The Empusium by Olga Tokarczuk translated by Antonia Lloyd-Jones
Books On The Go
Anna and Geoff discuss the and the new regulating (or not) AI and creative work. Our book of the week is THE EMPUSIUM: A HEALTH RESORT HORROR STORY by Olga Tokarczuk translated by Antonia Lloyd-Jones. Tokarczuk is the Nobel Prize lauereate author of FLIGHTS and DRIVE YOUR PLOW OVER THE BONES OF THE DEAD. Her latest novel is inspired by Thomas Mann's THE MAGIC MOUNTAIN and set in a sanatorium in west Poland in 1913. An instant national bestseller and New York Times book of the year, it satirises misogyny and has gothic horror elements. We differed on this one! Coming up: our best books...
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The Names by Florence Knapp
Books On The Go
Anna and Annie discuss the 2025 and try to predict the winner. Since we recorded this the winner has been announced: by Yael Van Der Wouden. (Annie was right!) And Annie wraps up recent Australian book award news including the Theory and Practice by Michelle de Kretser and the . Our book of the week is by Florence Knapp. Cora goes with her daughter Maia to register the birth of her son. According to family tradition, he will be called Gordon, after her husband. Cora prefers the name Julian and Maia suggests Bear. The story breaks into three as we see the ripple effects of...
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Small Rain by Garth Greenwell
Books On The Go
Anna and Annie discuss the winner of the Pulitzer Prize for fiction, by Percival Everett. Our book of the week is by Garth Greenwell. A poet is admitted to hospital with severe pain. Bedridden, he reflects on his relationships, music and poetry and the small details of life. Winner of the for Fiction and longlisted for the National Book Critics Circle Award for Fiction. We loved this one. Coming up: by Olga Tokarczuk translated by Antonia Lloyd-Jones. Follow us! Email: Instagram: and Substack: Credits Artwork: Sascha Wilkosz
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Fundamentally by Nussaibah Younis
Books On The Go
Anna and Annie discuss the between Nagi Maehashi of RecipeTin Eats and Brooke Bellamy of Bake with Brooki and ask whether it is possible to copyright a recipe. Our book of the week is by Nussaibah Younis. Shortlisted for the , this debut novel centres on Nadia, a UN worker who travels to Iraq to rescue ISIS brides. A serious topic treated with authenticity and humour, Younis describes it as 'Fleabag goes to Iraq'. Other books discussed: TOO SOON by Betty Shamieh UNFINISHED BUSINESS by Shankari Chandran Coming up: by Garth Greenwell Follow us! Email: Instagram: and ...
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Memorial Days by Geraldine Brooks
Books On The Go
Anna and Annie discuss the . Our book of the week is by Geraldine Brooks, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of . This is a moving and honest memoir of Brooks' time grieving her late husband Tony Horwitz and also a portrait of their marriage. Partly set on a remote island off the coast of Tasmania, it is our final Australian book for #AussieApril. Coming up: by Nussaibah Younis. Follow us! Email: Instagram: and Substack: Credits Artwork: Sascha Wilkosz
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Sea Green with Pink Shorts Press
Books On The Go
A special episode! Anna is joined by Emily Hart and Margot Lloyd, founders of . We discuss the exciting launch of this new publisher and the . Our book of the week is by Barbara Hanrahan, re-issued by Pink Shorts Press this year with an introduction by Laura Elizabeth Woollett. This semi-autobiographical novel tells the story of Virginia, a school-teacher and artist who travels from Adelaide to London in the 1960s. An Australian feminist classic, it explores the clash between a conservative upbringing with an artistic life. Other books mentioned - perfect for a bad feminist Aussie...
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Somebody Down There Likes Me by Robert Lukins
Books On The Go
Anna and Annie discuss the and some upcoming book-to-screen adaptations: , , and . Our book of the week is by Robert Lukins. A dysfunctional family comes together in Connecticut when the parents announce they have lost everything. This will appeal to SUCCESSION fans – we’re ready for the tv adaptation! Coming up: Aussie April continues with by Barbara Hanrahan with Emily and Margot from Pink Shorts Press, and by Geraldine Brooks. Follow us! Email: Instagram: and Substack: Credits Artwork: Sascha Wilkosz
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The Season by Helen Garner
Books On The Go
Anna and Annie discuss the for fiction, including WOO WOO by Ella Baxter and HIGHWAY 13 by Fiona McFarlane. Our book of the week is by Helen Garner. This is a memoir of a year Garner spent following her grandson's club football team. It explores masculinity, the sense of community at the local club and being a grandmother. As always with Garner's books, there is much to discuss. Coming up: by Robert Lukins. Follow us! Email: Instagram: and @mr_annie Substack: Credits Artwork: Sascha Wilkosz
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The House of the Dead by Fyodor Dostoevsky
Books On The Go
Geoff and Anna discuss by Fyodor Dostoevsky translated by David McDuff. This is a fictionalised account of the four years Dostoevsky spent in a Siberian prison camp after he was arrested for taking part in a political conspiracy. Sold as a novel but with the feel of a documentary, it contains fascinating details and joins a collection of Russian prison memoirs. Other books discussed: by Alexei Navalny translated by Arch Tait and Stephen Dalziel by Nelson Mandela by Behrouz Boochani translated by Omid Tofighian by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn Coming up: by...
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White Nights by Fyodor Dostoevsky translated by Ronald Meyer
Books On The Go
Anna and Geoff discuss by Fyodor Dostoevsky translated by Ronald Meyer. A man meets a woman on the street in St Petersburg and falls in love in this short story. It has become a in recent months and Penguin has commissioned to be read by Bridgerton’s Luke Thompson. Dostoevsky was in his romantic, millennial era when he wrote this (notably, before he spent four years in prison and escaped a death sentence). Other books mentioned: by Teffi translated by Anne Marie Jackson by Fyodor Dostoevsky by Fyodor Dostoevsky by Stefan Zweig translated by Anthea Bell Coming up: ...
info_outlineA special episode! Kate Slotover from the Book Club Review Podcast joins Anna to discuss what makes a good book club book and our top recommendations. We tried to keep it to three each, and failed.
Our best book club books are:
STONE YARD DEVOTIONAL by Charlotte Wood
ALL FOURS by Miranda July
JAMES by Percival Everett
WIFEDOM by Anna Funder
FRUIT OF THE DEAD by Rachel Lyon
HOW I WON A NOBEL PRIZE by Julius Taranto
THE GARDEN AGAINST TIME by Oliva Laing
THE VASTER WILDS by Lauren Groff
THIS HOUSE OF GRIEF by Helen Garner
MONSTERS: WHAT DO WE DO WITH GREAT ART BY BAD PEOPLE? by Claire Dederer
JUST KIDS by Patti Smith
WEST by Carys Davies
Coming up: INTERMEZZO by Sally Rooney
Follow us!
Instagram: @abailliekaras and @bookclubreviewpodcast
Email: [email protected]
Credits
Artwork: Sascha Wilkosz