Books, Baby!

December brings our Season 5 finale, and what a way to wrap the year! In this final episode of Books, Baby!, Ian, Bev, and Alo look back at a year of reading, reflecting on the stories that stayed with us long after the last page.We chat about our favourite reads of the year, the books that surprised us when we least expected it, the ones that didn’t quite live up to the hype, and our standout favourite books in translation. Along the way, we weave it all together with a look at our Spotify Wrapped stats for the podcast — the numbers, the milestones, and what they say about the year that was for Books, Baby!It’s reflective, opinionated, and full of love for books and listeners alike — the perfect send-off for Season 5 and a celebration of another year spent reading together.Books mentioned in this episode:The Rest of Our Lives - Ben MarkovitsThe Slip - Miriam WebsterA Great Big Beautiful Life - Emily HenryIndeterminate Inflorescence - Yi SeongbokDays of Reading - Marcel ProustThe Emperor of Gladness - Ocean VoungeGravity Let Me Go - Trent DaltonLessons in Chemestry - Bonnie GarmusThe Bee Sting - Paul MurraySpinning Around: The Kylie Playlist - Various AuthorsSeparate Rooms - Pier Vittorio TondelliFlesh - David Szalay Kairos - Jenny ErpenbeckGoodbye to Berlin - Christopher Iserwood On the Calculation of Volume I, II, III - Solvej BalleHeart Lamp - Banu MustaqHunchback - Sao IchikawaMedea Sang Me a Corrido - Dahlia de la CerdaReservoir Bitches - Dahlia de la CerdaBetween a Wolf and a Dog - Georgia BlainBefore Night Falls - Reinaldo ArenasHunger - Cho Jin-YoungThe Makioka Sisters - Jun'ichirō TanizakiThe Hours - Michael CunninghamMinor Black Figures - Brandon TaylorConnect with us via email (⁠booksbabypod@gmail.com⁠) and on Instagram!Books, Baby! – ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@booksbabypod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hosts:Ian – ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@bookish_ian⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bev – ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@booksgonewilde⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Alo – ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@books.swallows.universe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

It’s Books, Baby! Booker Prize episode and Bev, Ian and Alo dive into the 2025 winning novel Flesh by David Szalay. We explore its sharp examination of masculinity, emotional restraint, and the quiet turning points that shape István’s life from adolescence to middle age. This episode also features Sim, joining us for a second guest appearance this season.Books mentioned in this episode:Audition - Katie KitamuraSeascraper - Benjamin WoodFlashlight - Susan ChoiThe Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny - Kiran DesaiThe Rest of Our Lives - Ben MarkovitsThe Seven Moons of Maali Almeida - Shehan KarunatilakaGirl, Woman, Other - Bernardine EvaristoThe Bee Sting - Paul MurrayMy Friends - Hisham MatarA Little Life - Hanya YanagiharaOpen Water - Caleb Azumah NelsonBoy Friends - Michael PedersenSeán HewittSolvej BalleChloe Hooper, Helen Garner, and Sarah KrasnosteinSarah WatersSuzumi SuzukiBrandon TaylorConnect with us via email (⁠booksbabypod@gmail.com⁠) and on Instagram!Books, Baby! – ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@booksbabypod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hosts:Ian – ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@bookish_ian⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bev – ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@booksgonewilde⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Alo – ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@books.swallows.universe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Guest Host:Sim – ⁠⁠⁠@sims_solace

This month, Ian, Bev, and Alo dive into The Bee Sting by Paul Murray, joined by special guest Nell.The Bee Sting is a sweeping, tragicomic family saga that captured readers (and Booker Prize judges) alike. We unpack its unforgettable characters, explore Murray’s distinct writing style through each point of view, and debate that twist ending that left us reeling.But before we get stung by all that drama, we kick things off with a lively chat about ABC Radio National’s Top 100 Books of the 21st Century — the surprises, the snubs, and the titles that made us cheer (or roll our eyes).Books mentioned in this episode:Burial Rites - Hanna KentLola in the mirror - Trent DaltonBoy Swallows Universe - Trent DaltonStag Dance - Torrey PetersDetransition, Baby! - Torrey PetersThe burrow - Melanie ChangToo Much Lip - Melissa LucashenkoDark Emu -Bruce PascoeCarpentaria - Alexis WrightLife of Pi - Yann MartelThe Book Thief - Markus ZusakProphet Song - Paul LynchThe Luminaries - Eleanor CattonThe Cannibal's Daughter - Rosa MonteroBad Girls - Camila Sosa VilladaThesis on a domestication - Camila Sosa VilladaThe Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny - Kiran DesaiThe Little Stranger - Sarah WatersA room above a shop - Anthony ShaplandConnect with us via email (⁠booksbabypod@gmail.com⁠) and on Instagram!Books, Baby! – ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@booksbabypod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hosts:Ian – ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@bookish_ian⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bev – ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@booksgonewilde⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Alo – ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@books.swallows.universe⁠⁠⁠⁠Guest Host:Nell - @nellreadsbooks

