Coming-of-age on-air

IS there a book that had an influence on you in your transition to adulthood?

The locally produced Gather podcast will explore the area of coming-of-age in its fourth episode, nostalgically looking back on readers’ beloved books.

Host and producer Amy Tsilemanis is seeking the thoughts of younger and older Ballarat people who have a fondness for a particular coming-of-age text, whether they’ve recently read it, or they’ve never forgotten it.

“There are so many good coming-of-age books. One that I read later in life was Miles Franklin’s My Brilliant Career,” she said.

“There’s a magic about that time just as you’re becoming an adult. People identify with different books. Catcher in the Rye, and even things like Lord of the Rings can be considered as coming-of-age books.

“It could be something that you read as a teenager or young adult that helped you through to the other side, or something you have read later in life.”

Ms Tsilemanis is encouraging those who have a favourite text in mind to record a short message on their phone and email it to the podcast.

The recording should be maximum 30 seconds, including the person’s name, some information about their memorable coming-of-age tale, and why it is their favourite.

It will be woven into the podcast, alongside music, “ponderings,” creative responses, and conversations.

Young adult writer Leanne Hall and Indigenous graphic novel writer Declan Miller will both be on this episode of the show.

Email your recording to [email protected] by Friday, 23 July.