Our latest blog posts
A musical guide to the 2024 Readings Young Adult Prize
by Alicia VuThe Readings Young Adult Prize is a perfect reading list for ages 14+. This year’s shortlist spans worlds of fantasy and realism, exploring the complexities of growing up – whether you're fighting off sea monsters, learning about your magical abilities, or simply finding your own pathway in life as an adolescent.
It has been an absolute pleasure to be able to immerse myself into each of these incredible novels. As a music lover, books and music go hand-in-hand for me…
A Day in Carlton: Mark Rubbo's pick
Mark Rubbo, Readings Chairman, shares his top pick from the event program of the upcoming A Day in Carlton Festival. Explore the program now, and join us for 24 hours celebrating books, culture and community!
Earlier this year I was at the Clunes Booktown Festival. The opening event was sold out but I managed to get tickets. It was a show called Underscore with Sally Ford and the Idiomatics. I was vaguely familar with Sally, a member of…
Spooky picture books for Halloween
Get in the Halloween spirit with these spooky reads!🦇
With stories about magic, bravery and friendship, as well as things that go bump in the night, these books are captivating reads for little ones with an interest in the eerie.
Grandma Murphy's Pussycat by Maura Finn, illustrated by Lucinda Gifford
At midnight's strike as all lay sleeping, comes a figure, crawling, creeping . . .
It's Grandma Murphy's pussycat!
Where is this mysterious black cat going in the deep, dark…
Our September 2024 children's and young adult bestsellers
In first place on our bestseller list for the second month in a row is the first book in Andy Griffiths brand new adventure series!
Other titles making the list include a heartwarming story of nature and technology colliding, the movie tie-in for Craig Silvey's Runt, Percy Jackson's latest adventure, and a story of the unsung heroes of war.
The Land of Lost Things by Andy Griffiths & Bill Hope (illus.)
The Wild Robot by Peter Brown
…
Our September 2024 bestsellers
September is traditionally one of the biggest months for exciting new releases and this year is no exception. Unsurprisingly one of 2024's most anticipated books, Sally Rooney's Intermezzo – an exquisitely moving story about grief, love and family – went straight to number one after less than a week of sales.
There are so many highlights this month it's tempting to mention them all, however we think the list below speaks for itself. From Australian and international literary icons to…
What we're reading: Baker, Rushdie & Genberg
This week for our 'What we're reading' column, Readings' Community Engagement and Programming Manager Chris Gordon shares what she's been reading.
My readings habits have changed over the last few weeks, and I have tried to understand why I have picked certain titles to read. And I think it’s something to do with the state of the world right now. Something to do with the hurt everywhere and the feeling of helplessness that can often be overwhelming when I read…
Nonfiction bargains from Melbourne University Press
Melbourne University Press is arguably one of Australia’s finest publishers of nonfiction. As they will soon be moving to a new warehouse they are reducing their stock in readiness. Luckily for you, and us, this means we are able to offer these wonderful titles, and more, at 60-70% off.
Under the Rainbow: The Life and Times of E.W. Cole by Richard Broinowski
Under the Rainbow is the life story of E.W. Cole, a colourful and much loved figure of 19th…
Han Kang wins The Nobel Prize in Literature 2024
The Nobel Prize in Literature 2024 has been awarded to the South Korean author Han Kang, 'for her intense poetic prose that confronts historical traumas and exposes the fragility of human life'.
In her oeuvre, Han Kang confronts historical traumas and invisible sets of rules and, in each of her works, exposes the fragility of human life. She has a unique awareness of the connections between body and soul, the living and the dead, and has become an innovator in…
Celebrate Love Your Bookshop Day with these great reads
With Love Your Bookshop Day around the corner on Saturday 12 October, we want to spread the love for all things bookish. So here's a stack of recommended titles for your perusal that are full of the wonder, joy and exploration offered by a good bookshop! From titles for kids, to imaginative genre stories and grounding nonfiction – no matter the tastes of the reader, there's a book out there to capture their love of books.
To teach little ones…
A spotlight on new translated fiction
This month we're reading fiction translated from: Spanish, Italian, Swedish, French, Norwegian, Japanese, Polish and Korean.
The Last Dream by Pedro Almodovar (translated from Spanish by Frank Wynne)
The Last Dream brings together for the first time twelve unpublished stories from Almodovar's personal archive, written between the late sixties and the present day. Both a tantalising glimpse into Almodovar's creative mind and a masterclass in how to tell a story, this intimate and mischievous collection reflects Almodovar's obsessions and many…