Diving In

75: Teen Sleuths, Cringe Parents and Dysfunctional Families

Louise and Virginia dive deep into all thing’s books for Teen Readers, books categorised ‘Young Adult’ but marketed to teenagers.  They discuss the creation of the category, whether publishers should provide some sort of classification system, or content advice as well as four great books and one book that, whilst very gripping,  is surely mis-categorised - to Virginia’s dismay!  As always they finish the conversation with a few other things they’ve been diving into recently. BooksReturn to Sender by Lauren DraperFive Survive by Holly JacksonBear by Kiri LightfootWhat’s Murder Between Friends by Meg Gatland-VenessMy Family and Other Suspects by Kate Emery Other thingsJournalTok Television Three Families – ABC iView FilmRental Family Email hello@divinginpodcast.comInstagram @diving_in_podcastSong ‘Diving In’ – Original music and lyrics written and performed by Laura Adeline – https://linktr.ee/llauraadelinePodcast sound production and editing by Andy MaherGraphics by Orla Larkin – create@werkshop.com.au

74: We’re Back! With a Scoop and a Pile-on

Louise and Virginia have finally made it back to the Podcast Studio (Virginia’s dining room) after a gap of more than 18 months, and despite having forgotten how to do a podcast they somehow managed to review two new excellent Australian books that both have a journalist as the central character. They also chat about a few of the non-bookish things they’ve been diving into recently.BooksThe Worst Thing I’ve Ever Done by Clare StephensGravity Let Me Go by Trent DaltonTelevision ShowsVictoria Beckham documentary – NetflixOne Shot - Ed Sheeran documentaryThe Hack – StanTheatreBell Shakespeare CompanyHousekeepingEmail hello@divinginpodcast.comInstagram @diving_in_podcastSong ‘Diving In’ – Original music and lyrics written and performed by Laura Adeline – https://linktr.ee/llauraadelinePodcast sound production and editing by Andy MaherGraphics by Orla Larkin – create@werkshop.com.au

73: The Ghost of Charles Dickens sitting on Barbara Kingsolver’s Shoulder

Virginia and Louise do a deep dive into Barbara Kingsolver’s Pullitzer Prize winning and compelling novel Demon Copperhead and talk all things Charles Dickens as well as adding some shameful new entries to the infamous Ick Register.BooksOliver Twist, by Charles Dickens, 1838Hard Times, by Charles Dickens, 1854Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver, 2023 More Deep DivesEmma, by Jane AustenTelevisionEmma, mini series,  2009 Slow Horses, series 1-3 Apple TV+One Day, Netflix 2023

72: This Is A Bit Embarrassing… (books we’ve never read)

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

71: The Next Diving In Book Club – Salt River Road by Molly Schmidt

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.BookSalt River Road by Molly Schmidt, 2023, published by Fremantle PressBinge TVStrifeNetflixThe Crown