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. Books Oliver Twist, by Charles Dickens, 1838 Hard Times, by Charles Dickens, 1854 Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver, 2023 More Deep Dives Emma, by Jane Austen Television Emma, mini series, 2009 Slow Horses, series 1-3 Apple TV+ One Day, Netflix 2023...
Apr 16, 2024•1 hr 1 min
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 ...
Feb 06, 2024•52 min
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, 1...
Jan 19, 2024•46 min
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...
Dec 22, 2023•1 hr 13 min
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 M...
Nov 26, 2023•51 min
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 Demi...
Nov 10, 2023•1 hr 22 min
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...
Sep 28, 2023•1 hr 11 min
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 Vic...
Aug 18, 2023•38 min
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
Jul 28, 2023•50 min
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 Th...
Jun 12, 2023•1 hr 5 min
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 ...
May 13, 2023•48 min
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 Nazis...
Apr 24, 2023•51 min
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 Boyn...
Mar 24, 2023•1 hr 10 min
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 S...
Feb 12, 2023•1 hr 7 min
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 – D...
Jan 19, 2023•52 min
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...
Dec 08, 2022•54 min•Ep. 58
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...
Nov 14, 2022•40 min
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 [email protected] 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...
Oct 30, 2022•50 min
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 .
Aug 30, 2022•47 min
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.
Aug 18, 2022•48 min
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 Television Peaky Blinders Season 6 A Call to SpyThe White Queen Podcast The Teachers Trial – The Australian Newspaper...
Jun 24, 2022•49 min•Season 1Ep. 60
Louise and Virginia chat about two books that they’ve been eagerly looking forward to. Louise went down the Crime route with a gripping detective story that spans Tokyo and London. Virginia finally got her hands on Nina Stibbe’s new novel and as also with Nina Stibbe, the book is a complete delight. Books The Fine Art of Invisible Detection by Robert GoddardOne Day I Shall Astonish the World by Nina Stibbe Netflix The Staircase (Docuseries and Dramatisation) Podcast This American Life – My Lying...
May 20, 2022•30 min•Season 1Ep. 59
Louise and Virginia have been reading Ghost Stories, a new release and some classic collections. The Louise Erdrich novel is a must-read for book lovers, and the classic ghost stories are the perfect place to start if you love this genre. Louise and Virginia also announce the book they will reading for a Book Club ‘deep dive’ in June. Books The Turn of the Screw by Henry JamesGhost Stories by M R JamesThe Sentence by Louise ErdrichThe Ghost Stories of Edith Wharton Podcast The Rest is History wi...
May 06, 2022•53 min•Season 1Ep. 58
Virginia and Louise dive into the Greek Myths but barely scratch the surface.They also celebrate their 50th episode with a list of their 50 favourite authors Books The Theban Plays By SophoclesAntigone by SophoclesThe Song of Achille by Madeline MillerThe Penelopiad By Margaret AttwoodGreek Myths By Charlotte HigginsHeroines of Olympus by Ellie Mackin Roberts Television Bridgerton by Chris van Dusen and Shonda Rhimes Podcasts Deeply Human by DessaThe Rest is History by Tom Holland and Dominic Sa...
Apr 22, 2022•49 min•Season 1Ep. 57
Louise and Virginia are sweltering in the heat of a Perth summer so they are cooling down with books set in cold countries. This episode they head off to Iceland and Norway and there’s plenty of frosty chill. Books The Therapist by Helene FloodThe Sorrow Stone by Kári GíslasonA Question of Guilt by Jorn Lier HorstThe Valley of Lost Secrets by Lesley Parr Podcasts The Rest is History – Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook – Episodes 159 -162 PutinThe Rest is Politics – Alistair Campbell and Rory Ste...
Apr 07, 2022•28 min•Season 1Ep. 56
Books Love Marriage by Monica AliBrick Lane by Monica AliThe Purloined Letter by Edgar Allan PoeThe Women of Troy by Pat Barker TV Series Hidden Assets – SBSPieces of Her - Netflix Podcasts The Trojan Horse Affair with Hamza Syed and Brian ReedSoundtracking with Edith Bowman Movie Belfast
Mar 24, 2022•46 min•Season 1Ep. 55
Louise and Virginia record their first bookish conversation for 2022, after an extra long break over a very hot Western Australian summer. Given the state of the world it’s no surprise that they both reached for some cozy crime books, as well as some other great reads. Lou also recommends a fabulous movie, Virginia has been diving into Stoic philosophy, and there are plenty of laughs as per usual. Books A Three Dog Problem by S J BennettThe Windsor Knot by S J BennettThe Thursday Murder Club by ...
Mar 11, 2022•56 min•Season 1Ep. 54
Welcome to the second Diving In podcast for the FANZA Fringe – Virginia and Louise review six wonderful books including Miles Franklin winner Amanda Lohrey’s The Labyrinth and the much anticipated We Were Not Men by Campbell Mattinson Email [email protected] Instagram @diving_in_podcastVirginia’s Instagram @virginia_readsLouise’s Instagram @louise_cooks_and_reads Song ‘Diving In’ – original music and lyrics written and performed by Laura Adeline – https://linkt.ree/llauraadeline Podcast ...
Jan 04, 2022•49 min•Season 1Ep. 53
Welcome to the FANZA Fringe – Virginia and Louise from the Diving In podcast in Australia are thrilled to be part of the fringe program for FANZA, the charitable Foundation for Australian and New Zealand Arts. The psychological consequences of hoarding and a murderous small town in New Zealand are just some of the surprising narratives in the books discussed for this episode.Email [email protected] Instagram @diving_in_podcastVirginia’s Instagram @virginia_readsLouise’s Instagram @louise...
Dec 21, 2021•51 min•Season 1Ep. 52
Virginia and Louise do a deep dive into The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles, 2021, Penguin Random House.
Dec 07, 2021•1 hr 10 min•Season 1Ep. 51
