Dropping into your feed in 2021 with a bonus ep from Mamamia Out Loud. After a year many of us struggled to find the energy and attention span for a lot of reading, Holly, Jessie and Mia are here with the page-turners you won't be able to put down in 2021... From big hits to an old classic, and even one from our very own, here is your definitive list of book recommendations to read this summer, into the rest of 2021 and beyond. THE END BITS Books mentioned: The Good Sister by Sally Hepworth Rodham by Curtis Sittenfeld  Three Hours by Rosamund Lupton I Give My Marriage a Year by Holly Wainwright  Below Deck by Sophie Hardcastle  My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell  Phosphorescence by Julia Baird A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers Untamed by Glennon Doyle Darkness Visible by William Styron Follow us on Instagram @MamamiaOutLoud  CREDITS Hosts: Mia Freedman, Holly Wainwright and Jessie Stephens Producer: Emma Gillespie  CONTACT US Via our PodPhone on 02 8999 9386 Via our email at outloud@mamamia.com.au  Via our Outlouders Facebook page- https://www.facebook.com/groups/329632330777506/ Mamamia Out Loud is a podcast by Mamamia https://www.mamamia.com.au/author/mamamiaoutloud/

Hey! We're just popping into your feed to share an awesome episode of Lady Startup Stories with you - the podcast where Mia Freedman interviews female founders about the highs and lows of running their own business. This episode features Sally Hepworth. Sally is an author, a mother, a wife, and the primary breadwinner for her family. From the outside, Sally’s business is successful. Amy Poehler has even optioned the rights to turn one of her books into a TV show.  But last year, Sally was told that the book she was writing wasn’t good enough, which meant she had no income for a year.  So she had to adapt and this is how she did it.  This episode of Lady Startup Stories is brought to you by GoDaddy. The place to go to get your business idea online. Are you busting to start your own business but you don’t know where to start? Get info about The Lady Startup Activation Plan here... https://www.ladystartup.com/pages/waitlist/ Want insider tips and tricks for your business direct from Mia Freedman each week? Get the free Lady Startup newsletter here... https://www.ladystartup.com.au/ Want to help lift other women higher and maybe get a boost for your biz? Follow us on Instagram… https://www.instagram.com/ladystartups/ Looking for a community of kickass Lady Startups (and other women who want to start businesses)? We have a free one for you right here... https://www.facebook.com/ladystartups/ Need more lols, info and inspo in your ears? Find more Mamamia podcasts here... https://www.mamamia.com.au/podcasts/ Feedback? We’re listening! Call the pod phone on 02 8999 9386 or email us at podcast@mamamia.com.au CREDITS: Host: Mia Freedman, co-founder of Mamamia and founder of Lady Startup Guests: Sally Hepworth You can buy Sally's books here - https://www.sallyhepworthauthor.com/. Producers: Leah Porges and Samantha McDonald

It was Gloria Steinem who said, “The truth will set you free… but first it will piss you off.” Now, 62 years since she wrote her first book, ‘The Thousand Indias’, Steinem has published a book of her most iconic quotes. “Without leaps of imagination” she once wrote, “or dreaming, we lose the excitement of possibilities. Dreaming, after all, is a form of planning.” And then there was, “Some of us are becoming the men we wanted to marry.” Now 85, Steinem is the author of eight books, and best known as one of the most effective and admired spokespeople of the American feminist movement.  So, what is she currently pissed off about? And has the world actually changed that much since feminism challenged everything? Remember, this is a Book Club, so we're assuming if you're listening you've read the book.  That means there will be spoilers, so if you haven't read it, grab a copy, get reading and join us after you've turned the last page.  We'll be right here waiting for you! Come join our Book Club Facebook group here. You can buy Gloria Steinem's books on Apple Books at apple.co/mamamia Your host is Jessie Stephens.  Leah Porges is the producer of Mamamia Book Club.  You can call Jessie and Leah on 02 8999 9386.  Head to https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe/ to get this and all our pods delivered straight to your inbox.

