Hosted by Angourie Rice, The Community Library is a fortnightly podcast for anyone interested in stories, and how and why we tell them.
If you've been following the podcast for a while, you'll know that each season of The Community Library is about 19-22 episodes. So, my friends, you might have guessed that this is the last episode in season 6. Join me for a little catch up with what I’ve been reading and watching in the past few weeks, and I’ll see you next season!
For more links and resources, visit my website www.angourieslibrary.com
You might also like:
Black Lives Matter resources
Pay the Rent
Greenpeace Australia Pacific
Greenpeace International
@angourierice / @the_community_library / our book!
Cover artwork is by Ashley Ronning
A couple of weeks ago, I accidentally read a post-apocalyptic book and watched a post-apocalyptic movie in the same week, and I decided I needed to talk about them. This episode is about La Jetée (1962), directed by Chris Marker, and I Who Have Never Known Men (1995), written by Jacqueline Harpman. I hope you enjoy.
Visit www.angourieslibrary.com for more links and resources.
Watch La Jetée (1962)
I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman
More like this:
6.04 Station Eleven, or 2020
5.19 Sad Hot Girls
5.13 The Snake Pit, 1946
Black Lives Matter resources
Pay the Rent
Greenpeace Australia Pacific
Greenpeace International
Last year, I embarked on a challenge to read a book published in every single year of the 20th Century. When I catalogued all the books from the 20th Century I’d already read, I found the 1970s to be the decade from which I had read the least. In this episode, I take you through my journey of reading books published in 1970, 1973, 1974, 1976 and 1978.
For more links and resources, visit my website www.angourieslibrary.com
Books I read to complete the challenge:
Black Lives Matter resources
Pay the Rent
Greenpeace Australia Pacific
Greenpeace International
Since we’re already a quarter of the way into 2024 (!) , it was time for me to sit down withyou to talk through my reading stats and highlights from the last 3 months.
Visit my website www.angourieslibrary.com for more links and resources.
Black Lives Matter resources
Pay the Rent
Greenpeace Australia Pacific
Greenpeace International
Five years ago today I released the teaser episode for The Community Library podcast: a creative endeavour inspired by my love of books, reading, and talking about stories. And here we are, five years later!
Visit my website www.angourieslibrary.com for more links and resources.
Black Lives Matter resources
Pay the Rent
Greenpeace Australia Pacific
Greenpeace International
Welcome to the fifth annual Community Library Reading Awards! A completely subjective and biased awards ceremony in which the prizes go to the books I read and liked in 2023. Tonight there are twelve awards to give out to honour some of my favourite books I read in 2023. I hope you enjoy!
Visit my website www.angourieslibrary.com for more links, resources, and a full list of all the award winners.
Black Lives Matter resources
Pay the Rent
Greenpeace Australia Pacific
Greenpeace International
We’re back for your annual Christmas episode! And this year, we’re tier ranking some popular Christmas treats. Listen to find out our most controversial opinions, and let us know your favourite treat on my suggestions page! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
For more links and resources, visit my website www.angourieslibrary.com
Black Lives Matter resources
Pay the Rent
Greenpeace Australia Pacific
Greenpeace International
@angourierice / @the_community_library / our book!
Cover artwork is by Ashley Ronning
Ashley’s Instagram, website, and printing studio website
As we reach the end of 2023, I’m excited to bring you a short series of episodes in which I look back at my reading year. This first episode is about the reading challenges I completed this year, and the ones I hope to complete next year, too. Did you have any reading challenges you completed in 2023? I hope you enjoy this episode, and chat soon!
Get our book, Stuck Up and Stupid, here!
Visit my website www.angourieslibrary.com for more links and resources.
Black Lives Matter resources
Pay the Rent
Greenpeace Australia Pacific
Greenpeace International
What you’re about to listen to is a live recording of The Community Library! In this episode, the incredible award-winning YA author Melina Marchetta interviews my mum and me about our novel, Stuck Up and Stupid! Thank you to everyone who came to the live event. Special thanks to Melina Marchetta for the stellar interview. Also thanks to Melissa Luckman, our publicist from Walker Books, for organising such a beautiful event at the Glebe Town Hall. And thank you to Nova, the sound technician who recorded the event for you all to listen.
Stuck Up and Stupid is available now in Australia and New Zealand!
You can visit my website, www.angourieslibrary.com to access more links and resources.
Before we get into the topic of today’s episode, I want to acknowledge that we’ve seen some very sad, upsetting, and challenging events recently, both in Australia and globally. I found I just couldn’t continue with the podcast when the world is in such a dark place, so I went on an unexpected hiatus for a month. This week, I offer The Community Library as a space of connection and warmth. This is not what everyone needs, but it's what I can offer at the moment. This episode is a bunch of overly specific book recommendations: I asked my Instagram followers what sort of books they’re looking to read, and I’ve got some suggestions. I hope you enjoy.
READ: Stuck Up and Stupid written by me and my mum Kate Rice, it's out now in bookstores across Australia and New Zealand
JOIN: Want to come to a live recording of The Community Library? Tickets to the event on the 14th of November at Glebe Town Hall, Sydney: https://events.humanitix.com/walkerbooksinconversation
CONTRIBUTE: Brand new suggestions page on my website www.angourieslibrary.com
Episodes mentioned
Black Lives Matter resources
Pay the Rent
Greenpeace Australia Pacific
Greenpeace International
Have you ever read a book you loved so much, that you were scared to read another book by the same author for fear that it wouldn’t be as good? For me, that book was Station Eleven, and the author is Emily St. John Mandel. Join me as I read Emily St. John Mandel’s next book The Glass Hotel, in an experiment to see if I can trust my 5 star predictions.
Visit my website www.angourieslibrary.com for more links, resources, and a full transcription of the episode
You might also like:
Black Lives Matter resources
Pay the Rent
Greenpeace Australia Pacific
Greenpeace International
I’m sure you’ve heard of one of the greatest love stories ever written. About a man and a woman who seemed to despise each other at first, before falling madly in love and living happily ever after. But are you intimidated to pick up the original book? Maybe I can help. In this episode of Classic Short Cuts we’re tackling Pride and Prejudice.
Visit my website, www.angourieslibrary.com, for a full transcription of this episode.
Links:
You might also like:
Black Lives Matter resources
Pay the Rent
Greenpeace Australia Pacific
Greenpeace International
When I began the childhood favourites series, I knew that Jacqueline Wilson would need her own episode. This week I talk about her work, which ones were my favourites, and why I think she’s such a successful children’s author. Enjoy!
Visit my website, www.angourieslibrary.com for more links, resources, and a full transcription of this episode.
You might also like:
Black Lives Matter resources
Pay the Rent
Greenpeace Australia Pacific
Greenpeace International
Kalliope is back! This time, I enlisted her to help choose what to read next. In this episode, I give her the first sentence of eight different books, and her favourite one is what I read.
Visit my website www.angourieslibrary.com for more links, resources, and a full transcription of today's episode.
Other episodes you might like
Black Lives Matter resources
Pay the Rent
Greenpeace Australia Pacific
Greenpeace International
Have you ever read a classic? Have you ever wanted to read a classic, but not known where to begin? Have you ever started reading a classic and then given up because it was just too confusing? Welcome to Classic Short Cuts, and today we’re tackling Frankenstein. I’ll tell you all you need to know before picking up this classic, and hopefully make it seem less intimidating. Enjoy!
Visit my website www.angourieslibrary.com for a full transcription of the episode, and more links and resources.
