The Big Library Book Club: 'Ghost Cities'

A special end-of-year edition of the Library Book Club in which hosts Jonty Claypole, Sophie Gee and Roanna Gonsalves sit down with the Library's Openbook editor, Phillipa McGuinness for a series of bookish chats to kickstart your summer reading.

The Secret Life of Books hosts Sophie and Jonty take us on a deep dive into Dickens and his close links with Australia, particularly celebrating A Christmas Carol, because ’tis the season! And our resident contemporary fiction expert Roanna Gonsalves discusses some of her favourite reads of the year, from the 2025 Miles Franklin winning Ghost Cities by Siang Liu to Raaza Jamshed’s powerful debut novel What Kept You?

Normally exclusive for Library Friends in the Friends Room, they’re taking things up a notch to mark a whole year of the Library Book Club, with this lively, book-loving bonanza in the Library Auditorium.

After the talk, join us for a special display of rare highlights from our collections related to Charles Dickens, including a first edition of A Christmas Carol.

Reading notes will be shared with attendees prior to the event to prompt your thoughts for bookish discussion.

Tickets available here.