One for the Books

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We have made no secret of the fact that we love a historical fiction story! Now we're dividing into some of our favourites, so cosy up and transport yourself into past worlds with our most loved and enjoyable historical fiction recommendations.

BOOK RECS:

Pachinko by Min Jin Lee

The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

OTHER RECS:

Guts (Spilled) Deluxe Edition by Olivia Rodrigo

Digital clean-up! Unsubscribe from emails, unfollow people on socials who make you unhappy.

Happy Reading!

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There have been a raft of bestselling autobiographies hitting bookshops in the past few years - Britney, Prince Harry, Michelle Obama anyone? So we’ve done the hard work for you and read some of the most popular (and the ones that you should be!) to work out if they’re actually worth the hype.

BOOK RECS:

The Woman in Me by Britney Spears

Strong Female Character by Fern Brady

Spare by Prince Harry

OTHER RECS:

Fern Brady's Instagram

Taskmaster TV Show

Joy Ride Movie

Happy Reading!

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In the wake of Valentine's Day this year, we decided to dust of a couple of our favourite romance and love stories (historical fiction and romcoms included!). This episode we want to share the love along with these heart-warming tales with you as well...

BOOK RECS:

A Long Petal of the Sea by Isabel Allende

Book Lovers by Emily Henry

Love Stories by Trent Dalton

OTHER RECS:

Happiness for Beginners on Netflix

Happiness for Beginners Book

Deadloch TV Show

Happy Reading!

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It's our favourite episode of the year! Join us as we embark on a literary journey through the pages of our favourite books from the year 2023. From captivating novels to thought-provoking non-fiction, we've curated a list that we hope has something for every kind of reader.

Whether you're an avid reader looking for your next favourite book or someone seeking an informed list of the most noteworthy releases, listen as we reminisce about the unforgettable stories that made 2023 a remarkable year in literature.

Emma’s top 5 books for 2023:

Wifedom: Mrs Orwell’s Invisible Life by Anna Funder
The Rachel Incident by Caroline O’Donoghue
The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
Babel by RF Kuang

Jacinta’s top 5 books for 2023:

Still Life by Sarah Winman
Sugar, Baby by Celine St Clare
Indelible City: Dispossession and Defiance in Hong Kong by Louisa Lim
Flux by Jinwoo Chong
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

Happy Reading!

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It's almost Christmas and Halloween was months ago??? Do not fear (or maybe do)! We have a bunch of our favourite thrillers - covering crime, historical, psychological, even ecological - from this year to keep you on the edge of your seat...

BOOK RECS:

The Guest by Emma Cline

Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll

Once There Were Wolves by Charlotte McConaghy

OTHER RECS:

Mrs. Davis TV Show on Binge

Spirited Film

Happy Reading!

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In a belated book club pick, we're tackling books by marginalised authors we don't usually see and experience in the mainstream media as often as we should. Our bookcases (and minds!) were very much expanded - we hope yours will be too.

BOOK RECS:

Love in Colour by Bolu Babalola

Sand Talk by Tyson Yunkaporta

Black Girl, Call Home by Jasmine Mans

OTHER RECS:

Where Should We Begin Podcast with Esther Perel
The Cut’s guide to where to begin with Esther Perel
Spotify free audiobooks if you have a premium account
Palestinian journalist Motaz Azaiza on Instagram
20 Palestinian Writers in Their Own Words
Ballads of Defiance: Powerful Poetry by Palestinian Poets
Five Palestinian artists who enrich the Arab Culture Scene

Happy Reading!

Emma and Jacinta xx

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There's a reason YA Novels are so popular - coming-of-age is a universal experience that can take whatever form imaginable. So, this ep we're celebrating that awkward, bemusing time between childhood and adulthood, and here are are absolute favourite YA novels from an expert and novice...

BOOK RECS:

The House by the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune

The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros

They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera

OTHER RECS:

The Bear Season 2

Hello Sunshine Newsletter (scroll to bottom to sign up)

Happy Reading!

Emma and Jacinta xx

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We're doing things a little different this episode. We're using our respective birth years as the jumping off point for some new book recommendations. It proves very interesting! Take a listen to what what happening in the late 80s and early 90s, and celebrate the books that were also born in the same year as us...

