The Community Library

This week I interviewed Australian authors (and sisters!) Kate Forsyth and Belinda Murrell about their latest book, Searching for Charlotte . Searching for Charlotte is a biblio-memoir that chronicles Kate and Belinda’s journey of writing about their ancestor, Charlotte Waring Atkinson, the author of Australia’s first children’s book. We chat about connecting to history, how exciting research can...

Have you ever listened to an album and wished you could read it as a book? Have you ever read a book and wished you could experience the story as a song? Well, look no further, my friends! This week I’m recommending books based on some of your favourite albums. From Dua Lipa to Harry Styles to Arctic Monkeys, there’s a book (and an album) for everyone. I hope you enjoy! Our book club pick for Febr...

To the new listeners, welcome! To the old friends who’ve listened before, welcome back! It’s a new year and a new season of the podcast. To kick things off, I’m talking about all the books I read while I was on holiday: the good, the not so good, and the Christmassy. If you liked this episode, make sure you subscribe on your favourite podcast platform, I put out new episodes every Sunday! Our book...

It’s the season finale! And in this episode, this year’s winners of The Community Library Reading Awards are announced! From most surprising book, to favourite translated fiction, to best pandemic read, I highlight seventeen of my favourite books this year. I will be taking a break over the holidays, but no fear! I will be back with season four in the new year! January 17th, mark your calendars, f...

Turns out books, not diamonds, are a girl’s best friend. Marilyn Monroe: actress, singer, blonde bombshell, and … avid reader. In 1999, Marilyn Monroe’s personal library was auctioned, and in 2010 the list of books was published online . People were surprised at her big collection of American literature, French classics, modern plays, poetry, books on religion and spirituality … the list goes on....

DIE HARD IS THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIE. YOU CANNOT CHANGE OUR MINDS. In this episode, I sit down with my sister, Kalliope, to discuss why Die Hard (1988), starring Bruce Willis and Alan Rickman, is our all-time favourite Christmas movie. We chat about our favourite one liners, how Christmas music is used in the film score, and how The Twelve Days of Christmas song is really just about birds. Yippee-...

Happy Halloween! This week I am discussing our book club pick for the month of October: The Trap by Melanie Raabe. What did I think of this literary thriller? Did the twist surprise me? Did I get spooked? Listen to find out! Spoiler section: 16:00 to 23:06 As always, a full transcription of the episode is available to read on my website here I will be taking a break from podcasting and Instagram f...

How did theatre survive a pandemic 100 years ago? In this episode I interview my very own mother about her latest creative project: a podcast episode about the Australian performing arts industry in during the 1918 flu pandemic. In this episode we talk about the similarities between the pandemics, the importance of performing arts, and the ethics of creating works of nonfiction. We hope you enjoy!...

Why is Ms. Christie called the Queen of Crime? This week I did a Christie readathon to find out. Join me on a journey from 1932 to 1967, through isolated houses and benign dentist offices. I even overcome a childhood fear! I hope you enjoy listening. As always, a full transcription of the episode is available on my website here Our next book club pick is a mystery thriller: The Trap by Melanie Raa...

What happened when I tried to read four books in two weeks while travelling across the world during a pandemic? Well, you lucky listeners get to find out. In this episode I read an Aussie classic, a Miles Franklin Award winner, an essay collection, and a YA contemporary. I hope you enjoy! Our next book club pick is a mystery thriller: The Trap by Melanie Raabe. I’ll be discussing this on the 25th...

This week we are discussing our book club pick for the month of September: Catching Teller Crow by Ambelin Kwaymullina and Ezekiel Kwaymullina (also published under the title The Things She’s Seen in the US). Did I love it? Did I not? Listen to find out! As always, a full transcription of the episode is available to read on my website here Our next book club pick is a mystery thriller: The Trap by...

How do you prepare? Does your voice get tired? Do you get nervous? How long does it take? All these questions answered AND MORE in this episode about my experience narrating audiobooks. I hope you enjoy this more casual, chatty, episode. Talk to you next week! As always, a full transcription of the episode is available to read on my website here Listen to me read There Was Still Love by Favel Parr...

