Introducing The Readings Big Book Club. Bringing thinkers and readers together to explore great works of literature. Our inaugural five-part Book Club series will occur weekly from Thursday June 18 to Thursday July 16 and explores Homer's The Odyssey. The series takes place at Cinema Nova and is hosted by Michael Williams, editor of The Monthly.

Each session, commencing at 6.50pm sharp, is guided by one of The University of Melbourne's leading academics, featuring a 35-minute lecture, followed by conversation and audience discussion:

• June 18 - Dr Seth Robinson – The Odyssey: The Original Hero's Journey
• June 25 - A/Prof K.O. Chong-Gossard – The Women in The Odyssey
• July 2 - Dr Tom Hercules Davies – Who was Homer?
• July 9 - A/Prof Ika Willis – The Afterlives of The Odyssey

Online/virtual Big Book Club membership: $100

• Each ticket (dated June 18) will grant online access to ALL FOUR virtual lectures detailed above via a link to be sent to the email address provided by the purchaser during the booking process. Please ensure a correct email address is added when entering your details. 
• For the Big Book Club live event, please see separate listing.

Registration includes access to all four seminars and a copy of Homer’s The Odyssey (translated by Emily Wilson). Online membership grants access to a live video stream of each seminar.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION, please read prior to purchase: By purchasing a membership to the Live or Online Big Book Club you agree to receive email correspondence regarding the event by the presenting partners. Email correspondence will include full information about the event including collection of your copy of The Odyssey. Please note that once The Readings Big Book Club has commenced (June 18, 2026), refunds and changes to your membership cannot be made. Complimentary passes are not applicable for this session. Any further queries should be directed to bookclubcarlton[at]readings.com.au