You might also like:
Black Lives Matter resources
Pay the Rent
Greenpeace Australia Pacific
Greenpeace International
This week I answer all of your burning questions about books. I recommend books to read on holiday, my favourite spooky books, and talk about the book that gave me the biggest existential crisis. Enjoy! A x
For a full transcription, and more links and resources, visit my website www.angourieslibrary.com
You might also like
Black Lives Matter resources
Pay the Rent
Greenpeace Australia Pacific
Greenpeace International
Welcome back to the series in which I revisit favourite books from my childhood. We began in 2007 with Enid Blyton and The Boxcar Children, and today we’re exploring 2008 with Anne of Green Gables and Ballet Shoes.
Visit my website www.angourieslibrary.com for more links and resources.
You might also like
6.03 Childhood Favourites: 2007
5.15 When History Meets Magic
5.12 I Watched 7 Old Movies in 7 Days
5.01 Why You Should Be Critical of the Things You Love
Black Lives Matter resources
Pay the Rent
Greenpeace Australia Pacific
Greenpeace International
Hello! This week I’m coming to you live and unscripted! Since I last spoke to you I’ve been very busy travelling and also trying to recover from a terrible cold. So I scrapped my essay plans, and instead decided to do a very casual mid-year book freakout episode for you. I hope you enjoy! A x
Visit my website www.angourieslibrary.com for more resources, including links to all the books I talked about.
Episodes referenced
Chatty episodes you might like
Scripted episodes you might like
Black Lives Matter resources
Pay the Rent
Greenpeace Australia Pacific
Greenpeace International
It took me three years before I felt ready to read a book about a pandemic. After much recommendation, from both during the height of the coronavirus pandemic and afterwards, I read Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel. In this episode I talk about how much this book impacted me, in its discussions of disaster, survival, and art. I hope you enjoy! A x
Visit my website www.angourieslibrary.com for more episode notes, plus a full transcription of the episode.
You might also like:
Black Lives Matter resources
Pay the Rent
Greenpeace Australia Pacific
Greenpeace International
I have been reading for about eighteen years of my life. And I’m curious about what books I loved as a kid, and how they’ve influenced my reading tastes now. Do these books hold up? How do we separate our opinions from feelings of nostalgia? Should we change outdated vocabulary in old books? All these questions and more answered in today’s episode, the first in a new series on this podcast. I hope you enjoy! A x
Visit my website www.angourieslibrary.com for more links and resources, plus a full transcription of this episode.
This podcast concept was taken from Kayla from Booksandlala on YouTube. You can watch her childhood favourites series here.
Black Lives Matter resources
Pay the Rent
Greenpeace Australia Pacific
Greenpeace International
With Taylor Swift currently on her epic Eras Tour, I thought it was a great opportunity to revisit Swift’s oeuvre. Today I’m talking about some of my favourite songs on Midnights, how they draw on storytelling tropes, and how Taylor Swift has created her own literary world. I hope you enjoy!
Visit my website, www.angourieslibrary.com, for more links and resources related to this episode.
@angourierice / @the_community_library
Cover artwork is by Ashley Ronning
Ashley’s Instagram, website, and printing studio website
It’s been a while since I sat down at the microphone, and it’s so nice to be back. Life has been a lot lately, and I want to thank you for being so patient, and for still being here. This episode is just a little catch up, and you can look forward to more regular, full-length episodes in the future. Thanks for sticking with me. A x
For more links, resources, plus a full transcription of the episode, you can visit my website www.angourieslibrary.com
More about Stuck Up and Stupid here
You can watch The Last Thing He Told Me on Apple TV+
My Instagram, Goodreads and StoryGraph
The Community Library’s Instagram
Cover artwork is by Ashley Ronning
Ashley’s Instagram, website, and printing studio website
In past few months, I happened to read three “Sad Hot Girl” books (a phrase which tiktok, of course, created). In this episode, I investigate the Sad Hot Girl genre, what these three books have in common, and how I felt reading them. I hope you enjoy! X
For more links and resources, visit my website www.angourieslibrary.com
The Books
More episodes you might like
Black Lives Matter resources
Pay the Rent
Greenpeace Australia Pacific
Greenpeace International
Four months after first arriving in LA, I have now read five and a half books set here (some on purpose, some by accident). In this episode I talk about how these books have influenced and informed my experience of LA as a city. I hope you enjoy x
For more links and resources, you can visit my website www.angourieslibrary.com
Black Lives Matter resources
Pay the Rent
Greenpeace Australia Pacific
Greenpeace International
Hollywood, La La Land, Tinseltown, Showbiz. There are many names for the film industry in Los Angeles, and even though I’ve visited so many times, I still struggle to separate the myth from the reality. This episode is a look at Hollywood, its cinema, its stories, its identity. I hope you enjoy! A x
For more resources, links, and a full transcription of the episode, visit my website Angourie's Library
Black Lives Matter resources
Pay the Rent
Greenpeace Australia Pacific
Greenpeace International
Like many old things, the Greek myths might at first seem complicated, dull, or irrelevant, but I promise you, they are far from it. This episode is a guide bya beginner, for beginners, with the aim to share my love of the Greek myths, and hopefully inspire you to discover them, too. A x
Prefer to read rather than listen? A full transcription of the episode is available on my website: angourieslibrary.com
Black Lives Matter resources
Pay the Rent
Greenpeace Australia Pacific
Greenpeace International
Another bite-sized episode for you folks! A shallow dive (as opposed to a deep dive) into the world of historical fantasy fiction. I take you through a few of my favourite books that combine these two genres, and explore the ways in which they use fantasy to tell a story. The clashing of myth and reality has been coming up a lot for me recently, so you can expect more episodes on this topic! A x
To access a full transcription of the episode, plus more links and resources, visit my website www.angourieslibrary.com
Black Lives Matter resources
Pay the Rent
Greenpeace Australia Pacific
Greenpeace International
What does one do when one is stuck in a single room for 7 days? One reads, of course. Another week in the year of our lord 2022, another bout of isolation. In this episode, I tell you about everything I read in those seven days on my own, while offering no insight or meaningful message on the emotional and creative effects of isolation. It just is what it is. For a full transcription, plus more links and resources, visit my website www.angourieslibrary.com
“The 5 cultural icons that shaped by identity as a gay woman” by Lotte Jeffs for Stylist, 2019 If you love wordle (like me), you should play quordle– it’s quadruple the fun!
Black Lives Matter resources Pay the Rent Greenpeace Australia Pacific Greenpeace International
My Instagram, Goodreads and StoryGraph The Community Library’s Instagram Cover artwork is by Ashley Ronning Ashley’s Instagram, website, and printing studio website
Have you ever stumbled upon a book that brought so much more to your life than you first expected? That’s what happened to me with The Snake Pit, a 1946 novel I found in a second-hand bookstore in Vancouver. The book was a sensation when it was published, and was made into an award-winning film with Olivia de Havilland, but somehow I had never heard of it. In this episode I compare the book with the film, and uncover the bigger story behind The Snake Pit.
Prefer to read than listen? You can find a full transcription of this episode on my website, www.angourieslibrary.com
A bibliography and list of quotations can also be found on my website.
More like this:
Black Lives Matter resources
Pay the Rent
Greenpeace Australia Pacific
Greenpeace International
Welcome back to The Community Library! After a little hiatus, I am back making episodes, beginning with this one all about my adventures watching old movies for a week. I watched seven black and white movies, spanning from 1931 to 1948, and documented my thoughts on each. I watched some classics – such as His Girl Friday and Frankenstein, and some lesser-known ones, such as Ladies of the Chorus and To Be or Not to Be. Enjoy!
For more links, resources, and a full transcription of the episode, visit my website www.angourieslibrary.com.
Black Lives Matter resources
Pay the Rent
Greenpeace Australia Pacific
Greenpeace International
The end of another year means another Community Library Reading Awards! In this totally biased and unfair awards ceremony, I give awards to my most thought-provoking book, favourite lockdown read, favourite translated fiction, and more! Consider this a highlights reel of all the books I read this year. Happy New Year, and I hope you enjoy!
