Each week we bring you a sample of the books we’re reading, the films we’re watching, the television shows we’re hooked on, or the music we’re loving.

Clare Millar is reading The Shape of Sound by Fiona Murphy

I was so excited about the release of this book. I honestly raced through this one over the Easter break. It’s such a perfectly structured memoir that I felt completed immersed.

Fiona tells the story of how she hid her deafness for 25 years, and how she came to accept her disability and find ways to adapt instead of trying to conform to the hearing world. I was fascinated by her perception of language and I learned a lot from her story.

We’re still early in the year, but I truly think this is going to be the best Australian memoir of 2021! I also think it’s a great read alongside Jessica White’s Hearing Maud, which I enjoyed in 2019.

Tye Cattanach is reading Seven Brief Lessons on Physics by Carlo Rovelli

I don’t science. And I don’t math.

But after a particularly scintillating conversation about gravity this past weekend, I decided I was perhaps more interested in science than I thought. But if one wants to read about science, where do they even begin? Last year I read Carlo Rovelli’s collection of essays There Are Places In The World Where Rules Are Less Important Than Kindness. And I loved it.

Since Rovelli is a founder of loop quantum gravity theory, why not start there? I read Seven Brief Lessons On Physics and found myself utterly fascinated by it. It was completely accessible and perfect as a beginner read on physics. Finally! I have a basic understanding of physics! Turns out I might just science after all… but maybe don’t hold your breath on math.

Lucie Dess is reading all things young adult and Emery Lord.

Over the long weekend I devoured both The Start of Me and You and The Map from Here to There by Emery Lord. They were such quick, easy reads and I fell in love with the characters.

The Start of Me and You is told from the point of view of Paige, who’s first boyfriend has recently died in a swimming accident. She’s spent months struggling to move past it and live her life again. So, she makes a plan to ‘rejoin the real world’ that includes: date a boy, attend parties, join a club, and swim again. The Start of Me and You had me laughing and crying along with Paige. She was so relatable and I was cheering her on the entire book. The story explores grief, family dynamics, the importance of friendship and learning to live your life to the fullest.

The Map from Here to There is the sequel to The Start of Me and You and follows Paige in her final year of high school. Should she apply to go to NYU and follow her dreams or stay in Indiana to be closer to her family and boyfriend? I loved this one even more as there was such a focus on doing what she wanted to do, rather than making decisions based on somebody else’s plans. Once again, family and friendship play an important part in Paige’s story. If you’re after a cute read, these books are for you.