Ask a woman to name her favourite book of all time, and many, without skipping a beat, will tell you it’s The Bronze Horseman.  Often referred to as one of the greatest love stories of all time, The Bronze Horseman is set in Leningrad, upon the backdrop of World War II. As Hitler’s armies encroach on the Russian city, Tatiana, nearly 17, meets, Alexander, and their relationship begins to develop.  When Paullina Simons was writing the novel, she prayed that someone else would feel just half of what she felt while writing it. No doubt, they did. Selling more than 400,000 copies in Australia alone, Simons’ book, and the subsequent series, have become a cult classic.  So where did the idea for The Bronze Horseman come from? And is Tatiana based on anyone specifically? And, as corny as it sounds, how do you write a book that finds its way into the hearts of people all over the world?  Remember, this is a Book Club, so we're assuming if you're listening you've read the book.  That means there will be spoilers, so if you haven't read it, grab a copy, get reading and join us after you've turned the last page.  We'll be right here waiting for you! Come join our Book Club Facebook group here. You can buy Paullina Simons' books on Apple Books at apple.co/mamamia Your host is Jessie Stephens.  Leah Porges is the producer of Mamamia Book Club.  You can call Jessie and Leah on 02 8999 9386.  Head to https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe/ to get this and all our pods delivered straight to your inbox.

Peter FitzSimons is one of Australia’s best selling non-fiction authors of the last 20 years. With no less than 36 published works to his name, FitzSimons is also one of the countries most popular columnists and after-dinner speakers.  In 2011, FitzSimons was named a Member of the Order of Australia for his service to literature, and his significant community contributions to conservation, disability care, social welfare and sport.  But despite how busy he is, FitzSimons endeavours to write a book a year - something he has managed to do for at least the last decade.  Host Jessie Stephens chats to FitzSimons about what makes a great story, why he’d never write fiction and how he manages to write a book a year.  Remember, this is a Book Club, so we're assuming if you're listening you've read the book.  That means there will be spoilers, so if you haven't read it, grab a copy, get reading and join us after you've turned the last page.  We'll be right here waiting for you! If this podcast has raised any issues for you or someone you know, please contact Lifeline 13 11 14 for support. Come join our Book Club Facebook group here. You can buy Peter FitzSimons' books on Apple Books at apple.co/mamamia Your host is Jessie Stephens.  Leah Porges is the producer of Mamamia Book Club.  You can call Jessie and Leah on 02 8999 9386.  Head to https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe/ to get this and all our pods delivered straight to your inbox.

Jane Harper is the author of international bestsellers The Dry, Force of Nature and The Lost Man, and is inarguably one of the biggest names in Australian fiction.  Harper, a former journalist, has a formula for writing a book that’s now been shared all over the world. She knows better than just about anyone, how to build intrigue, mystery and suspense, upon the backdrop of Australia’s harsh and unforgiving landscape.  So, how does she make sure that the reader is entirely unable to put her book down? And where does she get her ideas from?  In this episode, Jessie Stephens and Harper explore the processes behind Jane’s much-loved novels that have resonated deeply with more than one million people.  Remember, this is a Book Club, so we're assuming if you're listening you've read the book.  That means there will be spoilers, so if you haven't read it, grab a copy, get reading and join us after you've turned the last page.  We'll be right here waiting for you! Come join our Book Club Facebook group here. You can buy Jane Harper's books on Apple Books at apple.co/mamamia You can listen to Jane Harper’s Ted Talk about creativity here Your host is Jessie Stephens.  Leah Porges is the producer of Mamamia Book Club.  You can call Jessie and Leah on 02 8999 9386.  Head to https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe/ to get this and all our pods delivered straight to your inbox.