September’s episode of Books, Baby! takes us into the world of Torrey Peters’ Stag Dance, a bold collection of stories about that doesn’t shy away from messiness, desire, and transformation. Across its pages, Peters gives us characters who are stumbling, reaching, and reinventing themselves in ways that feel both raw and achingly human.Join Alo, Bev and Ian as we dive into these stories—unpacking their humor, heartache, and the sharp truths about love, gender, and selfhood that Peters threads throughout her work. Books mentioned in this episode:Ministry of Time - Kaliane BradleySeascraper - Benjamin WoodAudition - Katie KitamuraNot a River - Selva AlmadaFathoms: the world in the whale - Rebecca GiggsDetransition, Baby! - Torrey PetersSeparate Roos - Pier Vittorio TondelliHoneybee - Craig SilveyConnect with us via email (⁠booksbabypod@gmail.com⁠) and on Instagram!Books, Baby! – ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@booksbabypod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hosts:Ian – ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@bookish_ian⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bev – ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@booksgonewilde⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Alo – ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@books.swallows.universe⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this episode of Books, Baby!, Ian, Bev, and Alo dive into Saou Ichikawa’s haunting novel Hunchback. With its fragmented storytelling and stark lyricism, the book offers an unflinching look at the intersections of embodiment, shame, desire, and intimacy. The hosts unpack how Ichikawa captures the vulnerability of inhabiting a body that exists outside of societal ideals, while also carving out space for tenderness and connection.Their discussion highlights the way Hunchback brings disabled experiences and desires into focus, expanding what is often represented in contemporary literature in translation.Books mentioned in this episode:​When the cranes fly south - Lisa Ridzén​They came to slay: The Queer culture of D&D - Thom James Carter​The las one - Fatima Daas​The white book - Han Kang​Pink Slime - Fernanda Trías ​Audition - Katie Kitamura​The land in winter - Andrew Miller​Flashlight - Susan Choi​Universality - Natasha Brown​Intimacies - Katie Katamura​Tokyo Ueno Station - Miri YuButter - Asako YuzikiNot such thing as an easy job - Kikuko TsumaraJust by looking at him - Ryan O'ConnellConnect with us via email (⁠booksbabypod@gmail.com⁠) and on Instagram!Books, Baby! – ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@booksbabypod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hosts:Ian – ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@bookish_ian⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bev – ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@booksgonewilde⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Alo – ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@books.swallows.universe⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this special in-person recording, hosts Alo, Bev, and Ian come together at the stunning Narrm Ngarrgu Library in Melbourne to discuss Separate Rooms by Pier Vittorio Tondelli. Originally published in 1989, this poignant queer novel has been reprinted after more than 30 years and is soon to be adapted into a film by Luca Guadagnino.The episode delves into the book's meditation on grief, memory, and the enduring traces of love. As the protagonist navigates the emotional aftermath of losing his partner, the hosts reflect on the novel’s emotional depth, its timeless relevance, and its significance within queer literary history.Books mentioned in this episode:​The Makioka Sister - Jun'ichiro Tanizaki ​Stag Dance - Torrey Peters​The Hours - Micahel Cunningham ​Medea me cantó un corrido - Dahlia de la Cerda​Reservoir Bitches - Dahlia de la Cerda​The Safe Keep - Yael van der Wouden ​Toward Eternity - Anton Hur​Call me by your name - André Aciman​Marlo - Jay Carmichael​The Emperor of Gladness - Ocean Voung​Consumed - Aja Barber Connect with us via email (⁠booksbabypod@gmail.com⁠) and on Instagram!Books, Baby! – ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@booksbabypod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hosts:Ian – ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@bookish_ian⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bev – ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@booksgonewilde⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Alo – ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@books.swallows.universe⁠⁠⁠Special thanks: To Simone – ⁠⁠⁠@sims_solace- for hanging with us and taking pictures of the behind the scenes of this episode

In the fourth episode of Season 5 of Books, Baby!, Ian, Bev & Alo are joined by returning guest host Simone (⁠⁠@sims_solace) discuss Heart Lamp by Banu Mushtaq, the winner of the 2025 International Booker Prize. This marks the first time a short story collection has taken home the award, and we dive into what makes it so powerful. We explore Mushtaq’s unforgettable characters and how her spoken-style prose builds such disconcerting emotional heights.Books mentioned in this episode:​​Reservoir Bitches - Dahlia de la Cerda​​Under the Eye of the Big Bird - Hiromi Kawakami​​Perfection - Vicenzo Latronico​​Hunchback - Saou Ichikawa​On the Calculation of Volume 1 - Solvej Balle​We do not part - Han Kang​A Tail for the Time Being - Ruth Ozeki​All the Violent Tiaras: Queering the Greek Myths - Jean Manzies​The Hours - Michael Cunningham​Before Night Falls - Reinaldo ArenasConnect with us via email (⁠booksbabypod@gmail.com⁠) and on Instagram!Books, Baby! – ⁠⁠⁠⁠@booksbabypod⁠⁠⁠⁠Hosts:Ian – ⁠⁠⁠⁠@bookish_ian⁠⁠⁠⁠Bev – ⁠⁠⁠⁠@booksgonewilde⁠⁠⁠⁠Alo – ⁠⁠⁠⁠@books.swallows.universe⁠⁠Guest Host:Simone – ⁠⁠⁠@sims_solace

The Books, Baby! is back after a short break. This month Ian, Bev and Alo are getting lost in the simmering tension of Yael van der Wouden’s debut, The Safekeep.Set in the Dutch countryside during the summer of 1961, this twisted tale of desire and obsession follows two women bound by secrets, suspicion, and the haunting legacy of WWII. Join us as we unravel the novel’s slow-burn intimacy, queer undercurrents, and one very unforgettable bathtub scene.CONTENT WARNING: This episode discuses spoilers from the book.Connect with us via email (booksbabypod@gmail.com) and on Instagram!Books, Baby! - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@booksbabypod⁠⁠⁠⁠Hosts: Ian - ⁠⁠⁠@bookish_ian⁠⁠⁠Bev - ⁠⁠⁠@booksgonewilde⁠⁠⁠Alo - ⁠⁠⁠@books.swallows.universe

This month on Books, Baby!, Ian, Bev and Alo are diving into the world of Haruki Murakami, through his novel Kafka on the Shore. We unpack talking cats, Greek mythology influences, classical music, and other themes in Murakami’s storytelling. Along the way, we discuss some of Murakami’s other works, his signature themes, and the cultural impact of his writing.📚 Other Murakami books we mention:Norwegian WoodSouth of the border, west of the sunKilling commendatore The Wind-up bird chronicle📖 Other books that come up in the chat:The burrow by Melanie ChengReservoir Bitches by Dahlia de la CerdaCursed bunny by Bora ChungToward eternity by Anton HurThe Makioka Sisters by Jun’ichiro TanizakiKitchen by Banana Yoshimoto There’s not such thing as an easy job by Kikuko TsukubaTokio Ueno Station by Yu MiriTune in for a deep dive filled with magical realism, metaphysical detours, and just the right amount of existential dread. Don't forget to rate and review!CONTENT WARNING: This episode discuses spoilers from the book.Connect with us via email (booksbabypod@gmail.com) and on Instagram!Books, Baby! - ⁠⁠⁠⁠@booksbabypod⁠⁠⁠Hosts: Ian - ⁠⁠@bookish_ian⁠⁠Bev - ⁠⁠@booksgonewilde⁠⁠Alo - ⁠⁠@books.swallows.universe