BOOK RECS:

Black Swans: Stories by Eve Babitz

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

OTHER RECS:

Vice’s series ‘The Story Of’ - It Wasn’t Me by Shaggy

The Story Of Series

The Barbie Movie

Happy Reading!

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This episode we're shining a light on our favourite books that have been unfairly subjected to censorship throughout modern history. Beyond the cliché classics that have been banned, we have also picked some more recent recommendations that have made the blacklist in a bid to silence these authors... You might be surprised at some of the titles that have been challenged over the years!

BOOK RECS:

All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M Johnson

Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi

Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe

OTHER RECS:

How many of these banned books have you read? by The Canberra Times
Banned in Australia - Federal Book Censorship (1900-1973) on AustLit
Beef on Netflix
Queen Charlotte on Netflix

Happy Reading!

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One of the joys of reading is being able to travel to some dream destinations via the book you’re bingeing. This ep, we’re taking you on an epic world adventure to some of our bucket list travel spots thanks to some amazing books!

BOOK RECS:

San Francisco/Hong Kong/China - Counterfeit by Kirstin Chen

Hydra, Greece - A Theatre for Dreamers by Polly Samson

Alberta, Canada - The Erratics by Vicki Laveau-Harvie

OTHER RECS:

Kleo TV Series on Netflix

Ted Lasso Season 3 on Apple TV

Happy Reading!

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This year is set to be a huge one for TV show and movie releases... And a ton of these are based on some absolutely incredible books! So this ep, it's a recommendation extravaganza as we’re giving you our top three books you have to read before getting stuck into these very exciting upcoming television shows, movie or music too.

BOOK RECS:

Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid

The Rearranged Life of Oona Lockhart (Oona Out of Order) by Margarita Montimore

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

OTHER RECS:

Daisy Jones and the Six TV Show
First look at the Lessons in Chemistry TV adaptation
Daisy Jones and the Six album ‘Aurora’
labour by Paris Paloma
boygenius’ album ‘The Record’
The Comfort Bake by Sally Wise

Happy Reading!

Love Emma & Jacinta xxx

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This ep, we’re bringing the laughs and chatting about our favourite satire or comedy books to make you laugh. We debate the ever popular My Year of Rest & Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh and both fall on very different sides of this dark satire. Where do you land? Strap in for all the LOLs and great recommendations.

P.S. We get into My Rest & Relaxation spoilers from 10.10 to 11.28, so skip ahead if you need to!

BOOK RECS:

My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh

Less by Andrew Sean Greer

This Is Going to Hurt: Secret Diaries of a Junior Doctor by Adam Kay

OTHER RECS:

This is Going to Hurt TV Show

Bandsplain Podcast

If cats had a podcast on Youtube

Happy Reading!

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The best time of the year is here!

www.adelaidefestival.com.au

BOOK RECS:

The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart by Holly Ringland

Bruny by Heather Rose

The Arsonists’ City by Hala Alyan

OTHER RECS:

The White Lotus Season 2

Le Gateau Chocolat and Johnny Woo ‘A Night at the Musicals 3: Summer Lovin’ Tour’

Happy Reading!

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We're so excited to kick off this year with a different kind of theme - this episode we're recommending you books based on your specific zodiac sign! For thousands of years, people have looked to the night sky for life's biggest (…and most inconsequential) questions and now we're using it to chart what book you should pick up next. Whether you're a newbie or make every important decision according to the position of the stars and planets, we've got a recommendation for you from your trusty Sagittarius Sun, Virgo Moon (Emma) and Virgo Sun, Libra Moon (Jacinta) book-obsessed friends. We've got links below too if you don't know your astrological chart off by heart and remember you can refer to your either Sun, Moon or Ascendant sign for the best books for you!

ZODIAC BOOK RECS:

Aries: The Power by Naomi Alderman

Taurus: The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Gemini: Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams

Cancer: A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

Leo: The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis

Virgo: Atomic Habits by James Clear

Libra: No Friend but the Mountain by Behrouz Boochani

Scorpio: The Guest List by Lucy Foley

Sagittarius: The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien

Capricorn: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Aquarius: Dune by Frank Hebert

Pisces: 100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez

OTHER LINKS:

Find your Astrological Chart: we love Co-Star, The Pattern and this free online Birth Chart Report

Regret Me from Honeycomb by Daisy Jones & the Six

Tarot Deck by Adam JK

Happy Reading!

