American humourist P.J. O'Rourke once said, "Always read something that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it." But sometimes we simply feel like reading something other than all those worthy and impressive literary award winners - something lighter but still well-written, something wonderfully witty which makes us laugh out loud, or maybe just a cracking good adventure. So for all of you who wander in and tell us that you're looking for something different to read, but you don't really know what you want; or who need something for a friend in hospital; or a book to take on holiday; or just something to escape from the grimness of the nightly news - we are delighted to present a new area in our bookshop entitled "Feel-Good Reads."
Titles include both fiction and non-fiction options - beloved classics from P.G. Wodehouse, Barbara Pym, and Nancy Mitford; hilarious travel narratives from Bill Bryson; amusing essays from David Sedaris and Augusten Burroughs; modern Australian classics from John Clarke, Shane Maloney, and Thea Astley; plus many more from Kurt Vonnegut's Breakfast of Champions to Sue Townsend's Adrian Mole series; from Alexander McCall-Smith's warm and witty Scottish tales to Paul Carter's gripping and often hilarious true-life adventures.
We will also be promoting Feel-Good Friday where we will feature a chosen title from these shelves and posting on facebook, twitter and instagram so keep an eye out for your next great read.
| Author: | Graeme Simsion |
| Category: |
Feel Good Fiction |
| Series: | Don Tillman Ser. |
| Reading Level: | 1 Fiction |
I was standing on one leg shucking oysters when the problems began...'
Don and Rosie are back in Melbourne after a decade in New York, and they're about to face their most important project. Their son, Hudson, is having trouble at school- his teachers say he is... read more
| Author: | Rebecca Huntley; Sarah Macdonald |
| Category: |
Feel Good Non-fiction |
| Reading Level: | 4 Non Fiction |
We've all had days when if we didn't laugh, we'd cry. Whether it's a domestic drama, career cockup or just a run-of-the-mill disaster, we've all been there - no matter who we are. In this hilarious and moving collection, well-known Australians from all walks of life ... read more
| Author: | Diana Evans |
| Category: |
Feel Good Fiction |
| Awards: | Shortlisted for the 2019 Women's Prize for Fiction |
One of The Millions' "Most Anticipated" Books of 2018
Evoking the sharp insight of Little Fires Everywhere and the sweep of NW, an incisive portrait of the bliss and torment of domestic love.
Hailed as "one of the most thrilling writers at work today" (Huffington ... read more
| Author: | Beth O'Leary |
| Category: |
Feel Good Fiction |
| Reading Level: | 1 Fiction |
A quirky love story from a fresh new talent. The MUST READ book for 2019
'The new Jojo Moyes ... This has all the ingredients of Me Before You' COSMOPOLITAN
'Funny and winning ... a Richard Curtis rom-com that also has its feet firmly planted in real life. A real tr... read more
| Author: | Andrew Sean Greer |
| Category: |
Feel Good Fiction |
| Reading Level: | very good |
| Awards: | Winner - ABIA International Book of the Year 2019 Shortlisted ABIA International Book of the Year 2019 WINNER OF THE PULITZER PRIZE FOR FICTION 2018 A New York Times Notable Book of 2017 A Washington Post Top Ten Book of 2017 A San Francisco Chronicle Top Ten Book of 2017 Longlisted for the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence, the Lambda Award and the California Book Award. |
WINNER OF THE PULITZER PRIZE FOR FICTION 2018
'You will sob little tears of joy' Nell Zink 'I recommend it with my whole heart' Ann Patchett 'I adore this book' Armistead Maupin 'Charming, languid and incredibly funny, I absolutely adored Arthur' Jenny Colgan 'Marvellously... read more
| Author: | Maria Semple |
| Category: |
Feel Good Fiction |
To her Microsoft- guru husband, Bernadette is a fearlessly opinionated partner; to fellow private- school mothers in Seattle, she's a disgrace; to design mavens, she's a revolutionary architect; and to 15- year- old Bee, she's a best friend and, simply, Mom. Bee... read more
| Author: | Jonas Jonasson; Rachel Willson-Broyles |
| Category: |
Feel Good Fiction |
The sequel to Jonas Jonasson's international bestseller The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared It all begins with a hot air balloon trip and three bottles of champagne. Allan and Julius are ready fo... read more
| Author: | Minnie Darke |
| Category: |
Feel Good Fiction |
| Reading Level: | 1 Fiction |
Marian Keyes meets Love Actually in this fresh, funny and gloriously romantic Australian novel that has sold all around the world.In this sparkling romantic comedy, a young journalist tampers with her magazine's horoscopes to win her friend's heart - and sets in motion an unpred... read more
| Author: | Graeme Simsion |
| Category: |
Feel Good Fiction |
| Series: | Don Tillman |
| Reading Level: | very good |
| Awards: | Winner of Australian Book Industry Awards, Book of the Year 2014 (Australia) and Victorian Premier's Award for Best Unpublished Manuscript 2012 (Australia). Short-listed for ABA Nielsen BookData Booksellers Choice Award 2014 (Australia) and The Indie Awards 2014 (Australia) and Waverton Good Read Award 2014 (UK). Long-listed for International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award 2015 (Ireland). |
Don Tillman is getting married. He just doesn't know who to yet. But he has designed the Wife Project, using a sixteen-page questionnaire to help him find the perfect partner. She will most definitely not be a barmaid, a smoker, a drinker, or a late-arriver. Rosie J... read more
| Author: | Sarah Winman |
| Category: |
Feel Good Fiction |
| Awards: | Winner of Galaxy National Book Awards: Galaxy New Writer of the Year 2011. Shortlisted for Galaxy National Book Awards: WH Smith Paperback of the Year 2011. |
Sarah Winman's bestselling, critically-acclaimed debut novel WHEN GOD WAS A RABBIT continues to captivate and enchant readers. 1968. The year Paris takes to the streets. The year Martin Luther King loses his life for a dream. The year Eleanor Maud Portman is born. Young... read more
| Author: | Joseph Heller |
| Category: |
Penguin Spinner Fiction |
This fiftieth-anniversary edition commemorates Joseph Heller's masterpiece with a new introduction; critical essays and reviews by Norman Mailer, Alfred Kazin, Anthony Burgess, and others; rare papers and photos; and much more.
... read more
| Author: | Amy Poehler |
| Category: |
Feel Good Non-fiction |
Part memoir, part 'missive-from-the-middle', Yes Please is a hilarious collection of stories, thoughts, ideas, haikus and words-to-live-by drawn from the life and mind of acclaimed actress, writer and comedian Amy Poehler. Yes Please finds Amy riffing on everything from sex an... read more
