Michaela talks to one of her favourite writers, Robbie Arnott, about “Dusk”; a beautiful and beguiling tale of siblings, so down on their luck they embark on an impossible quest to slay a puma in the Tasmanian highlands and claim a life-changing bounty. Sarah chats to stand-out millennial Hannah Ferguson about her second book, “Taboo: Conversations we never had about sex, body image, work and relationships” Then, the Tsundoku gang gets together to discuss their favourite books of 2024 and the book they’d most like to find in their Christmas stocking. Guests Robbie Arnott, author of “Dusk” Hannah Ferguson, author of “Taboo: Conversations we never had about sex, body image, work and relationships” Other books that get a mention Robbie Arnott also mentions “Creation Lake” by Rachel Kushner, “The Sound of Waves” by Yukio Mishima, “Deep Water; The world in the ocean” by James Bradley, “Old School” by Tobias Wolff and “The Hobbit” by JRR Tolkien Cath mentions “The Red Children”, “The White Children”, “My Driver” and My Cleaner” by Maggie Gee, Belinder Bauer’s  books “Snap”, “Exit”  and “The Impossible Thing” Annie mentions  “The Sea of Tranquility” by Emily St John Mandel,“The Beesting” by Paul Murray, “Caledonian Roads” by Andrew O’Hagan and the Robert Harris books, “Precipice”, “Pompeii” and “Fatherland” Sarah mentions “Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow” by Gabrielle Zevin, “All Fours” by Miranda July, “The Shadow of the Wind” by Carlos Ruiz Zafon and “Stone Yard Devotional” by Charlotte Wood Michaela mentions “Other Houses” by Paddy O’Rielley and “Orbital” by Samantha Harvey INSTAGRAM @robbie_gc_arnott @macmillanaus @hannahferguson_ @affirmpress

Markus Zusak uses words like “challenging” and “ complex” to describe his three dogs, Reuben, Archie and Frosty. In this interview Zusak recounts the joy of remembering his hounds in all their unvarnished glory for this, his first memoir. Also, the challenge of recording his own audio books, the old favourites he likes to read and re-read “forensically”, and which of his favourite books piqued Archie’s literary tastebuds! + Our beloved reviewers of literary classics, Kylie Cardell and Lisa Bennett, return to reassess Louisa May Alcott’s “Little Women”. Kylie has read it many times and Lisa for the first time this year. The tale has obviously endured in our popular culture, movies and vernacular but is it still a “good read”? Guests: Markus Zusak, author of “Three Wild Dogs and the Truth”. Also “The Book Thief”, “Bridge of Clay”, “The Messenger” and the young adult trilogy “The Underdog”, “Fighting Ruben Wolfe” and “When Dogs Cry”. Associate Professor Kylie Cardell teaches and researches life narrative with the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences, Flinders University. Associate Professor Lisa Bennett teaches undergraduate and Honours classes in Creative Writing and English, Flinders University. Maddie recounts the books she first fell for as a teenager, her passion for Margaret Atwood’s dystopian creations and a series that explores indigenous knowledge. Other books that get a mention: Annie mentions “Butter” by Asako Yuzuki and “All Fours” by Miranda July. Michaela mentions “Want; Sexual fantasies by anonymous” edited by Gillian Anderson. Markus mentions “Demon Copperhead” by Barbara Kingsolver, “All the Pretty Horses” written by Cormac McCarthy and narrated by Brad Pitt, “Cairo” by Chris Womersley, “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape” by Peter Hedges, “The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay” by Michael Chabon and “Barbarian Days; A surfing life” by William Finnegan Maddie mentions young adult author Margaret Clark, “Puberty Blues” by Gabrielle Carey and Kathy Lette, “The Handmaid’s Tale”, “Oryx & Crake”, “The Year of the Flood” and “MaddAddam” by Margaret Atwood, the six-part “First Knowledges” series, in particular “Astronomy” edited by Margo Neale. INSTAGRAM @markuszusak @macmillanaus @kyliesays @lisahannett ReplyForwardAdd reaction

Sean Williams, author of 5 million words, is famous for his hugely successful forays into the worlds of Star Wars, Dr Who, the Marvel Universe, but did you know he also writes ghost stories for young readers? ”Honour Among Ghosts” and “Her Perilous Mansion” are exciting, mysterious, witty and clever reads, officially for 8-12 year olds, but really for anyone who enjoys a rollicking adventure. + It’s a case of “Art vs Mother’ in two “gloriously unhinged…yet deeply philosophical” novels celebrated by our special guest Associate Professor Kylie Cardell. In “Nightbitch” Rachel Yoder’s protagonist unleashes her inner canine to navigate the new imperatives of motherhood. In “All Fours” Miranda July’s heroine, also at a hormonal crossroad, finds a space to explore who she is and what she will make of her changing reality. Guests Sean Williams, author of “Her Perilous Mansion” and “Honour Among Ghosts”. He’s the NYTimes Bestselling author of 50 books and over 120 short stories. Associate Professor Kylie Cardell teaches and researches life narrative with the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences, Flinders University. She's the author of “Dear World: Contemporary Uses of the Diary” and Editor (with Kate Douglas) of “Telling Tales: Autobiography of Childhood and Youth”. She’s also the essays Editor for the Australian scholarly journal, “Life Writing”. Other books that get a mention: Sarah mentions “Shantaram” by Gregory David Roberts. Michaela mentions “Three Wild Dogs and the Truth” by Markus Zusak and Robbie Arnott’s books, “Dusk” and “Limberlost” Sean mentions author Georgette Heyer, his own books “Ink” and “Impossible Music” and the series he co-wrote with Garth Nix, “Troubletwisters” Nikki mentions Hilary Mantel’s books “Wolf Hall” and “Bring up the Bodies” and Anne Patchett’s books “Tom Lake”, “The Dutch House”, “These Precious Days”, “Commonwealth” and “Bel Canto”. She also mentions “Shoe Dog” by Nike’s founder, Phil Knight. INSTAGRAM @allenandunwin @penguinrandomhouse @aucklanduniversitypress @adelaidesean @raijoy @mirandajuly

As Mills and Boon Australia celebrates 50 years of taking readers on journeys of love and lust, Annie speaks with Barbara Hannay about her latest novel, "The Wife's Secret", and Michaela discusses medical romance with Amy Andrews, author of "The Outback Doctor's Surprise Bride".  Guests : Barbara Hannay, author of "The Wife’s Secret" Amy Andrews, author of "The Outback Doctor's Surprise Bride" and co-founder of the "How to Write Academy" (www.howtowriteacademy.teachable.com) Barbara’s recommendations: "Seven Little Australians" by Ethel Turner Amy’s recommendations: "Working Class Boy" and "Working Class Man" by Jimmy Barnes "In Pieces" by Sally Fields  Annie’s recommendations:  "Yellowface" by Rebecca F. Kuang "James" by Percival Everett Michaela’s recommendation: "Other Houses" by Paddy O’Reilly

 Amy Stewart paints a powerful portrait of the human passion for plants in “The Tree Collectors” with fifty different tales of people who, for one fascinating reason or another, devote their life to trees. The book is illustrated with Amy’s vibrant watercolours of the trees and their idiosyncratic owners. Compared in his heyday to Brett Whitely, painter, printmaker, teacher, writer and ornithologist Don Binney (1940–2012) was an artistic icon in New Zealand in the 1960s. His unmistakable, stylised depictions of birds and the Te Henga coastline are imprinted upon the psyche of that nation. Don Binney was a mercurial, eccentric  and often abrasive character whose early brief fame defined his life. In “Don Binney: Flight Path” award-winning author and curator Gregory O’Brien follows the painter from the wild coast of New Zealand through Latin America and Europe, using his letters, journals, and distinctive bird paintings to take us inside Don Binney’s world. Guests Amy Stewart, NYT best-selling author of “The Tree Collectors; Tales of arboreal obsession”, “The Drunken Botanist; The Plants that Create the World’s Great Drinks” and “Wicked Plants; The Weed That Killed Lincoln's Mother & Other Botanical Atrocities”. Greg O’Brien: Wellington-based poet, painter and curator who has written books on art for young people as well as several other books on artists including Ralph Hotere and Pat Hanly, and co-edited several poetry anthologies besides his solo poetry collections. His most recent book of poems is “House and Contents”, Auckland University Press. Other books that get a mention Cath mentions “An Uneasy Inheritance; My family and other radicals” by Polly Toynbee and Shankari Chandran’s new novel “Safe Haven”. Michaela mentiones “The God of No Good” by Sita Walker. INSTAGRAM @amystewart @text_publishing @aucklanduniversitypress