Trent Dalton’s childhood was filled with dark people, underground rooms and strange secrets. In his critically-acclaimed debut book Boy Swallows Universe, memoir meets fiction, as Dalton explores suburban Australia, brotherhood and the most unlikely of friendships.  All the questions you had after reading Boy Swallows Universe are answered as Jessie Stephens interviews Trent Dalton about what is widely considered one of the best Australian novels of the last decade. Remember, this is a Book Club, so we're assuming if you're listening you've read the book.  That means there will be spoilers, so if you haven't read it, grab a copy, get reading and join us after you've turned the last page.  We'll be right here waiting for you! Come join our Book Club Facebook group here. You can buy Trent Dalton's book Boy Swallows Universe on Apple Books at apple.co/mamamia Listen to Season 3’s episode on Boy Swallows Universe with Jessie Stevens and Holly Wainwright here. Your host is Jessie Stephens.  Leah Porges is the producer of Mamamia Book Club.  You can call Jessie and Leah on 02 8999 9386.  Head to https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe/ to get this and all our pods delivered straight to your inbox.

Can you love and dislike a character at the same time? Does a story about of two being good to each other enough to make it a good book? Is this book an accurate description of loneliness? And what the hell is a jerkin? On our final episode, we’re going to be discussing Gail Honeyman's book Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine.   Described as ‘up lit’, Gail Honeyman created the character of Eleanor in response to an article she read about loneliness, and now it’s being made into a movie by Reese Witherspoon’s production company. But what is it about this book that some people loved and others hated? Remember, this is a Book Club, so we're assuming if you're listening you've read the book too.  That means there will be spoilers, so if you haven't read it, grab a copy, get reading and join us after you've turned the last page.  We'll be right here waiting for you! Come join our Book Club Facebook group here. You can buy Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine on Apple Books at apple.co/mamamia Your host is Jessie Stephens.  With thanks to Keryn Donnelly Elissa Ratliff is the producer of Mamamia Book Club.  You can call Jessie and Lize on 02 8999 9386.  Head to https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe/ to get this and all our pods delivered straight to your inbox.

It’s not every day you pick up a book about people having sex with a fish. But if you’re listening to this podcast you’ve probably read Melissa Broder's book The Pisces, and you’re probably here because, well, you need to talk about the fact that a woman had sex with a merman. On this episode, Jessie is joined by her twin sister Clare and they have a lot of questions... What do you do when you fall in love with a merman? How many metaphors were there in this book and did we understand them all? How do you actually have sex with a merman? Why oh why did they have to kill the dog? And should there have even been a merman in this storyline? Let's find out... Remember, this is a Book Club, so we're assuming if you're listening you've read the book too.  That means there will be spoilers, so if you haven't read it, grab a copy, get reading and join us after you've turned the last page.  We'll be right here waiting for you! Come join our Book Club Facebook group here. You can buy Melissa Broder's The Pisces on Apple Books at apple.co/mamamia Your host is Jessie Stephens.  With thanks to Clare Stephens Elissa Ratliff is the producer of Mamamia Book Club.  You can call Jessie and Lize on 02 8999 9386.  Head to https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe/ to get this and all our pods delivered straight to your inbox.

What's it like doing a book club on your bosses book? Let's find out. This week Jessie & Rachel Corbett sit down to discuss Holly Wainwright's latest novel How To Be Perfect. And we're not going to lie, they get honest. From how, How To Be Perfect compares to Holly's first book, The Mummy Bloggers, who the characters are based on and whether Frances REALLY pressed record when she was in the room with Dr Darling, the ladies have a lot to say... Remember, this is a Book Club, so we're assuming if you're listening you've read the book too.  That means there will be spoilers, so if you haven't read it, grab a copy, get reading and join us after you've turned the last page.  We'll be right here waiting for you! Come join our Book Club Facebook group here. You can buy Holly Wainwrights 'How To Be Perfect' on Apple Books at apple.co/mamamia Your host is Jessie Stephens.  With thanks to Rachel Corbett. Elissa Ratliff is the producer of Mamamia Book Club.  You can call Jessie and Lize on 02 8999 9386.  Head to https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe/ to get this and all our pods delivered straight to your inbox.

