How Should One Read a Book? by Virginia Woolf

$16.99 AUD

Category: Writing

"Where are we to begin? How are we to bring order into this multitudinous chaos and so get the deepest and widest pleasure from what we read?" Published for the first time as a standalone volume, Virginia Woolf's short, impassioned essay, How Should One Read a Book? celebrates the enduring importance of great literature. In this timeless manifesto on the written word, rediscover the joy of reading and the power of a good book to change the world. One of the most significant writers of the 20th Century, Woolf is as relevant today as she was a hundred years ago. ...Show more

Meanjin Vol 79 No 3 by Jonathan Green

$24.99 AUD

Category: Writing

100 Children's Books That Inspire Our World by Colin Salter

$32.99 AUD

Category: Writing

An amazing collection of the most beloved, original, inspiring, hysterical, heart-warming, compelling, rude and downright scary books that have enchanted children the world over. In 100 Children's Books That Inspired Our World, author Colin Salter brings together an exceptional collection of truly groundbreaking children's books - from Mark Twain's Tom Sawyer to the graphic novels of Dr. Seuss. All the classic children's authors are represented with one stand-out book, plus mentions for their best-known works. Ordered chronologically, the book features favourite children's books ranging from Victorian classics to modern day bestsellers. Entries include: Alice in Wonderland, Treasure Island, Charlotte's Web, A Series of Unfortunate Events, Matilda, Watership Down, Tales of Hans Christian Anderson, Grimms Fairy Tales, Peter Pan, A Bear Called Paddington, The Snowman, The Secret Garden, How to Train Your Dragon, Anne of Green Gables, Harry Potter, James and the Giant Peach, The Gruffalo, Mr Men, Coraline, Herge's Adventures of TinTin, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, Finn Family Moomintroll, Swiss Family Robinson, Heidi, The Hobbit, The Red Balloon, The Jungle Book, Mary Poppins, The Tale of Peter Rabbit, His Dark Materials, The Railway Children, Noddy, The House at Pooh Corner, The Sheep Pig, Stig of the Dump, Fungus the Bogeyman, Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, Secret Seven, Famous Five, Black Beauty, The Diary of a Young Girl, The Boy in Striped Pyjamas, Artemis Fowl and many more who lived happily ever after. ...Show more

Creativity: A Short and Cheerful Guide by John Cleese

$19.99 AUD

Category: Writing | Reading Level: near fine

____________________________ PRE-ORDER NOW- AVAILABLE 3rd SEPTEMBER 2020 Creativity is usually regarded as a mysterious, rare gift that only a few possess. John Cleese begs to differ, and in this short, immensely practical and often very amusing guide he shows it's a skill that anyone can acquire. Drawi ng on his lifelong experience as a writer, he shares his insights into the nature of the creative process, and offers advice on how to get your own inventive juices flowing. What do you need to do to get yourself in the right frame of mind? When do you know that you've come up with something that might be worth pursuing? What do you do if you think you've hit a brick wall? Not only does he explain the way your mind works as you search for inspiration, he also shows that, regardless of the task you've set yourself, you can learn to be better at coming up with a promising idea, refining it and knowing when you're ready to act on it. We can all be more creative. John Cleese shows us how ...Show more

Cult Writers by Ian Haydn Smith; Kristelle Rodeia (Illustrator)

$24.99 AUD

Category: Writing | Series: Cult Figures Ser.

In Cult Writers Ian Haydn Smith introduces 50 novelists deserving of a cult status. The literary genres and subjects explored within these writers’ pages are rich and diverse – acting as mirrors of their genius minds: from Irvine Welsh’s gritty Edinburgh streets, to Ken Kesey&rsqu o;s drug-fuelled madness; from feminist trailblazer Sylvia Plath to the magical realism of Angela Carter. Discover little knowns with small, devout followings and superstars gracing the covers of magazines: each writer is special in their individuality and their ability to inspire, antagonise and delight.  Following Cult Artists, Cult Filmmakers and Cult Musicians, Cult Writers is an essential addition to any book lover's library, as well as an entertaining introduction to our weird and wonderful world of literature.The writers:  Kathy Acker, James Baldwin, J.G. Ballard, Mikhail Bulgakov, Charles Bukowski, William S. Burroughs, Octavia E. Butler, Italo Calvino, Albert Camus, Angela Carter, Colette, Maryse Conde, Julio Cortazar, Philip K. Dick, Douglas Coupland, Marguerite Duras, Ralph Ellison, Elena Ferrante, Janet Frame, Jean Genet, Joseph Heller, Michel Houellebecq, James Joyce, Franz Kafka, Ken Kesey, Chris Kraus, Milan Kundera, Ursula K. Le Guin, Doris Lessing, Cormac McCarthy, Carson McCullers, Yukio Mishima, Haruki Murakami, Anais Nin, Sylvia Plath, Thomas Pynchon, Raymond Queneau, Ayn Rand, Pauline Reage, Jean Rhys, Juan Rulfo, Francoise Sagan, J.D. Salinger, Arkady and Boris Strugatsky, Donna Tartt, Jim Thompson, J.R.R. Tolkien, Kurt Vonnegut, Virginia Woolf, Irvine Welsh. ...Show more

