It’s Tas Reads Week, a week‑long celebration of reading, stories and the joy of getting lost in a good book. And given that Hobart is recognised as a UNESCO City of Literature, we couldn’t help but wonder, what are Hobartians actually reading?
We asked three Hobart Local bookshops what’s been flying off the shelves, and the results are a wonderful mix of quirky, nostalgic, and proudly local.
📖 Cracked & Spineless
Psychoactive Plants & Fungi – Liam Engel
A richly illustrated exploration of the plants and fungi that have shaped human culture, Psychoactive Plants & Fungi blends folklore, pharmacology and anthropology into a fascinating global journey. Not a field guide, but a cultural companion for the curious reader, it celebrates our long, complex and often extraordinary relationship with the mind‑shifting species of the plant and fungi kingdoms.
Salem’s Lot (50th anniversary edition) – Stephen King
‘Salem’s Lot brings Stephen King’s chilling second novel back to life, complete with a new introduction by Joe Hill. When writer Ben Mears returns to his hometown, strange disappearances, eerie deaths and an unsettling newcomer signal that something very wrong is waking in the Marsten House. Gripping, atmospheric and utterly iconic – perfect for fans rediscovering King or diving in for the first time.
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe – C. S. Lewis
Step through the wardrobe and into Narnia, where four children discover a snow‑covered world of magic, mystery and the mighty lion Aslan. What begins as Lucy’s unbelievable secret quickly becomes an adventure that transforms Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy forever. A timeless classic about courage, wonder and stepping boldly into the unknown.
The Goth Garden – Felicia Feaster
A darkly delightful wander through the eerie world of Victorian gardeners, obsessive plant hunters and the bewitching botanicals they adored. The Goth Garden uncovers the poisonous, the carnivorous and the spectacularly strange plants that once captivated 19th‑century collectors – and are now inspiring a new wave of goth‑garden growers. Richly illustrated and full of fascinating lore, it’s a gorgeously macabre guide to the shadowy side of the plant kingdom.
📖 Fullers Bookshop
Drawing on two decades of research, Trish Hodge brings together the traditional knowledge of more than 350 native Tasmanian plants – their uses for food, medicine, tools and seasonal understanding. Woven with history and deep cultural insight, this beautiful work honours Aboriginal ecological wisdom and the enduring connection to Country.
Department of the Vanishing – Johanna Bell
Haunting and inventive, Department of the Vanishing imagines a future where birdsong has almost disappeared – and Ava spends her days piecing lost species back together from scraps of art and science. When a figure from her past appears, she’s pulled deep into the archives and towards a secret that could change everything. Blending poetry, narrative and striking imagery, this is a bold, beautiful exploration of extinction, memory and what we choose to save.
A luminous and deeply introspective novel, Moult traces the lives of three brothers across thirteen linked stories – from love and loss to searching for meaning in the forests of Lutruwita / Tasmania and beyond. With poetic language and a contemplative heart, this book explores what remains when we strip life back to its essence. A powerful meditation on family, identity and the quiet act of letting go.
Cold Water Killer – Jude and Alison Alexander
Set against Tasmania’s icy shores, Cold Water Killer dives into the mystery surrounding the sudden death of a hardy cold‑water swimmer. Was it a tragic accident – or something far darker? Written by mother–daughter duo Alison and Jude Alexander, this intriguing Apple Isle thriller blends sharp humour, local colour and simmering suspense. Perfect for readers who love a whodunnit with a distinctly Tasmanian twist.
📖 The Hobart Book Shop
Wild, mythical, and deeply moving, Dusk follows out‑of‑luck twins Iris and Floyd as they head into the highlands to hunt a legendary puma with a bounty on its head. What they find instead is a landscape thick with old stories, buried tensions, and truths they can’t outrun. A powerful tale of survival, loss, and redemption – told with Robbie Arnott’s signature magic.
A Great Act of Love – Heather Rose
Sweeping from revolutionary France to early Hobart, A Great Act of Love follows Caroline Douglas, a young woman who arrives in Van Diemen’s Land carrying a life‑altering secret. Amid wild landscapes, abandoned vineyards, and a colony of exiles, she must rebuild her world and confront the past she has crossed oceans to escape. Inspired by true events, this is a beautifully told saga of legacy, resilience, and the enduring power of family.
The Heir Apparent – Rebecca Armitage
A royally addictive read, The Heir Apparent follows Lexi Villiers – a Hobart medical resident with a secret life – who suddenly finds herself first in line to the British throne. Swept from Tassie calm to palace chaos overnight, Lexi must navigate scandal, power plays, and a love she can’t let go of. Think The Crown with a modern twist: stylish, scandalous, and completely impossible to put down.
What Could Possibly Go Wrong – Paul Helleman
A gripping collection of true stories from the Tasmanian wilderness, What Could Possibly Go Wrong? reveals how quickly an adventure can turn dangerous in our island’s rugged landscapes. Drawing on forty years with Parks and Wildlife, Paul Helleman shares real-life tragedies, close calls, and cautionary tales that will make you think twice – and prepare better – before heading bush – a must-read for anyone who loves Tassie’s wild places.
What are you reading this week?
Check out all the events for Tas Reads Week on the Libraries Tasmania Website.
