News & Reviews

Polis — between 650BCE and 350CE a loose collection of up to 1,500 self-governing city-states had a direct say in their government through philosophical debate and collaboration. The Polis was a resilient and adaptable

Were you a fan of Hamnet, or The Marriage Portrait, by Maggie O’Farrell. Perhaps you loved Matrix by Lauren Groff. If so you’re sure to love this detective novel set in renaissance Florence. Cosimo di Giovanni

Dear Friends, Last minute and a rare opportunity: Geraldine Brooks was at Bookoccino last Friday to sign copies of Memorial Days, “a heart-rending and beautiful memoir of sudden loss and journey toward peace.” Geraldine and

From a ‘factory,’ with only cold showers, no air conditioning, and ferocious mosquitos, an enigmatic, reclusive former engineer in the People’s Liberation Army who grew up in poverty, Ren Zhengfei, built the technological behemoth,

I absolutely adore Lawrence Osborne. I know you will too.  Late last year I recommended The Forgiven to Julia, one of our most prolific staff readers. First published in 2012 it is just one

A soaring masterpiece by the Pulitzer-winning author of Overstory. From an island in French Polynesia, Makatea —  whose original inhabitants believed the world was created by Ta’aora dropping pieces of his shell — to the

This week we speak to local author Sarah Turnbull, whose best-selling memoirAlmost French is an enduring Bookoccino favourite. Hi Sarah, Thanks for joining us. We are so looking forward to your conversation with Catherine McKinnon at

The 2024 Bookoccino Reader’s Book of the Year winner is…. Table for Two by Amor Towles. Ahead by a good margin, Amor Towles leads a cast including (according to popularity): Amor Towles with Table for Two

  One of the world’s greatest, most influential – and most recognised – actors for 50 years. Now, Al Pacino writes about how he has done it. A hardscrabble childhood in the Bronx, acting

During Dec 24 and Jan 25 we are offering a free kids hot chocolate for each coloured-in drawing brought into Bookoccino.  

Dear Reader, Thank you for casting your vote on your favourite book among the 12 books we picked in 2024 as Book of the Month. We will count all votes and announce the Reader’s

With love and respect we commemorate and celebrate the life of Susan Duncan, the redoubtable author and Pittwater local, who passed away at her beloved boat-access only home on Salvation Creek last weekend. As

A master of historical fiction with strong, independent women as the lead characters — The Rose Code; The Alice Network — Quinn doesn’t disappoint with the story of four women who move into a

  A literary gem. In an era before cars, when graziers offer a bounty for a puma who is killing their sheep, twins Iris and Floyd, down-and-out children of alcoholic ex-convicts, ride their horses

As perfect a novel as you’ll ever find. Wry and gentle, atmospheric and absorbing, Time of the Child is an enriching story about love and second chances by master storyteller Niall Williams. There are very few