Prefer to read than listen? You can find a list of all the books I mentioned on my website, angourieslibrary.com
Black Lives Matter resources
Pay the Rent
Greenpeace Australia Pacific
Greenpeace International
This year’s extra-special Christmas episode features everyone’s favourite guest, my sister Kalliope! We tier rank fifteen popular Christmas songs for you, because we love Christmas songs and being judgemental. We hope you enjoy!
For a full transcription of this episode, plus more links and resources, visit my website angourieslibrary.com!
Last year’s Christmas episode: 3.20 Die Hard, aka The Best Christmas Movie with Kalliope
The Songs:
Black Lives Matter resources
Pay the Rent
Greenpeace Australia Pacific
Greenpeace International
Beauties and Beasts have been falling in love all throughout mythology and folklore, but what makes Disney’s 1991 adaptation such a fan-favourite? In the next instalment of my Disney Fairy Tale series, I take you through the history of the original Beauty and the Beast fairy tale, and compare it with its Disney adaptation. From animal studies to mob mentality, we cover lots in this episode! I hope you enjoy x
Visit my website angourieslibrary.com for all my references, plus a full transcription of the episode!
Hank Green’s video: My Greatest Tool Against Vaccine Misinformation
Timestamps:
Other episodes in this series:
Black Lives Matter resources
Pay the Rent
Greenpeace Australia Pacific
Greenpeace International
Another year of reading has almost come to an end, and so this episode I asked myself, I asked my family, and I asked you, the listeners, what your favourite book of the year was. I got so many delightful responses – it was such a treat to read all about the books you loved. Happy listening! X
For a full transcription of th episode, plus more links and resources, visit my website angourieslibrary.com
Black Lives Matter resources
Pay the Rent
Greenpeace Australia Pacific
Greenpeace International
Who’s afraid of nonfiction? Me. It’s me. I’ve always had trouble with getting through nonfiction, but this past year I’ve actually found myself … choosing to read it? Over fiction? Who is she? So in this very chatty episode, I take you through 10 things I’ve learnt from 10 of my favourite nonfiction reads this year. Happy listening! X
For a full transcription of this episode, plus more links and resources, visit my website angourieslibrary.com
Episodes mentioned
Black Lives Matter resources
Pay the Rent
Greenpeace Australia Pacific
Greenpeace International
I’ve seen Clueless so many times I can almost recite it by heart. 10 Things I Hate About You is my comfort movie, and I watched She’s the Man for my English Lit unit instead of reading the actual play, Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. But what makes these teen flix based on classic lit so special? Why was there such a boom in this genre in the 90s? This episode we’re looking at the anatomy of a 90s literary teen movie adaptation. Grab a cup of tea and biscuit, because this is a long one. Enjoy!
For a full transcription of the episode, visit my website, angourieslibrary.com – plus all my references, extra links and resources!
Black Lives Matter resources
Pay the Rent
Greenpeace Australia Pacific
Greenpeace International
How many books did I read in the last three months? How many of them were translated? How many did I get from the library? All these questions answered AND MORE in this episode. As is tradition here on the podcast, every three months I take you through the stats of everything I read that quarter, because despite being a literature nerd, I also love numbers and statistics. I also highlight three of my favourite books from the last three months! I hope you enjoy x
Prefer to read than listen? You can access a full transcription of this episode on my website, angourieslibrary.com, plus extra links and resources!
Black Lives Matter resources
Pay the Rent
Greenpeace Australia Pacific
Greenpeace International
I launched The Community Library two and a half years ago, and in that whole time I’ve never celebrated a single anniversary. Now is as good a time as any, right? Today I’m reflecting on 10 lessons I’ve learnt through creating The Community Library podcast. I hope you enjoy x
Visit my website, angourieslibrary.com for a full transcription of the episode, plus more links and resources!
Black Lives Matter resources
Pay the Rent
Greenpeace Australia Pacific
Greenpeace International
This week I’m reviving an old series on the podcast and talking about everyone’s favourite finger-pricking princess: Sleeping Beauty.
Once upon a time, a year ago, to be exact, at the height of Melbourne’s strict lockdown, I started a fairy tale series on the podcast in which I analysed and compared four Disney Princesses with their fairy tale counterparts. A year later, and Melbourne finds itself in yet another strict lockdown, and so what better lockdown activity than to fill in the blanks in the timeline?
You can find a full transcription of this episode, plus all my citations and references on my website angourieslibrary.com
Black Lives Matter resources
Pay the Rent
Greenpeace Australia Pacific
Greenpeace International
What’s it like to watch your sister in a movie? Who is better at board games? Favourite dipping sauce? All these questions AND MORE answered in this episode! Back by popular demand, my sister Kalliope is back and answering YOUR questions … listen for a very fun and silly time.
For more links and resources, plus a full transcription of the episode, visit my website Angourie's Library
Black Lives Matter resources
Pay the Rent
Greenpeace Australia Pacific
Greenpeace International
Welcome to season 5 of The Community Library! I’m your host, Angourie Rice, and I am so delighted to see returning listeners, and overjoyed to see new listeners, too! This episode is exactly what it says on the tin: a few reasons why I think it’s important to be critical of the media you love. I hope you enjoy this bite-sized episode, and I’ll see you back here in two weeks for more. A x
Visit my website, Angourie's Library, for a full transcription of this episode.
Things Mentioned
Black Lives Matter resources
Pay the Rent
Greenpeace Australia Pacific
Greenpeace International
After a brief hiatus, I am back with a very late quarterly reading stats episode! In this episode I talk you through my reading stats from the past three months, plus I highlight three favourite reads!
4.10 Quarterly Reading Stats #1
Visit my website, Angourie's Library, for more links and resources related to the episode!
Black Lives Matter resources
Pay the Rent
Lorde’s song Green Light is not about the infamous green light featured in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s 1925 novel The Great Gatsby … So then why do so many people think it is? In this week’s audio essay, I analyse and compare the green lights in both Green Light and The Great Gatsby. I try to understand why, like Gatsby, artists and audiences keep coming back to the green light.
Visit my website, Angourie’s Library, for a full list of references and resources.
Black Lives Matter resources
Pay the Rent
What do I use as reference and inspiration? This week I’m giving you a look behind the scenes and sharing with you some of my favourite YouTube video essayists. These creators inspire me both in my personal life and for the podcast, so I hope you find something for you, too.
Don't have time to listen? Prefer to read instead? I've published the full list of creators I talk about and the videos I recommend on my website, Angourie's Library.
Black Lives Matter resources
Pay the Rent
Our May book club discussion is here! This month our pick was the 1961 novella The Prime of Miss Jean Brodieby Muriel Spark. I hope you enjoy!
Visit my website, Angourie's Library, for more links and resources.
Black Lives Matter resources
Pay the Rent
At the start of 2021, I stopped giving books a star rating. Why? Listen to find out!
Our May book club pick is The Prime of Miss Jean Brodieby Muriel Spark. This 1961 modern classic novella is about the eccentric teacher, Miss Jean Brodie, and the six pupils she takes under her wing. I’ll be discussing this on Sunday the 30th of May, so I hope you read along with me!
Links
Black Lives Matter resources
Pay the Rent
Don’t know where to start with Jane Austen? You’ve come to the right place! Welcome to the second instalment of a new series on The Community Library: Author Spotlight! This week I’m talking about one of the most influential authors in the English language: Jane Austen. I’ll give you a simple rundown of her novels, and recommend which one you should start with if you’re new, or if you’re already an established fan. I hope you enjoy!
Visit my website, Angourie’s Library, for more links and resources for the episode.
Our May book club pick is The Prime of Miss Jean Brodieby Muriel Spark. This 1961 modern classic novella is about the eccentric teacher, Miss Jean Brodie, and the six pupils she takes under her wing. I’ll be discussing this on Sunday the 30th of May, so I hope you read along with me!
