Louise and Virginia thought it might be fun to do an episode on books that they feel a bit embarrassed to have never read (until now). There were a lot of books to choose from, but they discuss four in this conversation. During this chat they also create an Ick Register for authors who use words that give the ick, so that readers can be warned in advance (kind of like a trigger warning, but more basic). Books The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami, translated by Jay Rubin Breakfast at Tiffany’s by Truman Capote Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson Television Shows Scrublands - Stan Boy Swallows Universe – Netflix Podcasts The Children of Rutherford County – Serial The Queen’s Reading Room

Louise and Virginia have a great conversation about a lovely Western Australian novel. Salt River Road by the very talented debut author Molly Schmidt captures the large Tetley family at the worst time of their lives. Their wife and mother, Elena, has died after a long illness and left them all devastated. Although the book looks at grief through the eyes of several different characters, it has a forward-moving arc, plenty of heart, and a wonderful ending, with an authentic Western Australian, 1970s feel. Book Salt River Road by Molly Schmidt, 2023, published by Fremantle Press Binge TV Strife Netflix The Crown

Louise and Virginia have a conversation about two books with many overlaps, one fiction and one non-fiction, and reflect on the fact that none of this information was taught in the classroom when they were at school. Books Killing for Country by David Marr Edenglassie by Melissa Lukashenko TV Show The Crown – Netflix Podcasts The Rest is History – Dominic Sandbrook and Tom Holland The Rest is Entertainment – Richard Osman and Marina Hyde

Virginia and Louise dive into four new releases some of them from our favourite authors! They also encourage everyone to get their hands on Salt River Road by Molly Schmidt for a bookclub deep dive episode coming up. Books The Fraud, Zadie Smyth, 2023, Hamish Hamilton Penguin Normal Rules Don’t Apply, Kate Atkinson, 2023, Penguin Random House Tom Lake, Ann Patchett, 2023, Harper Collins Pearl, Sian Hughes, 2023 UQP London’s Number One Dog-Walking Agency: A Memoir, Kate MacDougall, 2021 William Morrow Salt River Road, Molly Schmidt, 2023 Fremantle Press Streaming Welcome to Wrexham, Disney Podcasts The Whistleblowers, ABC Background Briefing

Louise and Virginia have finally had a conversation about six literary controversies/hoaxes/scandals and it’s a lot of fun! This is a Topic they both find fascinating so it was great to select three stories each and dive in. Authors Norma Khouri John Hughes Carmen Mola Antonio Mercero Agustin Martinez Jorge Diaz Harold Stewart James McAuley Dawn Dorland Sonya Larson Helen Demidenko/ Darville Books The Dogs by John Hughes Forbidden Love by Norma Khouri The Hand that Signed the Paper by Helen Demidenko/Helen Darville Article Who is the Bad Art Friend? by Robert Kolker – The New York Times Magazine 2021

Virginia and Louise have read a swag of newly released books both well-known authors and others new - and only some with the hype they deserve. Books Yellowface R F Kuang Harper Collins 2023 Crook Manifesto Colson Whitehead 2023 The Sitter Angela O’ Keefe Queensland University Press 2023 Old God’s Time Sebastian Barry 2023 Podcasts The Trial of Lucy Letby UK The Mail Metro Media Inside Design Jane Ledger Theatre ‘A Twelfth Night’ - Bell Shakespeare Company

This time it’s Louise’s turn to talk about the massive French classic that she has been reading, The Hunchback of Notre-Dame by Victor Hugo. Louise tells Virginia about a very impertinent act by the original translator of the novel, and they discuss the aspects that Louise loved and some that she wasn’t so keen on. Hugo and Dumas were both born in 1802 and were literary confrères throughout their lives, so Notre-Dame and Monte Christo make a great pairing. Book The Hunchback of Notre-Dame by Victor Hugo Related Blog:The Gothic Wanderer Wordpress

