Booksmart

In the final episode of Booksmart for the year, Soaliha Iqbal sits down with acclaimed writer Zeynab Gamieldien to unpack her powerful new novel, Learned Behaviours. A gripping literary mystery set between western Sydney and the sharply stratified world of the legal profession, the novel follows Zaid Saban: a young man on the cusp of becoming a barrister, whose carefully curated life is disrupted when the past resurfaces in the form of his former best friend’s diary.As Zaid and Amira, the sister of his childhood friend Hass, attempt to unravel what really happened the year Hass was arrested for murder, Learned Behaviours becomes a deeply moving exploration of guilt, innocence, privilege, belonging and the quiet violences we carry long after we’ve left home.In this chat, Soaliha and Zeynab dive into the novel’s big questions: What does it mean to grow up between worlds? How does class shape the stories we tell about ourselves? And how can crime fiction be a tool for exposing injustice rather than reinforcing stereotypes? They discuss Zeynab’s process for writing place with nuance, the emotional weight of returning to western Sydney on the page, and why this story resonates so profoundly with readers who have walked similar paths.With praise from critics calling the novel “a warm-hearted analysis of human nature,” “compelling and pacy,” and “a clear-eyed exploration of injustice and belonging,” this is a conversation that goes beyond the page: into craft, community, and the inherited narratives that shape who we become. We say this about every ep...but it's one not to be missed!!

In this week’s episode of Booksmart, host Soaliha Iqbal sits down with award-winning author, artist, and screenwriter Dylin Hardcastle - the creative force behind Below Deck, Breathing Underwater, Running Like China, and the critically acclaimed A Language of Limbs, winner of the 2023 Kathleen Mitchell Award and longlisted for the 2025 Stella Prize (casually). Together, they dive deep into the making of A Language of Limbs - a sweeping, dual-perspective novel set across three decades, following two unnamed protagonists whose lives almost touch, collide, and diverge. Dylin shares how the novel’s distinctive structure emerged, why they played with form (from fragmented vignettes to poetic passages and the absence of quotation marks), and the ways their own queer and trans embodiment shaped the book’s language, texture, and emotional core.Soaliha and Dylin also unpack the novel’s central focus: chosen family; the intimacy of sex as character development; the dance between pleasure and pain; and the intergenerational grief, rage, resilience, and joy of queer communities from the 1970s through the AIDS crisis to now. Dylin reflects on the responsibility of writing towards history with tenderness and accuracy, the surprising generational differences in how readers respond to depictions of violence and trauma, and why joy had to sit alongside devastation.They also explore the fascinating evolution of the book’s cover (including the story behind the now-iconic photograph), how A Language of Limbs was optioned for television before publication (!!!), and how the adaptation expands the book's universe. ALSO - be sure to listen to the whole ep as Dylin offers an early glimpse into their next novel! 

In this episode of Booksmart, Soaliha sits down with internationally acclaimed author Mona Awad to dive into the world of her cult classic Bunny and its highly anticipated sequel, We Love You, Bunny, that has just been released (get your copy STAT!)ICYMI: first published in 2019, Bunny became an instant literary sensation -named a Best Book of the Year by TIME, Vogue, and the New York Public Library - and was hailed by the one-and-only Margaret Atwood as “very funny, kind of horrifying and quite far outside the lines.” A darkly satirical blend of gothic fairy tale, campus horror, and metafiction, the novel follows Samantha Mackey, a scholarship student at a prestigious New England MFA program who falls under the thrall of a hyperfeminine clique known as “the Bunnies.” Behind their pastel sweetness lies a nightmarish secret: occult “drafting parties” that blur the lines between art, desire, and monstrosity.Now, six years later, Awad has returned with We Love You, Bunny: a book that is both sequel and prequel, expanding the Bunnyverse to reveal the origin story of the Bunnies and their terrifying creature, Aerius, while following Samantha in the aftermath of her initiation. Longlisted for the Giller Prize and already optioned for screen adaptation (can't wait for the movie!), the novel doubles down on the surreal, self-referential humour and horror that made the OG Bunny novel a phenomenon.This episode is a must-listen - let us know what you think!

In this episode of Booksmart, Randa Abdel-Fattah sits down with Soaliha for a powerful conversation that spans her brand-new novel Discipline, the controversies rocking Australia’s literary scene, and the realities of racism and resistance today across the country and beyond. Together, they unpack Randa’s decision to speak out against the Bendigo Writers Festival - where more than 50 writers and hosts withdrew in solidarity after a restrictive code of conduct was sent just days before the event, that authors said silenced people from speaking out and criticising Israel. Randa and Soaliha also discuss the so-called “March for Australia” rally and what it reveals about race, identity, and public discourse in this country.At the heart of the conversation is Randa’s new book Discipline. Set in Sydney during May 2021, it follows Ashraf, an academic in freefall, and Hannah, a young journalist grappling with racism in the newsroom and the demands of new motherhood. As Israel’s bombardment of Gaza intensifies during Ramadan, both are forced to reckon with their choices, values, and silences. With its sharp focus on academia and the media, Discipline asks what we’re willing to sacrifice in the pursuit of justice.Randa is also an ARC Future Fellow at Macquarie University, a lawyer, and the award-winning author of twelve books for children and young adults, translated into more than thirteen languages. Her writing and research centre Islamophobia, race, Palestine, youth identities and activism, and her work has been recognised by awards including the Stella Prize, the NSW and Victorian Premiers’ Literary Awards, and the Prime Minister’s Literary Award.We hope this Booksmart episode will leave you thinking differently about literature, politics, and the responsibility of those with a platform to speak (and go and grab a copy of the book while you're at it!). 