A story that is difficult to pin down to a narrative, playwright Finegan Kruckemeyer’s debut novel explores arrivals and departures, time and space, through the experiences of a curious cast of characters.  + Annie Warburton explores why we read the works of old writers, dissecting the work of Nancy Mitford in the context of her era and the happenings in the world around her.  Guests: Finnegan Kruckemeyer, playwright whose works have been performed on six continents in 12 languages.  Annie Warburton, former ABC Broadcaster and reading addict.  Danny, our Random Reader Danny mentions the following books: “The Hitchikers Guide to the Galaxy” by Douglas Adams Author: Ruth Parks “1984” by George Orwell “The Mayor of Casterbridge” by Thomas Hardy “Les Miserables” by Victor Hugo “Shantaram” by Gregory David Roberts “The Life Of Pi” by Yann Martel “The White Tiger” by Aravind Adiga Author: George Monbiot “Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind” by Yuval Noah Harari “The Dawn of Everything” by David Graeber “Entangled Life” by Merlin Sheldrake “The Well Gardened Mind” by Sue Stuart-Smith “The Secret Life of Trees” by Colin Tudge “The Argonauts” by Maggie Nelson “My Gita” by Devdutt Pattanaik INSTAGRAM @textpublishing

Cath carries this episode with two great chats; the first with author Sophie Cunningham and the other with self-professed “book snob”, Ron Hoenig. = Ostensibly a novel about Alice, a woman who’s spent the last 20 years writing the biography of Virginia Woolf’s husband, Leonard, “This Devastating Fever” is an insightful, moving and witty tale of what it’s like to live through a time that feels like the end of days, and how we can find comfort and answers in the past.​ + Meet Ron Hoenig, member of The Jewish Men’s Book Club where weighty tomes such as “The Book of Jacob” by Olga Tokarczuk (all 1,000 pages of it) are discussed. Guests Sophie Cunningham, author of “This Devastating Fever” and six other books including “Geography” (2004) and “Bird” (2008) Ron Hoenig, enthusiastic member of the Jewish Men’s Book Club. Ron mentions “Anti-Judaism”by David Nirenberg, “Not In God’s Name: Con­fronting Reli­gious Violence”by Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks and “The Book of Jacob”, a novel by Olga Tokarczuk. Other books that get a mention Annie mentions “Kings in Grass Castles” by Mary Durack INSTAGRAM @ultimopress

Peeling back the veneer of the New York art scene, Bri Lee takes readers into the background world that fuels the industry. ‘The Work’ follows the lives of two protagonists from vastly different backgrounds: gallery owner, Lally, and antiquities dealer, Patrick, as they each follow a path to success, but at what cost?  + Victoria Purman takes readers back to the golden years of radio broadcasting in post-war Australia, to the post war world when women were no longer content to sit in the background, instead stepping forward to write radio plays that held a nation captive. 

When a car veers off the road with devastating consequences, the small wheatbelt town of Garringarup is left reeling, but no one's worlds are more shattered than those of Hannah and Freya, the partners of the passengers. On a day when wedding bells should have been ringing, their lives are torn apart by the web of lies the accident has exposed. Think Jodi Picoult meets Liane Moriarty and you have an idea of the fast-paced, page turning ethical dilemmas explored by Fiona Lowe in “The Accident”. + Dumped by her husband of twenty-five years, Jo Peck—smart, successful and sixty—is totally floored. She’s hurt, angry and devastated…but not for long! In this candid memoir Jo discovers the comfort and support of friends, newly forged connections with extended family, good therapy…and internet dating! Annie loved Jo’s raunchy rediscovery of self because, as Jo explained, “The unvarnished truth is very compelling”. Guests Fiona Lowe, author of 37 books. Her latest is “The Accident” Jo Peck author of “Suddenly Single at Sixty” Our random reader is Sameer Other books that get a mention Samir mentions “Master of the Game” by Sidney Sheldon, “Le Miserables” by Victor Hugo, “Cultural Heritage of India” six volumes gathered under the guidance of the Ramakrishna Institute of Culture. Sarah mentions “The Animals in that Country” by Laura Jean McKay.Annie mentions “Long Island” by Colm Toibin. He is the author of 7 books, including “Brooklyn”. INSTAGRAM @fionaloweaustralianauthor @text_publishing @goyougoodthing57 @harpercollinsaustralia

The outwardly comfortable life of mother and wife, Winona Dalloway, has dark currents running beneath. "Thunderhead" is her interior monologue as she navigates the everyday acts of collecting the children from school, shopping and preparing for a dinner party when in fact she is a woman in peril. A homage to Virginia Woolf’s "Mrs Dalloway", "Thunderhead" is a reminder of the terror that can lurk unseen in the lives of others. + Bet Schenk brings a poet’s pared-down style and awareness of the power of language to this story set in a small country town where the local teen hero is actually anything but - and his brother knows the truth. "The Most Famous Boy in Town" is billed as teen fiction but it’s a story for all ages. + Our regular leading literary light Kylie Cardell reviews "Lioness" by Emily Perkins, winner of the 2024 New Zealand Ockham Book Awards. Guests Miranda Darling, author and poet Bel Schenk, author and poet Kylie Cardell, Associate Professor , English and Creative Writing, Flinders University INSTAGRAM @mirandadarling13 @belschenk @kyliecardell @scribepub Spineless Wonders Press https://shortaustralianstories.com.au/

In a move away from investigative journalism and her previous deep diving non-fiction titles, Louise Milligan delves into crime fiction with debut novel, Pheasants Nest. It tells the story of Kate Delaney, a journalist who finds herself bound and gagged and being driven somewhere by a strange man. As someone haunted by the crimes she has had to report on, Kate knows her chances of survival are slight. Guest: Louise Milligan INSTAGRAM @milliganreports

Miles Franklin Award winner, Shankari Chandran takes Cath to Cinnamon Gardens, an aged care home established by Tamil refugees and now run by their daughter. It’s run with love and dignity and has become an oasis for its culturally diverse residents…but the tensions of past wars and the prejudices of present day Australia which have long remained at a simmer ultimately boil over. + Associate Professor Lisa Bennett shares her passion for stories soaked in mist and old magic with “Storyland”; a masterful, unique and utterly compelling illustrated mythology of Britain. Be transported to a time when England was considered the furthest outpost on any map and half remembered characters such as Brutus, Albina, Scota and Bladud roamed the earth …and our imaginations. Guests Shankari Chandran, author of “Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens” which won the 2023 Miles Franklin Award. She’s also the author of “Song of the Sun God” and “The Barrier”. Associate Professor Lisa Bennett, from the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences at Flinders University discusses “Storyland; A new mythology of Britain” by Amy Jeffs. Other books that get a mention “Wild; Tales from Early Medieval Britain” by Amy Jeffs, “The Shadow of the Wind” by Carlos Ruiz Zafon, “The Thursday Murder Club” by Richard Osman and “Pheasant’s Nest” by Louise Milligan. INSTAGRAM @Ultimopress @Hachetteaus @lisalhannett @amyjeffs_author

Poetry seems a solitary pursuit but not for well known Australian poets Peter Bakowski and Ken Bolton - they recently released two new collections ‘On Luck Street’ and ‘Waldo’s Game’ in which they have collaborated from afar, co-telling stories using a ’call and respond’ writing technique. And former ABC Radio National broadcaster Mike Ladd has made a career as a poet and also helped put poetry on the map with the long running radio program ‘Poetica’. He makes the case for why poetry should matter to us all.  Guests:  Peter Bakowski Ken Bolton  Mike Ladd Annie mentions the poems ‘Funeral Blues’ by WH Auden and ‘The Second Coming’ by WB Yeats Peter and Ken read selections from ‘On Luck Street” and ‘Waldo’s Game’ Mike Ladd reads “The End and the Beginning” by Polish poet Wisława Szymborska and his own recently penned poem ‘Prove That You’re a Human’ .