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas Streaming Au Coeur de Peloton/Tour de France: Unchained Arnold SBS on Demand Rogue Heroes ABC iView Dangerous Remedy Podcast Strict Scrutiny

Virginia and Louise immerse themselves in the meadows, riverbanks, orchards, high tides and deep snow to explore the deep connection and chasms between community, environment and climate change, in the emerging genre and precious language of eco-fiction. Books The Offing by Benjamin Myers, 2019 Stolen by Ann-Helene Laestadius, 2023 Also consider A Month in the Country by JL Carr Limberlost by Robbie Arnott, 2022. Cuddy by Benjamin Myers 2023 The Stella Prize 2023 winner Sarah Holland Batt for The Jaguar. Podcast The Rest is History podcasts on the Coronations Wiser than Me with Julia Louis Dreyfuss Streaming Unstable The Diplomat Queen Charlotte

Virginia and Louise are excited to share some must-read new releases including compelling stories about activist guerilla gardeners, true crime podcasters, writers rooms, surveillance and murder as well as the pitfalls and power dynamics of modern relationships, social media, dating apps and late night sketch TV. Books I Have Some Questions For You by Rebecca Makkah, 2023, Flint Publishing Birnam Wood by Eleanor Catton, 2023, Granta Publishing Search History by Amy Taylor, 2023, Allen and Unwin Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld, 2023, Penguin Random House Streaming Succession HBO Netflix The Diplomat Line of Duty Podcasts Mel’s Electric Adventures KicPod, Keep It Cleaner Podcast

Louise and Virginia jet off to San Francisco in the episode, where they discuss the origins of the City and County, and why it became the home and haven for people wanting to discard façades and identities they may have held in their home towns. They also discuss the original gold rush and the modern tech gold rush and the impact these have had on the city, as well as the serialisation of novels and they way this can shape the overall architecture of a novel. They also revisit the issue of Nazism and the presence of monsters living in plain sight among us. Books The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett, 1941 Tales of the City by Armistead Maupin, 1978 Daughter of Fortune by Isabelle Allende, 1998 Mr Penumbra’s 24 Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan, 2012 Days Without End by Sebastian Barry, 2016 Television Clarkson’s Farm – Prime My Mother and Other Strangers, BBC, ABC iView Blog Literary Hub by Megan Abbott https://lithub.com/megan-abbott-on-the-difference-between-hardboiled-and-noir/

Louise and Virginia do a deep dive into the very contentious topic of Cancel Culture and the trend of cancelling books and authors. They also touch on the subject of banning books (and indeed burning books), which always have the opposite effect of that sought. Virginia and Lou both have very strong opinions on the subject and it’s such an interesting conversation. They also discuss a few great non-bookish things they’ve been diving into of late. Books The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne, 2006, Doubleday All the Bright Places by John Boyne, 2022, Doubleday Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut, 1969 Lady Chatterley’s Lover by D H Lawrence, 1928. The Trial of Lady Chatterley’s Lover, Edited by CH Rolphe TV Shows Vardy v Rooney-Binge Murder on the Homefront – Netflix Significant Others – ABC iView Nolly – Foxtel Podcast The Banned Books Podcast

Louise and Virginia have been immersed in some armchair travel to Tokyo, which has made them both very keen to travel there. These four books are great to read if you have a trip to Japan on your horizon or your bucket list. They also discuss some fabulous TV series to get streaming, a podcast, and they’ve both had very different recent experiences meeting Yotam Ottolenghi (although both evenings were great fun). Books Death in Tokyo by Keigo Higashino, translated by Giles Murray. Published by St Martin’s Publishing Group The Book of Tokyo – A City in Short Fiction, edited by Michael Emmerich, Jim Hinks and Masashi Matsuie. Tokyo Redux by David Peace. Faber 2021 Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata and translated by Ginny Tapley Takemori Streaming TV series Vardy v Rooney – Foxtel Happy Valley – Binge Bump – ABC Podcast The Mel Robbins Podcast Yotam Ottolenghi – Test Kitchen