Black Lives Matter resources
Pay the Rent
Don’t know what to read next? In this episode, I recommend YOU, the listeners, your next read. I asked you on Instagram for very specific criteria, so I could have the best chance of getting it right! If your request didn’t make it into this episode, let me know if you’d like me to do a part two. If you don’t want to miss out on future audience participation, you can follow me on Instagram @the_community_library. I hope you enjoy the episode x
Our May book club pick is The Prime of Miss Jean Brodieby Muriel Spark. This 1961 modern classic novella is about the eccentric teacher, Miss Jean Brodie, and the six pupils she takes under her wing. I’ll be discussing this on Sunday the 30th of May, so I hope you read along with me!
Visit my website, Angourie’s Library, for a full list of the books I mentioned in the episode.
Black Lives Matter resources
Pay the Rent
April’s book club pick was the nonfiction book Disfigured: On Fairy Tales, Disability and Making Spaceby Amanda Leduc. In this episode I discuss my thoughts on the book, and summarise some of its key ideas and concepts. I hope you enjoy!
Our May book club pick is The Prime of Miss Jean Brodieby Muriel Spark. This 1961 modern classic novella is about the eccentric teacher, Miss Jean Brodie, and the six pupils she takes under her wing. I’ll be discussing this on Sunday the 30th of May, so I hope you read along with me!
For more links and resources, visit my website Angourie's Library
Black Lives Matter resources
Pay the Rent
Welcome back to The Community Library! As well as being a podcast host and a bookworm, I am also an actor! And this past week has seen the release of TV show I’m in called Mare of Easttown. To celebrate this show’s release, I wanted to do a podcast episode themed to the show, so today I’m going to be talking about some of the books I think you’d find on my character’s bookshelf.
For a complete list of books I mentioned in this episode, visit my website Angourie's Library
Episode 1 of Mare of Easttown is out now, and episode 2 comes out tomorrow! In the US you can watch it on HBO, in Australia it’s on Binge and Foxtel, and in the UK it’s on Sky Atlantic.
April’s book club pick is the nonfiction book Disfigured: On Fairy Tales, Disability and Making Space by Amanda Leduc! I’ll be discussing this on the 31st of April, and I’d love for you to read along with me.
Don’t know where to start with an acclaimed author? Welcome to the first of a new series on The Community Library: Author Spotlight! This first episode is about YA contemporary author Elizabeth Acevedo. I talk about her career as an author, give you a rundown of all three of her novels, plus I recommend where to start with her works. I hope you enjoy!
April’s book club pick is the nonfiction book Disfigured: On Fairy Tales, Disability and Making Space by Amanda Leduc! I’ll be discussing this on the 25th of April, and I’d love for you to read along with me.
More links and references can be found on my website Angourie's Library.
Black Lives Matter resources
Pay the Rent
How has the first quarter of the year gone for you? Mine has definitely had its ups and downs, but I’m glad to be spending some time with my family for the Easter long weekend. In this episode I chat you through some of my reading statistics, and three of my favourite books I read in the last three months. I hope you enjoy x
April’s book club pick is the nonfiction book Disfigured: On Fairy Tales, Disability and Making Space by Amanda Leduc! I’ll be discussing this on the 25th of April, and I’d love for you to read along with me.
For more links and resources, visit my blog Angourie's Library
Black Lives Matter resources
Pay the Rent
Our book club discussion is finally here! My friend Maija and I discuss the YA graphic novel Persepolisby Marjane Satrapi – the art style, the coming-of-age storyline, and our different experiences with graphic novels. I hope you enjoy!
For a full transcription of the episode, visit my website Angourie's Library.
April’s book club pick is the nonfiction book Disfigured: On Fairy Tales, Disability and Making Space by Amanda Leduc! I’ll be discussing this on the 25th of April, and I’d love for you to read along with me.
Follow Maija on Instagram @maija.ok
Black Lives Matter resources
Pay the Rent
Never have I ever … read a graphic novel. Well, that’s not technically true. I read a few when I was a kid, but on the whole I am very unknowledgeable about the world of graphic novels. And because this topic has come highly requested by the listeners, this week I did a graphic novel marathon and read four! I read a YA romance, a gritty memoir, a collection of short horror stories, and an adaptation of a modern classic. Listen to discover which one was my favourite!
Our book club pick for March is Persepolisby Marjane Satrapi (vol. 1 only). This is a YA graphic novel about the author’s experience growing up in Iran during the Islamic Revolution. I’ll be discussing this NEXT WEEK with my good friend (and graphic-novel-lover) Maija. I hope you read along with us!
You can access a full transcription of the episode on my website, Angourie's Library
Black Lives Matter resources
Pay the Rent
Why do I hate the phrase “But that’s the point?” In this short essay-style episode, I unpack the anatomy of this phrase, its use, and why it should forever be banned. Not to be dramatic.
CONTENT WARNING: In this episode I discuss violence against women and domestic abuse.
For a full transcription of the episode, plus links to references and resources, visit my website Angourie's Library.
Black Lives Matter resources
Pay the Rent
“How’s year twelve going? What movies have you loved recently? What’s your Instagram?” And many more questions answered by everyone’s favourite Community Library guest, my sister Kalliope. She was kind enough to take time out of her busy study schedule to once again grace your ears with her witty jokes and controversial opinions. Enjoy!
Our book club pick for March is Persepolisby Marjane Satrapi (vol. 1 only). This is a YA graphic novel about the author’s experience growing up in Iran during the Islamic Revolution. I’ll be discussing this on the 28th of March with my good friend (and graphic-novel-lover) Maija. I hope you read along with us!
Visit my website, Angourie's Library, for a full transcription of the episode, plus a list of all the books, movies and TV shows we mentioned!
Black Lives Matter resources
Pay the Rent
What did you all think of February’s book club pick, Grown by Tiffany D. Jackson? I loved it – such a powerful story about music, fame and power. I also talk about some of the discussion topics you suggested on Instagram!
Our book club pick for March is Persepolisby Marjane Satrapi (vol. 1 only). This is a YA graphic novel about the author’s experience growing up in Iran during the Islamic Revolution. I’ll be discussing this on the 28th of March with my good friend (and graphic-novel-lover) Maija. I hope you read along with us!
Content warning: This episode discusses rape, sexual abuse, child abuse, domestic violence and kidnapping.
You can find more links and resources on my website, Angourie’s Library.
Pay the Rent
My Instagram, Goodreads and StoryGraph
What’s a 400-year-old poem got to do with a 2012 breakup song? Well, more than you might think … This week I critically analyse and compare Shakespeare’s Sonnet 35 and Taylor Swift’s I Knew You Were Trouble. I discuss iambic pentameter, double standards, and the importance of analysing our pop culture. I hope you enjoy!
Our book club pick for February is Grown by Tiffany D. Jackson. This is a YA contemporary novel about fame and power, with a slice of murder mystery on the side. Make sure you check out the content warnings for this book here. I’ll be discussing this on the 28th of February, and I hope you read along with me!
As always, you can find more links, references and resources, plus a full transcription of the episode, on my website at Angourie’s Library.
Pay the Rent
My Instagram, Goodreads and StoryGraph
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 be, and the importance of storytelling. Hope you enjoy!
Our book club pick for February is Grown by Tiffany D. Jackson. This is a YA contemporary novel about fame and power, with a slice of murder mystery on the side. Make sure you check out the content warnings for this book here. I’ll be discussing this on the 28th of February, and I hope you read along with me!
For more links and resources, plus a full transcription of this episode, check out my website Angourie's Library.