Molly Schmidt’s "Salt River Road" is a searing account of grief and redemption set in the big sky/small town landscape of south-west WA. Racism, poverty and politics are part of life in country Western Australia in the 1970’s. Yet, for the Tetley family all that matters is they have lost their beloved mother Elena. They're falling apart and are in danger of losing the farm that is their livelihood. Through the eyes of teenage siblings Rose and Frank the reader experiences the dangerously deep grief of losing a parent. Then comes a slow redemption through their connection with two local Noongar elders, and a reconciliation with events from the past. Guest: Molly Schmidt, author and recipient of the 2022 City of Fremantle Hungerford Award INSTAGRAM @molly.elizabeth.schmidt @fremantlepress

Celia appears to have it all and her life is running like clockwork - and so it should because she has it planned down to the very last minute - but then along comes a challenge that could be her undoing! Celia is thrust into a process equal parts amusing and heartbreaking as she shakily charts a new path. + From falling for the boy next door to romancing a minotaur - occupational therapist turned  successful romance novelist Davina Stone talks us through the many forms that modern romance takes. The only proviso is, no matter how serious the story, the ending must be happy! Guests Emma Young, author of “The Disorganisation of Celia Stone”. Her debut novel was “The Last Bookshop”. Davina Stone, author of ‘The Felix Factor’, the sixth novel in her series The Laws of Love . She also writes monster romance under the name Lilith Stone  Other books that get a mention Emma loves the diary format and she recalls the young adult books that first inspired her: The Adrian Mole series by Sue Townsend, “So Much to Tell You” by John Marsden, “I Capture the Castle” by Dodie Smith and “Bridget Jones’ Diary” by Helen Fielding. Emma is donating half her royalties to Beyond Zero Emissions (www.bze.org.au). Michaela mentions “The Tao of Pooh” by Benjamin Hoff Annie mentions “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff…and “it’s all small stuff” by Richard Carlson Davina mentions Romance Writers of Australia, a community of over 700 aspiring, emerging, and established indie and traditionally published romance authors. INSTAGRAM @emma_young_book_fiend @fremantlepress @davinastone_ @rwaaus https://davinastone.com/

Cath has admired the work of Paddy O’Reilly for some time but with her shortlisting for the Prime Minister’s Literary Award, “Other Houses” looks sure to win O’Reilly many new admirers. It’s a tale of class, aspiration and the boundaries we will cross for love. + Michaela has an Anne of Green Gables doll that her mother bought on a pilgrimage to Prince Edward Island in the ‘80s. She asks Associate Professors Lisa Bennett and Kylie Cardell to reveal their ‘Green’ credentials and discuss LM Montgomery’s perennial appeal. Guests Paddy O’Reilly, author of “Other Houses” Associate Professor Kylie Cardell and Associate Professor Lisa Bennett, both from the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences at Flinders University The Tsundoku team’s Christmas reading list: Sarah  - “The Remains of the Day” by Kazuo Ishiguro & “The Thursday Murder Club” by Richard Osmon Michaela - “A Net for Small Fishes” by Lucy Jago Annie - “Ghosts of Spain” by Giles Tremlett, “The Bee Sting” by Paul Murray & “Before the Coffee Gets Cold” by Toshikazu Kawaguchi Cath - “The Tea Ladies” by Amanda Hampson, “Stoneyard Devotional” by Charlotte Wood & “Less than Angels” by Barbara Pym INSTAGRAM @paddyoreilly.writer @affirmpress @lisalhannett @kyliesays

Sarah Smith has been successfully writing for popular TV shows such as “McLeod’s Daughters”, “All Saints” and “Love Child” for years. Now, she’s turned her hand to fiction creating a clever and quirky murder mystery set in the Los Angeles fast lane and narrated by a young, vibrant (albeit dead) woman, hellbent on finding her killer. + Mireille Vignol is a renowned literary translator who has taken the work of Australian greats such as Kate Grenville and Kenneth Cook to French speaking audiences around the world. Cath was intrigued by a very singular event Mireille organised in Melbourne called a “Translation Slam”, where two jousting translators interpreted the same piece of text to very different effect and then defended their choices. Guests Sarah Smith, author of “12 Steps to a Long and Fulfilling Death” Mireille Vignol, literary translator. She also mentions the authors Proust, Kenneth Cook and Kate Grenville and poet Peter Bakowski. Dan, our everyday reader, loves war stories such as “The Bombing of Darwin; The Diary of Tom Taylor, Darwin, 1942” by Alan R. Tucker and aircrash investigations such as “QF32” by Richard de Crespigny. Cath and Annie also mention the Booker prize winner, “Prophet Song”by Paul Lynch and a chilling tale by Louise Doughty called “Platform Seven”. INSTAGRAM @Ultimo Press @sarah_says

Trent Dalton’s new novel Lola in the Mirror travels to the dark heart of homelessness and domestic violence and yet is a love story and a love letter to his home town Brisbane. Lola has no name when this story begins. For 16 years she and her mother have been on the run through Brisbane’s underbelly, dodging dangerous men. Sit down with journalist and novelist Trent Dalton and hear him talk about the city that saved his mum, finding the dark places in order to hold on to light, and why if he didn’t write he’d be reaching for the bourbon. Guest: Trent Dalton, journalist and author of “Lola in the Mirror” as well as two other acclaimed novels Boy Swallows Universe and All these Shimmering Skies INSTAGRAM @Harpercollinsaustralia @trentdaltonauthor

“The Disappearance of Astrid Bricard” is loosely based on the life of Mitzah Bricard,  a woman the world remembers as the outrageous muse of Christian Dior but who was, in fact, his First Assistant Designer and enormously talented in her own right. What follows is a compelling tale of glamour, desire and intrigue. + “Summer of Blood” is set in 1960s California where two Australian detectives arrive in search of a missing man, only to find themselves immersed in the world of music, free love, drugs and hippie counterculture. They soon realise this isn’t any ordinary missing person investigation. A big gig is the perfect place to get away with murder! Guests: Natasha Lester, author of “The Disappearance of Astrid Bricard” and other historical fiction titles including “The Three Lives of Alix St Pierre” & “The French Photographer”. Dave Warner, author of “Summer of Blood” …plus nine other novels and six non-fiction books. Leigh, our everyday reader, mentions “Ulysses” by James Joyce, “Where the Crawdads Sing” by Delia Owens, “Long Live the Queen: 23 Rules for Living from Britain’s Longest-Reigning Monarch” by Brian Koslowski and “A Mind at Home with Itself: How Asking Four Questions Can Free Your Mind, Open Your Heart, and Turn Your World Around” by Byron Katie with Stephen Mitchell Cath and Annie also mention the Booker shortlisted title, “The Bee Sting” by Paul Murray. INSTAGRAM @Hachetteaustralia @natashalesterauthor @Fremantlepress @davew.author @Leighwhite_soultopia

Leaving the world of academia when creativity came knocking has paid off for Pip Williams. She's the bestselling author of "The Dictionary of Lost Words" and "The Bookbinder of Jericho", and speaks with Sarah about the ideas that light her up and inspire her to write.  In this conversation, Pip mentions two books that were references for her writing: "The Surgeon of Crowthorne" by Simon Winchester and "Testament of Youth" by Vera Brittain Also written by Pip Williams, "One Italian Summer". Pip Williams: Web - https://pipwilliams.com.au/ Affirm Press: https://affirmpress.com.au/ FB + Insta: @affirmpress

In Cronin’s “The Ferryman” the world’s elite enjoy eternal youth and deep personal satisfaction on the archipelago of Prospera but all is not as it seems and unrest is fomenting on both sides of the social divide. + Georgia Nicholls has been writing romance since she was 14 and penned a fan fiction tale about One Direction’s Harry Styles…her writing has come a long way since then but she still loves it when they live happily ever after. + Eve gives a brief review of “The Mother” by Jane Caro, but don’t worry she won’t spoil the ending. Guests Justin Cronin, author of “The Ferryman” and “The Passage Trilogy” Georgia Nicholls is a PhD Candidate in creative writing at Flinders University. Her podcast is called “Love on Campus” and her instagram romance reviews appear at “booksithinkabout” Eve enjoyed “The Mother” by Jane Caro Justin mentions “Interview with a Vampire” by Ann Rice and the 1968 film “Planet of the Apes”. Georgia mentions “A Court of Thorns and Roses” by Sarah J. Maas, “Duck À L'Orange for Breakfast” by Karina May, “The Flat Share”, The Road Trip” and “The No Show” by Beth O’Leary and the author Emily Henry. Michaela mentions romance authors Georgette Heyer, Jane Austen and “Ex-wife” by Ursula Parrott. INSTAGRAM @jccronn @penguinrandomhouse @booksithinkabout @janecaro57

Let author Catherine Therese introduce you to Leslie Bird, a fictional character so caustic she’ll make your eyes water. Yet, as Michaela discovered, the story behind Leslie’s creation is more likely to bring a sympathetic tear to your eye. + The course of Australian art changed in 1971 with the formation of the Papunya Tula art movement. John Kean, was there to witness its birth and tells Cath what forces he believes inspired and informed the movement’s four leading lights. Guests Catherine Therese, author of “Things She Would Have Said Herself” and an earlier memoir “The Weight of Silence” John Keane, author of “Dot, Circle and Frame; The making of Papunya Tula Art” Michaela mentions “Mrs Dalloway” by Virginia Woolf Catherine mentions Walt Whitman, Henry Lawson and David Grossman (Maybe also “The Day is Dancing” by Rowena Bennett) INSTAGRAM @ctherese5 @hachetteaustralia @hachettebooks @terriann.white FACEBOOK @Hachette Books @Terri-Ann White

The fates of three people from the 1940s, ‘70s and today collide in Chris Hammer’s thrilling new mystery, “The Tilt” - you won’t see it coming! + Prolific 20th century writer and philosopher Aldous Huxley wrote everything from witty and malicious novels about the British literati  to his still famous Utopian dystopia Brave New World, and later in his 50 year career went on to explore the world of psychedelic drugs. Annie Warburton explores the Huxley ouvre to understand why Huxley remains a classic. + Our random reader Chris also loves a good mystery Guests… Chris Hammer, author of “The Tilt” and other books including the internationally bestselling Martin Scarsden series: “Scrublands”, “Silver” and “Trust”. Annie Warburton, Tsundoku’s “Occasional Reporter on Dead White Men” revists Aldoux Huxley Other books that get a mention… Annie and Michaela mention “Ghost Tattoo” by Tony Bernard, “Birnam Wood”and “The Luminaries” by Eleanor Catton, “The Ferryman; A Novel” by Justin Cronin and “The Disorganisation of Celia Stone” by Emma Young Annie Warburton mentions Aldous Huxley’s “Crome Yellow” (1921), “Antic Hay” (1923), “Brave New World:  (1932), “Eyeless in Gaza” (1936), “The Doors of Perception” (1954)..as well as writers Nancy Mitford, Evelyn Waugh and William Blake Chris from Aldgate mentions writers Peter May, Ian Rankin and DH Lawrence’s “The Rainbow” INSTAGRAM @allenandunwin @thehammernow FACEBOOK @Hammernow @allen&unwinbooks

Best-selling Australian authors, Sean Williams, Victoria Perman and Tricia Stringer, talk to Tsundoku’s Sarah Martin and Cath Kenneally about their very different paths to literary success - Tricia dabbled in self-publishing, Victoria succeeded in speed dating a publisher and Sean tried the splatter gun approach with short stories. Victoria identified the single thread common to all three quests,  “ We all immersed ourselves in writing communities. We didn’t sit at home and get a bit paranoid about whether it was good or not. We went to workshops, we befriended booksellers…there are places to go to connect with writers which was so important.” Tsundoku Podcast was delighted to convene this Marion Council “Meet the Author” Event in July 2023. Guests: Tricia Stringer is the bestselling author of six women’s fiction titles, “Back on Track”, “Table for Eight”, “The Model Wife”, “The Family Inheritance”, “Birds of a Feather” and “Keeping Up Appearances”, three historical books set in South Australia’s Flinders Ranges and seven rural romances. Sean Williams is the bestselling author of over one hundred short stories and fifty award-winning books including the “Books of the Cataclysm” and “The Resurrected Man”. He has also written several novels in the Star Wars universe, including the best-selling “Star Wars: The Force Unleashed”. Victoria Purman writes historical romance and is an Australian top ten and “USA Today” best-selling fiction author. Her books include “The Nurse’s War’, “The Women’s Pages” and “Under the Outback Sky”

Best selling Australian author of “rural noir”, Garry Disher hopes to be seen as novelist first and crime writer second. American Academic Saar Shahar discusses what sets literary journalism apart from the pack. Paul Gough shares the books that first made him fall for sci-fi .  Three great minds in this week’s episode, determined to rise above the throng and give us something worth reading. Guests: Garry Disher, author of “Days End”, the fourth book in his fabulous Hirsch series. Saar Shahar, author of “Among the Anti-vaxxers” recently published in the “North American Review” and American academic with the University of Southern California. Paul Gough, ABC radio producer, sci-fi devotee and music aficionado www.pimpod.com Other books that get a mention: Saar mentions Tom Wolfe’s “The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test”, “The Right Stuff” and “Bonfire of the Vanities”. Also, “One flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” by Ken Kesey. And, literary journalists Joan Didion and Hunter S Thompson. (“The American Review” was the first literary magazine to be published in the USA, in Boston in 1815.) https://northamericanreview.org https://www.instagram.com/sarshahar Paul mentions “Ringworld” by Larry Niven, “Turtle Diary” & “Riddley Walker’ by Russel Hoban and “To Sleep in a Sea of Stars” by Christopher Paolini. INSTA https://www.instagram.com/textpublishing https://www.instagram.com/1234_pimpod

In September 1883, the South Australian town of Fairly huddles under strange, vivid sunsets. A child has gone missing and the whole town is intent on finding him. More than a mystery, Fiona McFarlane explores the varied townsfolks’ relationship with the complex landscape and unsettling history of the Flinders Ranges.  Tsundoku’s Annie Hastwell loved it from start to finish and joins the critics in their unanimous praise. + Self-declared fan of Barry Humphries, Annie Warburton, reviews the late comic’s opus, pays tribute to his satirical genius and comes down firmly on the right of “grumpy old conservatives” to be free to speak their minds. = Two very different takes on the Australian experience. Guests Fiona McFarlane, author of “The Sun Walks Down”, “The Night Guest” and a collection of short stories, “The High Places”  http://www.fionamcfarlane-writer.com/ Annie Warburton, retired ABC Tasmania broadcaster and Barry Humphries aficionado Other books that get a mention: Cath and Annie mention this year’s joint Pulitzer Prize winners, Barbara Kingsolver for “Demon Copperhead” and Herman Diaz for “Trust”. They go on to reference a number of past winners; “The Good Earth” by Pearl Buck, “Beloved” by Toni Morrison, “A Visit from the Goon Squad” by Jennifer Egan, “The Old Man and the Sea” by Ernest Hemingway, “The Grapes of Wrath” by John Steinbeck and “A Confederacy of Dunces” by John Kennedy Toole. Annie Warburton mentions “The Adventures of Barry McKenzie” written by Humphries for Private Eye magazine. Also, “Dame Edna's Coffee Table Book: A Guide to Gracious Living and the Finer Things of Life by One of the First Ladies of World Theatre”, “Neglected Poems and Other Creatures”, “More Please” and “Women in the Background”.

