Literary Anything

Latest Episodes:

Episode 16 - American Dirt Mar 03, 2020

Show notes

Have you read American Dirt? Jayne and Paula decided to find out what all the fuss is about with this book being touted as "defining the migrant experience." They discuss the book, the controversy and more. Books they mention: American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins The Outside Boy by Jeanine Cummins The Crooked Branch by Jeanine Cummins The Help by Kathryn Stockett Wham! George & Me by Andrew Ridgeley Grown Ups by Marian Keyes The Break by Marian Keyes The Origin of Me by Bernard Gallate A Very Stable Genius by Carol D. Leonnig and Philip Rucker She I Dare Not Name by Donna Ward The Phantom Price by Elizabeth Kendall with a contribution by Molly Kendall The Salt Madonna by Catherine Noske Timmy the Ticked Off Pony and the Poo of Excitement by Magda Szubanski Links: Myriam Gurba article https://tropicsofmeta.com/2019/12/12/pendeja-you-aint-steinbeck-my-bronca-with-fake-ass-social-justice-literature/ Buzzfeed article https://tropicsofmeta.com/2019/12/12/pendeja-you-aint-steinbeck-my-bronca-with-fake-ass-social-justice-literature/ ABC article https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-02-06/american-dirt-jeanine-cummins-the-controversy-explained/11924192 Goodreads review by David https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3083591534?book_show_action=true&from_review_page=1 A Very Stable Genius Parody by Randy Rainbow https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-LTRwZb35A Our book for next month is My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell.

Episode 15 - Dark Emu Feb 14, 2020

Show notes

There's been lots of controversy in Australia surrounding the inaugural Parliamentary Book Club pick, Dark Emu, or more specifically, about its author, Bruce Pascoe. Jayne and Paula dive into this non-fiction work that challenges the prevailing thoughts about pre-colonial Aboriginal Australians as hunter-gatherers. Links they reference: The Monthly article by Russell Marks: https://www.themonthly.com.au/blog/russell-marks/2020/05/2020/1580868886/taking-sides-over-dark-emu TED talk by Bruce Pascoe: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqgrSSz7Htw&feature=youtu.be Books they discuss: Dark Emu by Bruce Pascoe Young Dark Emu by Bruce Pascoe The Arsonist by Chloe Hooper The Nature of Things by Charlotte Wood The Nowhere Child by Christian White Inside Out by Demi Moore Happiness As Such by Natalia Ginzburg North of Normal by Cea Sunrise Person Bunny by Mona Awad Grown Ups by Marian Keyes The Bass Rock by Evie Wyld The Last Day by Andrew Hunter Murray The Mercies by Kiran Millwood Hargrave Our next book is...American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins! Grab a copy from the library and read along. Join us in March to get in on the discussion. Happy reading!

Episode 14 - The Weekend Jan 06, 2020

Show notes

It's 2020 and Jayne and Paula are starting the year off discussing The Weekend by Charlotte Wood, a stark and honest look at the decades long friendship of four women, now in their seventies, after one of them dies. Jayne also admits to a personality trait that made a certain book appeal and Paula shares a challenge one book set for her that saw her reevaluating her usual thinking. Books they discuss: The Weekend by Charlotte Wood An Edited Life by Anna Newton The Alcohol Experiment by Annie Grace Dear Girls by Ali Wong Fleishman is in Trouble by Taffy Brodesser-Akner A Long Petal of the Sea by Isabel Allende A Murder at Malabar Hill by Sujata Massey I Will Miss You Tomorrow by Heine Bakkeid Royals by Emma Forrest The Flower Girls by Alice Clark-Platts Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid Netflix specials discussed: Baby Cobra by Ali Wong Hard Knock Wife by Ali Wong Our book for February is Dark Emu by Bruce Pascoe. Happy reading!

Episode 13 - 2019 End Of Year Wrap Up Dec 20, 2019

Show notes

Welcome to the end of year wrap up show! Jayne and Paula talk about their favourite books of the year, which was their favourite Literary Anything book and what they are excited to read over the holidays. They also countdown the most borrowed books of 2019. Books they discuss: The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara Fake by Stephanie Wood We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver Any Ordinary Day by Leigh Sales Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn Becoming by Michelle Obama Where'd You Go Bernadette by Maria Semple After the Flood by Kassandra Montag The Lost Man by Jane Harper The Fallen by David Baldacci Dark Sacred Night by Michael Connelly The Midnight Line by Lee Child Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty Past Tense by Lee Child This is Going to Hurt by Adam Kay The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson The Barefoot Investor by Scott Pape The Fast 800 by Michael Moseley Too Much Lip by Melissa Lucashenko The Best Kind of Beautiful by Frances Whiting Wearing Paper Dresses by Anne Brinsden The Bee and the Orange Tree by Melissa Ashley See What You Made Me Do by Jess Hill In the Clearing by J.P. Pomare The Weekend by Charlotte Wood Dark Emu by Bruce Pascoe Enjoy the holidays and tune in again in 2020!