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Okay, so we cannot quite believe that 2022 is almost over, but we’re ready anyway! This ep, we’re bringing you a list of some of our absolute standout books we’ve read this year. As always, we’ve got an eclectic mix covering all genres and styles.

Jacinta’s book recommendations:

Two Nights in Lisbon by Chris Pavone
The Giant Dark by Sarvat Hasin
Nightbitch by Rachel Yoder
Meet Me in the Bathroomby Lizzy Goodman
Midnight in Chernobyl by Adam Higginbotham
Life Support, edited by Julia Copus
Pizza Girl by Jean Kyoung Frazier
Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu
Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner
Five Minute Therapy by Sarah Crosby

Emma’s book recommendations:

Sigh, Gone: A Misfit’s Memoir of Great Books, Punk Rock, and the Fight to Fit In by Phuc Tran
Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson
Honor by Thrity Umrigar
The Power by Naomi Alderman
I’m Glad My Mum Died by Jennette McCurdy
QAnon and On by Van Badham
Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
Educated by Tara Westover

Other recommendations:

Coverage of Joan Didion estate sale: https://auctionsnew.stairgalleries.com/auction/an-american-icon-property-from-the-collection-of-joan-didion-november-16-2022-13172/lots
Great articles about Joan Didion’s estate sale: https://www.thecut.com/2022/11/joan-didion-estate-sale-recap.html https://www.theguardian.com/books/2022/nov/17/joan-didion-estate-sale-auction
A League of their own TV show on Amazon Prime: https://www.amazon.com/League-Their-Own-Season/dp/B0B13Q4GTH

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To honour Mental Health Awareness Month (October), we’re sitting down to chat about our must-reads on wellbeing, mental health and self-help.

BOOK RECS:

It Didn’t Start With You: How Inherited Family Trauma Shapes Who We Are and How to End the Cycle by Mark Wolynn

Lost Connections: Uncovering the Real Causes of Depression and the Unexpected Solutions by Johann Hari

Five Minute Therapy: Mental Notes for Everyday Happiness, Confidence, and Calm by Sarah Crosby

Daring Greatly: How the Courage to be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead by Brene Brown

OTHER RECS:

The Imperfects podcast
The Imperfects with Johann Hari Part 1
How to Fail with Elizabeth Day podcast
How to Fail with Elizabeth Day Brene Brown episode
Brene Brown Unlocking Us podcast
Brene Brown podcast episode with Sonya Renee Taylor
Rosaline Movie

Happy Reading!

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We grew up in the era of Gilmore Girls, and whether you stan Rory or not, you can’t argue that she had impeccable and nerdy taste in most things, including literature. So this ep we’re taking a look at books Rory recommended throughout the seasons of one of the 2000s' most iconic shows. Plus, we’ve got a special treat for you this episode! We’re joined by podcast bestie Yas who is here to chat all things Gilmore Girls!

BOOK RECS:

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Please Kill Me: The Uncensored Oral History of Punk by Legs McNeil and Gillian McCain
The Odyssey by Homer
Beloved by Toni Morrison

OTHER RECS:

Rory Gilmore's book list
Gilmore Girls
Rogues by Patrick Redden Keefe
Travelin’ Band documentary
Bling Empire Season 3
Abbott Elementary

Happy Reading!

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We’re continuing our run of non-fiction recommendations and this episode is no exception. This time, we’re tackling essay collections, which have positively hit their popularity stride in the last few years. Sit back and listen to our must-reads!

BOOK RECS:

I Like to Watch: Arguing My Way Through the TV Revolution by Emily Nussbaum

Growing Up in Country Australia, edited by Rick Morton

Intimations: Six Essays by Zadie Smith

A Little Devil in America: Notes in Praise of Black Performance by Hanif Abdurraqib

OTHER RECS:

Ghosts on ABC iView

Heartbreak High on Netflix

Happy Reading!

