A curious look at The Jungle Book, this episode follows Tracy and her children as they read the original stories together, discover the surprising depth behind Mowgli’s world, and dig into Rudyard Kipling’s own complicated life to understand the book in its full historical context.

In this episode, we head back to regency England to explore the world of Jane Austen and read my favourite book, Pride & Prejudice.

“Step into the streets of Victorian London, where Charles Dickens’ timeless tale of ghosts, generosity, and redemption still glows with the spirit of Christmas.”

Travel back in time to the 1620s to swashbuckling heroes, brotherhood and love. In this episode we discover the story of The Three Musketeers - you may have seen the film adaptations, but let's see how that compares to the book. Find out about Alexandre Dumas and his life in Paris in the 1800s.

“Kia ora and welcome to Dear Reader, the show where we explore the stories that we should read at least once in our lives!

I’m your host, Tracy. Like many people I know, I read lots of books as a child and at school. Then as university, life and parenthood came along, the time to read for pleasure was very limited. So now, I am on a mission to rectify that situation and discover classic books that I should have read by now. I am a lifelong bibliophile and would like to think that this podcast could encourage more people to love books.

Each week, I’ll provide a spoiler free review of the book, explore the life of the author and the world when the book was published. I’ll offer my reflections, a fun quiz, and a bookshelf‑level rating to help you decide if it deserves a place on your shelf.

“Today we’re setting sail with one of the most famous adventure stories ever written: Treasure Island written by Robert Louis Stevenson in 1883.

Welcome to Dear Reader, the podcast where I finally read the classics we all meant to get to.

I’m Tracy, and each week I’ll take you on a spoiler-free journey through a book that has been in print for some time. In each episode, we explore the story, the author behind it, and the time it was written. We’ll reflect on why it still matters today, and whether it’s worth adding to your own reading list.

Season 1 consists of 10 episodes. Some books, like Pride and Prejudice and Little Women, are old favourites I’m revisiting with fresh eyes.

But most — like Treasure Island, The Three Musketeers, The Jungle Book, The Secret Garden, The Road to Wigan Pier, Beowulf, and The Hobbit — are completely new to me. And for a special Christmas episode, we’ll unwrap A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.

I hope you enjoy learning about the author and the time in which books are set. I have already discovered so many fascinating things I can't wait to share with you. So, whether you are an avid reader or someone. Who rarely picks up a book but thinks they should, then this is a podcast for you.

So come along Dear Reader, settle in and we shall begin.