Melbourne Library Service

Episode 16 - What we're reading Want to know what books have your librarians hooked? Wonder no more as Justine and Natalie share what they have been reading. Justine's books Daughter of Smoke and Bone / Laini Taylor Lab Girl / Hope Jahren Austenland / Shannon Hale Longbourn / Jo Baker Natalie's books The Passion / Jeanette Winterson Oranges are not the only fruit / Jeanette Winterson Sexing the cherry / Jeanette Winterson Eligible / Curtis Sittenfeld The Girls / Emma Cline What we're reading next: Justine: Rich and pretty / Rumaan Alam Natalie: Brooklyn / Colm Toibin Theme music by Ben Mason (www.benmason.com.au)

Recordings of our memoir writers from our event, Melbourne Writers Festival: Storytelling at The Dock. Contains adult content. Featured memoir writers: Lee Kofman Mary Pomfret C.B. Mako Lian Low Sam Lawry Kelly Chandler Karla Dondio Thomas Minogue Alexis Drevikovsky Angela Serrano Max Sharam

Episode 15 - Melbourne Writers Festival Special Justine and Natalie get all excited and squeal-y and share their picks for the 2016 Melbourne Writers Festival! Justine's books: Landline / Rainbow Rowell Our Magic Hour / Jennifer Down The Island Will Sink / Briohny Doyle Natalie's books: Fangirl / Rainbow Rowell Yassmin's Story / Yassmin Abdel-Magied Missed Her / Ivan E. Coyote Music by Ben Mason (www.benmason.com.au)

Episode 14 - Melbourne Books Justine and Natalie welcome special guest Christine Gordon from Readings and talk about their favourite Melbourne books! Christine's books: My year without meat / Richard Cornish Music and Freedom / Zoe Morrison Justine's books: Earthly delights / Kerry Greenwood Our tiny, useless hearts / Toni Jordan Natalie's books: The holiday murders / Robert Gott Cairo / Chris Womersley Theme music by Ben Mason (www.benmason.com.au)

Episode 13 - Books to Film To celebrate the Melbourne International Film Festival we asked the question "Is the book better than the film?" Joining us to discuss the answer is our punny, film loving colleague Kevin. Kevin's book to film: 2001 A space odyssey / Isaac Asimov Natalie's book to film: The godfather / Mario Puzo Justine's book to film: Me before you / Jojo Moyes Theme song by Ben Mason (www.benmason.com.au)

Episode 12: What we're reading with Toni Jordan We were very happy to be joined by special guest, author Toni Jordan! Toni City on Fire / Garth Risk Hallberg The easy way out / Steven Amsterdam Justine Reckoning / Magda Szubanski Radiance / Catherynne M. Valente Natalie Our magic hour / Jennifer Down The Argonauts / Maggie Nelson What we're reading next: Toni: Ruins / Rajith Savanadasa and Fine / Michelle Wright Justine: All the birds in the sky / Charlie Jane Anders Natalie: Everywhere I look / Helen Garner Theme song by Ben Mason (www.benmason.com.au)

Episode 11 - Fireside Reads It's getting cold out so we decided to discuss books that gave us the warm fuzzies! Joining us in the studio is our colleague Athina. Athina's books: The Lollipop Shoes / Joanne Harris The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao / Junot Diaz Justine's books: H is for Hawk / Helen Macdonald The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society / Mary Ann Schaffer and Annie Barrows Natalie The dressmaker / Rosalie Ham, read by Rachel Griffiths The Turner House / Angela Flournoy Theme song by Ben Mason (www.benmason.com.au)

Episode 10 - Regal Reads When we realised this episode would air on the Queens Birthday public holiday we couldn't resist sharing our favourite 'regal reads'. Justine's books: Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire / Amanda Foreman Queen of the Tearling / Erika Johansen Queen of the Night / Alexander Chee Natalie's books: The Royal We / Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan The Uncommon Reader / Alan Bennett I would die 4 u: why Prince became an icon / Touré Theme song by Ben Mason (www.benmason.com.au)

Episode 9: What we're reading We were very happy to be joined by special guest, Emily Bitto, winner of the 2015 Stella Prize for her debut novel The Strays. Emily The Golden Notebook / Doris Lessing Everywhere I look / Helen Garner Justine Dept of Speculation / Jenny Offill Mr Splitfoot / Samantha Hunt Natalie Fates and Furies / Lauren Groff Becoming Kiralli Lewis / Jane Harrison What we're reading next: Emily: Sanctuary / William Faulkner Justine: Talking to my country / Stan Grant Natalie: The Turner House / Angela Flournoy Theme song by Ben Mason (www.benmason.com.au)

Episode 8 – Miles Franklin past and present The Miles Franklin award is given annually to Australian books that best represent Australian life. The 2016 longlist has been announced! On this episode of Dear Reader, we look back on our favourite past winners and long and shortlisted books. Justine’s books: Breath / Tim Winton (2009 winner) All the birds singing / Evie Wyld (2014 winner) Bereft / Chris Womersley (2011 shortlist) Natalie’s books When the night comes / Favel Parrett (2015 longlist) The eye of the sheep / Sophie Laguna (2015 winner) Ghost river / Tony Birch (2016 longlist) Theme song by Ben Mason (www.benmason.com.au)

