Friends at the Library
15 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 4 years ago - ★★★★★ - 1 ratingJoin librarian Jenn Martin and comedian Jennifer Wong to enthuse about books, reading, and everything in between. Expect discussions ranging from The Babysitters Club as self-help to reading science fiction for the first time, plus reading suggestions from Jenn Martin.
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Episodes
My Favourite Things by Maira Kalman
November 01, 2019 11:59 - 24 minutes - 34.1 MBJennifer Wong shares one of her favourite books with Jenn Martin, which happens to be called My Favourite Things! Jenn then shares some ideas for books to read if you like character-driven novels told by multiple narrators. Books, authors, websites mentioned in this episode My Favourite Things by Maira Kalman Maira Kalman in the New Yorker: https://www.newyorker.com/contributors/maira-kalman Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum: https://www.cooperhewitt.org/ Alexander and the Te...
The Testaments by Margaret Atwood
October 25, 2019 12:56 - 30 minutes - 41.4 MBJoin Jenn Martin and Jennifer Wong to talk about the long-awaited sequel to The Handmaid’s Tale, The Testaments. Jenn then provides some suggestions for a listener who enjoyed reading An Ordinary Day by Leigh Sales. Authors and books mentioned in this episode The Testaments by Margaret Atwood The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood Ursula K. Le Guin, by Margaret Atwood: 'One of the Literary Greats of the 20th Century' https://www.theguardian.com/book...
Guilty Not Yet Read Books | The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
September 14, 2019 00:56 - 39 minutes - 54.9 MBWhat’s on your TO READ List, and how long have those books been sitting there? Jenn Martin and Jennifer Wong come clean about all the books they've not yet read, and talk about why we read what we read and how best not to feel guilty about it. Jenn then shares how much she enjoyed reading The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt and suggests some ideas for other reads fuelled by the power of art. *NEW* Watch this episode which was recorded on Facebook Live: https://bit.ly/2kgZPEN Disclaimer: We did ...
Comfort Reads | The Lady’s Not for Burning by Christopher Fry
September 06, 2019 12:57 - 29 minutes - 40.2 MBWhat does a comfort read mean to you? Jenn Martin and Jennifer Wong discuss what books are on their comfort shelves and explore the reasons why we read for solace, hope or reassurance. Then, Jenn shares a favourite comfort read - an absurdist love story about two people who save each other from life and death. Authors and books mentioned in this episode The Most of Nora Ephron by Nora Ephron Agnes and the Hitman by Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer Tables for Two, The New Yorker: https://...
Reading for a Better World | How to Write an Autobiographical Novel by Alexander Chee
August 30, 2019 13:39 - 32 minutes - 45.1 MBCan reading change the world? Jenn Martin and Jennifer Wong discuss reading and writing that makes a difference, then Jennifer Wong shares a personal life-changing read - How to Write an Autobiographical Novel by Alexander Chee. Events, authors, and books mentioned in this episode Mudgee Readers Festival - https://www.mudgeereaders.com/ Writing NSW - https://writingnsw.org.au/ Cat Sparks on Climate Fiction - https://espace.curtin.edu.au/handle/20.500.11937/70516 Flight Behaviour by...
'Reading Doorways' | Riddley Walker by Russell Hoban
August 23, 2019 13:23 - 35 minutes - 48.9 MBHow do you work out what to read next? Jenn Martin and Jennifer Wong discuss the concept of ‘Reading Doorways’ and why certain books appeal to certain readers, then Jenn shares a favourite novel that has a language doorway - Riddley Walker by Russell Hoban. Authors and books mentioned in this episode Nancy Pearl’s Reading Doorways: https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/columns-and-blogs/nancy-pearl/article/51109-check-it-out-with-nancy-pearl-finding-that-next-good-book.html Ext...
Young Love | Normal People by Sally Rooney
August 16, 2019 14:37 - 37 minutes - 52.1 MBDo you like a Happily Ever After ending? Jenn Martin and Jennifer Wong discuss what they personally enjoy in a love story before looking at a complicated novel about young love, Normal People by Sally Rooney. Authors and books mentioned in this episode Bookthingo Romance Blog: http://bookthingo.com.au/ Mr Impossible by Loretta Chase The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion Bellwether by Connie Willis Dubliners by James Joyce The Flywheel by Erin Gough One Day by David Nicholls If...
