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Parra Pods is a digital voice of City of Parramatta Libraries. It is a podcast about books and authors. We hope that, with the rapid development of the digital world, literature will still have it’s relevant place in people’s lives, regardless of the format in which it appears. To enjoy reading is to enjoy life experiences beyond our imagination. Our podcast, your voice.
Episodes
Saturday Aug 10, 2019
Saturday Aug 10, 2019
In this episode of Parra Pods Katherine & Nisa discuss books about the relationship between humans and technology in this IT-saturated world. Join them while they talk about the future of AI, the impact of social media, the relationship between our private selves and our digital avatars and eroding trust in traditional institutions.
Some of the books discussed in this podcast include:
Life 3.0: Being Human in the Age of Artificial Intelligence by Max Tegmark. Penguin Random House, 2017.
Net loss: the inner life in the digital age by Sebastian Smee. Quarterly Essay No. 72, 2018
Who can you trust? How technology brought us together and why it might drive us apart by Rachel Botsman. Public Affairs, 2017
Monday Jul 29, 2019
Monday Jul 29, 2019
First awarded in 1957, this year marks the 62nd year of the Miles Franklin Literary Award.
Join Katherine & Nisa as they discuss books that have made it on to the 2019 shortlist. The books span genres such as magic realism, autobiography, mystery and dystopia. Some themes found in the novels include: family, the environment, art, masculinity, relationships, race and racism – all against a range of Australian backdrops.
Some of the books discussed in Episode 18 of Parra Pods include:
The Lebs / Michael Mohammed Ahmad. Hatchette, 2018
A stolen season / Rodney Hall. Picador, 2018
The death of Noah Glass / Gail Jones. Text Publishing, 2018
Too much lip / Melissa Lucashenko. University of Queensland Press, 2018
Other books in the Shortlist include:
A sand archive / Gregory Day. Picador, 2018
Dyschronia / Jennifer Mills. Picador, 2018
Do you feel like exploring some of the AMAZING past winners of the Miles Franklin Award? Or maybe you would like to learn more about the history of the award, check out the Miles Franklin Award website.
Happy Listening!
Katherine & Nisa
Monday Jun 24, 2019
Monday Jun 24, 2019
Episode 16 - Ageing Well - the pleasures and the pitfalls
Is there even such a thing as ageing well?
Apparently so, and the books that we discuss in this podcast make that abundantly clear.
While these books are entertaining and light-hearted they also make some salient points about this stage of life’s journey.
Some of the books discussed in this podcast include:
The single ladies of Jacaranda Retirement Village by Joanna Nell
Fridays with my folks by Amal Awad
Women of a certain age edited by Jodie Moffat, Maria Scoda, and Susan Laura Sullivan
Monday Jun 10, 2019
Monday Jun 10, 2019
In this episode of Parra Pods Katherine & Nisa asked themselves why do some memoirs resonate so much with people?
Michelle Obam's 'Becoming was City of Parramatta Libraries most borrowed non-fiction title so far in 2019. Her spouse Barak Obama was the President of the United States for eight years, yet it is she who has garnered both popular and critical acclaim for this "tell it like it is" memoir.
Sally Fields is a Hollywood legend and, an Oscar recipient, here is her memoir about growing up in a dysfunctional family, overcoming the limitations of her early career playing the “Flying Nun” & “Gidget”. Finally forging a career that has afforded her longevity as an actress, but more importantly finding peace with the dark secret that cast a shadow over her life.
Some of the books discussed in this podcast include:
- Becoming by Michelle Obama. London, Viking, 2018
- In Pieces by Sally Fields London, Simon & Schuster, 2018
Monday May 13, 2019
Monday May 13, 2019
Parra Pods - Episode 13 Uplit
On this episode of Parra Pods Katerine, Nisa & Yi discuss 'Uplifting Literature'.
You might be asking yourself what is 'Up Lit' well it is described as books with an emphasis on empathy, books that are uplifting and life-affirming.
In this episode of Parra Pods we review four titles that fit this popular newish genre. If you are tired of reading grim True Crime and Scandi Noir, try some of these titles on for size.
Some of the books mentioned in this Podcast include:
Your Second Life Begins When You Realize You Only Have One - Raphaelle Giordano
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine - Gail Honeyman
The Happiness Project or, Why I Spent a Year Trying to Sing in the Morning, Clean my Closets, Fight Right, Read Aristotle, and Generally Have More Fun - Gretchen Rubin
My Squirrel Days - Ellie Kemper
Wednesday May 01, 2019
Wednesday May 01, 2019
Join Katherine & Nisa as they discuss some of the amazing writers appearing at this years Sydney Writers' Festival - Today we discuss four books all of which are the works of vibrant and diverse young voices. These works explore issues such as “black lives matter”, the experience of an elite athlete and addiction, the transgender experience set within re-imagined historical fiction, and the unique perspective of a member of a famous and tragic political family.
Some of the books mentioned in this Podcast include:
Godspeed: A Memoir by Casey Legler
Friday Black by Nana Kwame Adjei- Brenyah
Confessions of the Fox by Jordy Rosenberg
The Runaways by Fatima Bhutto
Thursday Mar 28, 2019
Thursday Mar 28, 2019
Katherine, Nisa & Yi discuss some recent releases all about 'Women'.
We wanted to mark International Women’s Day: More Powerful Together (2019’s motto) in this Podcast by reviewing three women focused titles.
What follows was a robust female focused discussion that sheds light on the current state of women’s lives in the world today and the progress we still need to make to achieve equality .
Some of the books mentioned in this Podcast include:
Germaine: the Life of Germaine Greer by Elizabeth Kleinhenz, 2018
Betraying Big Brother: Feminist Awakening in China by Leta Hong Fincher, 2018
The Women's Atlas by Joni Seager, 2018
Monday Mar 25, 2019
Monday Mar 25, 2019
Katherine, Nisa & Yi discuss, why coffee so popular today and was it always so? “Coffee Lovers of the World Unite” we say…
This Podcast discusses three recent books that explain the origin of coffee cultivation, the history and idea’s that abound about coffee, where to find the best cup of coffee in the world and why we love it!
Some of the books mentioned in this podcast include:
The Monk of Mokhta by Dave Eggers
The Devil’s Cup by Stewart Lee Allen
World Coffee Tour – Lonely Planet Publication
Monday Feb 25, 2019
Monday Feb 25, 2019
Episode 9
Australia Today
Katherine & Nisa review three recent books about Australia. A memoir/social commentary and short stories that seek to define us as a Nation. An irreverent look at our strengths and foibles. “The Land Before Avocado” by Richard Glover; Australia Day by Melanie Cheng; My Country: Stories, Essays & Speeches
Some of the books mentioned in this podcast include:
The Land Before Avocado - Richard Glover
Australia Day - Melanie Cheng
My Country Stories, essays & speeches - David Marr
Monday Feb 11, 2019
Monday Feb 11, 2019
Episode 8
Journalism
Katherine, Nisa and Yi discuss “Journalists who have made a difference”, including Peter Greste, Mike Carlton and Seymour Hersh: three men of integrity, with different perspectives on reporting the news. On Air by Mike Carlton, The First Casualty by Peter Grester and Reporter by Seymour Hersh
Some of the books mentioned in this podcast include:
On Air - Mike Carlton
The First Casualty: A Memoir From the Front Lines of the Global War on Journalism - Peter Greste
Reporter - Seymour M. Hersh