What do you call a book that's part memoir, part diary, part recipes? Are female friendships the ultimate love story? And can you write a memoir when you don’t have that much to say? Jessie Stephens and Polly Taylor are talking about Dolly Alderton's Everything I Know About Love, and they have a lot to say... Remember, this is a Book Club, so we're assuming if you're listening you've read the book too.  That means there will be spoilers, so if you haven't read it, grab a copy, get reading and join us after you've turned the last page.  We'll be right here waiting for you! Come join our Book Club Facebook group here. You can buy Dolly Alderton's 'Everything I Know About Love' on Apple Books at apple.co/mamamia Your host is Jessie Stephens.  With thanks to Polly Taylor. Elissa Ratliff is the producer of Mamamia Book Club.  You can call Jessie and Lize on 02 8999 9386.  Head to https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe/ to get this and all our pods delivered straight to your inbox.

Jane Harper rose to fame in 2015 when her manuscript The Dry won the Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards. Three years and two books later, Harper has positioned herself as one of Australia’s best novelist. But is her third book 'The Lost Man' all it’s cracked up to be? Producer Lize joins Jessie to discuss... Remember, this is a Book Club, so we're assuming if you're listening you've read the book too.  That means there will be spoilers, so if you haven't read it, grab a copy, get reading and join us after you've turned the last page.  We'll be right here waiting for you! Come join our Book Club Facebook group here. You can buy Jane Harper's 'The Lost Man' on Apple Books at apple.co/mamamia Your host is Jessie Stephens.  With thanks to Elissa Ratliff, who also produced the show.  You can call Jessie and Lize on 02 8999 9386.  Head to https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe/ to get this and all our pods delivered straight to your inbox.

Liane Moriarty is one of the most successful authors on the planet and it's fair to say we love everything she does here at Mamamia. Which is why on this episode we're going deep on her latest novel Nine Perfect Strangers. There's so much to discuss, like did it need a trigger warning? Were nine characters the perfect amount or too many? Was the plot a little far-fetched or just right? And how does it compare to her other books? Polly Taylor joins Jessie Stephens to discuss... Remember, this is a Book Club, so we're assuming if you're listening you've read the book too.  That means there will be spoilers, so if you haven't read it, grab a copy, get reading and join us after you've turned the last page.  We'll be right here waiting for you! Come join our Book Club Facebook group here. You can buy Liane Moriarty's Nine Perfect Strangers on Apple Books at apple.co/mamamia Your host is Jessie Stephens.  With thanks to Polly Taylor.  Elissa Ratliff is the producer of Mamamia Book Club.  You can call Jessie and Lize on 02 8999 9386.  Head to https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe/ to get this and all our pods delivered straight to your inbox.

Should you always stand up straight with your shoulders back? Can you really bother children when they are skateboarding? Does life REALLY only need 12 Rules?  Jordan Peterson is one of the most divisive public intellectuals on the planet. And his 12 rules are just as divisive. So much so that Rachel Corbett didn't even finish it.  But what did Jessie Stephens think? Lets find out... Remember, this is a Book Club, so we're assuming if you're listening you've read the book too.  That means there will be spoilers, so if you haven't read it, grab a copy, get reading and join us after you've turned the last page.  We'll be right here waiting for you! Come join our Book Club Facebook group here. You can buy Jordan Peterson's 12 Rules For Life on Apple Books at apple.co/mamamia Your host is Jessie Stephens.  With thanks to great insight from Rachel Corbett. Elissa Ratliff is the producer of Mamamia Book Club.  You can call Jessie and Lize on 02 8999 9386.  Head to https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe/ to get this and all our pods delivered straight to your inbox.