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This ep, we’re upending the stereotypical ‘under 30’ list and giving you our compilation of fave books by authors over 55! Age is definitely no barrier to writing a banging novel, so dive in and get reading (and listening).

BOOK RECS:

The Nest by Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney
Untold Resilience: Stories of Courage, Survival and Love from Women Who Have Gone Before by Future Women
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
The Road by Cormac McCarthy

OTHER RECS:

Uncoupled TV Show: https://www.netflix.com/title/81465093

The Bear TV Show: https://www.disneyplus.com/series/the-bear/52m6nx7HoP5F

Happy Reading!

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Celebrate National Science Week (13-21 August) with us this episode! We’re each picking two standout books about science that you should add to your reading list, ASAP. Let’s get PHYSICS-cal!

BOOK RECS:

This Is Your Brain On Music: Understanding a Human Obsession by Daniel Levitin
Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer
Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art by James Nestor
Come As You Are: The Surprising New Science That Will Transform Your Sex Life by Emily Nagoski

OTHER RECS:

The Principles of Pleasure Netflix docu series
Only Murders In The Building season 2
Article about Penguin ‘Clothbound Classics’ series
Coralie Bickford-Smith on Insta

Happy Reading!

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We’re basically living Jacinta’s dream this ep by picking our favourite non-fiction books we’ve read this year, so far! Strap in for our usual eclectic picks and prepare to be inspired for your next read. We also wax lyrical about our latest discovery... the humble audiobook!

BOOK RECS:

True Story: What Reality TV Says About Us by Danielle J Lindemann

Educated by Tara Westover

In Defence of Witches: The Legacy of the Witch Hunts and Why Women Are Still on Trial by Mona Chollet, Sophie R Lewis, Carmen Maria Machado

How to Lose Friends and Influence White People by Antoinette Lattouf

BOOKS RECS:

I Used to Be Normal: A Boyband Fangirl Story documentary
Renaissance album by Beyoncé
Maintenance Phase podcast
Maintenance Phase Dr Oz episode

Happy Reading!

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There’s nothing quite like escaping into a book to give yourself a break from reality. Although these days, dystopian novels feel like they should probably be filed in the non-fiction section of the library instead. So, come on a journey with us this ep to alternative universes and societies as we chat about our fave epic dystopias.

BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS:

The Power by Naomi Alderman
How High We Go In the Dark by Sequoia Nagamatsu
The End We Start From by Megan Hunter
The Natural Way of Things by Charlotte Wood

OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS:

The film Everything, Everywhere All At Once

The TV Show Call My Agent

Happy Reading!

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It’s not easy to write a great book... Let alone to come out of the gate with a brilliant one from the get go. Today’s ep is paying tribute to that exact rare beast: incredible debut novels. Stay tuned for some recent gems.

BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS:

Pizza Girl by Jean Kyoung Frazier

What a Shame by Abigail Bergstrom

Raven Smith’s Trivial Pursuit by Raven Smith

Olga Dies Dreaming by Xochitl Gonzalez

OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS:

The Bear TV Show

Everything I Know About Love TV Show

Raven Smith's Instagram

The Best Debut Novels of All Time List

Happy Reading!

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We think it’s fair to say that not all memoirs are created equal. Some feel like a complete drag - one where you’re forcing yourself to read each line and page. But others… they’re really, really good. They captivate you from the get go and have you intrigued and laughing along. So this ep, we wanted to tackle celebrity memoirs. What are the ones we rate and absolutely recommend?

BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS:

Just Kids by Patti Smith
You Got Anything Stronger? by Gabrielle Union
The Vanity Fair Diaries: 1983-1992 by Tina Brown
Dear Girls: Intimate Tales, Untold Secrets & Advice for Living Your Best Life by Ali Wong

OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS:

Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain

Loot TV show

Break My Soul by Beyoncé

Beyoncé Vogue UK photoshoot

Happy Reading!

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Refugee Week is 20-26 June (with 20 June being World Refugee Day) and with this year's theme of 'Healing', we wanted to honour the annual celebration and some of our favourite stories. That's why we’re using this episode to highlight some of our favourite and incredible books written by refugees.

BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS:

The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen

No Friend But The Mountain by Behrouz Boochani

Displaced Dishes Cookbook

When Stars Are Scattered by Omar Mohamed

Seeking Asylum by ASRC

OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS:

Preppers on ABC iVew

Starstruck on ABC iVew

The Summer I Turned Pretty on Amazon

Happy Reading!

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It’s no secret that we love a good poetry collection here at One for the Books... So, we decided to dedicate this entire episode to picking our favourite poetry collections or anthologies for your reading pleasure - whether you're a lifelong devotee, a recent convert, or have never picked one up before. We've got something for you!

BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS:

The Poetry Pharmacy: Tried-and-True Prescriptions for the Heart, Mind and Soul by William Sieghart
Homecoming by Elfie Shiosaki
Bless the Daughter Raised by a Voice in Her Head by Warsan Shire
Love is Strong As Death: Poems chosen by Paul Kelly

OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS:

Dropbear by Evelyn Araluen
Home by Warsan Shire
Lemonade by Beyonce
The Poetry Foundation Newsletter
To the Woman Crying Uncontrollably in the Next Stall by Kim Addonizio
Preppers on ABC iView

Happy Reading!

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This episode we’re dishing on our favourite books we’ve read so far this year. Like always, you can expect an eclectic and mixed bag of book recommendation goodies!

BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS:

Crudo by Olivia Laing

The Lebs by Michael Mohammed Ahmad

Love Stories by Trent Dalton

Beach Read by Emily Henry

OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS:

The Lonely City by Olivia Laing

Blood and Guts in High School by Kathy Acker

Boy Swallows Universe by Trent Dalton

Vanity Fair YouTube:

Commercial Styling Tricks Reviewed By Culinary Expert
Professional Baker Reviews Baking Scenes from Movies & TV
Food Stylist Reviews Food Scenes From Movies

Final season of Grace and Frankie

Happy Reading!

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So many journalists end up trying their hand at authoring books, whether it’s memoirs, investigative non-fiction, or branching out into the world of fiction. To celebrate World Press Freedom Day (3 May), we’re comparing notes on our fave books by journos from around the world.

FEATURED BOOKS:

The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History by Elizabeth Kolbert

Who Gets to Be Smart: Privilege, Power and Knowledge by Bri Lee

Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup by John Carreyrou

She Said: Breaking the Sexual Harassment Story That Helped Ignite a Movement by Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey

OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS:

Empireland: How Imperialism has Shaped Modern Britain by Sathnam Sanghera
Betrayal: Crisis in the Catholic Church by Boston Globe Investigative Staff
Catch and Kill: Lies, Spies, and a Conspiracy to Protect Predators by Ronan Farrow
The Diana Chronicles by Tina Brown
Talking to Strangers: What We Should Know about the People We Don’t Know by Malcolm Gladwell
The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America’s Great Migration by Isabel Wilkerson
Slouching Towards Bethlehem by Joan Didion
Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty by Patrick Radden Keefe
Dopesick: Dealers, Doctors and the Drug Company that Addicted America by Beth Macy
Dopesick TV show
The Dropout podcast
The Dropout TV show
Heartstopper TV show

Happy Reading!

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To celebrate Ramadan, we’re chatting about our favourite books by Muslim authors. Ramadan Kareem to everyone who celebrates!

BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS:

The Startup Wife by Tahmima Anam
We Hunt the Flame by Hafsah Faizal
A Case of Exploding Mangoes by Mohammed Hanif
Salt Houses by Hala Alyan

OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS:

Slow Horses TV Show

We Are Lady Parts TV Show

Happy Reading!

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Never judge a book by its cover right? Wrong! This ep, we’re taking a deep dive into the book covers we think are the absolute best. From classics to the latest releases, book covers are such a big part of what we choose to read.

MENTIONS:

The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper by Hallie Rubenhold
I Didn’t Do The Thing Today: On letting go of productivity guilt by Madeleine Dore
Extraordinary Routines Website
Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner
Japanese Breakfast Music
Na Kim Graphic Designer
How A Book is Made by the New York Times
Somebody’s Daughter: A Memoir by Ashley C Ford

OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS

Hit Parade - Killing me Softly Part 1
Hit Parade - Killing me Softly Part 2
Brene Brown’s TV show - Atlas of the Heart: Connection Through Language

Happy Reading!

