Picks of the month
Spotlight: Chills and Thrills
The Hole by Hye-young Pyun; translated by Sora Kim-Russell
Oghi wakes in a hospital bed unable to speak or move. The car accident that killed his wife has left him trapped in his own body and under the control of his mother-in-law.
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The Night Guest by Hildur Knútsdóttir; translated by Mary Robinette Kowal
Iðunn’s constant fatigue is a sign that something's not right, but practitioners dismiss her symptoms. One night Iðunn falls asleep with her watch on, and wakes up to find she's walked over 40,000 steps in the night . . . What is happening when she's asleep?
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With a Vengeance by Riley Sager
In 1954, Anna Matheson seeks revenge on the six people who destroyed her family. She lures them onto a luxury train from Philadelphia to Chicago, planning to make them confess their crimes. But when a murder occurs, Anna realises someone else on board is seeking vengeance.
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Eyes guts throat bones by Moïra Fowley
What will the end of the world look like? This startling and irresistibly witty collection of short stories are an exploration of all our darkest impulses and deepest fears.
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The Hotel by Daisy Johnson
A place of myths, rumours and secrets, The Hotel looms over the dark Fens, tall and grey in its Gothic splendour. Built on cursed land, a history of violent death suffuses its very foundations - yet it has a magnetism that is impossible to ignore.
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Featured Event
For a fright on film, join us at Paddington Library’s After Hours Film Club on Thursday 30 October for a Halloween double feature: The Moogai (2024), an Indigenous-themed horror, and Lemon Tree (2023), a chilling short with a Halloween twist. Enjoy light refreshments before the screening and stay afterwards for a discussion with our resident film expert, Erin. Both films are recommended for mature audiences.
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Book of the Month: October 2025
On writing: a memoir of the craft by Stephen King
This 25th anniversary edition is a brilliant book on writing from the number one bestselling author Stephen King. Part memoir, part master class, this superb volume is a revealing and practical view of the writer's craft, comprising the basic tools of the trade every writer must have. King's advice is grounded in the vivid memories from childhood through his emergence as a writer, from his struggling early career to his widely reported, near-fatal accident in 1999 - and how the inextricable link between writing and living spurred his recovery.
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Support for Writers
We champion writers through the new Woollahra Libraries Writer in Residence program, options for writing groups, and dedicated sessions like Shut Up and Write. From building community to providing time and space for creativity, there are plenty of ways to grow your writing practice with us.
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