We Do Not Part | Han Kang | $35 00 | Penguin
My fascination with Jeju Island (which begun many years ago after reading Lisa See’s The Island of Sea Women), together with my absolute adoration for everything Han Kang writes, drew me to We Do Not Part immediately Told in alternating voices, we follow the friendship between two women who take on artistic pursuits and work to memorialise a massacre which occurred in Korea in 1948 It is both a vivid and lucid story, and explores the personal and public contexts of such a horrific, historic event A far cry from cosy literature, this remained still a gentle, soothing read – Steph
Spirit of the Crocodile | Aaron Fa’Aoso & Michelle Scott Tucker with Lyn White | $19 99 | Allen & Unwin
It’s so exciting to have an ILF pick written by authors of Torres Strait Islander descent, especially considering what great work they’re doing in the region on language revitalisation Set on Saibai, the story follows 12-year-old Ezra who has a special connection to crocodiles and is facing the responsibilities that come with growing up, particularly as climate change threatens the island This charming coming-of-age story is perfect for late primary/early high school reads and bridges that tricky gap between kids and young adult books perfectly! – Steph
Bigfoot vs Yeti: A Love Story | James Foley | $24 99 | Fremantle Press | 3+
On one side of the Chasm live the Yetis, on the other the Bigfoots –and there is nothing they despise more than each other The feud looks like it will go on for generations, until Foley’s illustrations are gorgeous and as you move through the story, you move from monochromatic to the introduction of a pale palette to a burst of joyous colour, all part of Foley’s ingenious storytelling This has to be one of the most charming, intelligent and funny picture books of the year – Robert
Everything is Indian | Justin Narayan | $39 99 | Murdoch
Justin Narayan, winner of MasterChef 2021, takes intspiration from his Fijian-Indian heritage and his mum Sunita (aww!) to bring us his own easy-going style of delectable and flavoursome everyday food Here you’ll find recipes for regular weeknight dishes elevated to new, but easily achieved, heights of deliciousness through the use of fabulous Indian flavours Consider the humble roast spud supercharged with a masala blend or a taco filled with mouth-watering Lamb Birria In addition to the approachable recipes is encouragement from Justin to make his dishes your own. Now that’s the true spirit of cooking! – Sylvia
Signs of Damage | Diana Reid | $34 99 | Ultimo Press
Sixteen years ago, Cass went missing but was found unharmed At a present-day funeral, she collapses and generations collide What really happened to Cass? And who is hiding what they know? Tackling memory, moral ambiguities and people’s complexities, this is the perfect summer noir – Angus
Elegy, Southwest | Madeleine Watts | $34 99 | Ultimo Press
Academic Eloise travels across America’s Southwest with her husband Lewis Their encounters reveal relationship traumas, and the vulnerability of humans and nature Research and personal struggles are intertwined with environmental degradation, framing the desolated beauty of grief on many scales.– Francesca
Stag Dance | Torrey Peters | $32 99 | Allen & Unwin
This is one of the books I’ve been waiting for this year A novel and three short stories, Stag Dance is a flinching and tensile example of exceptional trans writing Peters dresses unsuspecting narratives in smart observations about gender, community, performance and the limits of all three – Leona
The River Has Roots | Amal ElMohtar | $34 99 | Hachette
El-Mohtar’s debut solo novel does not disappoint Gentle in prose, whimsical in exposition and fanciful in world-building, it feels like a dark fairy tale With a backdrop of Thistledown and the River Liss, whose waters teem with grammar, this is a love letter to the bond between sisters and the power of language. – Lewis
Colony | Annika Norlin | $32 99 | Scribe
Colony provides a sharp yet nuanced commentary on power dynamics, our need to belong and what we might sacrifice to be included Dancing between eight characters, Norlin’s writing is pacy and introspective, and despite confronting weighty issues, it’s a delight to read I absolutely ripped through it – Lexie
Too Soon | Betty Shamieh | $32 99 | Simon & Schuster
Set from before the Nakba until 2012, this multi-generational story is told through powerful Palestinian female voices and covers complex social issues like motherhood, displacement and racism Shamieh explores family relationships in an empathic and honest way to create a beautiful and moving novel. – Meabh
Twist | Colum McCann | $32 99 | Bloomsbury
Journalist Anthony Fennell is in pursuit of a story buried at the bottom of the sea In Cape Town, he boards a cable repair vessel captained by John Conway, engineer and fearless freediver Fennell is quickly captivated by John and his partner Zanele As the boat travels the west coast of Africa, Fennell learns the rhythms of life at sea, but when the mission falters, the crew is thrown into crisis A propulsive thriller by a master storyteller at the height of his powers
