Posted 07.12.2022
Christmas 2022 Staff Picks
Louise Cornege, Marketing & Publicity Manager, recommends...
- The Jammeris the absolute perfect gift the tween book worm in your life. I’ll be gifting a copy to my eleven-year old niece who is just as plucky as Fred, the young roller-derby enthusiastic at the centre of Nova’s moving book.
Madonna Duffy, Publishing Director, recommends...
- I’ll be giving a copy of Sarah Malik’s absorbing memoir Desi Girlto my goddaughter, who loves books on brave women who have achieved through adversity. She’s particularly passionate about books that celebrate cultural diversity and feminism.
- My father will be getting a copy of Ian Kemish’s timely and fascinating The Consul. Ian reflects on his career as head of Australia’s consular service through the most critical times in recent history, from 9/11 and the Bali bombings to hostage crises and Australians fighting in foreign wars.
- My aunt loves stories about Australian history and women’s lives, so she’ll be receiving Marion Stell’s The Bodyline Fix: How women saved cricket. It shines a light on the important role women played in defusing a diplomatic and sporting schism between Australia and England in the 1930s.
Cathy Vallance, Senior Editor, recommends...
- I want to give How to be Prime Minister and Survive Grade Fiveto my daughter's teacher. It's a great, funny book for the classroom so I think it's the perfect end-of-year gift!
Louise McCall, Rights & Contracts Assistant, recommends...
- The Consulby Ian Kemish for my friends. I’ve always travelled on my Australian passport, as I’ve always wanted to be repatriated to Australia in case of an emergency. Reading The Consul affirmed my thinking and made me feel proud to hold an Australian passport. It was a fascinating, educational, and insightful easy read about what goes on behind the scenes, and on the ground, after an overseas disaster where Australians are involved.
Madeline Byrne, Marketing & Publicity Assistant, recommends...
- I’ll be gifting The Keepersthis Christmas. Powerful and incredibly moving, The Keepers explores the darkest of places with some of the dearest characters I’ve ever read.
Ben James, Director, recommends...
- The Way of Dogby Zana Fraillon for my nine-year-old daughter, Lucie, who is obsessed with all things ‘dog’, who is fierce and who howls with her friends, and she will love the cover, the story and the special time reading together in the front room at home.
- Choose Compassion by James Kirby for someone special who is very brave, and who chose compassion and teaches kindness, and is a scientist and philosopher who loves reading books.
- Here Be Leviathans by Chris Flynn for Mum and Dad, because Chris is brilliant, and a wonderful writer, and his stories are so much fun, and they can be read after dinner and shared with their friends.
Margot Lloyd, Senior Editor, recommends...
- This year, I'll be giving Choose Compassion to my dad, because he loves interesting studies into human behaviour, and this book is full of them. Dad believes in kindness, and I think James Kirby's message about our inherent capacity for compassion to others and ourselves will tickle him.
- For my mum, Desi Girl by Sarah Malik will definitely hit the spot. I love the way Sarah writes about her early life as a Muslim woman – the chapter about the year she spent wearing the hijab is fascinating – and I’m looking forward to discussing with Ma the essay about swimming in Australia (and how it’s often inaccessible to non Anglos). Eye opening.
Sally Wilson, Marketing & Publicity Executive, recommends...
- For my two-year-old nephew, I'll be giftingA Tiny Light by national treasure Alison Lester. With its cute illustrations (including Queenslander houses!) and heartwarming message, I'm sure it will become one of his bedtime favourites.
- I usually buy my father-in-law a fascinating non-fiction book - he's a history buff - and this year it's The Consul. As a former public servant, he will be able to relate to the stories of the hard-working men and women of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
- Tell Me Againby Amy Thunig will be going to a few of my friends and fellow book lovers. I know they'll be blown away by Amy's incredible story.
Lauren Draper, Senior Publicist, recommends...
- I'm gifting The Jammer for all my tween cousins: funny, sweet, nostalgic, heart-breaking, it's got a bit of something for everyone. I laughed, I cried, and – most importantly – I cheered for Fred as she re-built a community around her in the wake of a tragic loss. A beautiful story about the strength of friends, family, and roller derby.
Dianne Mai, Marketing Intern, recommends...
- I'm gifting The Wintrish Girl: Talismans of Fateto my nine-year-old cousin. She's a huge fan of magical adventures and I think she'll find the Empire of Arylia as captivating as I did. It's a wildly fun world with an intriguing magic system, and who doesn't love a mismatched trio determined to save the world?
- As a previous film major, I loved Siang Lu's The Whitewash – a black comedy commentary on the historical whitewashing of the Asian film industry. I'll be gifting a few copies to my fellow Asian film enthusiast friends who I'm sure will find the oral documentary-style writing refreshing to read.