Books, Baby! – Season 5 is here!With Kylie Minogue’sTension World Tour kicking off this month in Australia, we couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate the beginning of our new season than by diving intoSpinning Around: The Kylie Playlist! a dazzling anthology celebrating Australia's biggest Pop Icon!Created and edited by Kirsten Krauth and Angela Savage, this collection features an incredible lineup of writers, including Alice Pung, Ellen Van Neerven, Holden Sheppard, Chris Flynn, Carrie Tiffany, Lucy Treloar, Christos Tsiolkas, and more. With essays, poetry, and stories inspired by Kylie’s music, this book is a love letter to the icon who shaped generations.Join Ian, Bev, and Alo as they break down the themes, highlight their favourite pieces, and explore how Kylie’s influence extends beyond music into culture, identity, and storytelling.Listen to the playlist with the songs from the book!

Start your 2025 with a literary bang! In this special year-in-review episode, Ian, Bev, and Alounwrap the books that defined 2024. Released just in time to kick off the new year, we’re diving into the stories that made us laugh, cry, and rethink the world around us. From dazzling debuts to thought-provoking works by queer authors, women, and minorities, the team reflects on their favourite reads, surprise hits, and unforgettable podcast moments. Books Discussed in This Episode: Headshot by Rita Bullwinkel The Season by Helen Garner Stone Yard Devotional by Charlotte Wood Less than zero by Bret Easton Ellis Intermezzo by Sally Rooney Question 7 by Richard Flanagan The work by Bri Lee Mushrooms at the end of the world by Anna Tsing A language of limbs by Dylin Hardcastle Kairos by Jenny Erpenbenk Private rites by Julia Armfield Wrong answers only by Tobias Madden What I'd rather not talk about by Jente Posthuma The In-between by Christos Tsiolkas Liliana's invencible summer by Cristina Rivera Garza Thank you for making 2024 another unforgettable chapter of Books, Baby! And for kicking off the new year with us! Connect with us via email (booksbabypod@gmail.com) and on Instagram! Books, Baby! - ⁠⁠⁠⁠@booksbabypod⁠⁠⁠ Hosts: Ian - ⁠⁠@bookish_ian⁠⁠ Bev - ⁠⁠@booksgonewilde⁠⁠ Alo - ⁠⁠@books.swallows.universe

It's Books, Baby! Booker Prize episode and Bev, Ian and Alo discuss the 2024 winner novel Orbital written by British author Samantha Harvey. CONTENT WARNING: This episode discuses spoilers from the book. Connect with us via email (booksbabypod@gmail.com) and on Instagram! Books, Baby! - ⁠⁠⁠@booksbabypod⁠⁠ Hosts: Ian - ⁠@bookish_ian⁠ Bev - ⁠@booksgonewilde⁠ Alo - ⁠@books.swallows.universe

In this episode of Books, Baby! , Ian, Bev, and Alo dive into the ultimate holiday reading list, sharing their top recommendations for books that make the perfect travel companions. We explore perfect pairings for your next trip, like visiting St. Petersburg after reading Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment, wandering through Tuscany with Portrait of a Lady by Henry James, or discovering Vietnam while immersed in Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai's The Mountain Sing. Whether you’re seeking lighthearted rom-coms or gripping thrillers, we’ve got you covered with recommendations to make your journey unforgettable! Connect with us via email (booksbabypod@gmail.com) and on Instagram! Books, Baby! - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@booksbabypod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Hosts: Ian - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@bookish_ian⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Bev - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@booksgonewilde⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Alo - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@books.swallows.universe⁠⁠

For this episode of Books, Baby! Ian, Bev & Alo are joined by fellow bookstagrame Nell (@nellreadsbooks) to dive into Sally Rooney’s literary phenomenon. They explore the buzz surrounding her work, even daring to draw comparisons between Rooney and Taylor Swift, while discussing her latest novel, Intermezzo. Connect with us via email (booksbabypod@gmail.com) and on Instagram! Books, Baby! - ⁠⁠⁠⁠@booksbabypod⁠⁠⁠⁠ Hosts: Ian - ⁠⁠⁠⁠@bookish_ian⁠⁠⁠⁠ Bev - ⁠⁠⁠⁠@booksgonewilde⁠⁠⁠⁠ Alo - ⁠⁠⁠⁠@books.swallows.universe⁠⁠ Guest Host: Nell - ⁠⁠⁠@nellreadsbooks