Trent Dalton's Boy Swallows Universe has been labelled one of the must-read books of the year so what better way to kick off this summer season of Book Club.  And joining Jessie Stephens to discuss it is writer and self-confessed Trent Dalton fangirl, Holly Wainwright. So did this book live up to all the hype? Did the fantasy element make or break it? Can a book so heavy with drugs and abuse really be all about love? And how important is the title? Let's find out... Remember, this is a Book Club, so we're assuming if you're listening you've read the book too.  That means there will be spoilers, so if you haven't read it, grab a copy, get reading and join us after you've turned the last page.  We'll be right here waiting for you!About the Book Brisbane, 1983: A lost father, a mute brother, a mum in jail, a heroin dealer for a stepfather and a notorious crim for a babysitter. It's not as if Eli's life isn't complicated enough already. He's just trying to follow his heart, learning what it takes to be a good man, but life just keeps throwing obstacles in the way - not least of which is Tytus Broz, legendary Brisbane drug dealer. But Eli's life is about to get a whole lot more serious. He's about to fall in love. And, oh yeah, he has to break into Boggo Road Gaol on Christmas Day, to save his mum. A story of brotherhood, true love and the most unlikely of friendships, Boy Swallows Universe will be the most heartbreaking, joyous and exhilarating novel you will read all year. End Credits... You can buy Trent Dalton's book Boy Swallows Universe here or on Apple Books at apple.co/mamamia Your host is Jessie Stephens.  With thanks to great insight from Holly Wainwright. Elissa Ratliff is the producer of Mamamia Book Club.  You can call Jessie and Lize on 02 8999 9386.  Head to https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe/ to get this and all our pods delivered straight to your inbox.

This summer we are bringing back the Mamamia Book Club. Over 8 weeks we'll be discussing 8 of the biggest books of the year. We’re kicking it off on the 16th of December with Trent Dalton’s Boy Swallows Universe. Then every Sunday after that a new episode will drop. There will be Jordan Peterson’s 12 Rules For Life, Liane Moriarty’s Nine Perfect Strangers, Jane Harper’s The Lost Man, Dolly Alderton’s Everything I Know About Love, Holly Wainwright’s How To Be Perfect, Melissa Broder’s The Pisces and Gayle Honeyman's Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine. If you want to be a part of our book club subscribe to the Mamamia Book Club in iTunes now and join our Mamamia Book Club Facebook group. The Mamamia Book Club, forming on December 16.  

Mamamia Out Loud host Holly Wainwright's first novel focused on the complicated lives of three blogging mum's desperate for their blog to win the coveted Blog-ahhs.  In the sequel, How To Be Perfect, the focus shifts to the world of wellness. Fellow Outlouders, Mia Freedman and Jessie Stephens sit down to talk about Holly’s new book with Holly and give you a sneak peek of what you'll find inside... Buy Holly's book How To Be Perfect here.

For our final book of the season, we're taking on the cult of Michelle Bridges. Whether you're a cynic or a self-help devotee, Make It Happen is about breaking down the barriers that might be blocking your path to achieving your goals. But can it break the mould of cliched, woo-woo self-help books? The book shares a glimpse of what the health and fitness entrepreneur has learnt on her own journey, provides real solutions to everyday challenges, and helps you achieve your goals, whether they be related to jobs, employment, relationships or body image. We talk about the good (and the bad) bits that got a post-it note, the advice we're actually going to follow, and call bullshit on the points that weren't so convincing. So, did it inspire us? And could we stick to Michelle's positive thinking challenge? Listen in, then get out there and just freaking DO IT! Your hosts are Monique Bowley and Jacqueline Lunn with Lucy Rivers. Make It Happen, by Michelle Bridges is published by Penguin. Join the conversation on facebook Tell us what you thought via twitter @mamamiapodcasts Or email podcast@mamamia.com.au This show is part of the Mamamia Podcast Network.