This week on The Community Library, I’m recommending some Australian literature! From a YA mystery to an adult family drama, there’s something for everyone in this list. Hope you enjoy! TL;DL? I’ve listed all my recommendations on my website here , plus a full transcription of the episode. Listen to me talk about what it’s like to be in a film adaptation of a book: Working on Film Adaptations of B...

This week on The Community Library, I’m chatting to author and astrophysicist, Lisa Harvey-Smith, about her new book, The Secret Life of Stars ! We chat about stars, science, and STEM. Hope you enjoy! As always, a full transcription of the episode is on my website here . Follow Lisa! Website , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook . The Secret Life of Stars will be released on the 30th of September from...

This is the fifth and final episode in a series on fairy tales and Disney Princesses. This week I’m talking about this month’s book club pick: Forest of a Thousand Lanterns by Julie C. Dao. I also discuss my final thoughts on the whole fairy-tale-Disney-Princess project: what I discovered, what I learnt, and what conclusion I came to. I hope you enjoy! As always, a full transcription of the episod...

This is the fourth episode in a series on fairy tales and Disney Princesses. This week I brought in my sister, Kalliope, to talk about our favourite frosty and feisty sister duo: Elsa and Anna from Frozen . We also talk about The Snow Queen by Hans Christian Andersen, which was the inspiration behind the iconic Disney movie. We hope you enjoy! As always, a full transcription of this episode is lin...

This is the third episode in a series on fairy tales and Disney Princesses. This week, my friend Kali and I are talking all about that fiery red-headed fish, The Little Mermaid ! We discuss the tragedy of the original fairy tale, talk about the portrayal of disability, and gush over our icon: Ursula the sea witch. Content warning: we discuss ableism and the harmful portrayal of disability from 22:...

This is the second episode in a series on fairy tales and Disney Princesses. This week I’m talking all about that day-dreaming, dainty-footed Cinderella! I discuss the ancient history of the Cinderella story, why dreams are more powerful than hopes, and if Cinderella is actually our unsung feminist heroine. As always, a full transcription of this episode is linked here on my website, as well as a...

This is the first episode in a series on fairy tales and Disney Princesses. This week I’m talking about everyone’s favourite unpaid housekeeper, Snow White. I discuss the history of the Walt Disney Company, Snow White’s positive attitude, and why the Evil Queen might not be as evil as you think. This whole episode is basically a feminist rant, so buckle up, kids! As always, a full transcription of...

Welcome back to The Community Library! Another month spent in lockdown … how’s everyone feeling? My mood’s been a bit all over the place, but this week I’m talking about all the things that have made me happy this past month. I talk about some 5 star reads, my favourite songs from Taylor Swift’s new album, and how I’m trying to create more art for myself. I also mention what you folks have been lo...

Welcome back to The Community Library! This week, feminist extraordinaire Bonnie and I are discussing Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo. We chat about midwifery, toxic masculinity, and why teenage girls are the most poetic beings on earth. We hope you enjoy! Visit my website here for extra notes, resources, and a full transcription of this episode Other episodes with Bonnie The Neverending S...

Welcome back to The Community Library! Since Melbourne is still in lockdown, and I have nothing better to do, I decided to read one Shakespearean sonnet every day for twenty-two days. And then … I wrote my own. Want to find out how it went? Listen now! Hope you enjoy x The book club pick for this month is Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo, and we will be discussing this on the podcast on the...

Welcome back to The Community Library! It’s been a rough week for Melbourne (where I live), so this week, I’ve been thinking a lot about things that make me happy. I’ve been baking, knitting, and watching lots of Masterchef. So, in the spirit of staying positive, today I’m going to review three books I recently read and loved: Black Girl Unlimited by Echo Brown, The Children’s Book by A. S. Byatt,...

Hello and welcome back to The Community Library! In light of J. K. Rowling’s recent transphobic comments, this week I’m tackling a big question: can we separate the art from the artist? This episode is not a discussion or “debate” on trans rights. A person’s right to live their life as their truest self is not a debate, it is a human right. This episode is a discussion on what we do when the creat...

Welcome back to The Community Library! Today’s episode is part 2 of our discussion of One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez! Kali and I jumped right back in, talking about the banana company, the unreliability of memory, and that mind-blowing ending. Enjoy! Listen to part 1: One Hundred Years of Technical Difficulties with Kali (pt.1) Click the link here to access a full transcri...