At first drawn to short stories, Louise Kennedy couldn’t resist expanding this ill-fated love story set at the peak of the Irish Troubles into a full and vividly depicted novel, “Trespasses”. + Is it too much to say that the author of Captain Cook’s “Voyages”  was “cancelled” by his contemporaries and the sexual exploits of Joseph Banks “went viral”? Not according to US literary academic Saar Shahar who has researched the writings around Captain Cook’s voyages. = The next best thing to reading is listening to writers talk about their creations. Guests Louise Kennedy, author of “Trespasses” and a collection of short stories “The End of the World is a Cul de Sac”  Saar Shahar, 18th century scholar and PhD candidate in English at the University of Southern California,  puts the exploits of Captain Cook and Joseph Banks into historical literary context with surprising results. Other books that get a mention: Cath and Annie mention “Pachinko” by Min Jin Lee, “The Anniversary” by Stephanie Bishop, “The Sun Walks Down” by Fiona McFarlane, “The Tilt” and “Treasure & Dirt” by Chris Hammer, and “Summer Water” by Sarah Moss. Saar Shahar refers to “An Account of the Voyages….” by John Hawkesworth, and “An Epistle from Mr. Banks, Voyager, Monster-Hunter, and Amoroso, to Oberea, Queen of Otaheite”, by John Scott. Both were published in 1773. Emma has just finished reading “Never” by Ken Follett and her favourite book of all time is “The Poisonwood Bible” by Barbara Kingsolver.

“I’ve discovered an important truth and it’s all I care about, all I can depend on, the only thing that means anything, the one sure thing that will help me survive. No one can be trusted. I am on my own.” This devastating truth lies at the core of Shannon Burn’s memoir, “Childhood”. + Pandora, Jocasta, Aphrodite and Medea; these are just some of the women of Greek mythology whose stories have grown and warped over the millenia. Associate Professor Lisa Bennett introduces us to the forensic work of classicist Natalie Haynes, a writer determined to reveal the true deeds and misdeeds of these fascinating characters. = Pop in your pods and let Michaela and Cath take you to another world. Guests Shannon Burns, author of “Childhood” Associate Professor Dr Lisa Bennett on “Pandora’s Jar” by Natalie Haynes Other books that get a mention: Lisa Mentions classicist, Emily Wilson, the first woman to publish a translation of Homer’s “Odyssey” into English INSTA @text_publising @lisahannet @Picador

Hugely popular author of gritty young adult fiction, Vikki Wakefield, has turned her hand to a psychological thriller in ‘After You Were Gone’ …with resounding success. and Associate Professor Dr Kylie Cardell gives a fascinating synopsis of Blake Gopnik's mammoth biography of Andy Warhol…all 900 pages of it!. so Curl up on the couch, go for a walk or even clean out the pantry whilst you listen to Cath and Annie’s talented and most congenial guests. Guests Vikki Wakefield, on ‘This is How We Change the Ending’ and ‘After You Were Gone’   Associate Professor Dr Kylie Cardell, on “Warhol” by Blake Gopnik Other books that get a mention: Annie has just returned from Spain where she read ‘The Whispering City’ by Sara Molinar, a mystery set in Barcelona. Cath’s latest book was also set in Spain. She’s been enjoying 4 books from ‘The Catalan Crime Thrillers’ series by Chris LLoyd. INSTA @simonschusterau @text_publising @vikkiwakefield

Author, Brigid Delaney, considers whether ancient philosophers can guide us in how to live a good life, and has found the Stoic school may have the answers.  and Our classics experts consider the grim power of Angela Carter’s adult fairytales that celebrate the dark and the macabre.  Guests Brigid Delaney, author of “Reasons Not To Worry – How to be Stoic in Modern Times” (plus two other non fiction books looking at the challenges of modern life) Associate Professors Lisa Bennett and Kylie Cardell from Flinders University, discussing “The Bloody Chamber” by Angela Carter  Insta @AllenandUnwin @Bloomsburypublishing Facebook @AllenandUnwin @Bloomsburypublishingaustralia

Literary raconteur, Geoff Dyer, isn’t getting any younger and it’s got him contemplating The End; not death so much as “last times”, the likes of which can strike at any time in a person’s life. “The Last Days of Roger Federer and other endings” skilfully ducks and weaves through the life and creative work of writers, painters, philosophers, musicians, sports stars and, indeed, Geoff himself and reflects on this very singular life we each receive. and This week’s author of classic literature is the prolific Dame Iris Murdoch. Cath chats to biographer Dr Gillian Dooley about whether her oeuvre, some of it written up to 70 years ago, still retains its lustre. Guests Geoff Dyer, author of “The Last Days of Roger Federer” (plus three other novels and numerous prize-winning nonfiction books which have been translated into 24 languages) Dr Gillian Dooley, senior research fellow in English at Flinders University and author of a recent book, Listening to Iris Murdoch: Music, Sounds and Silences. Our Random Reader is Rebecca Other books that get a mention: Michaela mentions “White Sands; Experiences from the outside world” by Geoff Dyer Cath and Gillian talk about Iris Murdoch’s “A Severed Head”, “The Unicorn”, “Bruno’s Dream”, “The Red and the Green”, “The Bell” and her Booker Prize Winning novel, “The Sea, the Sea”. Rebecca mentions “In the Shadow of the Mountain” by Silvia Vasquez-Lavado, “The Subjects” by Sarah Hopkins, “The Happiest Man on Earth” by Eddie Jaku and “Two Afternoons in the Kabul Station; A History of Afghanistan Through Clothes, Carpets and the Camera” by Tim Bonyhady Insta @Picador @Textpublishing @panmacmillan Facebook @Picador Books @TextPublishing @panmacmillan

The highest compliment any reader can pay new crime fiction writer, Joanna Morrison, is “I couldn’t put it down” or “You moved me”. Both epitaphs apply equally to “The Ghost of Gracie Flynn”. It’s a non-linear unravelling of two compelling mysteries; a literary ghost story with a bittersweet twist.  and Louise Adler is a warm and witty conversationalist who shares what drives her in the creation of Australia’s most respected literary festival…and the ones that got away! Guests Joanna Morrison, author of “The Ghost of Gracie Flynn”  Louise Adler, the director of Adelaide Writers Week Our Random Reader is Skye, aged 13 Other books that get a mention: Joanna mentions “I am, I am, I am; Seventeen Brushes with Death” by Maggie O’Farrell, Helen Garner’s journals, “Taboo” by Kim Scott, “Spare” by Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and “Hydra” by Adriane Howell. Louise mentions numerous authors, many of them attending Adelaide Writers Week, 4-9 March 2023. Some names included Shirley Hazzard, Dervla McTiernan and Simon Armitage. She also referred to “Ravensbruck” by Sarah Helm and “The Poisonwood Bible” by Barbara Kingsolver.

