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Bookish Gift Guide

There’s nothing better than receiving (or gifting) a perfectly selected book. So, to help with your end of year shopping, we’ve assembled a selection of titles for all the different kinds of readers in your life.

For memoir lovers

There’s an absolute feast of stories awaiting memoir lovers this season, with new releases from literary legends and an iconic ex-politician.

Mother Mary Comes to Me by Arundhati Roy

The first memoir from the Booker Prize–winning novelist, Mother Mary Comes to Me is an ode to freedom, a tribute to thorny love and savage grace.

All I Ever Wanted Was to be Hot by Lucinda Price

Lucinda’s much-loved debut deftly dissects patriarchy, capitalism and the insidious culture that makes women think happiness is just five kilos away.

Book of Lives by Margaret Atwood

Step into the rich creative universe of the multi-award-winning Margaret Atwood in her long-awaited memoir, Book of Lives.

A Different Kind of Power by Jacinda Ardern

When Jacinda became prime minister of New Zealand, she was the youngest female head of government. Discover her remarkable story and extraordinary rise in this deeply personal account.

A Visible Distance by Matt Owens

A testament to learning new things, Matt recounts a decades-long career in design – spanning the DIY rush of the 80’s to the challenges posed by AI for contemporary designers.

For the disgustingly well read

Every gift giver’s nightmare – a book someone has already read. No promises, but cast your search further afield with some of our favourites, including poetry, genre-busting stories and translated fiction.

Stag Dance by Torrey Peters

Three novellas and a romp through gender apocalypse, secret romance and cross-dressing lumberjacks. Torrey's follow-up to her bestselling debut, Detransition, Baby, eschews genre altogether to push the limits of trans writing.

No One Is Talking About This by Patricia Lockwood

A delightfully profane love letter to the infinite scroll, Patricia's debut novel is a must-read for lovers of contemporary fiction and all who inhabit the internet.

The Midnight Timetable by Bora Chung

A masterful collection of literary horror stories constructed around the omens and gossip of the skeleton staff in a labyrinthine research facility during night shift.

Carpentaria by Alexis Wright

Alexis's Carpentaria is an endlessly inventive epic of the Gulf country of north-western Queensland about the residents of Desperance – a town and community in crisis.

For non-readers

For those who have fallen out of love with reading or perhaps not discovered the right story for them, we recommend bold titles from Festival favourites and exciting new voices.

The Slap by Christos Tsiolkas

A classic for a reason, Christos's story about what happens when a man who slaps a child who is not his own is bound to bust any reading slump.

My Husband by Maud Ventura

A suspenseful and darkly funny debut novel, where a sophisticated French woman spends her life obsessing over her perfect husband. Can their marriage survive her passionate love? One word – unputdownable.

Dusk by Robbie Arnott

Robbie's writing always promises total immersion from start to finish. In this tale of loss and redemption, fight and surrender, we inhabit a vivid rendering of the Tasmanian bush as twins hunt a puma prowling the lowlands.

The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley

This genre-bending debut blends time travel, romance and spy thriller as a disaffected civil servant and her charge – a long-dead Victorian polar explorer – discover the intentions of a mysterious new government ministry.

For history buffs

Always armed with niche facts about their latest hyper fixation? Frequently found in the antiquities section? From Ancient Greece and Rome to Australia's dark colonial histories, here’s a list of titles perfect for the curious reader.

Women & Power by Mary Beard

Mary’s feminist manifesto is an incisive look at misogyny – tracing it from Ancient Greece and Rome – all in 115 pages. It’s a rage-inducing read full of rich stories seldom heard.

The Story of Art Without Men by Katy Hessel

Katy's fiercely researched and beautifully designed book is a history of art as it’s never been told before. The gorgeous hardback is bound to win you extra brownie points.

Näku Dhäruk: The Bark Petitions by Clare Wright

Clare Wright’s Democracy Trilogy is a landmark body of work in unpacking Australia’s colonial history. The final, must-read instalment, Näku Dhäruk: The Bark Petitions is a veritable tome delivered by expert hands.

Glorious Exploits by Ferdia Lennon

Sneaking a piece of historical fiction onto the list – sue us. Ferdia's tale is set in Ancient Syracuse, where two unemployed potters and a cast of Athenian prisoners mount Euripedes in an abandoned quarry. A life-affirming read.

For crime aficionados

A selection of true and not-so-true stories of murder, espionage and international law for the thrill-seekers and would-be sleuths in your life. Take your pick from local and international authors.

Clown Town by Mick Herron

Mick Herron is any crime lover’s kryptonite. His latest is just out and itching to be read. Prepare for more of Slough House’s signature brand of chaos and Mick’s acerbic wit.

Penance by Eliza Clark

Essential reading for those with a penchant for true crime, Eliza Clark’s brilliant work of metafiction follows a small town on the anniversary of a tragic event.

Girl Falling by Hayley Scrivenor

A dramatic and utterly compelling read set in the Blue Mountains, Hayley's latest forces us to confront the stories we tell ourselves about the people we love.

The Mushroom Tapes by Helen Garner, Chloe Hooper and Sarah Krasnostein

Lone wolves of true crime unite to unravel the infamous Leongatha mushroom murders. Expect impressions from inside the courtroom, media scrums and stakeouts in Morwell.

What's on your shopping list these holidays? Let us know if you pick something from the list as a gift for a loved one – or perhaps for yourself!