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Both of us love a good audiobook. Whether it’s fiction, non-fiction, fantasy, poetry or anything in between. Listening to a book gives you a whole other dimension and appreciation for the characters and narrative. So this ep, we’re diving into our absolute fave audiobooks.

BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS:

The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley

Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men by Caroline Criado Pérez

Music is History by Questlove

Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid

OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS:

Prioritise Pleasure by Self Esteem

River Nile by Elsy Wayemo

our special episode playlist here.

Happy Reading!

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It's almost book Christmas for all book nerds in South Australia (aka Adelaide Writers' Week)! ⁠To celebrate, this episode is all about our favourite books and authors that are on this year's program...

www.adelaidefestival.com.au/writers-week

BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS:

The Mother Wound by Amani Haydar
Laurinda by Alice Pung
One Hundred Days by Alice Pung
Beautiful Revolutionary by Laura Elizabeth Woollett
Bila Yarrudhanggalangdhuray (River of Dreams) by Anita Heiss

OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS:

Amani Haydar Instagram
The Afterparty TV show
Brilliant podcast episode on cookbook collections
Parwana: Recipes and Stories from an Afghan Kitchen cookbook by Durkhanai Ayubi and recipes by Farida Ayubi

Happy Reading!

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We’re getting in early with our International Women’s Day celebrations this year! It's been a long time coming, so this episode we chat about our favourite female-identifying authors. It's a Who's Who of the most celebrated authors from the last couple years.

BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS:

The Lying Life of Adults by Elena Ferrante
Shrill: Notes from a Loud Woman by Lindy West
NW by Zadie Smith
Black and Blue: A Memoir of Racism and Resistance by Veronica Gorrie

OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS:

Shrill TV show
Fake or Fortune TV show
Hrishikesh Hirway’s TED talk

Happy Reading!

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Find out what what books we read over the summer break to keep that summer vibe going.

RECOMMENDED BOOKS:

Interior Chinatown by Charles Wu

In My Defence, I Have No Defence by Sinead Stubbins

Love and Virtue by Diana Reid

Dune by Frank Herbert

Other books we’ve been reading:

My Body Keeps Your Secrets by Lucia Osborne-Crowley
The Baby is Mine by Oyinkan Braithwaite
Puff Piece by John Safran
The T-Shirts I Love by Haruki Murakami
A Court of Thorns and Roses series by Sarah J Maas
In Five Years by Rebecca Serle
Slouching Towards Bethlehem by Joan Didion
Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid
The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna
Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
Girl at War by Sara Novic
Seeking Asylum: Our Stories by ASRC

Happy Reading!

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For our season one finale we’re doing a wrap-up of our absolute must-reads from this year!

BOOKS MENTIONED:

No One Is Talking About This by Patricia Lockwood

The Other Black Girl by Zakiya Dalila Harris

The Wreckage of My Presence by Casey Wilson

On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong

Jacinta's List -

Earnest, Earnest? By Eleanor Boudreau
Whereabouts by Jhumpa Lahiri
The Lying Life of Adults by Elena Ferrante
The Herd by Andrea Bartz
Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottlieb
Misfits: A Personal Manifesto by Michaela Coel
Eggshell Skull by Bri Lee
Eating With My Mouth Open by Sam van Zweden
My Sister The Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite
Phosphorescence by Julia Baird
Empire of Pain by Patrick Radden Keefe

Emma's List -

Lucky’s by Andrew Pippos
Honeybee by Craig Silvey
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
Emotional Female by Yumiko Kadota
Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
The Boy from the Mish by Gary Lonesborough
The Inheritance of Orquiedia Divina by Zoraida Cordova
Growing Up Disabled in Australia edited by Carly Findlay
Dropbear by Evelyn Araluen
The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead

OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS:

Salt Lake City Real Housewives on 9Now: www.9now.com.au/the-real-housewives-of-salt-lake-city