The Wolf Tree | Laura McCluskey | $34 99 | Harper Collins
On a small Scottish island, an isolated community is grieving the apparent suicide of eighteen-year-old Alan Ferguson, who was found at the foot of the lighthouse DIs Georgina Lennox and Richard Stewart are sent to investigate As they question the island's inhabitants, they discover a village filled with superstition and shrouded in secrets – and someone wants those secrets to stay buried
The Dream Hotel | Laila Lalami | $32 99 | Bloomsbury
In a world without privacy, what is the cost of freedom? Using data from her dreams, the Risk Assessment Administration determine Sara will soon commit a crime – so she is taken to a retention centre for three weeks until the risk passes But when every slight deviation from the rules adds time to her stay, Sara begins to wonder if there might be more to her ‘retention’ than she’s been told The Dream Hotel is a gripping speculative mystery, as terrifying as it is inventive, and explores how much we can ever truly know those around us – even with the most invasive surveillance systems in place
The Book of X | Sarah Rose Etter | $22 99 | NewSouth Books
The Book of X tells the tale of Cassie, a girl born with her stomach twisted in the shape of a knot From childhood with her parents on the family meat farm, to a desk job in the city, to finally experiencing love, she grapples with her body, men and society, all the while imagining a softer world than the one she lives in Twining everyday dramas with surreal rivers of thighs, men for sale and fields of throats, Cassie's realities alternate to create a blurred, fantastic world of haunting beauty
Greater Sins | Gabrielle Griffiths | $34 99 | Random House
1915, Aberdeenshire Lizzie, the wife of a wealthy landowner, and Johnny, a nomadic farm hand, discover a perfectly preserved body in a peat bog. For Lizzie, the discovery reveals unanswered questions about her past, while for Johnny it threatens to uncover a history he's trying to outrun As their stories entwine, a series of unsettling events befalls the isolated community Against the echoes of distant war, everyone is looking for someone to blame
Dream Count | Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie | $34 99 | Harper Collins Is true happiness ever attainable? How honest must we be with ourselves in order to love and be loved? A reflection on the choices we make and those made for us, Dream Count pulses with emotional urgency and poignant, unflinching observations on the human heart
Shroud | Adrian Tchaikovsky | $34 99 | Macmillan
Humans can’t survive the hostile planet known as ‘Shroud’ but a catastrophic accident forces Juna Ceelander and Mai Ste Etienne to land there regardless Together, they embark on a gruelling journey in search of salvation and soon begin to understand Shroud’s unnerving alien species and it begins to understand them
Wild Dark Shore | Charlotte McConaghy | $34 99 | Penguin
Dominic Salt and his children are caretakers of a tiny island near Antarctica, home to the world's largest seed bank Rising sea levels force them to take the seeds to safer ground then a woman washes up on shore Suspicion gives way to affection, but can they put their tragic pasts behind them before it's too late?
Flesh | David Szalay | $34 99 | Random House
Fifteen-year-old Istvan lives with his mother in Hungary New to town, he is unfamiliar with social rituals and his only friend is a married woman Their relationship sends him spiralling out of control Later, Istvan is carried upwards on the currents of the 21st century's tides of money and power until they threaten to undo him completely
The South | Tash Aw | $32 99 | Harper Collins Jay and his family go to live on the farm they inherit from his grandfather Despite the drought, Jay’s father sends him out to work the barren land Jay finds himself drawn to Chuan, the son of the farm’s manager, and as the family drifts apart, the charge between the boys intensifies Sweeping and intimate, this book explores what happens when private and public lives collide, and is the first in a quartet of novels that will form Aw’s masterwork
Time Together | Luke Horton| $34 99 | Scribe
Phil is trying to feel closer to his recently passed mother by spending time alone at his parent's house on the coast But he is lonely, and invites some old friends to visit Bella and Tim will soon arrive with their two kids; Jo and Lucas will bring their little one Then there's Annie, who’ll be by herself Time Together is a novel about different kinds of love, different kinds of loneliness, and the way spending time together can bring out the best and worst in even the closest of friends
Red Closet | Rustam Alexander | $32 99 |
NewSouth Books
