March has been a strange and unsettling month. As the COVID-19 pandemic sweeps the globe and more of us begin to self-isolate, people are turning to books for solace and distraction, picking up novels that have been sitting unread on their shelf for far too long, reading a chapter book with their kids, or delving into a new release.
Here are some that we’ve been reading lately.
Mark Harding – Brand & Content Manager
Dark Matter by Michelle Paver
Why I loved it: If you love a good ghost story, you will not be disappointed by this wonderful book. Set in an arctic research station in the middle of winter, Michelle Paver brilliantly brings her characters and settings to life. This is a genuinely chilling tale.
Buy it here
Olivia Fricot – Senior Content Producer
Ruthless Gods (Something Dark and Holy: Book 2) by Emily A. Duncan
Why I loved it: If malevolent gods, blood magic and possibly evil boys with great hair are your thing, then Emily A. Duncan’s Something Dark and Holy trilogy is what you should be reading. This Slavic folklore-inspired series is set in a world that’s being ripped apart by a holy war between blood mages and clerics, and where love and betrayal go hand in hand. Ruthless Gods picks up right where the first book, Wicked Saints, left off and swiftly unspools into divine chaos as protagonists Nadya, Malachiasz and Serefin take on the horrors they’ve unleashed. I’m obsessed.
Buy it here
Jo Lewin – Head of Trade Books
A Thousand Moons by Sebastian Barry
Why I loved it: I absolutely loved Days Without End and Barry’s new novel follows its characters after the American Civil War. McNulty, Cole and their adopted daughter Winona are now safe from the turmoil of war, but they remain social misfits for reasons of colour, class and sexual orientation. There are further traumas to experience as they learn to find a place in the world, but Barry focuses on the finer parts of human nature and this story is filled with spirit, heart and fellow feeling in the face of adversity. Lots of lessons here on how to care for each other in the darkest times. Highly recommended.
Buy it here
Ben Hunter – Fiction Category Manager
The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams
Why I loved it: The Dictionary of Lost Words imagines the life and times of Esme Nicoll, motherless daughter to one of the many lexicographers who chronicled words day in and day out at Oxford. This novel is a delicious slow burn in which words themselves carry the weight of heartbreak, oppression, love, and an era of change. Endlessly fascinating and more and more enchanting the further you go, this is a book you can completely lose yourself in. It’s everything I wanted to read during this turbulent last week.
Buy it here
Joel Naoum – Non-Fiction Category Manager
Come by Rita Therese
Why I loved it: This was a fascinating dive into the world of sex work in Australia. It’s also a very personal story of sexual liberation, trauma, and learning to love yourself. At times it’s very difficult to read, while at others it is laugh out loud funny. If the subject matter is of interest to you, this is well worth a closer look (just prepare yourself to be shocked!).
Buy it here
Sarah McDuling – Kids & YA Category Manager
Aurora Burning (Aurora Cycle: Book 2) by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff
Why I loved it: I always love anything written by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff, so naturally I had ridiculously high expectations for this book. As always with these two master-storytellers, they were blown completely out of the water. I feel very deeply in love with the characters of Squad 312 in Aurora Rising last year, and in Aurora Burning my beloved Squad members are imperilled over and over again – battling incredible odds to save the universe while exchanging top-notch, witty banter. I love this series. It’s got action, adventure, tragedy, romance, suspense, and just so much heart. I can’t wait to read it again!
Buy it here
Shanulisa Prasad – Lifestyle Books Category Manager
The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams
Why I loved it: I was keen to read this book because of the interesting concept of words being included and excluded from the creation of one of the best-known dictionaries. The way that this is explored against the backdrop of the tumultuous turn of the last century was as interesting as I hoped, but I particularly loved how Pip Williams drew me into the main protagonist Esme’s story and made me care so deeply about her as a character. Wonderful.
Buy it here
Renae Adolfson – Trade Books Coordinator
I Choose Elena by Lucia Osborne-Crowley
Why I loved it: This is a truly powerful and moving examination of the debilitating effects that concealing trauma for over a decade can have on the human body. On her onerous journey to acceptance and healing, Lucia Osborne-Crowley poignantly explores the degrees of trauma that continue to devastate not only her body, but her mind years after experiencing sexual assault. She is repeatedly faced with not only the haunting memories, but continually struggles to seek help, and when seeking help, is forced to convince medical professionals of the verity of her suffering. For anyone seeking solace after trauma on any level, this extended literary essay is a must read.
Buy it here
Cassandra Sharpe – Merchandising Coordinator
The Good Turn by Dervla McTiernan
Why I loved it: Dervla McTiernan’s latest novel opens with the pace and drama you’d expect of a crime thriller’s final chapters – Detective Cormac Reilly is tasked with finding a missing girl, with a skeleton crew of staff and vital minutes disappearing. In this book, McTiernan effortlessly weaves three separate stories together with impeccable characterisation, making this book an absolute must read that will have you racing towards the last page.
Buy it here
Ashleigh Berry – Campaigns Coordinator
Monstrous Heart by Claire McKenna
Why I loved it: Monstrous Heart is a debut fantasy novel with magic and mystery aplenty, set in a coastal lighthouse looking out at a dark, dangerous sea rife with ancient monsters and deadly secrets. I loved the worldbuilding in this book; it was intriguing and unique, and left me wanting to know more about the laws and scope. This is a fascinating story and worth checking out for any fantasy fan.
Buy it here
Scott Whitmont – Business Development & Relationship Manager
The End of Cuthbert Close by Cassie Hamer
Why I loved it: Domestic angst and challenges around motherhood, career-juggling, marriage, romance, grief, mental health and the dream of suburban harmony does not, at first glance, seem like the stuff of gripping fiction. Yet as Cassie Hamer deftly raises each of these many issues challenging the women who live in suburban Sydney’s Cuthbert Close, the reader becomes more and more engrossed in the narrative. Why? Because they’re all topics with which every Australian can personally relate. This book carries an optimistic message of friendship, hope, ambition and resolution. Reading it already makes one nostalgic for the days when we could hold block parties, school gatherings and office meetings without social distancing or medical concern. Hamer’s conjuring of those not-long-past days is a welcome and enjoyable reminder as we increasingly lock down.
Buy it here
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