Books we Love

BOOKS WE

MADLY, DEEPLY The Alan Rickman Diaries

Alan Rickman was one of the world-class actors of his generation, as well as a tireless political activist, an avid traveller and a devoted confidant and friend. Through his never-before-seen diaries - a 25-year passion project - Rickman invites readers backstage and into his life. Alan Rickman remains one of the most beloved actors of all time across almost every genre, from his breakout role as Die Hard’s villainous Hans Gruber to his heart-wrenching run as Professor Severus Snape, and beyond. His air of dignity, his sonorous voice and the knowing wit he brought to each role continue to captivate new audiences today. Canongate Trade, RRP $49.99.

THE UNBELIEVED Vikki Petraitis

Winner of the inaugural Allen & Unwin Crime Prize. When Senior Detective Antigone Pollard moves to the coastal town of Deception Bay, she is still in shock and grief. Back in Melbourne, one of her cases had gone catastrophically wrong, and to escape the guilt, she’d requested a transfer to the quiet town she’d grown up in. But a month into her new life, she is targeted by a would-be rapist at the pub and realises why there have been no convictions following a spate of similar sexual attacks. Chilling, timely and gripping, The Unbelieved takes us behind the headlines to a small-town world that is all too real. Allen & Unwin, RRP $32.99.

THE LIGHT WE CARRY Michelle Obama

In her inspiring follow-up to Becoming, former First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama shares practical wisdom and powerful strategies for staying hopeful and balanced in today’s highly uncertain world. With trademark humour, candour, and compassion, she explores issues connected to race, gender, and visibility, encouraging readers to work through fear, find strength in community, and live with boldness. A rewarding blend of powerful stories and profound advice, The Light We Carry will inspire readers to examine their own lives, identify their sources of gladness, and connect meaningfully in a turbulent world. Viking, RRP $55.

THE COMPLETE TRIP IN A VAN GUIDE TO AUSTRALIA Bec and Justin Lorrimer

Plan the trip of a lifetime with expert advice and a full itinerary from Australia’s most popular travelling family. In the seven years since the Trip In A Van family set off on their first adventure, they’ve covered tens of thousands of kilometres and become Australia’s most popular travelling family. Bec and Justin reveal everything you need to know about travelling Australia in a van or motorhome, from choosing your set-up and essential travel gear to packing lists, life admin, budgeting and home-schooling. Allen & Unwin, RRP $49.99.

MURDER MOST ROYAL S.J. Bennett

In the third mystery in the Her Majesty The Queen Investigates series, a murder threatens to ruin Christmas for the monarch. A human hand and a bag of drugs have been found washed up, separately, on a beach next to the Queen’s estate at Sandringham. The Queen identifies the 70 yearold victim, Edward St Cyr, from his signet ring. But the search for his killer is not so straightforward. How do the seemingly disparate pieces of the puzzle fit together? Zaffre, RRP $29.99.

RUNNING UP THAT HILL Tom Doyle

Kate Bush is one of the most idiosyncratic musicians of the modern era. Comprising 50 chapters or “visions”, Running Up That Hill is a multi-faceted biography of this famously elusive figure, viewing her life and work from fresh and illuminating angles. Featuring details from the author’s conversations with Kate, as well as vignettes of her key songs, albums, videos and concerts, this artful, candid and often brutally funny portrait introduces the reader to the refreshingly real Kate Bush. Nine Eight Books, RRP $32.99.

WILDFLOWERS Peggy Frew

A compassionate and surprisingly funny novel that is impossible to put down and even harder to forget, from the award-winning author of Islands. Meg and Nina have been outshone by their younger sister Amber since childhood. But Amber’s life has not gone the way they all thought it would, and now the three of them are together for the first time in years, on the road to a remote holiday rental in Far North Queensland, where Meg and Nina plan on helping Amber overcome her addiction. As good intentions gradually become terrifying reality, these sisters will test the limits of love and the line between care and control. Allen & Unwin, RRP $32.99.