Q&A with Em from Em's Book Club

We interview the mysterious Em from Em's Book Club.

To celebrate Em's Book Club turning 1 last month, we scored and exclusive chat with the mysterious Em who runs Allen & Unwin's official Book Club.

Learn more about the club, and the awesome Em below!

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A&U: Hello mysterious book reader extraordinaire Em! Thanks for chatting with us! First up, can you tell us a little about Em’s Book Club?

Em: Hello to you too! Thank you for meeting me in disguise in a non-descript location, I’m not exaggerating when I say my identity is pursued more than Banksy and Batman combined.

Certainly! Em’s Book Club is a super-casual and always-enjoyable little corner of the A&U blog that I occupy, and welcomes all readers to everything a book club could want: rave reviews (penned once a month by yours truly), book club guides for your own club to follow and discuss, cocktail and mocktail recipes (I may have the wit of Dorothy Parker* but not the endurance), further reading recommendations, notes from the authors, spotify playlists, and, most exciting of all, a monthly competition in which one lucky person takes home 12 copies of that month’s book! A sure-fire way to become the most popular member of your own club. Unless there’s someone packing a charcuterie board, in which case, good luck to you.

(*I also do not have the wit of Dorothy Parker, but I try.)

A&U: Your reviews are always so well worded and often, quite funny! Do you ever find though, that the words just aren’t coming? And if so, do you have any techniques to help?

Em: Oh, you flatterer you! But what do you mean by ‘often’ and not ‘always’? And ‘quite funny’ but not ‘side-splittingly hilarious’? You know what, we’ll talk off-the-record after this interview.

Um, only ALL THE TIME. For at least an hour I will face off against every person’s worst enemy; a blank page. Black holes are less frightening, to be frank. I am very lucky that my daggy-aunt sense of humour is tolerated (occasionally liked) which makes the overall writing process far less daunting. It is common knowledge that there are many, many, many more well-read and acerbic critics than I, and the best way to avoid feeling like the class dunce by comparison, is to embrace your own voice and, in my case, rewrite, edit, and rewrite again. The first draft will always be a bit of a dog’s breakfast so don’t be discouraged if you’re not churning out viral masterpieces by the day. And if you are, well, good for you.

In tough times, though, I turn to my favourite reviewer and source of instant dopamine, Lindy West. Very few people make me laugh like she does and her writing will pull me right out of a shame-spiral quick-smart.

A&U: If you think back on previous picks, which has been your favourite to write about?

Em: Ooh, that is tough. There have been so many standouts and for many different reasons, I feel like I could recommend any title I’ve reviewed so far to the fussiest of readers (depending on their mood, of course). I immensely enjoyed The Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club by Helen Simonson, it had all the refinery, depth and old-fashioned sass of Downton Abbey and camaraderie of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. Pheasants Nest by Louise Milligan completely deprived me of a whole night’s sleep, it was so gripping. Also, A Piece of Red Cloth by Leonie Norrington, Merrkiyawuy Ganambarr-Stubbs, Djawa Burarrwanga and Djawundil Maymuru blew me away, it was amazing storytelling and the suspense was palpable.

I can honestly say there was no book in the list that wasn’t a star.

A&U: What advice would you give someone who would like to start a book club of their own?

Em: Hmm, well don’t be too picky about members if you haven’t known them for 5+ years, and you can start with any groups you already belong to online or in your local community.

Compromise is key. I know that’s easy for me to say with only myself to deal with (in my defense, I can be a lot) but if people feel like their opinions aren’t being heard, your club is going to be a party of one very soon.

Obviously, listen and give each person time to speak, especially if they’re new to a group of old friends or acquaintances. Fortunately, this is exactly what the book club guides are for when people need a prompt. But be flexible if someone, and I’m guilty of this, goes on a tangent and you’re all suddenly discussing space, the Bermuda Triangle, bees etc.

What was I saying…?

Oh yes, book clubs.

A good spread is always welcome. I personally abhor cooking, especially for other people, so keep it to nibbles (otherwise they won’t leave) and double-check about diet restrictions and allergies.

And come up with a fun name, the cringier the better.

A&U: And finally, any hints for book picks coming up in 2025?

Em: Ooh, you are cheeky! But I suppose I could give you a few hints…Naturally, it is a bevy of wonderful fiction from some truly dazzling debut authors who I wouldn’t be surprised if they became The Next Big Thing, as well as a couple of household names who I am very happy to see on the list.

Let’s just say, there really is something for everyone and I predict, some new favourites for a lot of people. But you’ll have to stay on the look-out for my reviews and that’s all you get out of me!

CHECK OUT EM'S BOOK CLUB