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The Bookshelf

ABC Australia
Australian Literature
Literature
Identity
Poetry
Family Dynamics
Jane Austen
Crime Fiction
Climate Change
Show Don't Tell
Long Island
Caledonian Road
Twist
Social Issues
Australia
Time Together
Mansfield Park
Persuasion
Historical Fiction
Grief
Australian Crime Fiction

What are you reading, loving or being challenged by? We review the latest in fiction for dedicated readers and for those who wish they read more.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes510Founded14 years ago
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Artwork for The Bookshelf

Latest Episodes

In this episode, Kate and Cassie are joined by celebrated novelist Madeleine Gray and rock icon Tim Rogers for a wide-ranging discussion looking at three works of contemporary fiction: Indian writer Amitav Ghosh’s Ghost Eye, a meditation on reincarna... more

Memory, lost conversations and almost-fathers-and sons in Ben Lerner's Transcription; children divided by the throw of a dice, and that's just the start of it, in Steve Toltz's A Rising of the Lights; no such thing as unskilled labour, in Siân Hughes... more

What does it mean to write using an 'ethical imagination'? Colum McCann onstage with Kate Evans at the 2025 Melbourne Writers Festival, on his novels Twist, Apeirogon, TransAtlantic, Let the Great World Spin and many more; and his work with the socia... more

We review the latest in fiction for dedicated readers and for those who wish they read more.

Key Facts

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Contact Information
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Number of Listeners
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Recent Guests

Colm McCann
Irish writer; author of Twist, Transatlantic, A Paragon, Let the Great World Spin
Author
Episode: The Bookshelf Festival Special: Irish Writer Colum McCann
Shannon Burns
Writer and critic from Adelaide
Australian literature community
Episode: Michael Winkler: Griefdogg + Louise Erdrich: Python's Kiss + Alex Miller: Journey to the End of Time + Mark Haddon: Leaving Home (REVIEWERS: Tony Birch and Shannon Burns)
Mary Costello
Novelist
Author of A Beautiful Loan
Episode: John Lanchester: Look What You Made Me Do + Lauren Groff: Brawler + Mary Costello: A Beautiful Loan (REVIEWERS: Hannah Kent and Tim Rogers)
Emily Maguire
Novelist and essayist; author of Rapture
Author
Episode: Festival Special: Bringing the past to life with Emily Maguire and Jock Serong
Jock Serong
Novelist; author of Cherrywood
Author
Episode: Festival Special: Bringing the past to life with Emily Maguire and Jock Serong
Tony Birch
Poet, novelist, Professor of Australian Literature
Melbourne University
Episode: Tayari Jones: Kin + Nadia Davids: Cape Fever + two bloody rom-coms (REVIEWERS: Tony Birch and Beejay Silcox)
Michael Robotham
International crime writer and former journalist
Episode: Madeline Cash: Lost Lambs + George Saunders: Vigil + new releases by George Kemp and Steven Carroll (REVIEWERS: Michael Robotham & Roanna Gonsalves)
BJ Silcox
Writer and critic, former director of the Canberra Writers Festival
Canberra Writers Festival
Episode: Michael Mohammed Ahmad: Bugger + Jeanette McCurdy: Half His Age + Nina McConigley: How to Commit a Postcolonial Murder (REVIEWERS: Hannah Kent & Tom Wright)
Tony Burch
Novelist, short story writer, poet and professor of Australian literature at Melbourne University
Melbourne University
Episode: Michael Mohammed Ahmad: Bugger + Jeanette McCurdy: Half His Age + Nina McConigley: How to Commit a Postcolonial Murder (REVIEWERS: Hannah Kent & Tom Wright)

Hosts

Kate Evans
Host and co-host on various literary discussions, engaging audiences with her deep appreciation for literature and insightful reviews.
Cassie McCullagh
Co-host known for her dynamic discussions on books, alongside engaging interviews with authors and literary figures.

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 370 ratings
  • The Bookshelf

    Always informative, interesting and fun. Guests add to the show, but Kate and Cassie hold it all together.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Itsallhistory
    Australia2 months ago
  • Looking for your next reads? Listen to this.