In this episode, Ian, Bev, and Alo dive and dissect the novel A Language of Limbs described by Benjamin Law as "an instant queer classic". Connect with us via email (booksbabypod@gmail.com) and on Instagram! Books, Baby! - ⁠⁠⁠⁠@booksbabypod⁠⁠⁠⁠ Hosts: Ian - ⁠⁠⁠⁠@bookish_ian⁠⁠⁠⁠ Bev - ⁠⁠⁠⁠@booksgonewilde⁠⁠⁠⁠ Alo - ⁠⁠⁠⁠@books.swallows.universe⁠

In the second episode of season 3 of Books, Baby! Ian, Bev & Alo are joined by fellow bookstagrame Simone (⁠@booksolace⁠) to discuss Bryan Washington's new novel: 'Family Meal'. Connect with us via email (booksbabypod@gmail.com) and on Instagram! Books, Baby! - ⁠⁠⁠@booksbabypod⁠⁠⁠ Hosts: Ian - ⁠⁠⁠@bookish_ian⁠⁠⁠ Bev - ⁠⁠⁠@booksgonewilde⁠⁠⁠ Alo - ⁠⁠⁠@books.swallows.universe⁠ Guest Host: Simone - ⁠⁠@booksolace

Welcome to season 4 of Books, Baby! Reading the rainbow and the ocasional straight white man. In the first episode of season 4 Ian, Bev & Alo deep discuss Kairos by German author Jenny Erpenbeck, and winner of the International Booker Prize 2024 Connect with us via email (booksbabypod@gmail.com) and on Instagram! Books, Baby! - ⁠⁠@booksbabypod⁠⁠ Hosts: Ian - ⁠⁠@bookish_ian⁠⁠ Bev - ⁠⁠@booksgonewilde⁠⁠ Alo - ⁠⁠@books.swallows.universe

It's the finale of season 3 of Books, Baby! and Ian, Bev & Alo are joined by fellow bookstagramer Sanch (⁠@sanchwrites) to talk about books and their screen adaptations with a special focus on the Netflix series adaptation of Aussie best-seller book 'Boy Swallows Universe" by Trent Dalton. Connect with us via email (booksbabypod@gmail.com) and on Instagram! Books, Baby! - ⁠⁠⁠@booksbabypod⁠⁠⁠ Hosts: Ian - ⁠⁠⁠@bookish_ian⁠⁠⁠ Bev - ⁠⁠⁠@booksgonewilde⁠⁠⁠ Alo - ⁠⁠⁠@books.swallows.universe⁠ Guest Host: Sanch - @sanchwrites⁠

It's Books, Baby! Booker Prize episode and Bev, Ian and Alo discuss the 2023 winner novel Prophet Song written by Irish novelist Paul Lynch. CONTENT WARNING: This episode discuses spoilers from the book. Connect with us via email (booksbabypod@gmail.com) and on Instagram! Books, Baby! - ⁠⁠⁠@booksbabypod⁠⁠ Hosts: Ian - ⁠@bookish_ian⁠ Bev - ⁠@booksgonewilde⁠ Alo - ⁠@books.swallows.universe

As we bid farewell to 2023, Ian, Bev, and Alo come together for a special year-end episode to recap the literary journey of the past year. In this first-ever recorded session in person, we revisit the diverse landscape of books that shaped our 2023. From our page-turning favourites to those that didn't quite meet our expectations, we'll unpack the best, worst, and most surprising reads of the year. Join us as we reflect on the highs and lows of our reading adventures from the past year. For the complete list of our choices, connect with us on Instagram - Books, Baby! - ⁠@booksbabypod ⁠ - where we will be posting the books that we discussed in this episode. Connect with us via email (booksbabypod@gmail.com) and on Instagram! Books, Baby! - ⁠⁠⁠@booksbabypod⁠⁠⁠ Hosts: Ian - ⁠⁠⁠@bookish_ian⁠⁠⁠ Bev - ⁠⁠⁠@booksgonewilde⁠⁠⁠ Alo - ⁠⁠⁠@books.swallows.universe Thank you so much for listening to us during 2023 and we hope you continue listening us in 2024! Wishing you a 'Merry Chapter-mas' and a 'Booktastic New Year' filled with literary delights and captivating reads!"