Follow Belinda! Website, Instagram, and Facebook
Black Lives Matter resources
Pay the Rent
My Instagram, Goodreads and StoryGraph
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 February is Grown by Tiffany D. Jackson. This is a YA contemporary novel about fame and power, with a slice of murder mystery on the side. Make sure you check out the content warnings for this book here. I’ll be discussing this on the 28th of February, and I hope you read along with me!
A list of all the books and albums I mentioned, plus a full transcription of the episode, is available on my website, Angourie’s Library.
Black Lives Matter resources
Aboriginal Lives Matter resources
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 club pick for February is Grownby Tiffany D. Jackson. This is a YA contemporary novel about fame and power, with a slice of murder mystery on the side. Make sure you check out the content warnings for this book here. I’ll be discussing this on the 28th of February, and I hope you read along with me!
A list of all the books I mentioned, plus a full transcription of the episode, is available on my website, Angourie’s Library.
Read through a list of my favourite books of 2020 here
Black Lives Matter resources
Aboriginal Lives Matter resources
My Instagram, Goodreads and StoryGraph
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, folks. In the meantime, you can follow what I’m reading on my summer holiday @the_community_library on Instagram.
The full list of all the books I mentioned can be viewed on my website, Angourie's Library.
Episodes mentioned
Percy Jackson episodes: book 1, movie 1, book 2, movie 2
Black Lives Matter resources
Aboriginal Lives Matter resources
My Instagram, Goodreads and StoryGraph
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. So last month, I chose three books from Marilyn’s shelf and decided to read them. What did I discover? Well, you’ll have to listen to find out. Hope you enjoy!
As always, a full transcription of the episode is available on my website, Angourie’s Library. PLUS EXTRA GOODIES FOR YOU TO CHECK OUT! Such as links to photos, articles, and books I referenced in the episode.
Aboriginal Lives Matter resources
My Instagram, Goodreads and StoryGraph
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-Ki-Yay, Other Buckets!
As always, a full transcription of the episode is available on my website, Angourie’s Library.
Extra links!
Opinions on Austen, Harry Potter and Shakespeare with Kalliope
Black Lives Matter resources
Aboriginal Lives Matter resources
My Instagram, Goodreads and StoryGraph
After a quick break from social media and making podcast episodes, I am back with an extra-special birthday-themed episode! I turn 20 in just over a month, and so this week I am sharing with you 20 books that have made an impact on me. From Jacqueline Wilson to Virginia Woolf, what have I learnt from 14 years’ worth of books and 20 years’ worth of life? Listen to find out!
Head over to my website here for a full transcription of the episode, and the complete list of 20 books!
On Jane Austen’s Emma and Clueless (1995) Pt. 1 and Pt. 2
Black Lives Matter resources
Aboriginal Lives Matter resources
My Instagram, Goodreads and StoryGraph
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 for about 3 weeks, but don’t worry! I’ll be back! And during that time I’ll be reading heaps and planning lots of great episodes to share with you. Until November, I hope you’re all taking care of yourselves and reading good books. Chat soon, A x
Aboriginal Lives Matter resources
My Instagram, Goodreads and StoryGraph
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!
Listen to Performing the Past, Episode 1: 1919
Listen to Performing the Past, Episode 2: For The Term Of His Natural Life
(My voice features in both of these episodes – I even sing a song in episode 1!)
As always, a full transcription of the episode is available on my website here
Next week we are discussing our October book club pick: The Trap by Melanie Raabe. You’ve got one week left to read it, I hope you join in the discussion!
Aboriginal Lives Matter resources
My Instagram, Goodreads and StoryGraph
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 Raabe. I’ll be discussing this on the 25th of October, and I hope you read a long with us!
Links
“Wes Anderson and the Follies of Modern Orientalism” by Broey Deschanel – Broey Deschanel
Black Lives Matter resources
Aboriginal Lives Matter resources
My Instagram, Goodreads and StoryGraph
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 of October, and I hope you read a long with us!
As always, you can find a full transcription of the episode on my website here
Books I read:
Deborah Cheetham's Eumarella, a war requiem for peace
Aboriginal Lives Matter resources
My Instagram, Goodreads and StoryGraph
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 Melanie Raabe. I’ll be discussing this on the 25thof October, so you have a whole month to read it before the episode goes up! I hope you read along with us.
Aboriginal Lives Matter resources
My Instagram, Goodreads and StoryGraph
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
The book club pick for this month isCatching Teller Crow by Ambelin Kwaymullina and Ezekiel Kwaymullina. Also published under the title The Things She’s Seen in the USA. I’ll be discussing this next week, on the 27th of September, so make sure to tune in then.
Aboriginal Lives Matter resources
My Instagram, Goodreads and StoryGraph
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 Books
Listen to the audiobook of There Was Still Love by Favel Parrett, narrated by yours truly!
The book club pick for this month isCatching Teller Crow by Ambelin Kwaymullina and Ezekiel Kwaymullina. Also published under the title The Things She’s Seen in the USA. I’ll be discussing this on the 27th of September, I hope you read along with us!
Aboriginal Lives Matter resources
My Instagram, Goodreads and StoryGraph
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 Thames&Hudson. You can pre-order a signed copy here.
While you wait for The Secret Life of Stars to be released, check out Lisa’s other works! When Galaxies Collide, and Under the Stars: Astrophysics for Bedtime.
You can listen to my audiobook recording of Under the Stars here.
The book club pick for this month isCatching Teller Crow by Ambelin Kwaymullina and Ezekiel Kwaymullina. Also published under the title The Things She’s Seen in the USA. I’ll be discussing this on the 27th of September, I hope you read along with us!
Aboriginal Lives Matter resources
My Instagram, Goodreads and StoryGraph
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 episode is linked here on my website.
Interested in more Disney Princess / fairy tale content? Listen to the first four episodes in this series: Snow White, Cinderella, The Little Mermaid and Frozen / The Snow Queen.You can also hear me read the full Little Mermaid fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen for you here.
Aboriginal Lives Matter resources
My Instagram, Goodreads and StoryGraph
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 linked here on my website.
Tune in tomorrow to hear me talk about this month’s book club pick: Forest of a Thousand Lanterns by Julie C. Dao!
Interested in more Disney Princess / fairy tale content? Listen to the first three episodes in this series: Snow White, Cinderella and The Little Mermaid. You can also hear me read the full Little Mermaid fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen for you here.
Aboriginal Lives Matter resources
My Instagram, Goodreads and StoryGraph
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 22:05 to 26:25, and from 46:20 to 47:55.
As always, a full transcription of this episode is linked here on my website, as well as a list of sources and links that I used in my research.
This month’s book club pick is Forest of a Thousand Lanterns by Julie C. Dao! It’s an East Asian fantasy reimagining of Snow White, and I’ll be discussing it on Monday the 31st of August.
Follow Kali on Instagram here: @kalishanthi
Aboriginal Lives Matter resources
My Instagram, Goodreads and StoryGraph
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 list of sources and links that I used in my research.
This month’s book club pick is Forest of a Thousand Lanterns by Julie C. Dao! It’s an East Asian fantasy reimagining of Snow White, and I’ll be discussing it on Monday the 31st of August.
Interested in more Disney Princess / fairy tale content? Listen to last week’s episode on Snow White here, or hear me read The Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Andersen for you here.
Aboriginal Lives Matter resources
My Instagram, Goodreads and StoryGraph
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 this episode is linked here on my website, as well as a list of resources I used in my research.
This month’s book club pick is Forest of a Thousand Lanterns by Julie C. Dao! It’s an East Asian fantasy reimagining of Snow White, and I’ll be discussing it on Monday the 31st of August.
Aboriginal Lives Matter resources
My Instagram, Goodreads and StoryGraph
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 loving this month! Sending love and positivity all the way from Australia – I hope you enjoy.