Peak Nostalgia | The Mixed-Up Files of Mrs Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg
August 09, 2019 14:01 - 31 minutes - 42.7 MBMemories and nostalgia are a mainstay of fiction. Jenn Martin and Jennifer Wong talk about their favourite nostalgic moments and what happens when nostalgia looks not only backwards, but forwards. Then Jenn and Jenn discuss the book started their friendship, The Mixed-Up Files of Mrs Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg. Authors and books mentioned in this episode Anastasia Krupnik by Lois Lowry The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin Through the Children’s Gate by Adam Gopnik The Catch...
Family Sagas | Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
August 02, 2019 12:21 - 27 minutes - 37.9 MBFamilies are complicated! Jenn Martin and Jennifer Wong discuss what makes a good family saga and share their experience reading a multi-generational novel about a Korean family living in Japan: Pachinko by Min Jin Lee. Authors and books mentioned in this episode Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy Commonwealth by Ann Patchett The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan The Namesake b...
You Recommend a Book, They Hate it | Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
July 26, 2019 13:21 - 38 minutes - 53.1 MBWhat do you do when you want to share a book with someone and they hate it? Jenn Martin and Jennifer Wong discuss how protective you need to be when you share a beloved book with others and Jennifer talks about one of her favourite reads, Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman. Authors and books mentioned in this episode The Dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guin The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger The ‘Girl’ Phenomenon in Book Titles: A Survey from ‘author friend’...
Holiday Reads | Books Set in Japan + New Science Fiction
July 19, 2019 11:07 - 35 minutes - 48.4 MBWhat do you like to read when you travel? Jenn Martin and Jennifer Wong discuss what goes into selecting a holiday read and why we sometimes have such high expectations! Jenn shares some ideas for books to read on holiday in Japan, and discusses her favourite science fiction reads for long plane trips. Authors and books mentioned in this episode Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn New Yorker Article: The Invention of the Be...
Re-Reading Children's Books | Kenny's Window by Maurice Sendak
July 12, 2019 12:50 - 32 minutes - 44.7 MBThe magic of reading children’s books, even as adults, is something that Jenn Martin and Jennifer Wong love to enthuse about. Plus, Jenn shares what she thinks makes the perfect picture book. Authors and books mentioned in this episode The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin The Man Whose Mother Was a Pirate by Margaret Mahy The Changeover by Margaret Mahy The Babysitters Club by Ann M. Martin Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak Kenny’s Window by Maurice Sendak Kenny's Window...
Book to TV Adaptations | The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
July 05, 2019 17:35 - 36 minutes - 49.8 MBWhat does it take to make a good TV adaptation of a favourite novel? Jenn Martin and Jennifer Wong discuss this as well as Jennifer’s reading of The Handmaid’s Tale for the first time. Authors, books, and shows mentioned in this episode Game of Thrones on HBO A Song of Ice and Fire series by George R. R. Martin The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty Big Little Lies on HBO Matthew Reilly Harry Potter and the Cursed Child His Dark Mate...
The Denim Test | Severance by Ling Ma
June 27, 2019 12:44 - 25 minutes - 34.8 MBJenn Martin and Jennifer Wong discuss Jennifer’s litmus test for a novel likely to be a comforting read and Jenn shares her thoughts on reading a recent dystopian novel, Severance, that may be enjoyed by fans of Emily St. John Mandel’s Station Eleven. Authors and books mentioned in this episode Homecoming by Cynthia Voigt Pattern Recognition by William Gibson Zero History by William Gibson Far From the Madding Crowd - film adaptation directed by Thomas Vinterberg The Luminaries ...
Library Love | Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh
June 27, 2019 12:25 - 28 minutes - 39.1 MBJenn Martin and Jennifer Wong talk about why they love libraries and Jennifer Wong shares about a favourite book from childhood, Harriet the Spy, which she still reads at least once a year. Authors, books and libraries mentioned in this episode Dunedin Public Libraries Pip Adam Hornsby Libraries Sue Grafton Janet Evanovich Finn Family Moomintroll by Tove Jansson From The Mixed Up Files of Mrs Basil E Frankweiler by E. L. Konigsburg Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh A...