Prolific British author Fiona McIntosh faced the challenge of setting her latest two novels in an Australian landscape when Covid kept her from her usual European haunts. The result is “The Orphans”; a tale of love, murder and treachery set between 1930s Adelaide and the Flinders Ranges.  In her other post-Covid release, “Dead Tide”, McIntosh had to create a plot that allowed her to move her regular character, detective Jack Hawksworth,  from Scotland Yard to Adelaide. and Research and serendipity are at the heart of writing historical fiction. Author Dominique Wilson talks about how she goes about placing her fictional characters in a realistic world from the past, and how she finds a mathematical approach essential. Guests Fiona McIntosh, author of “The Orphans” and “Dead Tide” https://www.fionamcintosh.com/ Dr Dominique Wilson, novelist and short story writer. Dominique has published three historical novels, “The Yellow Papers”, “The Devil’s Madness” and “Orphan Rock” https://dominiquewilson.com.au/ Our Random Reader is Joey Other books that get a mention: Annie and Sarah mention “Cold Enough for Snow” by Jessica Au, winner of the Victorian Prize for Literature Joey mentions “Lord of the Rings” by J.R.R. Tolkien, “Shantaram” by Gregory David Roberts, and “Breakfast of Champions” by Kurt Vonnegut Jr

What are the odds of an author penning not one, but two, debut novels - and of BOTH being fabulous?! Newly retrenched from a career in aged care, Karen Herbert wrote “The Castaways of Harewood Hall”, a not so gentle comedy featuring elderly people and animals. She quickly followed that with “The River Mouth”, a dark drama set in a small WA town similar to where she grew up. and Dr Diane Velasquez loves reading romance novels. So much so, they propelled her into academia where she’s been conducting research into what librarians think of romance novels and the people who borrow them. Diane is a firm believer that all reading, no matter the genre, is important and she’s become a crusader for ensuring snobbery doesn’t deter people from borrowing the books they love. Guests Karen Herbert, author of “The River Mouth” and “The Castaways of Harewood Hall”. Her next book will be “Vertigo” Dr Diane Velasquez, Program Director for Information Management in the STEM unit at Uni SA Our Random Reader is David Other books that get a mention: Annie mentions John Mortimer “A Summer’s Lease” and Cath mentions Mick Herron author of “Slow Horses” Diane mentions: “Pamela; or, Virtue Rewarded” was first published in 1740 by English writer Samuel Richardson. Nora Roberts author of the Dragon Heart Legacy Trilogy, “Hideaway” and “Northern Lights”…she also writes futuristic suspense under the pseudonym JD Robb Nalini Singh author of “Archangel’s Blade”, “Play of Passion”, “Heart of Obsidian” and others Stephanie Laurens author of “Cynster”, “Bastion Club”, “Black Cobra Quartet” and others Michaela mentions “Anne of Green Gables” by L.M. Montgomery and “Black Moth” by Georgette Heyer David mentions “Lord of the Rings” J.R.R. Tolkien, “Dune” Frank Herbert, “When Androids Dream of Electric Sheep” Philip K Dick and “The Devil’s Dictionary” Steven Kotler INSTA - @herbert_whittle INSTA - @fremantlepress

Heather Rose has spent her life saying yes and pushing the boundaries of physical and spiritual experience. She tells of love, loss, and discovery in her memoir, "Nothing Bad Ever Happens Here". Music composed by Quentin Grant Heather Rose Insta - @thelightawritersees Web - https://heatherrose.com.au Allen & Unwin  @allenandunwin

Detective Cato Kwong gets mixed up in dirty politics between Timor and Australia in “Crocodile Tears” by Alan Carter+ We’ve got your summer reads completely covered  The fifth and final installment in the award-winning Cato Kwong series, “Crocodile Tears” sees Cato’s life on the line with someone from the past as his only hope. A thriller rich in political, cultural and historical detail, Cato’s search for the good guys will twist and turn all the way from Perth to Timor-Leste and Darwin…so hold on to your hat for the exciting climax! And… Join the Tsundoku team for a chat about their favourite books of 2022 and their tips for a great summer read. Guests: Alan Carter, author of “Crocodile Tears” Our Random readers:Rachael, Mads and Annabelle Picks for your summer reading pleasure: Michaela Andreyev recommends: “Meshi; A journey in Japanese food” by Katherine Tamiko Arguille, “Holy Woman; a Divine Adventure” by Louise Omer and “Stolen Focus” by Johan Hari Sarah Martin recommends: “Runt”by Craig Silvey and “The Unusual Abduction of Avery Confier” by Ilsa Evans. Sarah also recommends “Stolen Focus” Annie Hastwell recommends: “How to be Idle”by Tom Hodgkinson, “The Candy House” by Jennifer Egan and “Sweetness and Light” by Liam Pieper Cath Kenneally recommends: “Chai TIme at Cinnamon Gardens” & “Song of the Sun God” by Shankari Chandran and “The Cast Aways of Harewood Hall” by Karen Herbert Rachael recommends: “Burial Rites” & “Devotion” by Hannah Kent, “The History of Bees” by Maja Lund, “Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine” by Gail Honeyman and “The Dictionary of Lost Words” by Pip Williams Mads recommends: The Maisie Dobbs series by Jacqueline Winspear. Annabelle recommends: “The Ella Diaries” & “Ella Goes to Eden” by Meredith Costain, “Little Gem”by Anna Zobel, “Harry Potter” by J.K. Rowling and “Muumitroll” & “Memoirs of Moominpappa” by Tove Jansson Music composed by Quentin Grant SOCIAL MEDIA Insta: @fremantlepress Insta: @alancarter28insta/ Facebook: @FremantlePress

Are there times when you wonder what sort of world our children and grandchildren will inherit? Grace Chan has created an online world called Gaia in which the people of 2080 take refuge from the climate ravaged earth. Gaia is clean, beautiful and exciting and it’s just announced the opportunity for citizens to shake off their bodies entirely and permanently upload their consciousness to it. Gaia seems to have everything, but is it enough? And… Join Annie Hastwell’s discussion with retired ABC Radio host Annie Warburton about Phillip Roth, the author whose book “Portnoy’s Complaint” was considered so filthy in 1969 it was banned from being imported into Australia. The ensuing court battles helped define Australia’s censorship laws and ensured an end to book bans in this country. Guests: Grace Chan, author of “Every Version of You” Annie Warburton and Annie Hastwell discuss Philip Roth’s books “Portnoy’s Complaint” (1969), “The Breast” (1972), “My Life as a Man” (1974), “The Human Stain” (2000), “The Plot Against America” (2004) and “Nemesis” (2010) Our Random reader: Mads Grace’s tsundoku contains “Empathy” by Fay Lee, “Everything Feels Like the End of the World” by Else Fitzgerald, “Terminal Boredom” by Izumi Suzuki, “I’m waiting for You” by Bo-Young Kim and “Where the Stars Rise: Asian Science Fiction and Fantasy” edited by Lucas K. Law and Derwin Mak Mads was first inspired to read by the Ramona Quimby books by Beverley Clearey, then “Tomorrow When the World Began” by John Marsden and the complete works of Jane Austen. These days she’s reading “Raising Girls” by Maggie Dent, “Seeing Other People” and “Love and Virtue” by Dianna Reid, “The Paper Palace” by Miranda Cowley Heller and “A Room Made of Leaves” by Kate Grenville. Music composed by Quentin Grant  Insta: @gracechanwrites Insta: @affirmpress

When Jayne Tuttle fell in love with Paris she had no idea its quaint charm would be indirectly responsible for almost killing her. In her first Paris memoir "Paris Or Die" we meet her as a young aspiring actor dizzy with the joy of life in the City of Light. Her new memoir "My Sweet Guillotine" confronts and explores the terrifying incident that changed her Paris existence and her whole life’s direction. And… Have 20th century women writers been given the recognition they deserve? Make up your own mind as Goodwood Books owner, Sarah Tooth, takes Tsundoku on a tour of the shelves of her newly opened shop. You won’t find a book written by a man, but you may find writing gems that have been overlooked. Guests: Jayne Tuttle, author of "Paris or Die" and "My Sweet Guillotine" Sarah Tooth, book collector and owner of Goodwood Books Our Random reader: Eve Eve has enjoyed Catch 22 - Joseph Heller Under Milk Wood - Dylan Thomas And she enjoys reading crime fiction by …Gary Disher, Devla Tiernan, Anne Cleeves and Chris Hammer Music composed by Quentin Grant  SOCIAL MEDIA HANDLES Hardie Grant Books Insta: @Hardiegrantbooks Jayne Tuttle http://www.jaynetuttle.com/