This month’s book club pick is Forest of a Thousand Lanterns by Julie C. Dao. It’s an East Asian fantasy reimagining of Snow White, and I’ll be discussing it on Monday the 31st of August.
Visit my website here for a full transcription of the episode, plus links to all the awesome things I talked about in the episode!
Aboriginal Lives Matter resources
My Instagram, Goodreads and StoryGraph
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
Follow Bonnie on Instagram here
Aboriginal Lives Matter resources
My Instagram, Goodreads and StoryGraph
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 Landby Elizabeth Acevedo, and we will be discussing this on the podcast on the 26th of July – exactly one week from today!
Visit my website here for extra notes, resources, and a full transcription of this episode
Another episode on Shakespeare: “He’s Not Bad At Writing”: Thoughts on Shakespeare with Laurence
Black Lives Matter resources
Aboriginal Lives Matter resources
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, and Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. I hope you enjoy!
The book club pick for this month is Clap When You Landby Elizabeth Acevedo, and we will be discussing this on the podcast on the 26th of July – exactly two weeks away! Please read along with us so you can join in on the discussion!
Visit my website here for a full transcription of this episode
Aboriginal Lives Matter resources
My Instagram, Twitter, Blog, Goodreads and StoryGraph
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 creator of something we love reveals their values are in conflict with our own.
Please visit my website here for a transcription of this episode, plus a full list of references, resources, and extra reading on this topic!
Aboriginal Lives Matter resources
My Instagram and Goodreads
Welcome back to The Community Library. This week Kali, Maija and I are bringing you a very special bonus episode all about … [drumroll please] Twilight by Stephenie Meyer! With the impending release of Midnight Sun, we decided to take a trip down memory lane and do a deep analysis of our problematic fave. We discuss Bella and Edward’s toxic relationship, provide a feminist reading of the text, and we answer the most important question: team Edward or team Jacob? Hope you enjoy!
Visit my website here to access extra links and resources, plus a full transcription of the episode.
Follow Maija on Instagram here
My Instagram and Goodreads
Resources for Justice for George Floyd and to support the Black Lives Matter movement here
Welcome back to The Community Library! Today’s episode is part 2 of our discussion of One Hundred Years of Solitudeby 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 transcription of this episode.
This Sunday, on the 31st of May, I am releasing a very special bonus episode. Listen to the episode for another clue as to what we’ll be talking about!
Follow Kali on Instagram here for some fabulous isolation content.
Welcome back to The Community Library! This month the theme was FICTION IN TRANSLATION, so my dear friend Kali and I sat down to discuss One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez. We talked for so long that I had to split this episode into two parts! Part two will be out tomorrow, so you don’t have to wait long at all. In this episode we talk about magical realism, how Macondo is its own character, and why Úrsula Iguarán is the baddest bitch in town. I hope you enjoy!
Visit my website here for a link to a full transcription of the episode.
Next week, on the 31st of May, I am releasing a very special bonus episode. The clue is APPLE. Tune in tomorrow for another clue!
Follow Kali on Instagram here for some fabulous isolation content.
Welcome back to The Community Library! Because this month’s theme is FICTION IN TRANSLATION, I decided to try and read three translated novels in just one week. Did I succeed? Did I fail miserably? Listen to find out!
This month’s discussion pick is One Hundred Years of Solitudeby Gabriel García Márquez. That episode will be out on the 24th of May, just one week away!
Visit my website here for a full transcription of the episode, plus links to all the things I mentioned.
On the 31st of May I am releasing a very special bonus episode. The clue is APPLE. Tune in next week for another clue!
Welcome back to The Community Library! This week I chat to translator and Doctor of Philosophy, my mother: Dr Kate Rice! We talk all things language and translation: my mum’s interest in languages, how she started working in translation, and why translated fiction is sometimes frustrating to read. I hope you enjoy!
The discussion pick for this month is One Hundred Years of Solitudeby Gabriel García Márquez. My dear friend and former guest on the podcast Kaliya and I will be discussing it on the 24th of May.
Visit my website here for a full transcription of this episode
My Instagram and Goodreads
Welcome back to another episode of The Community Library! This month, the theme for the podcast is TRANSLATED FICTION, so we’re starting off with some recommendations! Because I have read a shockingly small amount of translated fiction, I enlisted the help of some friends and family (and you, the listeners!) to recommend some more books.
The discussion pick for this month is One Hundred Years of Solitudeby Gabriel García Márquez. My dear friend and former guest on the podcast Kaliya and I will be discussing it on the 24th of May.
Visit my website here for the list of recommendations, plus a full transcription of this episode.
Welcome back to The Community Library! This week, Harry and I are back to talk about the film Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters (2013), which is an adaptation of the book we discussed last week: Percy Jackson and the Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan. This is the second book in the Percy Jackson series – you can listen to our discussion of the first book here and the second book here, and our episode on the first movie adaptation here. In this episode, Harry and I talk about the VFX in the action sequences, how Annabeth is now inexplicably blonde, and we also mourn the fact that Pierce Brosnan does not reprise his role as Chiron.
Please follow Harry on Instagram: @harrry.l – it’s his life’s ambition to become Instagram famous and that’s the only reason he does the podcast with me.
Visit my website here for more links and resources for this episode.
What could have been: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frE9rXnaHpE
Hello and welcome back to The Community Library! This week, my dear friend and regular guest on the podcast Harry and I discuss Percy Jackson and the Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan. This is the second book in the Percy Jackson series – you can listen to our discussion of the first book here, and our episode on the first movie adaptation here. In this delightfully chatty and chaotic episode, Harry and I discuss Percy’s hero complex, why Hermes is #notlikeotherGods, and the correct collective noun for a group of cyclopes. Is it “flock”? Is it “tribe”? Is it “congregation”? Listen to find out!
Please follow Harry on Instagram – @harrry.l – he only does the podcast for the clout.
Tune in next week for our discussion on the film adaptation! Visit my website here for more links and resources for this episode.
Welcome back to The Community Library and Happy Easter Sunday! This week I wanted to do something a little more laid-back, and so I decided to read The Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Andersen for you. No analysis, no discussion, just a mini-audiobook! I hope you enjoy it.
For a full transcription of this episode, visit my website here.
This month, the discussion pick is Percy Jackson and the Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan. It’s a really fun and quick read, and I’ll be discussing it next week with special guest star Harry!
I read from Fairy Tales from Hans Christian Andersen, translated by Alice Lucas, illustrated by Thomas Heath Robinson and William Heath Robinson. A digital scan of this book is available in the public domain on internetarchive.org.
Welcome back to The Community Library, also known as Angourie’s Harry Potter Fan Club. This month, the theme is FANTASY, so of course I just had to do an episode all about Harry Potter (again). This week, I’m talking about the brand of Wizarding World TM, and its relationship to the original book series.
This month, the discussion pick is Percy Jackson and the Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan. It’s a really fun and quick read, and I’ll be discussing it later on this month with a very special guest star.
Visit my website here for a full transcription of the episode and a list of links and resources.
Hello and welcome back to The Community Library! This week’s episode is continuing the theme from way back in December: Classics! In this episode, I analyse and compare Zadie Smith’s White Teeth and Haruki Murakami’s Norwegian Wood, and what makes both of them future classics.
Visit my website here for a full transcription of this episode.
Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami
Other episodes pertaining to the theme of Classics
The Community Library Awards 2019 blog post in which I talk about why Zadie Smith was my favourite author in 2019.
Welcome back to The Community Library, and thank you for your patience while I was on hiatus. I am so glad to be back and bringing you a very special episode of the podcast: self-isolation edition! In this episode I recommend feel-good books for you to read that will hopefully ease your mind in this crazy time.
Visit my website here for my full list of book recommendations and more links!
