is up for grabs, it’s time to take him down.
Be warned – this pick may not be appropriate for an office Kris Kringle!
Women & Power by Mary Beard
Britain’s best known classicist Mary Beard, is a committed and vocal feminist. With wry wit she shows how history has treated powerful women. With examples ranging from Medusa and Athena to Theresa May and Elizabeth Warren, Beard explores the cultural underpinnings of misogyny, considering the public voice of women, how we look at women who exercise power, our cultural assumptions about women’s relationship with power, and how powerful women resist being packaged into a male template.
On Doubt by Leigh Sales
Acclaimed journalist Leigh Sales has her doubts, and thinks you should, too. Her classic personal essay carries a message about the value of truth, scrutiny and accountability – a much-needed, pocket-sized antidote to fake news. Donald Trump, the post-truth world and the instability of Australian politics are all examined in this fresh take on her prescient essay on the media and political trends that define our times.
A Brand New Me by Aretha Franklin
A Brand New Me pairs classic vocals from some of the most iconic songs that the Queen of Soul recorded for Atlantic Records with new arrangements performed by The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. The result is another timeless record that retains the soul, groove, and gospel power of Franklin’s revered talent.
See What I Have Done by Sarah Schmidt
On 4 August 1892 Andrew and Abby Borden were murdered in their home in Fall River, Massachusetts. During the inquest into the deaths, Lizzie Borden was arrested and charged with the murder of her father and her stepmother. In her debut novel, Sarah Schmidt imagines this iconic true story for modern readers, and asks what really happened that day in Fall River.
The Secret History of Twin Peaks by Mark Frost
Perfect for the avid Twin Peaks fans – Mark Frost’s The Secret History of Twin Peaks digs deep into the world of the original series, placing the unexplained phenomena that unfolded there into a vastly layered, wide-ranging history, beginning with the journals of Lewis and Clark and ending with the shocking events that closed the finale.
Overheard: The art of eavesdropping by Oslo Davis
Every week since 2007, Oslo Davis has been eavesdropping on people in the city of Melbourne, Australia, and recording what he hears in a cartoon for The Age newspaper. His wry observations have earned him a cult following, and 10 years on he has become a beloved fixture. Now, for the first time, his Overheard cartoons have been collected in a hilarious compilation, with chapters covering Family Matters, Modern Life, Relationships, The Daily Grind, Friends Like These and What The.
The Little Book of Craft Beer by Melissa Cole
The Little Book of Craft Beer celebrates over 100 of the world’s most innovative and tastiest beers. Self-confessed beer geek and expert Melissa Cole takes you through the brewing process and guides you to some of the best and most eclectic craft brewers. Each section is finished with a cocktail and food recipe using beer as the key component. The book also includes a tasty selection of gluten- and alcohol-free offerings, as well a helpful advice on shopping for craft beer, tasting and food pairing notes.
The Power by Naomi Alderman
Set in a future where women develop the ability to kill men with a touch, The Power is an electrifying page-turner that explores timely issues including gender politics, religion, violence and the corrupting influence of power. This truly is speculative fiction at its most ambitious and provocative, taking us on a thrilling journey to an alternate reality while exposing our own world.
Moonlight
A timeless story of human connection and self-discovery, Moonlight chronicles the life of a young black man from childhood to adulthood as he struggles to find his place in the world while growing up in a rough neighborhood of Miami. At once a vital portrait of contemporary African American life and an intensely personal and poetic meditation on identity, family, friendship, and love, Moonlight is a groundbreaking piece of cinema that reverberates with deep compassion and universal truths.
Upside-Down Dogs by Serena Hodson
Photographer Serena Hodson takes beautiful colour photographs of man’s best friend but with a twist – all of her furry subjects are all upside down. The results are laugh-out-loud adorable. No matter the breed, no matter the background, Hodson manages to capture the personality of each dog she works with.
Provence to Pondicherry by Tessa Kiros
Beloved cookery writer Tessa Kiros explore French culinary influences in far-flung destinations. Her journey begins in Provence, where she first fell in love with French food. She then travels to the island of Guadeloupe in the Caribbean, Vietnam in South-east Asia, Pondicherry on the Bay of Bengal, and more. In each new destination, Tessa delves into the history and culinary traditions of the country (or region) and shares uniquely memorable recipes.
Kingdom Cons by Yuri Herrera (translated by Lisa Dillman)
In the court of the King, everyone knows their place – or they should… As the Artist wins hearts and egos with his ballads, uncomfortable truths emerge that shake the Kingdom to its core. Part surreal fable and part crime romance, Kingdom Cons questions the price of keeping your integrity in a world ruled by patronage and power. This is the latest book from Yuri Herrera, ‘Mexico’s greatest novelist’, to be translated to English.
The Ladybird Book of The New You by Jason Hazeley & Joel Morris
The utterly deadpan and sometimes sardonic Ladybirds for Grown Ups series have been specially planned to ‘help grown-ups with the world about them’ (please insert air quotation marks). The Ladybird Book of The New You is a particularly great pick for your friends who always have grand New Year’s Resolutions, and you can find plenty more here.
LaRose by Louise Erdrich
Louise Erdrich wields her breathtaking narrative magic in an emotionally haunting contemporary tale of a tragic accident, a demand for justice, and a profound act of atonement with ancient roots in Native American culture. When Landreaux accidentally kills the child of his best friend in a hunting accident he looks to his Indian forebears’ wisdom and decides that he will give his own son, LaRose, to the grieving parents. LaRose examines the consequences of this decision over the years.
Japanese Knitting Stitch Bible by Hitomi Shida (translated by Gayle Roehm)
Knitting guru Hitomi Shida shares some of her favourite needlework patterns in this fabulous book. Her strikingly original designs and variations on every imaginable classic stitch result in intricate patterns that form the basis for beautiful and unique knitted fashions. This is the perfect book for the experienced knitter who is looking for new stitches that yield spectacular results.
The Beach by Robert Drewe
From an Indigenous food source to a hedonistic playground, the beach has long been a national obsession. Robert Drewe’s lyrical examination of Australian beach culture combines imagery from some of Australia’s most celebrated photographers with his personal anecdotes of a favourite boat, a capsicum-strewn beach, a summer holiday with teenagers and an unwelcome Great White.
Police at the Station and They Don’t Look Friendly by Adrian McKinty
Belfast 1988: a man has been shot in the back with an arrow. It ain’t Injuns and it isn’t Robin Hood. But uncovering exactly who has done it will take Detective Inspector Sean Duffy down his most dangerous road yet – a road that leads to a lonely clearing on the high bog where three masked gunmen will force Duffy to dig his own grave. Hunted by forces unknown, threatened by Internal Affairs and with his relationship on the rocks, Duffy will need all his wits to get out of this investigation in one piece. Another brilliant crime thriller from Ned Kelly winner Adrian McKinty.
A Readings t-shirt or tote bag
Our limited edition Readings t-shirts and totes make a great gift for readers and book lovers. They are designed and screenprinted locally in Melbourne on 100% cotton, and are available exclusively from our shops and online. You can find our collection of totes here, and t-shirts here.
