Our latest blog posts
Anthony Doerr wins the 2015 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction
We’re delighted that Anthony Doerr has been awarded the 2015 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for his novel, All the Light We Cannot See, which was ten years in the writing!
The jury described the book as, ‘an imaginative and intricate novel inspired by the horrors of World War II and written in short, elegant chapters that explore human nature and the contradictory power of technology’. Our own reviewer writes, “…it’s impossible to do Doerr’s novel any justice with paltry…
Our top ten bestsellers of the week
The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
One Life: My Mother’s Story by Kate Grenville
Mothermorphosis: Australia’s Best Storytellers Write About Becoming a Mother edited by Monica Dux
Mothers and Others edited by Natalie Kon-Yu, Christie Nieman, Maggie Scott, Miriam Sved and Maya Linden
My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante
The Narrow Road to the Deep North by Richard Flanagan
Wrong Way Round: One Country, One Camper Trailer, One Family, One Amazing Adventure by Lorna Hendry
Watson’s Pier by…
Getting to know our shortlisted authors: A. L. Tait
Over the next few weeks we’ll introduce you to the six shortlisted authors on the Readings Children’s Book Prize 2015. Who are they? Where do their ideas come from? What do they love to read? What do they love to snack on?
We hope you’ll share these mini interviews with your children.
MEET A.L. TAIT
A.L. Tait is the author of The Mapmaker Chronicles: Race to the End of the World and the newly released second book in…
Interview with Emily Bitto
Emily Bitto has been named the winner of the 2015 Stella Prize for her debut novel, The Strays. Find out more here.
What does winning the Stella Prize mean to you?
Winning the Stella Prize is one of the most incredible, life-changing things that’s ever happened to me. I’m only just beginning to contemplate what it will mean in terms of my career as a writer, but even being on the shortlist has had a huge impact on…
Getting to know our shortlisted authors: Tony Wilson
Over the next few weeks we’ll introduce you to the six shortlisted authors on the Readings Children’s Book Prize 2015. Who are they? Where do their ideas come from? What do they love to read? What do they love to snack on?
We hope you’ll share these mini interviews with your children.
MEET TONY WILSON
Tony Wilson is the author of Stuff Happens: Jack, which is part of a brilliant new series that fosters emotional literacy in…
Resurface Noise, April 2015
Resurface Noise is a new column from our music specialist Roland Bisshop, dedicated to new vinyl reissues and first time on vinyl releases.
And don’t forget that for the month of April, we’re offering 20% off vinyl. Please note, the offer only applies to vinyl currently in stock in our shops, and is not available online.
The World Circuit label has the distinct honour of having on its roster, the biggest-selling world music title of all time in the Buena…
What we're reading: Leo Tolstoy, Mikhail Bulgakov and Jock Serong
Each week we bring you a sample of the books we’re reading, the films we’re watching, the television shows we’re hooked on or the music we’re loving.
Jemima Bucknell is reading Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
I have begun reading an old film tie-in edition of Anna Karenina that I found on the shelf. Surprised at how a text of such daunting length and repute should be so easy to read, I mentioned this to some people who advise that…
What we're listening to on Record Store Day
This Saturday 18 April is Record Store Day. Here, we share a selection of terrific music that our staff are listening to right now.
Emily Harms recommends Vulnicura by Björk
I am loving listening to Björk’s recent release. The album is loosely arranged around the chronology of a relationship break up following hers with artist, Matthew Barney. Vulnicura documents the period before the breakup as well as the dazed and confused moments after, right through until the painful and slow…
April Round-up of Kids' & YA Books
This month I’ll begin in the middle, for a change, with a crop of great new books to feed your eager 9+ year olds.
For kids who like something out of the ordinary – think magical realism meets different periods in history meets a mysterious quest – plus the challenge of multiple storylines, Echo by Pam Munoz Ryan looks really promising and is recommended for (roughly) grades 5-9.
And I’m certain that a lot of people will sit up when…
Best new crime in April
CRIME BOOK OF THE MONTH:
The Invisible Man from Salem by Christoffer Carlsson
Similar in tone to last year’s hit The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair (both books were written by authors young enough to fill this reviewer with some jealousy), The Invisible Man from Salem has a skilled yet youthful feel to it that never detracts from an unnerving and deadly tale. Suspended police officer Leo Junker is spending his days feeling increasingly bitter and abusing a variety…
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