Behold the Dreamers
By Imbolo Mbue
"Set in New York in 2008, this is a beautiful novel about the Jonga family, recent immigrants from Cameroon. The husband gets a job as a driver for a Lehman Brothers executive, which brings them into the orbit of wealthy New Yorkers, until the financial crash changes all their lives." – Helen, Accountant

The Starlings
By Vivienne Kelly
"Part family drama, part coming of age story. Set in Melbourne in the 1980s, with lots of footy (of the AFL variety), plus some Shakespeare along with the tales of King Arthur. It is equal parts funny, sad and a little bit heartbreaking." – Miranda, Corporate Partnerships Manager

Embers
By Sandor Marai
"A beautifully written and very moving novel about male friendship, written in the mid-20th century but only translated into English recently. Christopher Hampton, who translated The Father, has written a play based on this novel. Another role for John Bell, perhaps?" – Rebecca, Director, Partnerships

The Old Man and the Sea
By Ernest Hemingway
"A short, gripping classic that Hemingway considered his best work." – Rebecca, Development Coordinator

The Mothers
By Brit Bennett
"Moving at what feels like the pace of life itself, this is a beautifully written coming-of-age and exploration of one young woman’s experience of grief and her coming to terms with the world around her." – Lisa, Education Projects Officer

You can listen to a podcast about the book with Brit Bennett from the 2017 Sydney Writers' Festival. Listen here.

Norse Mythology
By Neil Gaiman
"Master storyteller Neil Gaiman has created a dazzling rendition of the great Norse myths into one novelistic arc. He stays true to the myths while also vividly reincarnating the figures we know and love. A beautiful read for the Summer holidays." – Elyssa, Digital Marketing Manager

The Nearest Thing to Life
By James Wood
"Although so many of us love to consume stories, we rarely question why or what it is we are doing when we pick up a novel and read it from to start to finish. James Wood’s The Nearest Thing to Life is a delicate and thoughtfully explored look at the act of reading and how the novel over time has helped us to understand the shape of our own lives. I would recommend this to anyone who reads. It is a beautifully considered take on reading as a sacred act, both public and private, that brings us closer to ourselves and to the world around us." – Georgie, Donor Program Executive

Dark Emu
By Bruce Pascoe
"Pascoe has synthesised countless primary sources, archeological evidence, official records and historical accounts to create a very readable and very convincing argument for re-imagining pre-colonial Australia. He describes how Aboriginal people successfully and methodically cultivated the land right across the country for thousands of years. And puts forward a rationale for how and why the tag of 'hunter-gatherer' was used to help justify the way in which they were dispossessed and denigrated." – Carl, Content Manager

Bad Feminist
By Roxane Gay
"An inspiring call-to-arms and a breath of fresh air in current feminist discourse. This collection of essays by Roxane Gay is equal parts commentary, memoir and critical analysis." – Elyssa, Digital Marketing Manager

You can listen to a podcast with Roxane Gay from the 2017 Sydney Writers' Festival. Listen here.

At the Existentialist Café
By Sarah Bakewell
"A vibrant and engaging dive into existential philosophy that reveals the ideas, lives and love affairs of the main players along the way." – Sophie, Digital Marketing Coordinator

You can listen to a podcast about the book with Sarah Bakewell from the 2017 Sydney Writers' Festival. Listen here.

Who Thought This Was a Good Idea?
By Alyssa Mastromonaco
"Mastromonaco was Obama’s deputy chief of staff, and this book is an entertaining look at her time in politics. An inspiring read for anyone wanting to be a leader." – Whitney, Production Manager