Episode Nine - Of Good Character

Characters - we've all got em. Unmistakable traits and quirks, virtues and undesirable habits. These attributes form the way we live our lives, they contribute significantly to directing the plot. In writing, it's no different. If you can get the character dead right, then maybe the plot will follow? Or is it a chicken and an egg thing? Let us know what you think.

Episode 8

Cate Kennedy's first novel The World Beneath has got us rabbiting on over time, but believe me, we could have gone on for a lot longer. What a wonderful debut novel from a seriously pro short story writer. This novel's gotta be one of the most impressive releases this year. We also have a little look at YA novel Liar, and a kid's classic, Diary of a Wombat. Yep, just like sand after a day at the beach, we're a little all over the place.

Episode Seven - Must-Reads or Might-Reads

Has anyone ever said to you, 'Oh, you simply must read (insert title of must-read classic or equivalent here)'? Is it annoying? Has it informed your taste in literature immeasurably and you've since gone on to insist others read it? What does it say about the way you read? Nothing? Everything? Do you say, 'Tolstoy-Shmolstoy? Or 'Marquez - da Bez!' Do you even know what I'm talking about? This week, Lou and Zoe go some way, but by no means all the way, to explore the concept of 'must-reads'. Have a look, then join the discussion.

Episode Six

Our silliest episode yet. You rate it. For silliness only. For some reason we just couldn't quit giggling, and yet, we manage to discuss bookish type things for up to 10 minutes! Formidable! (Said with French accent, or it doesn't work). Affirm Press, Father's Day reading, the Melbourne Writers' Festival, and extra cheese...

The 21st Century Bookshow Episode 5

Hi folks. Well, we missed an episode last week on account of the excitement at the Melbourne Writers Festival currently going on but we've returned. Here we revisit a few bits and pieces from a couple of weeks back and have a little chat about the festival and our prize winning author Steven Amsterdam (and his book Things We Didn't See Coming, which just won the Age Book of the Year!). Also, at some point, it sounds as though Zoe is saying "of course all the lovely authors don't go to the festivals..." This is supposed to be the opposite, something more like, "all the unlovely authors don't go to the festivals", but something happened to those crucial two letters of the alphabet and they didn't show up for work at that exact moment. So hopefully you get what on earth she's talking about. It certainly explains why Lou is looking at Zoe a little nonplussed, which Zoe is used to by now, and she can understand why. Perhaps all their conversations should be recorded.

The 21st Century Bookshow Episode 4

Episode Four of the Twenty-First Century Bookshow sees Lou and Zoe settling into the general idea of being in front of a camera and talking about books. Also, we said we'd provide a link to Readings - so here it is: http://www.readings.com.au/. Tell them we sent you, they'll look after you (or they'll look at you blankly, wondering what on earth you're talking about - but rest assured they'll look after you anyway).

21st Century Bookshow Episode Three 4.8.09

Incredibly, some 62 people - and possibly even more - checked out our little web-vision show last week, and that classifies as encouragement to us. So here we are, back for another week of mumbling and totally unscripted book babble. This week we discuss three excellent additions to the Australian literary landscape: Andrea Goldsmith's Reunion, Ashleigh Sievwright's The Shallow End, and Jeff Sparrow's Killing.