When Pentecostal preacher Louise Omer started to question her devotion to a religion run by men to keep men in power, she decided to break free. "Holy Woman, A Divine Adventure" is the story of her wandering world pilgrimage looking for a religion that lets women share the power. Music composed by Quentin Grant Louise Omer  Insta - @/shahouley/ Web - https://www.louiseomer.co Scribe Publications  @scribepub

An innocuous little marshmallow shatters the life of a group of friends. As the anniversary of the horrible event looms, each must come to terms with their altered selves and address what their lives can now be. And How might we deal with alien life forms determined to destroy us if they were to enter our lives disguised as beloved children?  We compare Wyndham’s chilling sci-fi novel with its 21st century TV adaptation. Guests:  Victoria Hannan, author of Marshmallow Annie Warburton, broadcaster and literature aficionado Our Random Reader - Justin Other books that get a mention: Annie and Sarah have read (or are planning to read!) Nothing Bad Ever Happens Here, The Museum of Modern Love and Bruny by  Heather Rose, The Sea of Tranquility by Emily St John Mandel, Monsters by Alison Croggon and Salt and Skin by Eliza Henry -Jones The books sitting in Victoria Hannan’s tsundoku are “Lucy by the Sea’ by Elizabeth Strout, “Limberlost” by Robbie Arnott and the forthcoming title “Little Plum” by Laura McPhee-Browne. Justin has enjoyed Misery by Stephen King, The Beach by Alex Garland, The Killing Fields by Christopher Hudson, Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts, Be Here Now and Polishing the Mirror by Baba Ram Dass and Twelve Rules for Life by Jordan Peterson Music composed by Quentin Grant SOCIAL MEDIA HANDLES INSTA - @victorilhannan INSTA - @HachetteAus FB - @HachetteAustralia

After a “reading slump” Sarah was delighted to be swept away by a powerful new detective, Antigone Pollard; she isn’t afraid of the dark and won’t take no for an answer as she hunts down a sexual predator in the small seaside town of Deception Bay. And… Far from being spooked, Cath and Sarah find re-reading Agatha Christie’s crime novels strangely soothing…but both agree she was no poet! Guests:  Vikki Petraitis, author of “The Unbelieved”  Sarah Tooth, second hand bookshop owner and Agatha Christie devotee Our Random Reader - Alex Other books that get a mention: Annie is reading the “Midwich Cuckoos” by John Wyndham and Jane Tuttle’s books about Paris for forthcoming Tsundoku episodes. Vikki mentions her true crime novels “Rockspider; The danger of paedophiles” and “The Philip Island Murder” which she wrote with Paul Daley. Vikki is currently writing the sequel to “The Unbelieved”  Cath mentions the Agatha Christie’s books “A Murder is Announced”, “4.50 from Paddington”, “At Bertram’s Hotel” and “They Came to Baghdad”  Sarah mentions Agatha Christie’s books “The Mysterious Affair at Styles”, “And Then There Were None”, “A Caribbean Mystery”, “The Murder at the Vicarage”, “Death on the Nile” and “Murder on the Orient Express”. Also, Christie’s historical mystery novel “Death Comes as the End” and what Sarah describes as her rather sub-standard poetry in “Poems”.  Alex mentions “Imagine” by Alison Lester, “Gidja, The Rainbow Serpent” and others by Percy Tresize and Dick Roughsey, “Siddhartha” by Herman Hesse, “Fingerprints of the Gods” by Graham Hancock, “The Alchemist” by Paolo Coelho, “The Four Agreements - a Practical Guide to personal Freedom” by Don Miguel Ruiz, “The Circle” by Dave Eggers, “Cloud Atlas” and “The Bone Clocks” by David Mitchell …and a perennial title in his tsundoku is “Plato’s Republic” by Plato Music composed by Quentin Grant SOCIAL MEDIA HANDLES VIKKI INSTA - @vikkipetraitis VIKKI FB - @vikki.petraitis.author WEB - www.vikkipetraitis.com.au A&U INSTA - @allenandunwin A&U FB - @AllenandUnwinBooks

Biologist and award-winning author Danielle Clode embarks on a journey to reveal the true story of Jeanne Barret, the first woman to circumnavigate the world in 1775. We meet an impoverished peasant from Burgundy who disguised herself as a man and sailed on a french voyage around the world from the South American jungles and Magellan Strait to the tropical islands of the Indo-Pacific. Seamlessly weaving together memoir, history and science, Clode unmasks the remarkable woman who, like all explorers, charted her own course for others to follow. And… We avid readers know deep down that reading is good for us. But did you know your gut feeling has a name? Bibliotherapy, or book therapy, is an ancient practice that is gaining a resurgence in medical practice. Doctors in Wales now incorporate “book prescriptions” in a holistic approach to mental health concerns and the State Library of Victoria created an online course in bibliotherapy when Melbournians were locked down due to Covid. UniSA PhD candidate, Elizabeth Wells, is studying the therapeutic benefit of being read to aloud when undergoing chemotherapy. She joined Michaela to explain the many ways in which bibliotherapy can benefit us all. Guests:  Danielle Clode, author of “In Search of the Woman Who Sailed the World” To hear a dramatisation of the story go to the History Listen Elizabeth Wells, PhD Candidate, UniSA STEM. The title of her thesis is “An exploration of the potential benefits of read-aloud programs to the well-being of cancer patients undergoing treatment” Our Random Reader - Tony Other books that get a mention: Elizabeth recommends short stories from her read-aloud program. These include “Great Australian Outback Yarns” by Bill Swampy Marsh, “All Together Now” by Monica McInerny,  “I’ve Got Your Number” by Sophie Kinsella. Other authors of short stories she recommends highly include P.G. Wodehouse, Kitty Flannagan, Geoffrey Archer, Maeve Binchy and Anna Jacobs. One of Elizabeth’s personal favourite books is “The 13th Gift; The true story of a Christmas miracle” by Joanne Huist-Smith. Elizabeth also mentions The Reading Agency UK (https://readingagency.org.uk) and State Library of Victoria (https://www.slv.vic.gov.au/bibliotherapy) Michaela recommends a podcast Women Read (with Freya & Mel). In each episode a woman chooses a book she loves and reads the first chapter aloud. Tony recommends Patrick Susskind’s classic “Perfume”, Elizabeth Knox “The Vintner’s Luck “ and anything by Peter Goldsworthy Music composed by Quentin Grant SOCIAL MEDIA HANDLES INSTA - Pan Macmillan Australia @macmillanaus INSTA - Danielle Clode @danielleclode INSTA - University of South Australia @WomeninSTEMUniSA INSTA - Elizabeth Wells @reading.for.wellbeing INSTA - Women Read @_womenread FB - Pan Macmillan Australia - @panmacmillanaustralia FB - Danielle Clode @danielleclode FB - Elizabeth Well's research @readingforwellbeing FB - University of South Australia @unisa

The Times calls it “ingenious and clever”, the Daily Mail declares it “mind-bendingly clever”, “Psalms for the end of the World” is a sprawling jigsaw of a story that propels its characters through time and space as they explore and discover the relative nature of love and reality. And… Dani Vee wasn’t content merely to create a podcast, Words and Nerds, that attracts 50,000 listeners each month, she’s also written a picture book and presides over the “slush pile” at edgy Aussie children’s publisher, Larrikin House. So, what books does Dani rate as “classics” and does she have any advice for aspiring picture book writers? Guests:  Cole Haddon, author of “Psalms for the End of the World” Dani Vee, author of “My Extraordinary Mum” and presenter of Words and Nerds Podcast Our Random Reader - Monique Other books that get a mention: Monique recommends “The God of Small Things” by Arundhati Roy, anything written by Haruki Murakami and “Middlesex” by Geoffrey Eugenides Cole Haddon refers to the authors Margaret Atwood, Neil Gaiman and David Mitchell. Dani Vee mentions “The Picture of Dorian Gray” by Oscar Wild and Judy Blume (author of books including “Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing” and “Blubber”), “Charlotte’s Web” by E.B White and The Baby-Sitters Club series by Anne M Martin. She mentions two other Larrikin House books; “My Shadow is Pink” and “My Shadow is Purple”. Michaela mentions “The Happy Prince” by Oscar Wilde.  Dani Vee’s next picture book is titled “My Epic Dad!” Music composed by Quentin Grant SOCIAL MEDIA HANDLES INSTA - @hachetteaus INSTA - @colehaddonwashere INSTA - @DaniVeeBooks-Words & Nerds INSTA - @larrikinhouse FB - @HachetteAustralia FB - @DaniVeeBooks FB - @Larrikin House Twitter - @colehaddon

