Our bestseller this month was Long Island by Colm Tóibín, which continues the story of Eilis Lacey from his hugely successful Brooklyn. Our reviewer and managing director Joe Rubbo recently spoke with Tóibín about his writing and what compelled him to return to the story of Eilis. Their conversation can be found here, as well as Joe's review.

Three recent prize winners featured this month: Praiseworthy by Alexis Wright, winner of the 2024 Stella Prize; Kairos by…

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The leaves are almost fallen, so that means it's time to pick your next craft project for when it's too nasty outside to leave the house. But what craft are you going to pick? This guide will help you decide whether you're buying yarn and needles, watercolours, or even marbles.

For those who can't settle on just one hobby ...

Making Things by Erin Boyle and Rose Pearlman

Through easy-to-follow tutorials for over 100 projects that are both accessible and…

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History is often told as a series of battles and changing regimes, dissmissing the contributions of those that weren't generals or politicians. But behind this 'Great Man' theory of history, there's a wealth of largely untold stories about the people that not only lived through those times, but also helped shaped them. These six captivating histories are dedicated to unearthing women whose stories have been overlooked.

Normal Women By Philippa Gregory

Normal Women tells the stories of the women who…

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Melbourne is home to famous chefs and restaurants, with a passionate foodie culture for everything from fine dining to hole-in-the-wall sandwich shops. And now that more and more of Melbourne's culinary icons are releasing cookbooks, it's possible to get that gourmet experience from the comfort of your own kitchen!

Baker Bleu: Bake It Till You Make It

By Mike Russell

In 2016, Bak­er Bleu start­ed as a small bak­ery in Elstern­wick, creating sourdough using traditional techniques and sustainably farmed ingredients…

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May 27th - June 3th marks National Reconciliation Week, a time to reflect on Australia's colonial history and to consider how we can contribute to ongoing reconciliation. The theme for 2024 is 'Now More Than Ever', so we've put together this collection of nonfiction by First Nations authors that reflects the need for continued action and empathy, in order to achieve meaningful reconciliation between all Australians.

Finding the Heart of the Nation by Thomas Mayo

In this updated edition of…

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Ela! Ela!: To Turkey and Greece, a Journey Home Through Food by Ella Mittas

Are you wistfully dreaming of travelling through Turkey and the Greek islands, but all you can afford is a souvlaki on Sydney Road? Ella Mittas, who was taught to cook by chefs including Annie Smithers, has you covered in her first collection of recipes, essays and memories. From her home in Melbourne she bounces off to the most stunning places, using each chapter to highlight the…

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The 2024 Age Book of the Year winners have been announced! The awards celebrate outstanding Australian literature and include prizes for both fiction and nonfiction.

Tony Birch has won the Fiction prize for his novel, Women & Children, while Ross McMullin has won the Nonfiction prize for Life So Full of Promise.

The judges for this year’s awards included Readings own Mark Rubbo and writer and former publisher Louise Swinn (fiction); as well as writer Simon Caterson and…

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Writers Jayne Anne Phillips, Jonathan Eig, Ilyon Woo and Nathan Thrall were announced last night amongst the 2024 Pulitzer Prize winners.

Jayne Anne Phillips won the Fiction prize for her novel, Night Watch; Jonathan Eig and Ilyon Woo jointly won the biography prize for their respective works, King: The Life of Martin Luther King and Master Slave Husband Wife; and Nathan Thrall won in the Nonfiction category for A Day in the Life of Abed Salama.

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How to Cut an Orange by Zoë Croggon & edited by Justine Ellis, Ash Holmes & Dan Rule

Readings Carlton art and design buyer Zoë Croggon is a person of many talents. Not only does she expertly curate our art and design list, she is a celebrated artist in her own right, working across multiple forms including dance, drawing, sculpture and collage. Her new book, How to Cut an Orange, draws on each of these disciplines along with the…

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Easy Wins: 12 Flavour Hits, 125 Delicious Recipes, 365 Days of Good Eating by Anna Jones

Did you know Anna Jones left her day job to write recipes and cook? She did it after reading an article about following personal passion. After reading this delicious new cookbook, I am thinking about handing in my notice and eating any dish with lemons in it for the rest of my life. Putting aside life ambitions for a minute, this cookbook is a…

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