Laura Jackson’s house tour on Elle UK: www.elle.com/uk/life-and-culture/culture/a38342549/laura-jackson-home-my-style-my-space/

Pip Lincolne newsletter - Meet Me at Mikes founder: www.somethinggoodeveryday.substack.com/about

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To celebrate International Day of People with Disability, which happens on 3 December every year, this ep we’re diving into our favourite books written by authors with a disability. Note – some writers might identify as chronically ill, living with a facial difference or Deaf, rather than disabled

BOOKS MENTIONED:

Dancing After TEN by Vivian Chong

Growing up disabled in Australia, edited by Carly Findlay

Girl at War by Sarah Novic

The Shape of Sound by Fiona Murphy

Eyes to the Wind by Ady Barkan

Simple Dreams by Linda Rondstadt

The White Album by Joan Didion

Demystifying Disability by Emily Ladau

OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS:

Sex Education TV Show

Christmas Flow TV Show

Home for Christmas TV Show

Love Hard Movie

Happy Reading!

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To celebrate Worldcon, happening in December, we’re chatting about our favourite science fiction and fantasy novels! Worldcon is the annual convention of the World Science Fiction Society (WSFS). It was first held in 1939 and, after a hiatus during WWII, has been held continuously since 1946.

BOOK MENTIONS:

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab

The Inheritance of Orquidea Divina by Zoraida Cordova

The Witch’s Heart by Genevieve Gornichec

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

Comic Books:

The Paper Girls by Brian K Vaughan
Y The Last Man by Brian K Vaughan
Pluto Manga by Naoki Urasawa

Outlander (for romance, great sex scenes and time travel) by Diana Gabaldon

Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman

Terry Pratchett novels and the Discworld Series

A Court of Thorns and Roses (this is trash but the most addictive trash ever) by Sarah J Maas

RECOMMENDATIONS:

Taylor Swift’s redo of her album ‘Red’
The new Bond movie (No Time To Die) (in cinemas only)
The OA
Dark

Happy Reading!

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We’ve put the power in your hands this episode, dear listeners! On social, we did a call out for books you wanted to hear our take on, and you delivered. So strap in and enjoy the ride as we tell you whether we loved or hated the reads you asked us to rate!

BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Beautiful World, Where Are You by Sally Rooney

This is How it Always Is by Laurie Frankel

Luster by Raven Leilani

EXTRA RECOMMENDATIONS:

Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty by Patrick Radden Keefe

Claire Saffitz’s Dessert Person cookbook

Vox article: The food world is imploding over structural racism. The problems are much bigger than Bon Appétit

Vulture article: Claire Saffitz Gourmet Makes Her Exit From the Bon Appétit Test Kitchen

The Guardian article: The Bon Appétit and Reply All saga shows how far behind we still are in Australia

The Atlantic article: It’s Not Callout Culture. It’s Accountability.

Happy Reading!

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Halloween is here! We’re creeping it real with our top picks for some of our fave spook-tacular reads. Trick and treat yo’self with this go-to list! Witch-ing you a happy Halloween!

BOOKS MENTIONED:

Helter Skelter: The True Story of The Manson Murders by Vincent Bugliosi with Curt Gentry
The Animals in That Country by Laura Jean McKay
The Herd by Andrea Bartz
The Natural Way of Things by Charlotte Wood
Catching Teller Crow by Ambelin Kwaymullina and Ezekiel Kwaymullina

RECOMMENDATIONS:

60 Songs That Explain the '90s Podcast
What We Do in the Shadows 2014 Film

Happy (spooky) Reading!

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To celebrate Adelaide’s local OzAsia Festival, we’re dedicating this ep to shining a light on some of our favourite Asian Australian authors and voices. Make sure you check out the Festival when it rolls into town 21 October - 7 November, you'll catch us down at our favourite Lucky Dumpling Market!

BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS:

The Healing Party by Micheline Lee

The Family Law by Benjamin Law

Room for a Stranger by Melanie Cheng

Emotional Female by Yumiko Kadota

OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS:

OzAsia Festival

OzAsia ‘In Other Words’ event

White Pearl theatre show

The Agonist by ShastraDeo

Korean Cold Noodle Rhapsody on Netflix

Chopsticks or Fork ABC iview

Happy Reading!

