Theory & Practice by Michelle de Kretser

It's 1986, and 'beautiful, radical ideas' are in the air. A young woman arrives in Melbourne to research the novels of Virginia Woolf. In bohemian St Kilda she meets artists, activists, students – and Kit. He claims to be in a 'deconstructed' relationship, and they become lovers. Meanwhile, her work on the Woolfmother falls into disarray.

Theory & Practice is a mesmerising account of desire and jealousy, truth and shame. It makes and…

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The Goldsmiths prize has announced Rachel Cusk as the 2024 winner for her novel Parade. The prize was created by Goldsmiths College at the University of London 12 years ago, to celebrate creative daring and novels that are experimental and innovative in form and themes. It is awarded annually, with a prize of £10,000 for the winner.

🏆 Winner of the Goldsmiths Prize 2024

Parade by Rachel Cusk

A path-breaking novel of art, womanhood and violence, from the author…

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Discover the new kids books our booksellers are excited about this month! From picture books to nonfiction, early chapter books to middle grade novels.

Kids Nonfiction

Australia’s Baby Animals by Jess Racklyeft

Reviewed by Kim Gruschow, co-manager of Readings St Kilda

Melbourne illustrator Jess Racklyeft has created a beautiful book that showcases an array of Australia’s animals which is not only magnificent but also extraordinarily cute. The spreads in this book display the various habitats of Australia in gorgeous…

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Explore our books of the month for November.

Each of the below titles has been read and recommended by our booksellers before being selected as our book of the month for its category.

FICTION BOOK OF THE MONTH

Theory & Practice by Michelle de Kretser

Reviewed by Alison Huber, head book buyer

The narrator of Theory & Practice relocates to Melbourne from…

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Do you love being out in the garden but you're struggling to get your kids to love it as much as you? Well then look no further! Here is a collection of gorgeous picture books that will inspire children to get their hands dirty and enjoy the magic of gardens.

Off to the Nursery by Alice Oehr

Spring is here, and it's time to plant the garden. We're planning to grow tomatoes, lettuce, and herbs – and maybe even add…

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The start of a new month means that there's a new issue of Readings Monthly available online and in our shops. Below you can read the foreword from the latest issue – and keep an eye on the blog for more updates and recommended new releases throughout the month!

This is the last issue of the Readings Monthly for the year. We’ve been publishing this newsletter for over 30 years now. It is a lot of work to put together…

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

Jason is reading Horror Movie by Paul Tremblay

I've been a big fan of Paul Tremblay since I read his chilling novel, The Cabin at the End of the World. He has become a novelist whose work I anticipate and I have not been disappointed in Horror Movie so far. It is disturbing, creepy and anxiety-inducing.

In 1993, three teenagers decided to make a low budget, art/horror…

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It's World Vegan Day! And whether you're vegan for the animals, environment, health or whatever other reason, today is for you! If you're not vegan but are feeling curious, then today is the perfect day to dip your toe in . . . As a vegan, I'm celebrating the day by cooking up a vegan feast, and if you want to join in on the fun, here are some fantastic vegan cookbooks to help!

For those craving Italian…

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One way of acknowledging women whose lives have had little or no recognition in the history books is to write about them in a fictional setting – imagining, and in some cases, reimagining, what their lives might have been like. We've chosen some wonderful books inspired by the lives of a few famous, and many less so, female figures.

✒️ Studious women

Rapture by Emily Maguire

The motherless child of an English priest living in ninth-century Mainz, Agnes is a…

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During the month of October our Readings bookseller and resident horror aficionado, Joe Murray, is sharing his picks for the very best horror short fiction to get you in the mood for Halloween. You might have seen his recommendations on our socials during the month, but here's part two of his in-depth round up of why you need to read these masterful works of horror.

Read part one here!

Horror has always been a genre of experimentation and marginality. Consigned…

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