Welcome back to The Community Library! This week, keeping in theme with the idea of “classics”, my friend Laurence and I are talking all things Shakespeare. Laurence is a self-confessed Shakespeare nerd (or “Bardophile”, as he likes to be called), so I was very excited to have him on the podcast to talk about his old friend Billy Shakes. We chat about making Shakespeare more accessible, what England was like 400 years ago, and why Taylor Swift’s song Love Story is the best adaptation of Romeo and Juliet. Enjoy!
December’s discussion pick was chosen by you, the listeners! The most suggested book was Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. We’ll be discussing that next week, on the 15th of December, so make sure you read along and tune in!
For a full transcription of this episode, plus more links and resources, please visit my blog: Angourie’s Library.
Laurence’s play, Punk Rock, on NOW in Melbourne at fortyfivedownstairs! Click here to book tickets.
Happy December! Welcome back to The Community Library, and to a whole new theme for this month! December’s theme is Classics, and we’re kicking it off with an episode that asks: what is a classic? I talk about Homer, Austen, Shelley, Dickens, Wilde, Woolf, Fitzgerald, Lee, and many, many more. I hope you enjoy this quick discussion episode!
For a full transcription of the episode, plus more links and resources, visit my blog: Angourie’s Library.
Welcome back to part 2 of my discussion of Jane Austen’s Emma and the 1995 modern film adaptation Clueless. In this episode I talk about privilege and class, the issue of Josh being Cher’s ex-step-brother, and why Elton is actually the WORST. I hope you enjoy!
December’s discussion pick was chosen by you, the listeners! The most suggested book was Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. We’ll be discussing that on the 15th of December, so make sure you read along and tune in!
Listen to part one of the discussion here
For a full transcription of the episode, plus more links and resources, visit my website: Angourie’s Library
Welcome back to another episode! This week I’m talking about one of my favourite novels and one of my favourite movies: Emma by Jane Austen, and Clueless (1995). I talk about why Emma/Cher is so likable, how high society is just like high school, and why Cher and Josh are more compatible than Emma and Mr Knightley. This episode was really hard to cut down, so it’s actually been split into two parts. Tomorrow there will be a bonus episode to finish the discussion, so stay tuned!
For a full transcription of the episode, plus extra links and resources, please visit my website: Angourie’s Library.
Hello and welcome back to The Community Library! This week I’m talking all about my favourite film and TV adaptations of books. From Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet to Bridget Jones’s Diary, I talk about a wide range of adaptations. Make sure you tune in next week for a discussion of Jane Austen’s Emma in comparison with the 1995 classic film Clueless!
For a full transcription of the episode, plus links to all of the books and films mentioned in this episode, please visit my website: Angourie’s Library.
Welcome back to The Community Library! This week, in keeping with the book to film adaptation theme, Harry and I are talking about the movie Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief. Last season we discussed the book, and we’re back and better (or rather sillier) than ever talking about the Percy Jackson universe. We discuss costume design, what changed from book to film, and Pierce Brosnan’s majestic performance as Chiron the Centaur.
For a full transcription of the episode, visit my website: Angourie’s Library.
This month we have two discussion picks: a book and a film! We’ll be reading and discussing Emmaby Jane Austen, and its 1995 film adaptation Clueless. The discussion episode will be released on the 24th of November.
Links!
Please follow Harry on Instagram: @harrry.l – it’s the only reason he does the podcast with me (and because I pay him in alcohol and chocolate). He’s a sell-out, but we love him anyway.
The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical
Hello and welcome to season 2 of The Community Library! I can’t wait to get back into podcasting and share this season with you. This month’s theme is Book to Film Adaptations – something that has been highly requested by you guys! I’ve been lucky enough to act in three film adaptations of books, and so this week I’m talking about those experiences. I talk about Jasper Jones, Every Day, and Ladies in Black, and also answer some of your questions about book to film adaptations.
Be sure to visit my website here for a full transcription of the episode, and more information on the books and movies I mentioned!
This month we have two discussion picks: a book and a film! We’ll be reading and discussing Emmaby Jane Austen, and its 1995 film adaptation Clueless. The discussion episode will be released on the 24th of November, so you have some time!
Welcome back! I’m sorry that this episode is a day late, but I hope it was worth the wait! In this episode, my friend Harry and I tackle Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thiefby Rick Riordan. We discuss the pronunciation of Greek names, how all the kids at Camp Half-Blood are related, and why Keeping Up With Zeus and the Olympians should totally be a reality TV show. Though this is the last official episode of season one, next week there will be an extra-special-bonus-episode filled with bloopers and tangents that were cut from this episode. So, stay tuned!
Please follow Harry on Instagram @harrrylowe. He says he “needs the clout”.
Welcome back to another episode! This week I’m coming to you with a very mini minisode in which I talk about what’s happening in the next few weeks, both in my life and for this podcast. Next week I will be discussing Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan, so make sure you tune in for that!
The Community Library feedback survey! I would really appreciate it if you could fill this out with some feedback for season one and suggestions for season two.
Visit my website here for a list of links to things I mentioned in this episode, plus a full transcription!
Welcome back to The Community Library! This week I sat down with Maija (who you might remember from episode 3) to chat about one of our favourite pieces of feminist literature, A Room of One’s Own by Virginia Woolf. We asked ourselves what is required to create art, what would happen if Shakespeare had a sister, and we came to the conclusion that Virginia Woolf is a bad b*tch. I hope you enjoy!
The next discussion pick is Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thiefby Rick Riordan.
A full transcription and links to resources are available on my website here.
Welcome back to The Community Library! This week I’m talking about my trip to the Los Angeles Central Library. In this episode I talk about what inspired the visit, why I love libraries, and the library’s collection of patent listings. I hope you enjoy!
Join me next week for a discussion of A Room of One’s Own by Virginia Woolf! You can listen to the audiobook for free on Spotify or YouTube.
Visit my website here for a full transcription of the episode.
My and Maija’s episode on Pulp by Robin Talley
My Instagram and Goodreads
Welcome back to The Community Library! This week’s episode is short and sweet, and all about what I read in the month of June. It was quite a sad reading month for me with only six completed books, but nevertheless, I hope you enjoy this episode!
The next discussion pick is A Room of One's Own by Virginia Woolf. You can listen to the audiobook on Spotify here, or on YouTube here.
Visit my website here for a link to the full transcription of this episode.
First Class Murder by Robin Stevens
Other things I mentioned:
Jolly Foul Play by Robin Stevens
My Instagram and Goodreads
Welcome back to another episode of The Community Library! Last week I participated in BooksandLala’s Buzzwordathon, and I decided to document the process and turn it into an episode for you all! I hope you enjoy this more casual, follow-me-around-style episode.
The next discussion pick is A Room of One's Own by Virginia Woolf.
Lala’s YouTube channel, Instagram, and Twitter * Lala’s Buzzwordathon Vlog * I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson * Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng * The Thing Around Your Neckby Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Welcome back to The Community Library! Last week I published an emergency episode because I wasn’t happy with the how the first draft of this episode turned out. Thank you so much for being patient! After putting more time and effort in, I’m really proud of the result of this episode. This week, I’m talking all about fiction, or rather the lack thereof, in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. I had lots of fun making this one, and I hope you enjoy listening!
A full transcription of the episode is available on my website here.
The next discussion pick is A Room of One's Own by Virginia Woolf.
Welcome to another episode! Though my Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone discussion episode was originally scheduled for today, it has been postponed to next week because I was unhappy with the final edit. Thank you for your patience, and I can promise that next week’s episode is going to be the best that it possibly can be! This week I had to assemble the emergency team (which consists of me and my sister) in order to deliver you an extra-special emergency episode. We talk about Jane Austen, Harry Potter, and our dear friend Billy Shakes. Hope you enjoy!
Tune in next week to listen to the episode on Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, by J. K. Rowling!
Visit my website here for a full transcription of the episode.