Meet The Author - Fiona McIntosh Dec 05, 2019

Show notes

Best selling author, Fiona McIntosh, delights the crowd at the Marion Cultural Centre Domain Theatre with the inside story about her latest book, The Diamond Hunter, as well as her writing process, meticulous research and international travels, and hilarious personal stories and anecdotes. Fans of Fiona will definitely not want to miss this engaging talk.

Episode 12 - Talking To Strangers Dec 02, 2019

Show notes

Jayne and Paula dive into the latest Gladwellian social science non-fiction novel, Talking to Strangers, which looks at the "assumptions and mistakes we make when dealing with people we don't know." They also discuss what novel they should choose for the new year...and they want your opinion! Have a listen then join us on our Literary Anything Facebook group to let us know what you think should be January 2020's book choice. Books they discuss: Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell The Chain by Adrian McKinty Impossible Causes by Julie Mayhew Fake by Stephanie Wood Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman This Is Happiness by Niall Williams Happiness, As Such by Natalia Ginzburg Book possibilities for January 2020: Dark Emu by Bruce Pascoe The Weekend by Charlotte Wood The Wife and the Widow by Christian White Imaginary Friend by Stephen Chbosky Damascus by Christos Tsiolkas There Was Still Love by Favel Parrett Penny Wong by Margaret Simons Vote on our Literary Anything Facebook group! Don't forget to subscribe and rate the podcast.

Episode 11 - After The Flood Oct 31, 2019

Show notes

The year is 2130 and rising floodwaters have overtaken land masses leaving Myra and her daughter Pearl to try and navigate around mountaintops on their small boat. Listen in as Jayne and Paula discuss After the Flood by Kassandra Montag, a book that has burst onto the literary scene after its publishing and TV rights were snapped up in the same week. Books they mention: After the Flood by Kassandra Montag Body Tourists by Jane Rogers Tidelands by Philippa Gregory Beloved by Toni Morrison Surfacing by Margaret Atwood The Arrangement by Robyn Harding Witches: What Women Do Together by Sam George-Allen Outrages: Sex, Censorship and the Criminalisation of Love by Naomi Wolf The Mother-in-Law by Sally Hepworth The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris Cilka's Journey by Heather Morris The Witches Are Coming by Lindy West Acid for the Children by Flea Damascus by Christos Tsiolkas Impossible Causes by Julie Mayhew Your Own Kind of Girl by Clare Bowditch Dead Man Switch by Tara Moss And our book for next month is... Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell! Happy reading and thanks for listening.

Meet the Author - Paul West Oct 01, 2019

Show notes

Paul West, the host of River Cottage Australia was joined by Sophie Thomson to this sold out event at the Marion Cultural Centre Domain Theatre on 27 September. Listen in as Paul shares his passion for gardening, farming and cooking as he chats with Sophie about his new book, The Edible Garden Cookbook.

Episode 10 - The Testaments Sep 30, 2019

Show notes

The Testaments is probably the most highly anticipated book of the year and Jayne and Paula are keen to discuss the next stage for Gilead. What are your thoughts? Join the Facebook group to get into the discussion! And don't forget to subscribe and rate us on iTunes! Books they mention: The Testaments by Margaret Atwood The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood The Model Wife by Tricia Stringer Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng The Book of the Unnamed Midwife by Meg Elison This Is Going to Hurt by Adam Kay The Year of Less by Cait Flanders The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fu*k by Mark Manson Maybe the Horse Will Talk by Elliot Perlman The Best Kind of Beautiful by Frances Whiting Bone China by Laura Purcell Grand Union by Zadie Smith The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes Postscript by Cecelia Ahern Our book for next month is the much sought after debut novel, After the Flood, by Cassandra Montag. So come on, read along! Catch you next month!

Episode 9 - Ella Minnow Pea Sep 04, 2019

Show notes

What do Jayne & Paula think of the progressively lipogrammatic epistolary fable that is Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn? Tune in to find out this and what else they're reading, as well as the exciting choice for next month! Books they mention: Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn Baby Teeth by Zoje Stage Flat Share by Beth O'Leary The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen Fake by Stephanie Wood Stay Sexy & Don't Get Murdered by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark Room for a Stranger by Melanie Cheng Wolfe Island by Lucy Treloar Nothing Ventured by Jeffrey Archer The Rich Man's House by Andrew McGahan The Edible Garden by Paul West Gotta Get Theroux This by Louis Theroux A Single Thread by Tracey Chevalier White Horses by Rachael Treasure Negotiating with the Dead by Margaret Atwood And our book for next month is the highly anticipated The Testaments by Margaret Atwood! So join in and read along. Until next month!

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected