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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
Tremor
Anna O
Hard By a Great Forest
Agatha Christie
Societal Privilege
True Crime
Women's Literature
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
BooksArts

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Artwork for The Bookshelf

Latest Episodes

A Bookshelf festival special with Kate Evans onstage with writers Jock Serong and Emily Maguire on historical fiction, from the 2025 Sydney Writers Festival.

Statues come alive and London is re-imagined in Francis Spufford's Nonesuch, and surprising parallels in two Australian novels of secrets, shame, land and time in M L Stedman's A Far-Flung Life and Eva Hornung's The Minstrels. Kate Evans, Cassie McCu... more

In this episode, we travel from the Swiss Alps to the quiet strangeness of Danish suburbia and the fierce edges of American literary drama. We begin with the visceral intensity of Gabriel Tallent’s latest novel, Crux, where characters cling to passio... more

Emerald Fennell's film adaptation of Wuthering Heights has been marketed as "the greatest love story ever told", which is not typically the description given to the original novel. What does this adaptation achieve, and what does it sacrifice in the ... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Hannah Kent
Novelist and memoirist
Author of Burial Rites, Devotion, Always Home, Always Homesick
Episode: Gabriel Tallent: Crux + Claire Thomas: On Not Climbing Mountains + Helle Helle: They (REVIEWERS: Hannah Kent and 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)
Alan Hollinghurst
English writer and Booker winner, known for his novels exploring gay history in England.
Episode: Summer Reading: with Alan Hollinghurst, Mariana Enriquez, Afra Atiq and Catherine Chidgey
Mariana Enriquez
Argentinian journalist and writer, noted for her horror-infused storytelling and explorations of dark themes.
Episode: Summer Reading: with Alan Hollinghurst, Mariana Enriquez, Afra Atiq and Catherine Chidgey
Catherine Chidgey
New Zealand writer and academic, recognized for her innovative and unsettling narrative style.
Episode: Summer Reading: with Alan Hollinghurst, Mariana Enriquez, Afra Atiq and Catherine Chidgey
Lainie Anderson
Journalist and novelist, creator of the Kate Cocks series of novels set in Adelaide
Episode: Summer Reading: Bloody Histories
Nilima Rao
Author, creator of the Akal Singh series set in Fiji
Episode: Summer Reading: Bloody Histories
Michael Burge
Journalist and novelist, known for books like Tank Water
Episode: Summer Reading: Bloody Histories

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
    Australia13 days 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 States7 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
    Australia9 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
#245
United States/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#5
Australia/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#16
Australia/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#76
United Arab Emirates/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#90
New Zealand/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#118
Ireland/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
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Location
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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?

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. Chat 10 Looks 3
3. Secret Life of Books
4. Conversations
5. No One Saw It Coming

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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What guests have appeared on The Bookshelf?

Recent guests on The Bookshelf include:

1. Hannah Kent
2. Tony Burch
3. Tony Birch
4. Alan Hollinghurst
5. Mariana Enriquez
6. Catherine Chidgey
7. Lainie Anderson
8. Nilima Rao

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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