Episode 7 - Queer Reads Joining Justine and Natalie to discuss some great Queer Reads is special guest librarian, Lauren! Lauren's books: Not otherwise specified / Hannah Moskowitz Under the Udala trees / Chinelo Okparanta Justine's books: A single man / Christopher Isherwood Aristotle and Dante discover the secrets of the universe / Benjamin Alire Saenz Natalie's books: Mislaid / Nell Zink Blue is the warmest colour / Julie Maroh Theme song by Ben Mason (www.benmason.com.au)

Dear Reader is a book talk show by a couple of chatty librarians who recommend and discuss books they think you’ll love. Episode 6 - What we're reading Justine The lake house / Kate Morton All the light we cannot see / Anthony Doerr Leap / Myfanwy Jones Natalie Heat & Light / Ellen van Neerven The Good Girl / Mary Kubica The Pursuit of Love / Nancy Mitford What we're reading next: JUSTINE: Resurrection Bay / Emma Viskic NATALIE: Take six girls: the lives of the Mitford sisters / Laura Thompson Theme song by Ben Mason (www.benmason.com.au)

Episode 5: Australian Women Writers We were very lucky to be joined by special guest, Veronica Sullivan, Prize Manager for the Stella Prize! Veronica’s books: Six Bedrooms / Tegan Bennett Daylight Hope Farm / Peggy Frew Justine’s books: The Women’s Pages / Debra Adelaide Panthers and the Museum of Fire / Jen Craig Natalie’s books: The other side of the world / Stephanie Bishop Small acts of disappearance / Fiona Wright Justine is currently reading: Leap / Myfanwy Jones Music in this episode by Ben Mason & Josh Woodward

Dear Reader is a book talk show by a couple of chatty librarians who recommend and discuss books they think you’ll love. Episode 4 - Books that make us laugh Cos’s books: Walking Ella / Robert Drewe Hyperbole and a half / Allie Brosh Justine’s books: After You / Jojo Moyes Let’s pretend this never happened / Jenny Lawson Natalie’s books: One more thing / B J Novak Two serious ladies / Jane Bowles Cos is currently reading: Yes please / Amy Poehler Theme song by Ben Mason (www.benmason.com.au)

Dear Reader is a book talk show by a couple of chatty librarians who recommend and discuss books they think you’ll love. Episode 3: Readalikes Not that kind of girl / Lena Dunham Justine’s readalike: I feel bad about my neck / Nora Ephron Natalie’s readalike: Hunger makes me a modern girl / Carrie Brownstein My brilliant friend / Elena Ferrante Justine’s readalike: Some Luck / Jane Smiley Natalie’s readalike: Did you ever have a family? / Bill Clegg Station eleven / Emily St John Mandel Justine’s readalike: Gold Fame Citrus / Claire Vaye Watkins Natalie’s readalike: Tenth of December / George Saunders What we’re reading next Natalie: The Good Girl / Mary Kubica, Justine: Hunger Makes me a modern girl / Carrie Brownstein Mixed and Mastered by Jonny Faith (https://soundcloud.com/jonnyfaith) Theme song by Ben Mason (www.benmason.com.au)

Dear Reader is a book talk show by a couple of chatty librarians who recommend and discuss books they think you’ll love. Episode 2: Best of 2015 Justine’s books: Only the Animals / Ceridwen Dovey Station Eleven / Emily St John Mandel Reasons to stay alive / Matt Haig Natalie’s books: Natural Way of Things / Charlotte Wood Adventures in Stationery / James Ward The Story of a Lost Child / Elena Ferrante Justine's honourable mentions: Between the World and Me / Ta Nehisi Coates The Girl with all the Gifts / M. R. Carey Natalie’s honourable mentions: Two Serious Ladies / Jane Bowles Dept. of Speculation / Jenny Offill Just Kids / Patti Smith Americanah / Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche Mixed and Mastered by Jonny Faith (https://soundcloud.com/jonnyfaith) Theme song by Ben Mason (www.benmason.com.au)

Dear Reader is a book talk show by a couple of chatty librarians who recommend and discuss books they think you’ll love. Episode 1: Summer Reads Justine’s books: Ghost Man / Roger Hobbs Touch / Claire North Between the World and Me / Ta-Nehisi Coates Natalie’s books: The Gracekeepers / Kirsty Logan On Writing / Stephen King Anchor Point / Alice Robinson Mixed and Mastered by Jonny Faith (https://soundcloud.com/jonnyfaith) Theme song by Ben Mason (http://www.benmason.com.au/) for more info go to http://j.mp/mlsreaders

Arnold Zable, Melbourne-based author of Violin Lessons helped us celebrate the opening of Library at The Dock with an oration of the UNESCO City of Literature, at Library at The Dock, Saturday 31 May, 2014.

Jim Beggs Docklands Walking Tour by City of Melbourne Libraries