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The Bookshelf

ABC Australia
Bad Art Mother
Romance Fiction
Impossible Creatures
Crime Fiction
Thrillers
Edwina Preston
Historical Fiction
Age Of Vice
Tom Lake
Storytelling and Representation
My Friends
Anna O
Hard By a Great Forest
Tremor
Agatha Christie
Societal Privilege
Women's Literature
True Crime
Slavery and Historical Injustice
Mike Mccormack

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
Number of ListenersCategories
ArtsBooks

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The Bookshelf

Latest Episodes

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

This week The Bookshelf revisits the Trojan War from the ground up in Yann Martel’s Son of Nobody, moves through friendship and loss in Debra Adelaide’s When I Am Sixty‑Four, and dives into queer Sydney in the 1940s with Fiona Kelly McGregor’s The Tr... more

A rich mix of voices and stories in short fiction from acclaimed Native American writer Louise Erdrich; essays and memories from two‑time Miles Franklin Award winner Alex Miller; bleakly funny childhood tales by English author Mark Haddon; and, from ... more

What if the most talked‑about streaming show of the moment was a mirror reflecting your most private fears and failures? That unnerving question sits at the heart of John Lanchester’s Look What You Made Me Do, a sharp novel about resentment, revenge,... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Tim Rogers
Singer-songwriter and performer
Tim Rogers / UMI
Episode: John Lanchester: Look What You Made Me Do + Lauren Groff: Brawler + Mary Costello: A Beautiful Loan (REVIEWERS: Hannah Kent and Tim Rogers)
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
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)
Tony Birch
Writer, short story writer, poet and professor of Australian literature at Melbourne Uni
Melbourne University
Episode: Julian Barnes: Departure(s) + Cassie Stroud: Iluka + Patrick Charnley: This, My Second Life (REVIEWERS: Tony Birch & Beejay Silcox)
Beejay Silcox
Writer and critic, former director of the Canberra Writers Festival
Episode: Julian Barnes: Departure(s) + Cassie Stroud: Iluka + Patrick Charnley: This, My Second Life (REVIEWERS: Tony Birch & Beejay Silcox)

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
    Australiaa month 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 States8 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
    Australia10 months 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
#190
United Kingdom/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#219
Canada/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#3
Australia/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#15
Australia/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#225
Italy/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#16
New Zealand/Arts/Books

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.
Summer Reading: with Alan Hollinghurst, Mariana Enriquez, Afra Atiq and Catherine Chidgey
Q: Why wouldn't I want to try something new each time?
Catherine explains that she embraces the chance to explore different narratives in each of her books, making literature diverse and exciting.
Summer Reading: with Alan Hollinghurst, Mariana Enriquez, Afra Atiq and Catherine Chidgey
Q: Mariana Enriquez, what's your take on lists like this where we try to rank books? Do you see a value in them?
Mariana appreciates lists for sparking conversation and admits they may seem silly but ultimately lead to engaging discussions about literature.

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?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for The Bookshelf, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for The Bookshelf?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for The Bookshelf, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

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

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.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for The Bookshelf?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of The Bookshelf. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on The Bookshelf?

Recent guests on The Bookshelf include:

1. Tim Rogers
2. Mary Costello
3. Emily Maguire
4. Jock Serong
5. Michael Robotham
6. BJ Silcox
7. Tony Burch
8. Tony Birch

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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