Art theft. A femme fatale. Wealth and status, class and sexxxxx. Labelled the "most shocking thriller of the year", this is a book sold for a SEVEN figure advance, that already has a Hollywood script in development. But is this sexy crime thriller just Fifty Shades of Grey meets The Goldfinch, and not in a good way? Does it live up to the hype? We talk self-serving female characters and why they rile so many readers up, whether the graphic sex in this novel was completely pointless, how Judith Rashleigh challenges conventional expectations for women, and of course, the perve factor of the lifestyles of the rich and famous. Your hosts are Monique Bowley and Jacqueline Lunn with Zoe Rochford Maestra, By LS Hilton is published by Allen and Unwin Join the conversation on facebook Tell us what you thought via twitter @mamamiapodcasts Or email podcast@mamamia.com.au This show is part of the Mamamia Podcast Network

What does Jane Austen have to do with crossfit and paleo diets? Nothing until now. Eligible is a modern-day re-telling of the Jane Austen classic Pride and Prejudice. While this contemporary, tongue-in-cheek retelling of Pride and Prejudice does follow the Bennet family, there are some updated differences from the classic. So, did it WORK? How does the modern day Elizabeth Bennet compare to the original? What’s going on with weirdo Mary? How believable is Darcy? And does the love story pack enough punch? Your hosts are Monique Bowley and Jacqueline Lunn with Holly Wainwright Eligible, by Curtis Sittenfeld, is published by Penguin Random House And thanks to BWS for sponsoring the show: use the offer code here and get 50% off. Join the conversation on facebook Tell us what you thought via twitter @mamamiapodcasts Or email podcast@mamamia.com.au This show is part of the Mamamia Podcast Network

Imagine being doubled over from laughing, only to stand up and be punched straight in the guts. This debut novel from one of the most exciting writers in the Australian landscape, Rosie Waterland, will do that to you. Famous for her hilarious Bachelor Recaps, her memoir is a huge departure from the sequinned world of Bachie mansion. This is a skillful and raw depiction of life growing up in a dysfunctional family. And whilst the humor is black, the writing is like a lightning bolt. There is SO much to unpack. Crack the Jatz and pour a wine or two... you're gonna need it. Show notes: Your hosts are Monique Bowley and Jacqueline Lunn with Jessie Stephens Follow Monique Bowley on facebook The Anti Cool Girl is published by Harper Collins Follow Rosie Waterland on facebook Tell us what you thought via twitter @mamamiapodcasts Or email podcast@mamamia.com.au This show is part of the Mamamia Podcast Network

It’s been dubbed 'The New Gone Girl'. A fast-paced female psychological thriller from an author who has twice won the Walkley award for investigative journalism. If you haven’t read this book, stop right there, thankyou very much. There is a big fat twist that we are busting to talk about it. Did it leave you throwing the book across the room, or throwing back a champers because you picked it a mile off? Does a book need to have likeable characters to be a good book? We’ll take a look at the plot devices and why this was quite a departure for Caroline Overington. Show notes: Your hosts are Monique Bowley and Jacqueline Lunn with Katy Hall. The One Who Got Away is published by Harper Collins  Caroline Overington's facebook page is here Join the conversation on facebook Tell us what you thought via twitter @mamamiapodcasts Or email podcast@mamamia.com.au This show is part of the Mamamia Women’s Network

It's chick-lit, but not as you know it. Big Little Lies is a brilliant take on schoolyard scandals, kindergarten cliques, with a death thrown in for good measure. This New York Times best seller is being made into a TV series with HBO, and with good reason. It's a wolf in sheep's clothing: dark themes masked with a pace and lightness that belies it's depth. But did everyone love it? Or was it too far-fetched for some?  Show notes: Your hosts are Monique Bowley and Jacqueline Lunn with Jo Abi. Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty is published by Penguin Join the conversation on facebook Tell us what you thought via twitter @mamamiapodcasts Or email podcast@mamamia.com.au This show is part of the Mamamia Women’s Network

This tiny book has sold five million copies, spawned a music album, a TV show, and countless blogs, youtube channels and pinterest pages dedicated to the craft.  It's about more than just tidying up. Marie Kondo says her book will make you more successful, more confident, and more motivated to create the life you want. The ‘Konmari’ method has a cult following with devoted worshippers of tidy-home-mantras.  But what hidden messages are in this book? Is it really a tale of shame, of OCD tendencies, and of the moral highground that comes with minimalist living? Show notes: Your hosts are Monique Bowley with Jo Lauder and Gabe Lauder   The book we were talking about was The Life Changing Magic Of Tidying by Marie Kondo. Join the conversation on facebook Tell us what you thought via twitter  @mamamiapodcasts Or email podcast@mamamia.com.au This show is part of the Mamamia Women’s Network