In 1934, Joseph Stalin enacted sodomy laws, unleashing a wave of brutal detentions of homosexual men in large Soviet cities Red Closet recounts the compelling stories of the people affected by those laws, including a journalist who tried to to save his lover from prosecution and a fearless doctor who provided medical treatment to gay men Each story illustrates how Soviet oppression of gay people was perpetuated from Stalin's rule until the demise of the USSR
Songs on Endless Repeat | Anthony Veasna So | $32 99 | Harper Collins
From the late award-winning writer Anthony Veasna So comes a collection of funny, emotionally expansive essays and linked short fiction exploring family, queer desire, pop culture and race Written with razorsharp wit and an unflinching eye, So examines his youth in California, the lives of his refugee parents, his intimate friendships, loss, pop culture and more An astonishing final expression by a much-loved writer
Miles Franklin Undercover | Kerrie Davis | $34 99 | Allen & Unwin
At the age of 21, Miles Franklin was lauded as the Brontë of the bush and feted by the rich and influential She dazzled Australia with My Brilliant Career, inspiring generations of young women chafing under conventional expectations But fame can be deceptive, and the book earned Miles a pittance The family farm was sold, her new novels were rejected and she was broke Two years after her debut, Miles disappeared Drawing on newly unearthed material, Kerrie Davies uncovers a turbulent, little-known period in Miles' life, from her time working undercover as a servant in Sydney and Melbourne's wealthy houses to her experiences in volatile Chicago In doing so, Davies creates a powerful story of a young woman ' s enduring resilience and her determination to always be her own heroine
An Architecture of Hope | Yvonne Jewkes | $39 99 | Scribe
Should architecture be used for punishment? How might the spaces we inhabit nurture or damage us? How can we begin to start over after the worst has happened? Criminologist Yvonne Jewkes grapples with these questions every day as the world's leading expert on rehabilitative prison design; she is also forced to face them in her personal life when her partner of 25 years leaves her in the middle of a nightmare renovation project In both cases, she must consider what might help someone at the lowest point in their life to rebuild
The Ancients | Andrew Darby | $34 99 | Allen & Unwin
Andrew Darby goes on a journey into wild Tasmania to find the world's oldest surviving trees He tells of their exploitation and loss to fire, and shares stories of the scientists and nature-lovers who discovered them and came to venerate them These awe-inspiring trees face growing threats as the climate changes but their protection is becoming more sophisticated, offering hope for their future – and ours
Blue Poles | Tom McIlroy | $34 99 | Hachette
In 1973, Jackson Pollock’s Blue Poles was acquired by the Australian government for a record AUS$1 4 million, sparking controversy both in Australia and the US This book details Jackson Pollock’s rise to fame, the negotiations for the artwork, and the many successes and turbulent turns in between
The Golden Throne | Christopher de Bellaigue | $36 99 | Random House Istanbul, 1538 Suleyman the Magnificent is at the pinnacle of world power, while his family and future are at the mercy of their own dynastic law The Golden Throne is a globe-spanning and groundbreaking reconstruction of the life of the most feared and powerful man of the 16th century
365+ Ways to Save the Planet and Your Money at the Same Time | Lottie Dalziel | $34 99 | Murdoch
If you want to help the planet and change the way you spend your money but don't know where to start, Dalziel’s practical guide is the answer, showing you that sustainable, low-waste living is possible on a budget - and you'll save money too
Dressed in Black: The ShangriLas | Lisa MacKinney | $39 99 | NewSouth Books
The Shangri-Las formed in 1963 and had a meteoric rise to fame
Their career was cut short for reasons largely beyond their control, derailed by the machinations of unethical record executives Dispelling myths and mysteries, historian Lisa MacKinney tells the Shangri-Las' story.
How Australian Democracy Works | Edited by Amanda Dunn | $34 99 | Thames & Hudson
Trust in Australian politics and politicians is at an all-time low From political polarisation to the spread of disinformation, the truth can be hard to find This book looks at our country's political health and provides a helpful guide to understanding our nation's political history and our place in the world An honest, timely and informed call to examine, rethink and safeguard Australia's unique democracy
The Complete Illustrated Guide to Japanese Cooking | Sachiyo Harada | $60 00 | Hardie Grant
Interest in Japan and Japanese cooking is at an all-time high, but cooking the food at home can still feel daunting to many Featuring 100 recipes plus step-by-step illustrations, this cute and functional guide provides the best possible overview of Japan’s cuisine You’ll also learn the basics, techniques and ingredients that will help you cook Japanese food like a chef!
