“What I particularly wanted to hit was probably the most pervasive myth about autism, which is that autistic people lack empathy” – Graeme Simsion

Graeme Simsion’s first novel, ‘The Rosie Project’, was outrageously successful. The film rights were sold, the book published around the world and a new career launched. Last year, several books into his life as a bestselling author, Graeme returned to Don Tillman with ‘The Rosie Result’.

Graeme joined Kylie Carlson, Coordinator of Community Learning and Partnerships, for an in-conversation at Richmond Theatrette. Introduced by a performance from Tom Middleditch, Graeme went on to discuss the autism myths he hoped to challenge with ‘The Rosie Result’, diagnosing (or not diagnosing) his characters, and the challenges in getting even a bestselling novel turned into a film. Stay tuned at the end for an update on that last bit…

This is an edited recording. Thanks to Graeme Simsion, Text Publishing, Kylie Carlson, Tom Middleditch and Avenue Books. Our theme song is Add And by Broke For Free.

Don’t forget to have a look at our A Month To Romance events – screenings of ‘It Happened One Night’, ‘The Apartment’ and ‘You’ve Got Mail’ followed by an in-conversation between Toni Jordan (The Fragments) and Minnie Darke (Star-crossed and The Lost Love Song).

Yarra Libraries Recommends

The Rosie Project – Graeme Simsion (also on Borrowbox)

The Rosie Effect – Graeme Simsion (also on Borrowbox)

The Rosie Result – Graeme Simsion (also on Borrowbox)

The Kiss Quotient – Helen Hoang (also on CloudLibrary)

The Bride Test – Helen Hoang (also on Cloudlibrary)

The Hating Game – Sally Thorne

Red, White and Royal Blue – Casey McQuiston

The Wedding Party – Jasmine Guillory

Polite Society – Mahesh Rao

Star Crossed – Minnie Darke (also on Cloudlibrary)

Fall Girl – Toni Jordan

“…Timothy Leary dispending LSD to his inner circle of postgraduate students”

For the last twelve days leading up to Christmas you’ve heard a Yarra Libraries team member championing the book they loved most in 2019. We hope it gave you some inspiration for your holiday reading, your gifting, and your to-read list for 2020.

On the Twelfth Day of Reading it’s Allison Newman recommending T.C. Boyle’s ‘Outside Looking In’.

“I loved it because the style was just so engaging, and also it was about powerful women in a time in history where women didn’t get to live the lives that they wanted…”

It’s almost the end of the year so what better time to celebrate our year in reading. For the 12 days leading up to Christmas you’ll hear a Yarra Libraries team member championing the book they loved most in 2019. Think of it as some inspiration for your holiday reading, your gifting, or your to-read list for 2020. On the Eleventh Day of Reading it’s Community Programs Officer Nic Alea. They recommend The Seven Or Eight Deaths of Stella Fortuna by Juliet Grames.

On the Tenth Day of Reading it’s Community Programs and Outreach Librarian Todd Barrowclough. He recommends 'She Begat This: 20 Years of The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill' by Joan Morgan.

It’s almost the end of the year so what better time to celebrate our year in reading. Every day for the next 12 days you’ll hear a Yarra Libraries team member championing the book they loved reading most this year. Think of it as some inspiration for your holiday reading, your gifting, or your to-read list for 2020.

On the Ninth Day of Reading it’s Marcia from Carlton Library recommending Tamsyn Muir’s ‘Gideon the Ninth’.

It’s almost the end of the year so what better time to celebrate our year in reading. For the 12 days leading up to Christmas you’ll hear a Yarra Libraries team member championing the book they loved most in 2019. Think of it as some inspiration for your holiday reading, your gifting, or your to-read list for 2020.

On the Eighth Day of Reading it’s Cary Longman from Carlton Library recommending Nell Zink’s Doxology.

It’s almost the end of the year so what better time to celebrate our year in reading. Every day for the next 12 days you’ll hear a Yarra Libraries team member championing the book they loved reading most this year. Think of it as some inspiration for your holiday reading, your gifting, or your to-read list for 2020.

On the Seventh Day of Reading it’s Eliza Coyle from Carlton Library recommending 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami.

It’s almost the end of the year so what better time to celebrate our year in reading. Every day for the next 12 days you’ll hear a Yarra Libraries team member championing the book they loved reading most this year. Think of it as some inspiration for your holiday reading, your gifting, or your to-read list for 2020.

On the Sixth Day of Reading it’s Kellie from Carlton and North Fitzroy Libraries recommending Rebekah Robertson’s About a Girl.

It’s almost the end of the year so what better time to celebrate our year in reading. For the 12 days leading up to Christmas you’ll hear a Yarra Libraries team member championing the book they loved most in 2019. Think of it as some inspiration for your holiday reading, your gifting, or your to-read list for 2020.

It’s almost the end of the year so what better time to celebrate our year in reading. Every day for the next 12 days you’ll hear a Yarra Libraries team member championing the book they loved reading most this year. Think of it as some inspiration for your holiday reading, your gifting, or your to-read list for 2020. On the fifth day of reading it’s Daniella Ruff from Carlton Library recommending Josephine Rowe's Here Until August.

It’s almost the end of the year so what better time to celebrate our year in reading. Every day for the next 12 days you’ll hear a Yarra Libraries team member championing the book they loved reading most this year. Think of it as some inspiration for your holiday reading, your gifting, or your to-read list for 2020. On the fourth day of reading it’s Kipp from Richmond Library recommending Polly and Buster by Sally Rippin.