Welcome to this week’s minisode! This week I’m talking about all twelve books I read in the month of May. There’s a good mix of stuff in here; from middle-grade murder mysteries to feminist non-fiction.
Our next discussion pick is Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J. K. Rowling. Be sure to read along so you can join in the discussion!
Arsenic For Tea by Robin Stevens – ★★★★1/2
My Instagram and Goodreads
Welcome back to The Community Library! Unfortunately for this week’s episode I don’t have a guest! It’s just little ol’ me talking all by myself for a whole 44 minutes. I loved discussing The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, and I hope you enjoy this episode! Thank you to everyone who sent in questions and suggestions of what to talk about – I included almost all of them in this episode!
Follow the link to my website here for a full transcription of this episode.
Happy 10th episode! This week, I’m discussing why I love books that feature plays, and recommending some of my favourite books that do so! I talk about Shakespeare and Jane Austen, but also a graphic novel and a middle-grade. Please let me know if you can think of any more books featuring plays that I might enjoy!
Next week, I’ll be discussing The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. There’s still time to read it! Here are some links to free audiobook versions:
The Richard Howard translation
Books featuring plays:
A full transcription of this episode, plus an extended list of resources and things I mentioned is available on my website here.
Welcome back to The Community Library! I’m very excited to bring you this week’s episode, which is all about pop/country icon Taylor Swift and mid-19th-century poet Robert Browning. In this episode I discuss the parallels between Browning’s 1842 poem My Last Duchess and Swift’s 2014 hit Blank Space. I had lots of fun creating this episode, and I hope you enjoy!
Our next discussion pick is The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry!
The Richard Howard translation
Some links to things I talked about in the episode:
Please visit my website here for a full list of links and notes on what I talked about in this episode, plus a full transcription!
Welcome back to another minisode! This week my topic of discussion is re-reading books, specifically childhood favourites. I talk about what happens when a re-read is disappointing, and why I’m scared of re-reading my Jacqueline Wilson favourites. Let me know if you like re-reading, and what the experience is like for you!
A full transcription is available on my website here.
The next discussion pick is The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.
The Richard Howard translation
Books mentioned (in order of their mentioning):
The Woodpecker Toy Fact and Other Stories by Carmel Bird
My Instagram and Goodreads
Welcome to an extra special bonus episode! This is a wrap up of all of the books that I read in April, featuring an extra special guest: my sister. This month I read a short story collection, a non-fiction book, a Hogwarts Library book, and a book with lots of witchy vibes, plus a few more. I say “witchy vibes” way too much in this episode. Please excuse me.
The next discussion book is The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.
Check out the corresponding website post here for a full list of links and a transcription of this episode!
Books I read in April:
Thank you for waiting an extra week for this episode! It took me ages to edit, but I’m very happy with how it’s turned out. This week, activist and artist (artivist) Kali and I discussed Watch Us Rise by Renée Watson and Ellen Hagan! We loved this book, and we hope you did too! We speak about growing as activists, styles of activism, and channelling activism into art. Kali also does a brilliant reading of one of the poems, and we basically just spend 45 minutes gushing about how great this book is.
Full transcription is available for download at this link.
The next book is The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.
Welcome back! This week, I sat down with Bonnie (who also featured in episode 1) and we discussed our favourite female friendships in books. From Matilda and Miss Honey to Anne Shirley and Diana Barry, female friendships in books are so important and wonderful, and we loved recording this episode for you. Let us know your favourite female friendships in books!
Join me next week for a discussion on Watch Us Rise by Renée Watson and Ellen Hagan!
Visit the corresponding blog post here to access a full transcription of this episode!
Rik and Milly’s podcast: Yonks Ago
Hello and welcome back to The Community Library! In this week’s episode, Maija and I sat down and discussed Pulp by Robin Talley. We talked about the 1950s, the power of representation in books, and why Maija is definitely a Luna and I’m totally a Hermione. We also talked about the importance of recognising and appreciating the movements and battles that came before us, while still striving for change and equality. I hope you enjoy!
Content warning for the episode: During the discussion, Maija and I addressed the topics of homophobia and transphobia, suicide, death, and also the systematic violence against the queer community.
Join me next week for a minisode with Bonnie (remember her from episode 1?) in which we talk about our favourite female friendships in books.
The next discussion book is Watch Us Rise by Renée Watson and Ellen Hagan. I hope you read along and join in on the discussion!
Now for some links:
Support for queer teens
For a full list of links and resources, plus a full transcription of the episode, please visit the corresponding blog post here.
Welcome to the first minisode! This week, I answered your questions about reading and the podcast! You'll discover which is my favourite Harry Potter book, how much I read in a week, and why I prefer buying books I've already read. I had a lot of fun, and thank you to everyone who asked questions on Instagram and Twitter.
Check out my website here for a list of all books mentioned in this episode, and a full transcription.
Some lovely links for you:
The next discussion book: Pulp by Robin Talley
Welcome to our very first episode! This week I sat down with Bonnie, former literature classmate and long-time friend, to discuss The Neverending Story by Michael Ende. We covered many topics: from what makes Atreyu such a great hero to why The Childlike Empress is not even a real person. We also talked about at length why Bastian is literally the WORST, and the importance of story-telling in our world.
Join me next week for a minisode, which is a Q&A episode! I'll be answering your questions about reading and the podcast.
In two weeks’ time, I will be discussing Pulp by Robin Talley with friend and literature-class-extraordinaire Maija! Please read along so you can join in the discussion!
Now for some links:
The next discussion book: Pulp by Robin Talley
Hello there! Welcome to The Community Library! I'm so glad you're here for this wonderful adventure.
The Community Library is a podcast, book club and discussion space, and my aim is for it to be as inclusive as possible! This podcast is for anyone interested in stories, and how and why we tell them. Every two weeks, I'm going to sit down with a guest to discuss a book, and every other week will be a minisode.
Next week, my friend Bonnie and I will be discussing The Neverending Story by Michael Ende. You might know the story from the popular 1984 film of the same name; but I would still encourage you to read along so you can join in the discussion!
Now for some links:
My instagram, website and goodreads!
The Community Library's instagram and goodreads!
TRANSCRIPT
[Ukulele theme music]
Angourie (host)
Hello there! My name's Angourie Rice. I'm an actor, blogger, feminist, ex-literature student and now podcast host! Welcome to The Community Library: a podcast, book club and discussion space. Every two weeks, I'm going to sit down with a guest to discuss a book. We will talk about themes, issues, raised, diversity, language, world-building, characters, cover design and so much more interesting stuff. Every second episode will be a minisode. The minisodes will be kind of more personal - I'll address a discussion topic, do a Q&A, talk about what I'm currently reading. It'll be so much fun.
I wanted to start this podcast for many reasons, but mainly I wanted to share my love of reading and discussion of storytelling. I want The Community Library to be as inclusive as possible, because reading is for anyone and everyone. And so The Community Library is a space for anyone interested in stories, and how and why we tell them.
The name of the podcast itself actually comes from a way that people make sharing stories free and accessible. So, community libraries are also known as street libraries, and they are little boxes planted in someone's front yard that store books for the community to read and share for absolutely free.
The first episode will be a discussion with my friend Bonnie. She is a fellow ex-literature student and friend, and we will be talking about Michael Ende's 1979 novel The Neverending Story. This was also made into a very popular movie, um, so you might know the story from there. But, I would also encourage you to read along, and then we can talk about the book together.
[Ukulele theme music]
You can follow The Community Library on instagram with the handle @the_community_library, or you can use the hashtag #thecommunitylibrary on instagram or twitter. You can listen to all of the episodes on your podcast platform of choice, and you can choose to subscribe and rate and review.
So thank you so much for listening, and I hope you'll join me in this new and exciting project. I can't wait to talk to you next week. Bye!
[Ukulele theme music]