Stella: The Meerkat Burglar | Megan Hess | $26 99 | Hardie Grant | 3+
All Stella wants is a home and a friend But what happens when she finds the most wonderful home in Paris and it’s the Louvre Museum, where animals are not allowed? Stella transforms into the meerkat burglar and finds a way to share the most famous art in the world with the animals of Paris (including the ever-chic Claris!)
Prince of Fortune | Lisa Tirreno | $24 99 | Simon & Schuster
Shy Prince Edmund, destined to be King, feels pressure to make a diplomatic alliance through marriage That is, until he meets Lord Aubrey Ainsley As the two become intertwined, the nation of Saben falls under attack Edmund and Aubrey must find the power to create a future for Saben – and for each other
Henry, Like Always | Jenn Bailey | $10 99 | Chronicle Books
Henry likes how Classroom Ten is always the same But this week, Henry's class will have a parade, and a parade means this week is not like always Join Henry as he navigates the ups and downs of the classroom, and days that feel a little too orange With a child on the autism spectrum at its centre, this is a warm, reassuring read for all school-bound kids
Paletas | Aaron Bowersock | $19 99 | Hardie Grant
Bursting with vibrant splashes of summer colours, Paletas introduces little ones to the names of their favourite ice-pop flavours, from watermelon to mango to coconut and so many more The bright contrasting shapes on every page are easy for infants to perceive, making this high-contrast board book the perfect tummy-time companion
Unicorn Academy: Legendary Summer | $14 99 | Nosy Crow
It's the summer holidays at Unicorn Academy and Layla is staying on Unicorn Island to work as a research assistant Layla and her unicorn Glacier discover a flower on Grimoria that they bring back to the Island, but the flower unleashes an evil plant monster, Tabaditha, who steals magic from anything she touches, including Glacier! Will Layla be able to stop Tabaditha and save her beloved unicorn?
Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls | Elena
Favilli & Francesca Cavallo | $46 00 | Dorling Kindersley
With 22 new entries, this revised edition of GNSFRG features 110 stories about women and girls who have done extraordinary things, from Cleopatra to Rosa Parks, Ruth Bader Ginsburg to Afghani rapper Sonita Alizadeh, and Greta Thunberg to Judy Blume Each entry is a real-world fairy tale, where women are the heroes of their own stories
My Shadow is Blue | Scott Stuart | $24 99 | Simon & Schuster
A gentle exploration of gender expression and constructs from bestselling Australian author Scott Stuart Scott explores an empathetic, inclusive masculinity and envisions what is possible when children are empowered to stand up for those who suffer due to the gender binary – Carolina
Ogg | H P Fryer | $26 99 | Scholastic | 3+
Ogg’s problem is that he just happens to be the younger brother of Merlin, the greatest wizard of all time A cheeky, often hilarious, picture book about finding your place in the world and becoming your best self, Ogg is a wonderful readout-loud, read-together rollicking good time – Robert
The Biggest Breakfast | Richard Jones | $24 99 | Simon & Schuster
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and everyone wants a bite! A young boy finds himself in a pickle as he shares his breakfast with a cast of unique and funny animals With fold-out pages and striking art, this book is perfect for early learners – Adina
Something Good | Kenneth Kraegel | $29 99 | Walker Books | 2+
This whimsical tale follows a little girl whose already disastrous day takes a wild turn after discovering a pair of magical socks With its charming illustrations and sweet, hopeful message, Something Good is sure to brighten any young reader’s day – Vevie
Wildsmith | Liz Flanagan | $19 99 | Affirm Press
When Rowan is sent to live with her grandfather on the edge of the Dark Forest, she soon discovers there may be secrets (and dragons) within A likeable protagonist who speaks her mind and environmental themes makes this a delightful book filled with magic – Ruby
The Boy Who Didn’t Want to Die | Peter Lantos | $24 99 | Scholastic
During WWII, young Peter and his parents travel across Europe from Hungary looking for refuge The journey becomes one of survival, with Peter’s strong relationship with his mother explores human connection and hope in the face of extreme violence – Amelia
First Name Second Name | Steve MinOn | $32 99 | UQP
A restless corpse travels back through four generations of family history With a strong premise that gripped me right from the get-go, Minon’s debut novel is a completely unique exploration of Australia’s migration history from China and Scotland, and of forces which shape one ’ s racial and sexual identity – Steph
One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This |
Omar El Akkad| $32 99 | Text
In a deeply personal, global and sociological criticism of Western liberal ideals, El Akkad’s book is both a dissertation on immigrant experience and a reckoning with Western ambivalence towards the atrocities in Gaza A necessary but uncomfortable book – Hugh
