Book Recommendations Archives

Australian novelist Cathryn Hein, author of The Falls, The French Prize, Heartland and much more gives her verdict on the books she’s been reading. With nine books to read and judge for the Romance Writers of America’s prestigious RITA awards – none of which I can tell you about, sorry! – I didn’t have much personal reading time left. But I did manage three wonderful books. Re... Read more

First of all the cover: this has to be one of the most stylish and eye-catching jackets of the year, signposting both the amorous subject matter but also a kind of sexily suave Mad Men Don Draper silhouette that suggests surface sleekness concealing enigmatic multiple identities. The sophisticated packaging delivers on its promise – and then some. This is one of the big books of the year.... Read more

Jonathan Franzen fans will get to sink their teeth into another serving from the acclaimed author later this year, with his fifth novel, Purity, to be released in September. Few details about the novel have emerged until now, although Franzen has previously hinted at its length (496 pages) in interviews, saying: “I’ve let go of any illusion that I’m a writer of 150-page novels. I need roo... Read more

The 2015 Australian Romance Readers Convention has come and gone, but we are not sad because we are left with a great list of award winning authors and having met so many new authors, hundreds of new books to read. See what Booktopia’s John Purcell and Andrew Cattanach got up to at the convention here. WINNERS Favourite Cover: the winner was Play by Kylie Scott. Sexiest Hero: the winner was Ada... Read more

The shortlist for the 2015 Stella Prize has just been announced, and what an exciting list of Australian authors it is! Named after one of Australia’s most important female authors, Stella Maria Miles Franklin, The Stella Prize celebrates Australian women’s contribution to literature, awarded last year to Clare Wright for The Forgotten Rebels of Eureka. Don’t miss the chance to grab a cop... Read more

Because so many people have been loving the Retro Pictorial series, we gave one lucky person the chance to win the whole lot! All you had to do to win this awesome pack,  worth $225, was buy a book from the Retro Pictorial series. …and the winner is: S.Martino, Loftus, NSW Congratulations to the winner! Not a winner? Don’t worry, we have more prizes to giveaway! Check them out here.   Read more

Fleur McDonald is one of Australia’s leading female rural lit authors, with her books becoming best sellers almost as quickly as they hit the shelves. She shares the books she’s been reading, in the lead up to April release of her new novel Emerald Springs. The Dangerous Bride by Lee Kofman I heard Lee Kofman interviewed on Richard Fidler’s Conversations and was immediately intrigued. Lee... Read more

Some familiar names were joined by some exciting new talents in the announcement of the shortlists for the 2014 Aurealis Awards, recognising the achievements of Australian science fiction, fantasy and horror writers. Winners of the 2014 Aurealis Awards and the Convenors’ Award for Excellence will be announced at the Aurealis Awards ceremony, on Saturday 11 April at the University House, Canberr... Read more

To help celebrate January, our month of Australian Stories, we had a print signed by Philippa Nikulinsky, the author of Firewood Banksia, to give away. All you had to do to win this beautiful print,  worth $220, was buy a copy of his beautiful book Firewood Banksia… …and the winner is: R.Knight,Terang, VIC Congratulations to the winner! Not a winner? Don’t worry, we have plenty more... Read more

Historian Walter Elliot has unearthed the first unseen Sherlock Holmes story in more than 80 years that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle wrote to help save a town bridge. The 1,300-word tale starring the famous detective was found in a collection of short stories written for a local bazaar. The story is entitled Sherlock Holmes: Discovering the Border Burghs and, by deduction, the Brig Bazaar. It is beli... Read more