Death isn’t like in the movies - there’s no grand musical score playing as we leave this world. It’s just the final scene of our wonderful, complex and maybe ordinary life. But, asks author Megan Albany, what’s to be done about all that unfinished business? In The Very Last List of Vivian Walker, Vivian writes a to-do list and so begins a tale both hilarious and heartbreaking. Music composed by Quentin Grant Insta - @ meganalbanywriter FB - @ meganalbanywriter Twitter - @ Megan_Albany Web -meganalbany.com

Ellis Gunn didn’t just survive the terrifying and unsettling experience of being stalked.  She wrote about it, in a book that is part poetic real life thriller, part advice manual for women. And… It may be many centuries since Vikings raided, traded and settled across Europe and Scandinavia, but time has not dimmed the romance of their stories. Viking scholar Dr Lisa Bennett explores why the heroic sagas continue to be a rich inspiration for authors and film-makers.  Guests:  Ellis Gunn, author of Rattled Dr Lisa Bennett, Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing, Flinders University and author of forthcoming speculative non-fiction title ‘Viking Women; Life and Lore’ Our Random Reader - Annie Other books that get a mention: Ellis Gunn mentions ‘Troll Hunting’ by Ginger Gorman. She also mentions a group called ‘Action Against Stalking’ established by Anne Moulds in Scotland. Annie and Lisa Bennett mention the books ‘The Greenlanders’ by Jane Smiley, ‘Norse Mythology’ by Neil Gaiman, ‘Norse Tales’ and other books about vikings for young people by Kevin Crossley-Holland. They mention the film ‘The Northmen’ starring Nicole Kidman and the TV series ‘Vikings’. Cath and Annie both recommend the SBS TV series “Beforeigners’. The Icelandic historian, politician and poet mentioned by Lisa is Snorri Sturluson. Music composed by Quentin Grant SOCIAL MEDIA HANDLES INSTA - Allen and Unwin - @ allenandunwin INSTA - Lisa Bennett - @ lisalhannett FB - Allen and Unwin - @ AllenandUnwinBooks

Australian author Charlotte McConaghy talks about her latest novel, how her screenwriting experience informs its edgy pace and why climate remains her passion even as she writes a romantic thriller. Another book by Charlotte McConaghy is “Migrations; A novel” Music composed by Quentin Grant Insta - @ charlottemcconaghy FB - charlottemcconaghyauthor Twitter - @ CharMcConaghy Web - https://www.charlottemcconaghy.com

It took forty years for Dr Tony Bernard to uncover the full horror of what his father went through in World War 2. The memoir “Ghost Tattoo” is an extraordinary adventure and survival tale of life in Auschwitz but more than that it tells the lesser-known story of what really happened in  the Jewish ghettos. And… What sets memoir apart from autobiography and why is it such an important form of writing? Dr Kylie Cardell illustrates a lively conversation about what she calls “life writing” with two fearless books that reveal much about the historical and contemporary experience of being black in Australia. Guests:  Dr Tony Bernard, author of Ghost Tattoo Dr Kylie Cardell, Senior Lecturer in English, University of Adelaide and author of “Dear World: Contemporary Uses of the Diary” Our Random Reader - Patrick Other books that get a mention: Kylie Cardell mentions “Truganini: Journey through the apocalypse” by Cassandra Pybus and “The Hate Race” by Maxine Beneba Clarke Michaela mentions “Still Life” and “Family Life” by Elizabeth Luard and “White Fragility” by Robin DiAngelo. Patrick mentions “The story of San Michel” by Axel Munthe,  “A Fortunate Life” by A B Facey, “Any Human Heart” by William Boyd, “The Map that Changed the World” by Simon Winchester, “The Passions of the Mind” by Irving Stone and “Breath” by Tim Winton. Music composed by Quentin Grant SOCIAL MEDIA HANDLES INSTA - Allen and Unwin - @ allenandunwin INSTA - Dr Kylie Cardell - @ kyliesays INSTA - Hachette - @ hachetteaus FB - Allen and Unwin - @ AllenandUnwinBooks FB - Hachette - @ HachetteAustralia TW - Dr Kylie Cardell - @ KylieCardell

A man gasps for breath as he is dragged from the ocean and given another chance. Living within a surreal, war-torn landscape and ever on the run through the swampy and threatening world of Basin, Scott McCulloch’s un-named protagonist takes readers on a road story that is unsettling and stark.  And,  Discover or re-discover Earthsea, a vast archipelago of islands populated by wizards, dragons and shadowy creatures; it's the 1970s ground-breaking creation of fantasy writer Ursula Le Guin. Guests:  Scott McCulloch, author of debut novel, ‘Basin’ Dr Lisa Bennett, senior Lecturer in Creative Writing, Flinders University Our Random Reader - Chelsea Other books that get a mention: ‘Four Fifty from Paddington’ by Agatha Christie and 'The Great Hope' by Jessica Stanley currently sit on Cath’s Tsundoku. Cath and Lisa discussed ‘Earthsea’ by Ursula Le Guin in our classics segment. Chelsea’s recommendations include 'Fish out of Water' by Kate Hendrick, 'The Yield' by Tara June Winch, 'Talking to My Country' by Stan Grant Music composed by Quentin Grant SOCIAL MEDIA HANDLES Publisher of Basin, Black Inc Books: Insta:@blackincbooks Facebook: BlackIncBooks Twitter: @BlackIncBooks Dr Lisa Hannett: Insta: @lisalhannett

A discarded painting in a roadside clean-up, forgotten bones in a research archive, and Lexington, the greatest racehorse in US history. From these strands of fact, in 'Horse' Geraldine Brooks weaves a sweeping story of spirit, obsession and injustice across American history. And… Meet writer and artist Joe Brainard, whose series of 'I Remember' memoirs broke new literary ground in the 1960s and early 1970s,  and have inspired poets and writers ever since. Guests:  Geraldine Brooks, Pulitzer Prize winning author of 'Horse' Ken Bolton, poet, author of 'Salute' and 19 other books of poetry published since 1977… and devoted fan of Joe Brainard Our Random Reader - Kortin Other books that get a mention: 'Phosphorescence' by Julia Baird and 'The Hush' by Sara Foster currently sit on Sarah’s Tsundoku. Michaela mentioned 'White Fragility' by Robin DiAngelo in her interview with Geraldine Brooks. Music composed by Quentin Grant SOCIAL MEDIA HANDLES Geraldine Brooks: Insta: @ozbrooks100 Facebook: Geraldine Brooks Twitter: @GeraldineBrooks Hachette: Insta:@HachetteAus Facebook: Hachette Australia Books Twitter: @HachetteAus

Katherine is hafu; half Japanese, half English but in the experience of eating her body “forgot its cultural confusion”. Meshi explores the meals of Katherine’s childhood through Japan’s twenty-four sekki (seasons) untangling the threads of meaning, memory and ritual woven through every delicious mouthful. And… From hand-written recipes passed down through generations, to cook books that take us inside other cultures, or sell us dreams of travel, the recipe book is an enduring artefact of our culture. Foodie and former bookseller Kate Jordan Moore takes us through the many shapes food literature can take. Guests:  Katherine Tamiko Arguile, author of Meshi; A personal history of Japanese food published by Affirm Press Kate Jordan Moore, former bookseller and history researcher Our Random Reader - Clara Music composed by Quentin Grant SOCIAL MEDIA HANDLES Instagram: @katherinetamikoarguile @affirmpress Facebook: @katherinetamikoarguile @affirm press