Meet the Book Fair Australia Staff: What are we Reading?

What happens when you put a bunch of book lovers in the same workplace and give them access to far too many books? Naturally, they start reading very different things. From gothic classics and cosy mysteries to sci-fi adventures, unsettling robots and translated web novels, the Book Fair Australia team has been busy turning pages. I asked our staff what they’re currently reading, and the answers prove that there’s really no such thing as a typical Book Fair Australia reader.

Meet Jess! She just finished the classic Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. Published in 1818, Frankenstein is a literary classic that helped shape the horror genre. 

“To echo almost everyone, it is such a thrill and it is shown why she was the base of gothic writers! Monster deserves better, Victor sucks, but all a wonderful novel told about the consequences of man and how we treat others around [us], including our own creations.”

This is Karyn. She’s three quarters of the way through Artemis by Andy Weir, this version narrated by Rosario Dawson. Karyn is an audiobook person, audiobooks are awesome because you can take a good book with you wherever you go, absolutely no page-turning required.

“It's set on the moon but definitely not as space-centric as Project Hail Mary or The Martian. Has Weir's sense of humour and quite a bit of science but is essentially a heist story. Would recommend it for people who enjoy his other stories.”

Next we have Victoria. She’s found Twilight a bit grating, and is now trying William by Mason Coile. This book is the definition of a mind bender; it’s creepy, unpredictable, and guaranteed to leave you questioning just how much you can trust what you’re reading.

“Much more up my alley! A psychological horror about being haunted by an A.I robot that the main character creates.”

Let me introduce Loren next, currently reading The Wife Come First by Lv Ye Qian He, translated by Foxghost. Originally published on JJWXC (Jinjiang Literature City) as a web novel, with 105 chapters and 3 extras. This book is a second-chance historical romance where a terrible prince gets reincarnated and realises, rather inconveniently, that he’s been an absolutely awful husband.

“This is book one in a Chinese Danmei series of political intrigue and unexpected love. I’m loving it.”

This is Ivana, our CEO. She’s just finished reading Reigning Fire by Jasmine K.Y. Loo. Jasmine Loo is an Australian neurodivergent psychologist, her background in psychology shapes the emotional depth and inner lives of her characters. Reigning Fire combines Chinese-inspired mythology, court politics, and fantasy masterfully with ideas of trauma and neurodivergence, this book explores what it means to find a place for yourself in a world that doesn’t seem to have one for you. This book is only made better by her own unique experience both as a psychologist, and a neurodivergent person herself.

“Could not put this book down. Loved every page of it! So glad I picked it up at BFA in Melbourne.”

Tori usually has multiple books on the go at once. She’s currently reading Gate of the Feral Gods by Matt Dinniman as an eBook,  Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson in Paperback, and Golden Son by Pierce Brown on Audio. Narrated by Tim Gerard Renalds, her second favourite audiobook narrator! Tori has acknowledged that her ability to keep multiple books straight is, and I quote, “weird”.

“I just finished The Magical Matcha Tea Shop on eBook, and it was cute!”

And my own personal read, The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart by Holly Ringland is a re-read for me, and a personal favourite. Holly Ringland is an Australian author and TV presenter who was born and raised in South East Queensland. The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart is particularly insightful as it draws on Ringland's own experience with violence, nature and Australia. It is deeply moving and a book I recommend to everyone.

“This book made me cry on the train, and doodle in the margins, which is an honour I have previously reserved for The Book Thief and Maybe I’m Not God (which made me cry so hard a lady asked if I was okay). If you’re looking for a deeply traumatic plot, do not skip this.”

And there you have it, a small glimpse into what’s keeping the Book Fair Australia team turning pages. From monsters and lunar heists to political intrigue, murderous retirees and mythical Wales, our bookshelves are certainly not short on variety. Whatever your taste, we have a recommendation. So, what are you reading at the moment?