Yarra Libraries and The Ewing Trust present:

On this podcast, we are joined by author Sean O’Beirne to talk about his short story collection ‘A Couple Of Things Before the End’, which has been released to critical acclaim. Outstandingly original, bitingly satirical and written in a remarkable range of voices, ‘A Couple of Things Before the End’ mixes the storytelling originality of George Saunders and Lydia Davis with a sensibility all its own, taking the reader on an extraordinary tour of an old and a new Australia. It is a powerful vision of where we are – and where we may be headed.

'A Couple of Things Before the End' is published by Black Inc and is available to buy from all good booksellers (as well as being available to borrow through Cloud Library or in branch from Yarra Libraries).

Yarra Libraries (and Sean) Recommend:

A Couple of Things Before the End – Sean O’Beirne

Lydia Davis – Collected Stories

The Department of Speculation – Jenny Offil

"They might not be the best, but they stay in the game for each other."

“Not Bad Thanks” by Fitzroy local writer Graeme Willingham, chronicles the highs and lows of an 80-season old grassroots basketball club. The book covers the club’s premiership quests, disappointments, grade shuffles, recruitment, refereeing, tribunals, expansive rules and rituals, media scrutiny, births, deaths, awards and trophies – all weathered with the support of a team formed as much by after-game chats and their trademark “Not bad, thanks” greeting as by their performance on the court. With links to the likes of Magic Johnson, the Harlem Globetrotters, and the great Train robber, Ronnie Biggs, the book recently won Basketball Victoria’s 2019 media award.

Graeme joins us on the podcast to talk about the book, basketball, mateship and life. "Not Bad Thanks" is available in the Yarra Libraries collection.

Yarra Libraries and The Ewing Trust present:

Ewing Trust Writers Prize Winner (Chinese Language Category) Stephen Zhang.

The Ewing Trust Writers' Prize is a new prize for short-form fiction and non-fiction writing with a connection to Fitzroy.

The inaugural winner of the Chinese language category was Stephen Zhang. In this podcast, Stephen reads his winning piece "Fitzroy 24 Hours".

This podcast contains some adult language.

"It’s a hot Melbourne summer. I can see the city skyline through the exhaust fumes over Smith Street."

Yarra Libraries and The Ewing Trust present: Ewing Trust Writers Prize Winner Zoe Richards

The Ewing Trust Writers' Prize is a new prize for short-form fiction and non-fiction writing with a connection to Fitzroy.

The inaugural winner of the English language category was Zoe Richards. In this podcast, Zoe reads her winning piece, 'Tommy'.

This podcast contains some adult language.

In this episode, Aandi takes you through Touch and Tickle Criss Cross Apple Sauce.

Children's Librarian Aandi guides you through a Baby Storytime for you to deliver at home during our temporary closure. Learn how to prepare your child for a lifelong love of books, reading and learning with easy to follow steps and sing-a-longs.

The Ewing Trust and Yarra Libraries present Dr. Lee Kofman, author of ‘Imperfect: How our bodies shape the people we become’.

Dr. Kofman spoke at Fitzroy Town Hall for International Women’s Day earlier this year. In her book and her talk that day, Dr. Kofman explored how our appearance can impact our lives - and what we can do about it. A narrative non-fiction title combining memoir and decade-long research, ‘Imperfect’ has met with critical acclaim.

This is an edited recording of that discussion.

Dr Lee Kofman is a Russian-born Israeli-Australian author of five books and the editor of two anthologies.

Yarra Libraries Recommends:

Imperfect: how our bodies shape the people we become – Dr. Lee Kofman

Split : true stories of leaving, loss and new beginnings – edited by Dr. Lee Kofman

Rebellious daughters : true stories from Australia's finest female writers– edited by Maria Katsonis and Dr. Lee Kofman

The dangerous bride : a memoir of love, gods and geography – Dr. Lee Kofman

The Short Story Club discusses a short story every meeting, before moving on to other reading recommendations. In this episode, Nell and Meaghan discuss nature and style in an excerpt from ‘Flames` before moving on to their current isolation reading.

This discussion is best enjoyed after you've read the excerpt from ‘Flames' so follow the link below if you haven’t read it before.

If you’d like to join The Short Story Club (currently meeting online) then book in for the morning or evening meetings through our events page at library.yarracity.vic.gov.au, where you’ll also find information on how to access each week’s story. Otherwise, keep an eye on our podcast and our social media channels to follow along from home. We have stories by Robin Perry Politan and Alice Munro coming up soon.

You can access the excerpt from Flames (along with more great Australian writing) via Kill Your Darlings at https://www.killyourdarlings.com.au/article/extract-robbie-arnotts-flames/

Yarra Libraries Recommends

Flames – Robbie Arnott

Hall Chimp – Robbie Arnott (available on Cloud Library)

Wintering – Krissy Kneen

Bruny – Heather Rose (available on Cloud Library, audiobook on RB Digital)

The Wire tv series (currently available through Foxtel, the iTunes store or our library when we reopen)

The Fountainhead – Ayn Rand

House of Earth and Blood – Sarah J Mass (available on Cloud Library)

The Animals in That Country – Laura Jean Mackay (RB Digital)

The Shifting Landscape – Katherine Kovacic (Cloud Library)

In this recording, Aandi gives you some pointers for starting to read with your baby (when they're ready).

Children's Librarian Aandi guides you through a Baby Storytime for you to deliver at home during our temporary closure. Learn how to prepare your child for a lifelong love of books, reading and learning with easy to follow steps and sing-a-longs. String a set of episodes together for an endlessly-customisable babytime.

Podcast thumbnail features a photo by Brina Blum from Unsplash.

The Short Story Club discusses a short story every meeting, before moving on to other reading recommendations. In this episode, David and Marcia discuss the bush, isolation and national identity in Henry Lawson’s ‘The Drover’s Wife’ before moving on to their current isolation reading.

This discussion is best enjoyed after you've read ‘The Drover’s Wife' so follow the link below if you haven’t read it before.

If you’d like to join The Short Story Club (currently meeting online) then book in for the morning or evening meetings through our events page at library.yarracity.vic.gov.au, where you’ll also find information on how to access each week’s story. Otherwise, keep an eye on our podcast and our social media channels to follow along from home. We have stories by Kurt Vonnegut and Robin Perry Politan coming up soon.

You can access Henry Lawson’s ‘The Drover’s Wife’ at https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/While_the_Billy_Boils/The_Drover%27s_Wife

Marcia and David Recommend:

Henry Lawson's Collected Fiction (available on Cloud Library)

Seven Little Australians - Ethel Turner (available on Project Gutenberg)

The poems of Banjo Paterson (also available on Project Gutenberg)

Clive James’ Unreliable Memoirs (wait till the branches reopen for this one)

In Stay-at-Home Baby Storytime 6, Aandi guides you through “Grand Old Duke of York”.

Children's Librarian Aandi guides you through a Baby Storytime for you to deliver at home during our temporary closure. Learn how to prepare your child for a lifelong love of books, reading and learning with easy to follow steps and sing-a-longs. String a set of episodes together for an endlessly-customisable babytime.