    I work in a public library and this podcast keeps me well up to date on books and authors. I base most of my reading selections on this show because the reviews are thoughtful, intelligent and funny. I also love the inclusion of author discussion panels. If you need a good book show- this is my favorite.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Book Shelver
    United States9 months ago
  • Thumbs up from Reader Retreat independent bookshop

    Your insightful recommendations help me select books for my book shelves. I appreciate your honesty and find you all so entertaining. Keep up the great work.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Readers Retreat PS
    Australiaa year ago
  • Platforming transphobes

    I was so deeply disappointed to hear you platforming Adichie, a known transphobe. I expect much better from ABC. Shame on you.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    M028O
    Australiaa year ago
  • …..

    Fewer crime novels please

    Love your discussions and banter!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    keen listener!
    Australia2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners praise the podcast for its thoughtful and humorous book discussions, appreciating the chemistry of the hosts.
Listeners enjoy the balance of serious literary critique with entertaining banter, finding it enjoyable and informative.
Feedback includes requests for more varied book recommendations and critiques of some guests' viewpoints. Overall, it is well-received for the quality of content.
Reviewers highlight the engaging choice of topics and the depth of literary analysis as standout features, making it a go-to resource.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#6
Australia/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#26
Australia/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#93
New Zealand/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#113
Ireland/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#145
Finland/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#206
South Africa/Arts/Books

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Bookshelf Special
Q: What was your approach to writing about grief for Rami and Basam without exploiting their pain?
I aimed to be true to their grief, acknowledge limits of any one person's experience, and use their stories to evoke universal truths rather than recreate their exact pain.
The Bookshelf Special
Q: How do you gain the trust of people you meet for your novels?
I start with genuine curiosity, I like people, and I assume they're smarter than me, which keeps me open and respectful when gathering material.
Gabriel Tallent: Crux + Claire Thomas: On Not Climbing Mountains + Helle Helle: They (REVIEWERS: Hannah Kent and Tom Wright)
Q: What are you working on at the moment, Hannah?
Hannah Kent describes being in a rich phase of reading and writing, maintaining a balance between drafting and research, and planning future projects while keeping a window of time to refresh her creative process.
Festival Special: Maggie O'Farrell on Hamnet and more
Q: So what were the qualities that you wanted to bring to your version of Agnes, this woman, who can deal with a falcon?
I wanted her to be a fully realized person and to ask readers to open themselves to the interpretation that they did love each other.
Festival Special: Maggie O'Farrell on Hamnet and more
Q: Maggie, how much did you also live inside your head?
I experienced both exterior activity and interior thoughts, balancing between the two as I grew up in a very different childhood compared to children today.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The Bookshelf

What is The Bookshelf about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This podcast features in-depth discussions focused on a wide variety of contemporary literature, with a special emphasis on new releases. Each episode often includes guest reviewers, who contribute diverse perspectives on the books discussed, providing insights into themes such as identity, memory, and the complexities of relationships. The hosts not only review individual titles but also engage in broader conversations about literary trends, making it both informative and entertaining for avid readers. Listeners can expect a blend of humor, critique, and literary analysis that celebrates not just the narratives being explored, but also the experiences of the readers themselves.

Where can I find podcast stats for The Bookshelf?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Bookshelf. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to The Bookshelf and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The Bookshelf get?

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What are the audience demographics for The Bookshelf?

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How many subscribers and views does The Bookshelf have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Bookshelf has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to The Bookshelf?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Bookshelf:

1. The Book Show
2. Chat 10 Looks 3
3. Secret Life of Books
4. Big Ideas
5. A Podcast of One's Own with Julia Gillard

How many episodes of The Bookshelf are there?

The Bookshelf launched 14 years ago and published 510 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Bookshelf?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Bookshelf?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Bookshelf from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for The Bookshelf?

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What guests have appeared on The Bookshelf?

Recent guests on The Bookshelf include:

1. Colm McCann
2. Shannon Burns
3. Mary Costello
4. Emily Maguire
5. Jock Serong
6. Tony Birch
7. Michael Robotham
8. BJ Silcox

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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