Between Two Rivers | Moudhy AlRachid | $34 99 | Hachette
Ancient Mesopotamia had a monumental impact on written language, mathematics, science and culture Here, Al Rashid humanises the past through an examination of artefacts from the world’s oldest museum giving insight into the personalities of their owners and revealing the story of history – Arabella
The Unworthy | Agustina Bazterrica | $29 99 | Allen & Unwin
The women (the Unworthy) make sacrifices, atone and assist They wait for the haze to end, for animals to return One writes with her blood, trying to recover memories This is outstanding South American horror, highlighting how abuse of power and climate change can terrify more than torture and death – Lexie
Fugitives | Danny Orbach | $34 99 | NewSouth Books
The USA’s post--war hunt for Nazi war criminals waned early in favour of getting their hands on anyone possibly useful against the Soviets But just how many combat arms Nazis were recruited by foreign intelligence services? This is an astonishing and eye-opening piece of forgotten history – Connor
Studio Ghibli Origami | Insight
Editions | $32 99 | Simon & Schuster
Create your very own, super cute origami versions of Totoro, Ponyo, Calcifer, No Face and my personal favourite Ghibli character, Jiji! Included are easy to follow steps to get you folding as well as lots of coloured paper, character bios and more – Steph
The Last Murder at the End of the World: Dyslexia Friendly Edition | Stuart Turton | $34 99 | Bloomsbury
Outside the island there is nothing, the world destroyed by a killer fog On the island,122 villagers and 3 scientists live in harmony The villagers fish, farm, feast and do what they’re told until one of the scientists is murdered The event lowers the island’s security system that keeps the fog at bay If the murder isn’t solved within 107 hours, the fog will descend; but the system also wipes everyone ’ s recent memories leaving someone unaware they are a killer
The Dutch House: Dyslexia Friendly Edition | Ann Patchett | $29 99 | Bloomsbury
Post WWII, Cyril Conroy's investments take his family from poverty to wealth He buys the Dutch House, a lavish mansion in Philadelphia, setting in motion the undoing of his family With Cyril distant and their mother absent, son Danny and daughter Maeve grow up watched only by the house’s former owners, depicted in the oil paintings in the house After their new stepmother arrives, the siblings are tossed back into poverty and must learn to rely on each other to survive
Such a Fun Age: Dyslexia Friendly Edition | Kiley Reid | $29 99 | Bloomsbury
When Emira is apprehended at a supermarket for kidnapping the white child she is actually babysitting, it sets off an explosive chain of events Her employer Alix, a feminist blogger with the best of intentions, resolves to make things right But Emira herself is aimless, broke and wary of Alix’s desire to help When a surprising connection emerges between the two women, it sends them on a crash course that will upend everything they think they know – about themselves, each other and the messy dynamics of privilege
Circe: Dyslexia-Friendly Edition | Madeline Miller | $34 99 | Bloomsbury
In the house of the Titan god Helios, a strange child is born, unlike her parents in every way Scorned and rejected, Circe grows up in the shadows But she has a dark power of her own: witchcraft When her gift threatens the gods, she is banished to an island where she hones her craft Unexpectedly visited by the mortal Odysseus, she risks everything for him Circe’s tale is a vivid, mesmerizing epic of family rivalry, love and loss, and the defiant, inextinguishable song of woman burning hot and bright through the darkness of a man ’ s world
Piranesi: Dyslexia Friendly Edition | Susanna Clarke | $29 99 | Bloomsbury
Piranesi lives in the House Day after day, he makes a careful record of its wonders: the labyrinth of halls, the thousands of statues, the tides that thunder up staircases, the clouds that move slowly through the upper halls He takes tributes of food to the Dead and, on Tuesdays and Fridays, he sees his friend, the Other Mostly, he is alone Then messages begin to appear on the pavements; there is someone new in the House Who are they and what do they want? Are they a friend or foe? The world that Piranesi thought he knew becomes strange and dangerous and secrets must be uncovered
The Theory of Everything: Yumna Kassab in-conversation with Sarah Malik
Wednesday 12th March at 7pm
Upstairs at Better Read Than Dead
First Name Second Name: Steve MinOn in-conversation with Michael Mohammed Ahmad and Shirley Lee
Thursday 20th March at 6.30pm
Upstairs at Better Read Than Dead
The Mix-Up: Kylie Ladd in-conversation with Michelle Barraclough
Thursday 27th March at 6 30pm
Upstairs at Better Read Than Dead For more information, to find out what else is on this month and to RSVP, head to www.betterreadevents.com