Welcome to my reviews blog! I’m the Lit Sponge. 

During my Masters I started spent a lot of time roaming around the aisles of Carlton Readings. Watching new Australian literature appear on the shelves felt like holding my finger to the pulse of the Australian publishing industry, and our country’s wide-ranging identity. It made me want to read more Australian stories, and help other people find those stories.

At the Lit Sponge I review Australian books and talk about the broader social ideas they tap into. If you’re looking for your next local read or how Aussie literature is pushing boundaries this might be the blog for you.

The Lit Sponge also works to recognise and review books by women, people of colour, first nations and LGBTQI+ Australians, who are often sidelined and overlooked in mainstream awards and press.

Follow @Lit_Sponge on Twitter or @thelitsponge on Instagram to stay up to date with new content!

Sarah Layton is a Master of Publishing and Communications graduate, a tea enthusiast and book lover, especially when it comes to local Aussie books. In 2018 she worked as Managing Editor of Antithesis Journal, Poetry Editor for Voiceworks Mag and as a lead editor at Grattan Street Press. Her writing has been published in Antithesis Journal, Voiceworks Mag, Farrago and Phantasmagoria. She is also the author of the academic book chapter ‘Punk Publishing Beyond the Codex’ in Post-Digital Book Cultures, due to be published in June 2021 with Monash University Publishing.