Dreyer's English by Benjamin Dreyer

$19.99 AUD

Category: Writing

''An utterly delightful book to read, Dreyer''s Englishwill stand among the classics on how to use the English language properly.'' ELIZABETH STROUT ''A complete joy. For those who care about words - and for those who don''t - Dreyer''s English is the book we have all been waiting for. Wise, funny, no-n onsense, stylish and brilliantly practical. Ditch the beach books this year; take this instead.''RACHEL JOYCE _______________________ An indispensable, New York Times-bestsellingguide to the craft of writing from Random House''s long-time copy chief and one of Twitter''s leading language gurus. We all write, all the time- books, blogs, tweets, emails, emails, emails - and we all want to write better. Benjamin Dreyer is here to help. As Random House''s copy chief, Dreyer has upheld the standards of the legendary publisher for more than two decades. He is beloved by authors and editors alike - not to mention his followers on social media - for playfully, brilliantly deconstructing the English language. Dreyer''s English is the distillation of everything he has learned from copyediting thousands of books, the perfect guide not just for writers but for everyone who wants to put their best prose foot forward. Both authoritative and amusing, Dreyer''s Englishoffers lessons on punctuation, from the underloved semicolon to the enigmatic en-dash; the rules and non-rules of grammar, including why it''s OK to begin a sentence with ''And'' or ''But'' and to confidently split an infinitive; and why it''s best to avoid the doldrums of the Wan Intensifiers and Throat Clearers, including ''very'', ''rather'', ''of course'', and the dreaded ''actually''. And yes- ''Only godless savages eschew the Oxford comma.'' Stuffed with advice, insider wisdom, and fun facts, this book will prove to be invaluable to everyone who wants to shore up their writing skills, mandatory for people who spend their time editing and shaping other people''s prose, and - perhaps best of all - an utter treat for anyone who simply revels in language. _______________________ This book is written in British English._______________________''A fascinating guide to grammatical "rights" and "wrongs" - practical and useful''SUNDAY TIMES ''Benjamin Dreyer''s brilliant, pithy, incandescently intelligent book is to contemporary writing what Geoffrey Chaucer''s poetry was to medieval English- a gift that broadens and deepens the art and the science of literature by illustrating that convention should not stand in the way of creativity, so long as that creativity is expressed with clarity and with conviction.'' JON MEACHAM ''Meet the guardian of grammar who wants to help you be a better writer. Benjamin Dreyer sees language the way an epicure sees food. And he finds sloppiness everywhere he looks.''THE NEW YORK TIMES ''A fascinating guide to grammatical ''rights'' and ''wrongs'' - practical and useful'' SEBASTIAN FAULKS,SUNDAY TIMES ''If learning about the pillars of punctuation and grammar doesn''t excite you, let Benjamin Dreyer change your mind ... he analyzes the English language without dipping into the drab technicalities, crafting a pleasing read for anyone who has an appreciation for the written word.''TIME MAGAZINE,BEST 10 NON-FICTION BOOKS OF 2019 ''Witty and piquant ... full of jokes - and equally full of deliciously deprecating footnotes.'' JEWISH CHRONICLE ''Playful, smart, self-conscious, and personal . . . One encounters wisdom and good sense on nearly every page of Dreyer''s English.''WALL STREET JOURNAL ''Destined to become a classic.''THE MILLIONS ''A mind-blower--sure to jumpstart any writing project, just by exposing you, the writer, to Dreyer''s astonishing level of sentence-awareness.'' GEORGE SAUNDERS, author of Lincoln in the Bardo ''Pleasurable and instructive ... You can read Dreyer''s Englishright through with unalloyed enjoyment, and learn a lot from it- not only from its rulings but from its attitude ... Benjamin Dreyer is wise and bitterly experienced and fantastically good company. You should buy his book and read it.'' TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT ''Dreyer can help you . . . with tips on punctuation and spelling. . . . Even better- He''ll entertain you while he''s at it.''NEWSDAY ''Boisterously well written ... I recommend it highly.'' INDEPENDENT ''It is Benjamin Dreyer''s intense love for the English language and his passion for the subject that make the experience of reading Dreyer''s Englishsuch a pleasure, almost regardless of the invaluable and practical purpose his book serves in such dark and confusing times for grammar and meaning.'' AYELET WALDMAN & MICHAEL CHABON ''An informative and entertaining handbook on how to write clearer English. It''s pithy, witty and a near perfect example of the kind of writing it advocates'' STING ''Dreyer promises to reveal "some of the fancy little tricks I''ve come across or devised that can make even skilled writing better", and does so with accuracy, style, and humour'' GUARDIAN ''This work is that rare writing handbook that writers might actually want to read straight through, rather than simply consult.'' PUBLISHERS WEEKLY ...Show more

