Books may be solitary, but reading rarely is. Literary culture has always depended on conversation in the form of book clubs, university, festival and bookshop events, and spirited conversations with friends. Literary podcasts – both accessible and surprisingly intimate – have become one of the most vibrant places for these conversations.

These five Australian podcasts approach literature from very different angles.

In one, two novelists have an unfiltered chat about the same book, with special guests. Another is a deep dive into Tasmania’s literary culture. Others focus on short fiction, biography and the reading life.

Hosts range from novelist Tony Birch to books influencer Luke Bateman and former ABC arts journalist Caroline Baum. And surprising guests include Louise Milligan on The First Stone and Bri Lee on short fiction. Together, they demonstrate the depth and diversity of Australia’s contemporary literary scene.

In classic literary podcast style, Melbourne crime writer J.P. Pomare and novelist Sarah Bailey read the same book and discuss it together, in He Read She Read. Fortunately, the execution is much more interesting than the concept might suggest!

Pomare and Bailey have an easy rapport, giving episodes the feel of a particularly intelligent book club. (It reminded me of Dominic Sandbrook and Tabitha Syrett’s The Book Club, and Sophie Gee and Jonty Claypole’s Secret Life of Books). Their talks are conversational: they aren’t afraid to admit when a book doesn’t appeal. A recent discussion of Frank Herbert’s Dune opens with the confession that one host failed to finish it, prompting a fantastic conversation about literary reputation and reader expectations.

Often, discussions springboard into broader cultural debate. An episode on Helen Garner’s The First Stone, featuring investigative journalist Louise Milligan, explores Garner’s place in the........

© The Conversation