It outsold Dan Brown’s The DaVinci Code and has been sitting at the top of the charts since its release. A page turner for sure; a female psychological thriller that's easy, trashy, with a decent twist at the end.  But the question we ask is: if you hate the books characters, and detest the way it's written, does that neccessarily make it a bad book?  Show notes Your hosts are Monique Bowley with Jo Lauder and Gabe Lauder The book is The Girl on The Train by Paula Hawkins Check out our other great holidays reads here Contact the show via email podcast@mamamia.com.au tweet us @mamamiapodcasts or facebook.com/mamamiapodcastnetwork  This show is part of the Mamamia Women’s Network   

Do you want to live a more creative life? Elizabeth Gilbert, of Eat, Pray, Love fame says you can. And you MUST. But before you run out and enrol in life-drawing 101, stop right there.  It's not neccessary.  This is a no-bullshit guide on how to make space for more creativity in your life. She argues that anyone can be creative, at anything, and her advice on how to stop giving a shit about what people think of you will have you highlighting passages and booking in for ice-skating/guitar/mosaic lessons. A great read to start the new year. Show notes: Your hosts are Monique Bowley with Gabe Lauder and Jo Lauder Contact the show via email podcast@mamamia.com.au  Via twitter @mamamiapodcasts Or via the Facebook page: Mamamia Podcast Network This book was one of the top ten books of 2015, according to founder and content director of Mamamia, Mia Freedman.  Mia Freedman interviewed Elizabeth Gilbert on her podcast: No Filter. Listen here. Or Elizabeth Gilbert has her own podcast called Magic Lessons, here  

In my opinion, there is no greater discovery in 2015 than this book.  Despite its heavy themes, The Eye Of The Sheep is an eminently readable and joyous tale. Told through the eyes of young Jimmy Flick, it's a story about family dysfunction, social disadvantage and a mother's love.  It’s the most beautiful and skillful depiction of Australian domestic life since Tim Winton’s Cloudstreet. You can almost smell the cut grass and the sea. It won the Miles Franklin and you won’t have to guess why. Show notesThis show is hosted by Monique Bowley with Jo and Gabe Lauder. Contact us via podcast@mamamia.com.au or via twitter: @mamamiapodcasts and via the podcast facebook page This show is part of the Mamamia Women's Network. 

Would a man really stage an accident to murder his three children and get back at his estranged wife? That’s the question Helen Garner concerns herself with in this intimately observed court-house novel. The book follows the case of Robert Farquharson, accused of deliberately driving his car into a dam near Geelong. While the case captured, angered and horrified the nation, this novel is a meticulous study of character, of truth, and the reliability of memory.  It’s a brilliantly written, fly on the wall view of this tragic story. Show notes: Your host is Monique Bowley, with Gabe Lauder and Jo Lauder. Contact the show via email: podcast@mamamia.com.au, via twitter @mamamiapodcasts or via the Mamamia Podcast Network facebook page.

The Pulitzer Prize winner for fiction this year sounds more like something from a Mills and Boon novel. Orphaned children, a priceless magical diamond, a blind French girl and a German wunderkind who fall in love via a radio transmission? But Anthony Doerr's war time tome, ten years in the making, is masterful. Written from the child's perspective, the themes of light, love, and how against all odds people still try to be good to one another is stunning. Don't be put off by the 500-odd pages; Doerr's light touch means it's an easy read.  Your host is Monique Bowley with Jo Lauder and Gabe Lauder Contact the show via email: podcast@mamamia.com.au  Tweet @mamamiapodcasts For the full list of books in this series, go to the facebook page, Mamamia Podcast Network.