Fierce Bad Rabbits by Clare Pollard

$22.99 AUD

Category: Writing

What is The Tiger Who Came to Tea really about? How is Meg and Mog related to Polish embroidery? And why does death in picture books involve being eaten? Fierce Bad Rabbits explores the stories behind our favourite picture books, weaving in tales of Clare Pollard's childhood reading and her re-discovery of the classic tales as a parent. Because the best picture books are far more complex than they seem - and darker too. Monsters can gobble up children and go unnoticed, power is not always used wisely, and the wild things are closer than you think. ...Show more

Find Your Creative Mojo - How to Overcome Fear, Procrastination and Self-Doubt to Express YourTrue Self by Josh Langley

$24.99 AUD

Category: Writing

First You Write a Sentence:The Elements of Reading, Writing ... and Life by Joe Moran

$22.99 AUD

Category: Writing

The sentence is the common ground where every writer walks. A poet writes in sentences, but so does the unsung author who came up with Items trapped in doors cause delays. A good sentence can be written (and read) by anyone if we simply give it the gift of our time. Enter widely-acclaimed author Profes sor Joe Moran. Using minimal technical terms, First You Write a Sentence is his unpedantic but authoritative explanation of how the most ordinary words can be turned into verbal constellations of extraordinary grace. Using sources ranging from the Bible and Shakespeare to George Orwell and Maggie Nelson, and scientific studies of what can best fire the reader's mind, he shows how we can all write in a way that is clear, compelling and alive. Along the way he reveals how good writing can help us notice the world, make ourselves known to others and live more meaningful lives. It's an elegant gem in praise of the English sentence. ...Show more

Griffith Review 68: Getting On by Ashley Hay

$27.99 AUD

Category: Writing | Series: Griffith Review Ser.

In a world where seventy is the new fifty, old age isn't what it used to be. By 2060, the ratio of Australians aged over sixty-five will have passed one in four. This unprecedented demographic transformation marks a quiet revolution with far-reaching consequences for both individuals and wider society. As the proportion of older people continues to rise, how will working patterns, leisure habits and modes of living be reshaped and refashioned to answer future needs? How will this shift in the balance of the population be addressed? Will our seniors be celebrated or marginalised, powerful or powerless? What approach will Australia take to the global phenomenon of long life? And how might listening to the wisdom of our elders change everyone's world? ...Show more

Griffith Review 70 - Generosities of Spirit by Ashley Hay (Editor)

$27.99 AUD

Category: Writing

Is empathy, like water, in increasingly short supply?Now more than ever we need empathy, and Griffith Review 70: Generosities of Spirit explores and celebrates generosities and kindnesses, those uplifting and memorable experiences that illuminate our lives. Featuring inspiring despatches from the frontl ines of generosity – stories that delve into the transformative power of the positive in our everyday world – this edition also presents the winners of the Novella Project VIII, alongside exciting new short fiction and non-fiction, and a stunning collection of new Australian poetry.As well as offering perfect holiday reading, Griffith Review 70: Generosities of Spirit introduces The Elemental Summer, a timely new print and online series that will follow the climate emergency through the 2020–2021 summer, whatever it brings.Contributors include Claire G Coleman, Thomas Mayor, Kristina Olsson, Adam Thompson, Kate Veitch, Mikele Prestia, Joelle Gergis, Rhianna Boyle, Allanah Hunt, Linda Neil and more. This edition is published with the support of the Copyright Agency's Cultural Fund and McLean Foundation. ...Show more

K. by Roberto Calasso

$22.99 AUD

Category: Writing | Series: Penguin Modern Classics Ser.

What are Kafka's stories about? Are they dreams? Allegories? Symbols? Things that happen every day? But where and when? In this remarkable book, Roberto Calasso sets out not to dispel the mystery but to let it be illuminated by its own light. With his unique vision, imagination, and intellectual acumen , Calasso attempts to enter the flow, the tortuous movement, the physiology of the stories to discover what they are meant to signify and to delve into the most basic question: Who is K.? ...Show more