Tag Archives: ParraPods

Podcast More Young Adult Reads

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YA books can be about love, loss, transitions, first experiences, school, future aspirations… anything experienced by young people. What makes YA literature unique is that the perspective is a teenage one. Back with more YA in 2021, join Nisa and Antonia for the first set of books they’d like to highlight:

On the Come Up by Angie Thomas. Walker Books, 2019

A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson. Electric Monkey, 2019

Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo. Hot Key Books, 2020

Welcome to the New World: Waking Up in Trump’s America by Jake Halpern and (illustrated by) Michael Sloan. Bloomsbury Publishing, 2020.

Craving some more YA chat? Checkout our other YA podcast here!

Happy Listening!

Parra Pods Just for Laughs

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In this episode of Parra Pods Katherine, Nisa & Sandra share some laughs, while discussing some of the entertaining reads they recently read.

The business of making people laugh dates back far into antiquity.

Kitty Flanagan excelled at it on The Project, David Mitchell does a fine job through his comic rants, Celeste Barber gives joy to many on Instagram and David Ayoade has kept it going through the IT Crowd and beyond. Join Katherine, Nisa and Sandra for an upbeat chat about books recently written by all four.

Books Discussed:

Dishonestly is the second best policy: and other rules to live by / David Mitchell. Guardian Faber Publishing, Nov 2019.

Ayoade on top / Richard Ayoade by Richard Ayoade. Faber & Faber, October 2019. 

Challenge accepted: 253 steps to becoming an anti-it girl by Celeste Barber. Harper Collins, September 2018.

Kitty Flanagan’s 488 rules for life: the thankless art of being correct by Kitty Flanagan. Allen & Unwin, October 2019.

Happy Listening!

Podcast Episode 34 Historical Fiction

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Historical Fiction as a genre is fascinating for the window it provides to the past, to characters and events both real and imagined, to lives in a time so different to our own.

Historical Fiction is one of my favourite genres that I have been reading for so long. This is purely because I love escaping my reality for a while and getting sucked into the past. While it may not always be pleasant, I find it fascinating.

Because I have been reading Historical Fiction for a long time there are literally hundreds of titles that I could add to the books Nisa and Antonia discussed in the podcast. However, I think my ‘Top Six’ might have to do for this post; after all I am supposed to be promoting our latest episode of Parra Pods!

Needless to say the podcast as always was interesting to listen to and when I say listen, I mean it! When you edit a podcast you have to listen through at least three times or at least I normally do.

Anyway enjoy our ‘Historical Fiction’ podcast. And if you are looking for some more recommendations checkout the recommendations below.

Happy Reading & Listening!

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Podcast Episode 34 – Wellbeing

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Find ways to relax, to meditate, to pursue balance, to consider gratitude, to engage in kindness, to strive for positivity…. all of these are important considerations for those interested in creating a sense of wellbeing for themselves and those around them.

Join Nisa & Antonia as they talk about some books that explore this and more!

The books discussed in this episode of Parra Pods include:

In Search of Happiness: following mindful paths to fulfillment by Mike Annesley. Worth Press, October 2018.

Smart Girls Screw Up Too: the no-nonsense guide to creating the life you want by Bella Zanesco. John Wiley & Son, January 2018. 

Unwind Your Mind: the life changing power of ASMR by Emma WhispersRed. Ebury Publishing, September 2019.

Happy Listening!

Podcast Episode 33 The Stella Prize Shortlist

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Named after a giant in the Australian literary landscape, The Stella Prize celebrates both fiction and non-fiction writing by Australian female writers.

Join Nisa and Sandra as they celebrate the prize’s eighth year.

Books discussed include:

The weekend / Charlotte Wood. Allen & Unwin, Oct 2019

Here until August: stories / Josephine Rowe. Black Inc, Sep 2019

See what you made me do / Jess Hill. Black Inc, Jun 2019

There was still love / Favel Parrett

 Also mentioned:

 The yield / Tara June Winch. Penguin, July 2019

Diving into glass: a memoir / Caro Llewellyn. Penguin, Mar 2019