Recently Returned

In the final episode of Recently Returned librarians Kirsty and Anita reveal their favourite reads from last year. We hear from other librarians and podcast listeners about their picks, and what Wyndham City Libraries members borrowed most in 2023!

Listen now to find out if one of your favourites made the list.

Transcript to come.

In this episode, librarians Kirsty and Johneen reveal their favourite reads from last year. We hear from other librarians and podcast listeners about their picks, and what Wyndham City Libraries members borrowed most in 2022!

Listen now to find out if one of your favourites made the list.

Full book list on the website, transcript to come.

In our final episode of the summer series we’re joined by Wren for a journey into the heart of New Zealand with her book recommendation. Listen to the end to find out how you can be part of our next big episode!

Transcript to come

Arthur loves stories, culture and food. He shares favourite recipe books. Arthur’s recommendations will bring a Summer of memorable and delicious shared meals and memories.

Lisa an avid and passionate reader shares her most challenging read this year and takes us down memory lane with a favourite title. Join us for a wonderful Sumer Reading recommendation and a very bad reading habit.

In this episode of the summer series, we’re joined by Declan, who has a darker summer reading recommendation for anyone who needs a bit of a respite from the holiday cheer.

Transcript to come.

Ever read a book on a long train journey that become a perennial favourite? Find out what book captured Emily’s heart as only books can. Books can be annoying sometimes and there is one that truly infuriated this keen reader. Join us for a wonderful Sumer Reading recommendation and another bad reading habit.

In this episode of the summer series we’re joined by children’s librarian Sandra who shares a cheeky secret reading habit with host Kirsty. Her recommendation for you is out of this world!

Transcript to come.

Aidan takes us on a journey of discovery and wonder as he shares tales from favourite and challenging graphic novels. He recommends an engaging but unexpected crime story to engross us over summer.

Recently returned is back for another summer of reading recommendations.

In this first episode of the summer series, podcast regular Anita spills the truth about her to-be-read pile and shares her refreshing summer reading recommendation. Listen to find out why a change is as good as a holiday.

Transcription to come.

In this episode of Recently Returned, librarians Kirsty and Johneen reveal their favourite reads from last year. We hear from other librarians about their picks, and what Wyndham City Libraries members borrowed most in 2021!

Listen now to find out if one of your favourites made the list.

Intro - 00:00

In-depth recommendations 

 - We Were Not Men - 01:02

 - Magic For Liars - 05:15

Wyndham's Top Loans - 09:41

Staff favourites - 14:34

Full book list on the website, transcript to come. 

We’re back with more biographies and memoirs!

In this episode, librarians Kirsty, Emily, and Paulina discuss books which range from epic historical biographies to small, intimate portraits of life.

Books discussed:

Matilda: Empress, Queen, Warrior/ Catherine Hanley

Untwisted: the story of my life / Paul Jennings

The Erratics/ Vicki Laveau-Harvey

My Family and Other Animals/ Gerald Durrell

Assassinations That Changed the World/ Nigel Cawthorne

Travelling With Ghosts/ Shannon Leone Fowler

Visit our website for a full book list and transcript.

We turn the tables on Kirsty in the final episode of the Summer Series!

Join us as we chat about space travel and find out which remarkable Australian novel from 2020 Kirsty couldn’t put down. Remember to listen out for the codeword for your chance to win a copy of Kirsty’s pick.

Competition closes March 5 2021, T&Cs apply.

See our website for more info and an episode transcript.

Elizabeth is our guest in the latest episode of our Summer Series.

Hear about Elizabeth’s Summer reading recommendation of a French crime novel that bends the rules of the genre and shines a light on the criminal underworld.

Remember to listen out for the codeword to enter the competition!*

www.wyndham.vic.gov.au/recently-returned-podcast

*Competition closes March 5 2021, T&Cs apply

Transcript available soon

Meet Eva in the newest episode of our Summer Series!

Discover which mischievous animal helped a family through challenging times, and hear about the changes Eva has seen during her time working at the library.

Don’t forget to listen out for the codeword to enter the competition*!