From soccer teams, eerie forests, dysfunctional families and loyal companions, Louise and Virginia ventured back into the world of books for younger readers. Books A Walk in the Dark by Jane Godwin – Lothian Hachette Football Fever by Kristin Darell - Penguin Take Me with You When You Go by David Levithan and Jennifer Niven – Penguin 2022 Runt by Craig Silvey – Allen and Unwin 2022, Illustrated by Sara Acton Take a Bow, Noah Mitchell by Tobias Madden – Penguin 2022 Podcasts Maintenance Phase – Debunking junk science behind health fads The Daily – George Santos Streaming Shows Emily in Paris Yellowstone Colin from Accounts Slow Horses

Louise lost her beautiful Lagotto dog Buster, two months ago, and so today Virginia and Louise want to dedicate this episode to him and to celebrate the wonder and loyalty that is a dog. In this conversation they discuss four lovely dog-related books as well as a few other things they’ve been diving into lately. Books Dog Stories – Everyman’s Pocket Classics Ava’s Apartment by Jonathan Lethem The Emissary by Ray Bradbury Dog Days by Ericka Waller The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon Murder Most Royal by SJ Bennett Podcast The Crown : The Official Podcast with Edith Bowman TV Series The Sandhamn Murders (SBS Australia) Instagram accounts @jennybloomfield @catherine.rayner Streaming Shetland Series 6 and 7 Julia - with Sarah Lancashire

Louise and Virginia have been reading some books by debut writers as well as a charming re-release from the 1960s. These are all great books which they enjoyed enormously. They also discuss a few other non-bookish things they’ve been diving into. Books A Helping Hand by Celia Dale Dirt Town by Hayley Scrivenor Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus The Whalebone Theatre by Joanna Quinn TV Marriage with Nicola Walker and Sean Bean Annika with Nicola Walker BBC Radio Annika Stranded Podcast Off Air with Jane Garvey and Fi Glover

After a long break Virginia and Louise are excited to be back in their makeshift cushion studios to discuss some new releases by authors they absolutely love……. as well as some other popular culture they have been diving in to. Email hello@divinginpodcast.com Instagram @diving_in_podcast Virginia’s Instagram @virginia_reads Louise’s Instagram @louise_cooks_and_reads Song ‘Diving In’ – original music and lyrics written and performed by Laura Adeline – https://linkt.ree/llauraadeline Podcast sound production and editing by Andy Maher. Graphics by Orla Larkin - create@werkshop.com.au Books The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O' Farrell 2022, Hachette Shrines of Gaiety by Kate Atkinson, 2022, Penguin Books The Rising Tide by Ann Cleeves 2022, Pan Macmillan Exiles by Jane Harper, 2022, Pan Macmillan Television Louise recommends This England and DI Ray Virginia recommends Sherwood and Savage River Movies Virginia recommends See How They Run Podcast Louise recommends Empire with Anita Anand and William Dalrymple

Louise and Virginia conclude their dive into Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes in this Book Club episode. They discuss Part 2 of Don Quixote, published over 10 years after Part 1, after an imposter had published a fake sequel. Virginia and Louise discuss several characters, the infamous cave scene and much more .

Louise and Virginia dive into Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes in this Book Club episode. They discuss Part 1 of Don Quixote, first published in Spain in 1605 and regarded as the first modern novel. The conversation covers madness, quests, Shakespeare, naval battles, fools, heroes and the role of the sidekick.

Hello dear friends! Virginia and Louise share some truly excellent Spanish writers and stories in preparation for our up-coming deep dive into Don Quixote. Books The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz ZafonAs I walked out one Midsummer morning – Laurie Lee The Sun also Rises by Ernest Hemingway The Tales of the Alhambra by Washington Irving Television TelevisionPeaky Blinders Season 6 A Call to SpyThe White Queen PodcastThe Teachers Trial – The Australian Newspaper