Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are advised that this blog contains the names and images of deceased people. Readings apologises for any distress this may cause.

Into the Hollow Mountains was originally published in 1974 and featured a collection of Robert Ashton’s photographs, accompanied by writing from various local creatives, including Helen Garner.

Fitzroy 1974 is a new edition of this iconic work with additional written contributions, edited by Gregory Day, which celebrate Ashton’s rare observational talents and reflect…

Read more ›

With Spring in the air and blossoms starting to emerge across Melbourne's streets, I've developed a new hyperfixation: trees! From their towering beauty to the diverse foliage, flowers and fruits they grow, to how pivotal trees and wood have been to Western civilisation, once you take a moment to think about the trees you're walking past every day, you're bound to have the same realisation I have – that they're incredibly interesting, beautiful, and politically charged.

If any of this…

Read more ›

The August edition of Readings Monthly is available online and in our shops, but if you haven't picked up a copy yet, below you can read Chris Gordon's column from the latest issue. And check the blog for more updates and recommended new releases throughout the month!

Chae: Korean Slow Food for a Better Life by Jung Eun Chae

You may have tried to get a reservation at the six-seater restaurant Chae, situated on the outskirts of Melbourne, and…

Read more ›

It's hard to believe we're already in August and publishers have finalised (mostly!) their lists for Summer 2024. It will be difficult to eclipse what has already been a very strong year, but we think you'll agree from the preview selection below that there's much to look forward to in the coming months. Many of our favourite authors are releasing books and we hope to see you as they begin to grace our shelves and online collections.

📚 BIOGRAPHY &…

Read more ›

For the second month in a row, our bestseller list is topped by Miranda July's tender, hilarious and literary novel, All Fours, about a woman upending her life.

Newcomers this month include cookbooks from two amazing chefs who have made their mark on the Melbourne food scene and are must-haves for your collection: Tarts Anon's Gareth Whitton, winner of the first Masterchef: Dessert Masters last year, has released Tarts Anon: Sweet and Savoury Brilliance; and Andreas Papadakis…

Read more ›

The State Library of New South Wales (SLNSW) has announced Lamisse Hamouda’s 'powerfully told' and 'accomplished' debut memoir, The Shape of Dust, as the winner of this year’s $25,000 National Biography Award. Inner Song by Jillian Graham was also announced as the winner of the 2024 Michael Crouch Award for a debut work.

The Shape of Dust tells the story of Lamisse’s father, Australian–Egyptian citizen Hazem Hamouda, who was wrongfully detained in an Egyptian gaol, and of her mission…

Read more ›

Not unexpectedly, given it's meteoric rise at the end of May only a week after publication, our top seller for June was All Fours by Miranda July. Part absurd entertainment, part tender reinvention of the sexual, romantic and domestic life of a 45-year-old female artist, All Fours transcends expectations while excavating our beliefs about life lived as a woman. Our reviewer says, 'All Fours is not for the faint heart or the closed mind, but thank goodness because July…

Read more ›

The State Library of New South Wales (SLNSW) has announced this year’s shortlist for the National Biography Award! This award is presented annually to a published work of biographical or autobiographical writing, to help promote public interest in these genres. Each shortlisted author will receive $2,000 while the winner will receive $25,000.

Chair of the judges, Melinda Harvey, said: ‘This magnificent shortlist is united in a single pursuit: to understand Australian lives, from the famous to the forgotten, as…

Read more ›

We're currently in the midst of NAIDOC week, celebrating the culture, legacy and ongoing contributions of Australia's First Nations peoples. To help readers of all cultures and backgrounds engage with this year's theme of 'Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud & Proud', we've curated a selection of books that explore aspects of First Nations culture and self expression – from traditional ways of telling story and engaging with Country, to the incredible work and legacy of Indigenous Australian artists…

Read more ›

If the current state of the world is filling you with anxiety, don't just bury your head in the sand. These books all grapple with the realities of climate change, while focusing on actionable solutions. They'll remind you that there is still hope, and we do have the ability to make change for the better.

Together We Can by Claire O'Rourke

Together We Can is an invitation to anyone worried about what climate change means for our future, and a…

Read more ›