Transcript available soon

*terms and conditions apply, more information on our website

Emily joins us for the latest episode in our Summer Series!

Discover which fictional wizard Emily would choose to go on an adventure with and hear her summer reading recommendation for you. Don’t forget to listen out for the codeword to enter the competition*!

*terms and conditions apply, more information on our website

Meet Paulina in the newest episode of the Summer Series!

In this episode, Paulina recommends a very topical summer read for us, and we find out which character she likes reading about but would hate to meet in real life.

Don’t forget to listen out for the codeword for your chance to win a copy of this episode's book!

Transcript available soon

Meet Jenny in the newest episode of the Summer Series!

We find out the most interesting thing Jenny has learnt from a book in 2020, and she recommends her pick for our summer reading list.

Don’t forget to listen out for the codeword to enter the competition! *

Transcript available soon

*terms and conditions apply, more information on our website

Meet Gary in the second episode of our Summer Series!

After some fascinating answers to our rapid fire questions, Gary recommends a great political satire to add to your summer reading list.

Transcript to come.

Anita joins us for the first episode in the Summer Series; a set of mini-sodes where each guest answers a lightning round of book themed questions before recommending something great to read this summer.

Love is in the air!

Librarians Caroline and Emily join Kirsty for a discussion about the Romance genre, followed by recommendations for some romance books they've enjoyed.

*Recommendations start at 13:25

Books (and authors) discussed:

The Little Beach Street bakery by Jenny Colgan

A Princess in Theory by Alyssa Cole

Stephanie Laurens

The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang

Ask, Tell by E.J Noyes

Author and ageing advocate joins Marcus Riley joins librarian Sophie for this special guest episode of Recently Returned. They talk about his book Booming - A Life-Changing Philosophy for Ageing Well; ageism; tips on staying healthy and happy entering the second half of your life; and how the current situation with COVID-19 is impacting our ageing community.

This podcast exclusive edition of Live with the Librarians was recorded remotely during the Covid-19 lockdown (April 2020). Librarians Anita, Kirsty, and Sophie share which titles have been keeping them busy, and where they are getting their books while the library doors are closed.

Titles discussed (in order of mention):

Persuasion/ Jane Austen

The Bone Houses/ Emily Lloyd-Jones 

All the Wrong Moves: a memoir about chess, love, and ruining everything/ Sasha Chapin

The Ruin/ Dervla McTiernan

The Scholar/ Dervla McTiernan

The Good Turn/ Dervla McTiernan

Uprooted/ Naomi Novik

The Eyre Affair/ Jasper Fforde (Thursday Next series)
The First Stone: questions of sex and power/ Helen Garner
Monkeygrip/ Helen Garner

Consider the Fork/Bee Wilson

Upright Women Wanted/ Sarah Gailey

In this episode of Recently Returned, host Kirsty is joined by librarians Lachlan, Michaela, and Jess for a chat about LGBTQIA+ literature in honour of Melbourne’s Midsumma Festival.

Books discussed (in order of discussion):

The Men with the Pink Triangle/ Heinz Heger

The A-Z of gender and sexuality : from ace to ze/ Morgan Lev Edward Holleb

Simon vs. the Homosapiens Agenda / Becky Albertalli

Bold : stories from older lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender & intersex people / edited by David Hardy

Out of the shadows : reimagining gay men’s lives / Walt Odets

From prejudice to pride: a history of the LGBTQ+ movement/ Amy Lame

If the Shoe Fits/ E.J Noyes*

Growing up queer in Australia / edited by Benjamin Law

*Also referred to: 'Ask, Tell' and 'Ask Me Again' by E.J Noyes

Welcome to Recently Returned, a Wyndham City Libraries podcast about books and literature. In this first episode, librarian Kirsty introduces the series before we play the audio from a Live with the Librarians panel recorded on April 5 2019.  Live with the Librarians  is a quarterly Facebook livestream with a panel of librarians chatting about what they've read and are looking forward to next. To see all Live with the Librarians sessions, visit our Facebook page @LibrariesInWyndham or our website. 

Visit the library website to download the Live with the Librarians episode transcript