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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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes597Founded15 years ago
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BooksArts

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Latest Episodes

Rewriting Daphne Du Maurier's arch-villain Mrs Danvers from her classic novel Rebecca, Karl Ove Knausgård on 'lonely men in empty towns at night', and a magical Japanese bookshop that just might save you. New fiction discussed, assessed, and recommen... more

On this week’s edition of The Bookshelf: dogs in literature, writing about Alzheimer’s and fragmenting language, big books versus novellas, and why there’s so much time travel in books right now. Reviewers Tony Birch and Beejay Silcox tackle these bi... more

Kate and Cassie discuss Chinese-born American writer Yiyun Li's Music Against the Night, an exquisite exploration of music and time. Plus, with regular guests crime writer Michael Robotham and novelist and university lecturer Roanna Gonsalves, they u... more

More than 280,000 votes were cast. Now Kate and Cassie reveal the books that just missed Radio National's Top 100 Australian Books countdown.

With special guests literary curator and Top 100 producer Michaela Kalowski, and critic and publisher Geord... more

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Recent Guests

Michael Robotham
Crime writer and author of the novel Tell Me Something True
Episode: Yiyun Li's music meditation, Marlon James' Booker-shortlisted epic, Bonnie Garmus' latest
Roanna Gonsalves
Writer, university lecturer and editor of the literary journal Southerly
Southerly
Episode: Yiyun Li's music meditation, Marlon James' Booker-shortlisted epic, Bonnie Garmus' latest
Geordie Williamson
Publisher and literary critic, and author of The Burning Library
Pan Macmillan
Episode: Beyond the Top 100: The books readers nearly voted in
Michaela Kalowski
Literary curator, interviewer and moderator who worked on the Top 100 Australian Books project
ABC
Episode: Beyond the Top 100: The books readers nearly voted in
Jem Calder
Author of I Want You to Be Happy
Faber & Faber
Episode: Chris Hammer, Jem Calder and Pip Williams reviewed on this week's Bookshelf
Pip Williams
Author of The German Ward and Dictionary of Lost Words
Affirm Press
Episode: Chris Hammer, Jem Calder and Pip Williams reviewed on this week's Bookshelf
Zoe Terakes
Actor and writer
Episode: New fiction from Barbara Kingsolver, Colm Tóibín and Ayad Akhtar
Hannah Kent
Novelist and reviewer
Episode: New fiction from Barbara Kingsolver, Colm Tóibín and Ayad Akhtar
Tom Wright
Theatre writer and dramaturg
Episode: New fiction from Barbara Kingsolver, Colm Tóibín and Ayad Akhtar

Hosts

Kate Evans
Cassie McCullough

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 384 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
    Australia8 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 Statesa year 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
    Australia2 years ago
  • …..

    Fewer crime novels please

    Love your discussions and banter!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    keen listener!
    Australia3 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Some listeners would like complete, easy-to-find lists of reviewed and recommended books, and more recommendations for younger readers.
Thoughtful, candid reviews and substantial discussion help readers choose books and discover authors they might otherwise miss.
One reviewer objected to a guest choice over views on transgender issues.
Listeners value the hosts' warm chemistry, quick wit and ability to balance differing opinions.
Guests add useful expertise and varied perspectives, while the broad selection encourages listeners to read beyond familiar genres and authors.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#89
United Kingdom/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#133
Canada/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#233
United Kingdom/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#4
Australia/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#13
Australia/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#22
New Zealand/Arts/Books

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Yiyun Li's music meditation, Marlon James' Booker-shortlisted epic, Bonnie Garmus' latest
Q: Do you have any, I mean, these sound like very unsympathetic characters. Do you enjoy spending time in their heads? Or do you get to understand any of their motives or why they have this sort of hatred and this homophobia?
Gonsalves says the novel gives readers access to many perspectives, while emphasizing that perpetrators acted as individuals with intent rather than as an indistinguishable mob.
Yiyun Li's music meditation, Marlon James' Booker-shortlisted epic, Bonnie Garmus' latest
Q: Roanna, let's talk about how we enter the story, because it opens in the voice of a teenager whose name is Eddie Porteous, and we're reading his diary. Who is this young man?
Eddie is a white-passing Belgian-Jamaican teenager who keeps a diary about rehearsals for a play and the events leading up to a horrific crime.
New Fiction from Melissa Harrison and Malcolm Knox + Mandy Sayer's Top 3
Q: How does Knox's The Second Child handle history and fiction?
It blends real historical figures with invented characters, creating a densely imagined political world that both educates and unsettles, while using humor to counterbalance the horror of dictatorship.
New Fiction from Melissa Harrison and Malcolm Knox + Mandy Sayer's Top 3
Q: What makes The Given World stand out for you as a reader?
Its polyphonic structure and the sense of time and place—especially the ecological details and interweaving voices—make the village come alive beyond nostalgia, inviting readers to inhabit multiple perspectives at once.
Tony Birch & Beejay Silcox review: Inga Simpson/Asako Yuzuki/Helen Bain
Q: Tony, we've covered a book or two today on The Bookshelf.
We certainly have, with a range of recommendations spanning Australian fiction, translated works, and genre-bending reads.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Bookshelf

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

Weekly roundtable conversations review new fiction from Australia and around the world, with close attention to voice, structure, character and the social or historical ideas behind each book. Kate Evans and Cassie McCullough guide the discussion, joined by guest reviewers, writers, critics and academics. Alongside reviews, authors sometimes discuss their own work, while recurring segments and specials explore Australian literary history, reader favorites and books that shape the national canon. The tone combines informed literary criticism with candid opinions, personal recommendations and lively banter. The range spans literary and historical fiction, crime, speculative writing and translated works, making it useful for readers looking be... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Bookshelf?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Bookshelf:

1. The Book Show
2. Sydney Writers' Festival
3. Chat 10 Looks 3
4. A Podcast of One's Own with Julia Gillard
5. Conversations

How many episodes of The Bookshelf are there?

The Bookshelf launched 15 years ago and published 597 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Bookshelf?

Recent guests on The Bookshelf include:

1. Michael Robotham
2. Roanna Gonsalves
3. Geordie Williamson
4. Michaela Kalowski
5. Jem Calder
6. Pip Williams
7. Zoe Terakes
8. Hannah Kent

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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