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We love reading any book ever, basically. And both of us adore books written by authors from across the world. Reading stories written in languages other than English can be such a wonderful exploration of our own language, and the way we expect and get used to hearing sentences, words, and descriptions. So this ep, we’re sharing our fave books that have been translated into English!

BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS:

Convenience Store Woman by Murata Sayaka

Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami

Death is Hard Work by Khaled Khalifa

Perfume by Patrick Suskind

OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS:

Only Murders in the Building

Betty

Lupin

Happy Reading!

p.s. Jacinta wants to remind everyone for the millionth time her favourite book is the translated My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante, despite how Emma feels about it!

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R U OK? Day comes around every September, and it’s a cause we can definitely get behind. So this ep, we’re chatting about our fave books that talk about mental health.

Girl, Interrupted by Susanna Kaysan
Living with It by Bev Aisbett
Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottlieb
Get up Mum by Justin Heazlewood
Small Things by Mel Tregonning
Small Acts of Disappearance by Fiona Wright
Your Own Kind of Girl by Clare Bowditch

OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS:

The Invention of the Beach Read by Katie Waldman
Golden Gaytime and Northcote (So Hungover) by Bedroom Philosopher
Dr John Berardi Show - The Problem with Weight Loss, parts 1, 2 and 3

Happy Reading!

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Melbourne Writers Festival often has one of the most incredible author line-ups year-in, year-out. And this year was no exception! Featuring the likes of Tony Birch, Helen Garner, Douglas Stuart, Behrouz Boochani, Alice Pung, Bruce Pascoe and Shaun Tan to name just a few.

Unfortunately, Queen Rona has continued their reign over all things fun and in-person, so most of the festival has been cancelled. There’s still an incred online program though - go check it out now: https://mwf.com.au/

So we wanted to dedicated this ep to such a rad festival and some of our books by authors on the line-up.

BOOKS MENTIONED:

Assembly by Natasha Brown
Eggshell Skull by Bri Lee
Eating with my Mouth Open by Sam Van Zweden
Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam

OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS:

Succession
Feel Good
Stop Everything! with Ben Law & Beverley Wang

Happy Reading!

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In Australia, next week is Book Week. A week where school kids around the country dress up as their favourite characters from books and parade around the school yard. In some awful twist of fate, this tradition has never crossed the barrier into adulthood. We would LOVE to annually dress up as our fave characters! To celebrate book week and our inner nerd children, Jacinta and Emma are chatting about their fave kids books of all time.

BOOKS MENTIONED:

Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White

Goosebumps by R.L. Stine

Strega Nona by Tomie dePaola

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl

OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS:

Books Fairs Were A Staple of Our Childhood. Their Impact Never Really Went Away from Refinery29

Regé-Jean Page Reads Rain Before Rainbows for CBeebies

Umbrella Academy on Netflix

Room 20 Podcast from the LA Times

Happy Reading!

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Sometimes it feels like some books achieve cult classic status so quickly, thanks to online book clubs and recs (we’re looking at you Reese Witherspoon and Oprah!). This ep we deep dive into some recent ‘classics’ that we think are perhaps a tad overrated.

BOOKS MENTIONED:

Atomic Habits by James Clear
Exciting Times by Naoise Dolan
Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur
A Lonely Girl is a Dangerous Thing by Jessie Tu

RECOMMENDATIONS:

McMillions
Ted Lasso
Never I Have Ever

EXTRAS:

Rupi Kaur Articles

https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2018/10/rupi-kaur-instagram-poet-entrepreneur/572746/
https://babe.net/2017/07/24/rupi-kaur-plagarize-milk-honey-book-9034
- https://www.vice.com/en/article/5dpn8z/instagram-poet-rupi-kaur-memes-hate-fans-author
https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/chiaragiovanni/the-problem-with-rupi-kaurs-poetry
https://www.readings.com.au/products/26081949/milk-and-vine-inspirational-quotes-from-classic-vines
Girlfriend’s sleep talking turned into Rupi Kaur-inspired poems: https://twitter.com/HarryIsLate/status/1340338998548545539

One for the Books: Recent Episodes