In this week's episode of Booksmart, Soaliha Iqbal sits down with writer Natalia Figueroa Barroso to talk about her extraordinary debut novel Hailstones Fell without Rain.Of Uruguayan descent with Charrúa, Yoruba and Iberian origins, Natalia was born on Dharug Ngura and raised between her birthland and her homeland. A member of Sweatshop Literacy Movement (who we are huge fans of too!), her essays, poems and short stories have been widely published across Meanjin, Overland, Red Room Poetry, Griffith Review and more.Hailstones Fell without Rain is a semi-autobiographical, multi-generational work of fiction that’s pacy, funny, wise and deeply moving. For fans of Elizabeth Acevedo and Angie Cruz, it’s a novel that explores heritage, family, belonging and identity through sharply drawn, unforgettable characters.Natalia unpacks the intersections of culture, storytelling and self-discovery, and what it means to write a debut that’s both deeply personal and powerfully universal. Now run, don't walk, and grab your copy!

In this week's episode of Booksmart, we’re joined by the wonderful Nicky Gonzalez, the author of one of this year’s most haunting debuts, Mayra - a novel that brims with tension, longing, and the sticky heat of Florida’s swamplands.Set in the sultry, surreal wilds of the Everglades, Nicky’s novel dives deep into the complicated terrain of female friendship. The novel explores the intoxicating bond between Ingrid and Mayra - two childhood best friends reunited for a mysterious weekend away that quickly turns unsettling. As the lines between past and present blur, and the house itself becomes a character, the story becomes a slow-burning psychological reckoning with desire, identity, and the stories we tell ourselves about the people we once were.In the chat with Soaliha, Nicky discusses how growing up in Hialeah shaped her literary voice and approach to writing, how she captures the sensual strangeness of the Florida landscape, and why the nostalgia of girlhood can be both beautiful and dangerous.If you’ve ever been haunted by a friendship that shaped you - or intrigued by the idea of a house that seems to breathe with secrets - you'll get a lot out of this episode.

The Nile brought them life, but the Nile was not their friend.When a little boy drowns in the treacherous currents of the Nile, the search for his body unearths calamity and disaster, and exposes forgotten secrets buried for generations in a small northern Sudanese village.Three women try to make their way through a world that wants to keep them back, separated from each other by time but bound together by the same river that weaves its way through their lives, giving little but taking much more.In this episode of Booksmart, Soaliha Iqbal sits down with leading Sudanese writer, physician, and activist Reem Gaafar to discuss her formidable debut novel, A Mouth Full of Salt.It's no surprise that this book has hit the bestselling charts. The novel weaves a powerful narrative of grief, migration, memory, and womanhood, exploring the psychological toll of political violence, as well as the unique complexities of returning home.Reem discusses Sudan’s 2019 revolution, the challenge of translating collective trauma into fiction, and why platforming women’s stories, especially in moments of rupture, is a political act. This intimate conversation moves between literature and lived experience, touching on motherhood, exile, and the radical power of bearing witness - and it couldn't be more timely. If you’re drawn to literature that sits at the intersection of resistance and remembrance, this one’s for you.

Not to hype this week's book too much....but Soaliha has confirmed that Candice Chung's new memoir Chinese Parents Don't Say I Love You is one of the best books she has read this year. So, PSA: Go and buy this book, stat. Candice is a writer, editor, and a former restaurant reviewer for The Sun-Herald - and is a founding member of Diversity in Food Media Australia, which supports and promotes underrepresented voices in food media. Her new memoir - already receiving rave reviews - is a story about saying the unsayable with food. ICYMI: here's an excerpt from Soaliha's review over on Missing Perspectives:"When her retired Cantonese parents offer to be her new food buddies, she considers what paths lay in front of her: eating together in that familiar though profoundly pregnant silence so many of us children of immigrants know, or forging ahead and addressing what the silence obscures, even denies.You might have noticed from reading this column that I rarely include memoirs, but I was hooked by Candice Chung’s writing three paragraphs into the first page. Earnest and perceptive, she meditates on topics so many of us know shouldn’t be taboo, and yet we struggle to talk about."So, what are you waiting for? Listen to this interview with Candice, then go buy the book (and let us know what you think!).

Meet Anne-Marie Te Whiu (Te Rarawa): a poet, editor and cultural producer - who is making BIG waves in the literary world. It was an honour to have her join us on the podcast this week.ICYMI: Anne-Marie has released Mettle, a remarkable and impressive debut collection of poems that speak to the complexity of family, identity and the proud legacy of Māori language and culture. Her collection of poetry centres on the resilience and fortitude that has rippled through Anne-Marie's family and Māori lineage - despite the challenges and traumas faced in present day, or transmitted generationally.After reading Anne-Marie's work and listening to her incredible conversation with Soaliha, we are certain that the poet will become a household name - and we cannot wait to hear what she has in store. 

Khadija Gbla is an absolute force to be reckoned with - and we've been closely following her work for a long time.If she's not on your radar already - Khadija is a leading human rights activist and writer, amongst many other things. She was born in Sierra Leone, spent her youth in Gambia, and, as a teenager, moved to Australia. She is a leading voice and campaigner on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in Australia. In the new anthology Someone Like Me, Khadija reflects on her autism diagnosis, fighting for the rights of her son, and breaking intergenerational trauma. Edited by Clem Bastow and Jo Case, the collection of stories in Someline Like Me features twenty-five Autistic women and gender-diverse writers who share their personal stories and challenge these stereotypes. This is a deeply moving conversation and it was an honour to have Khadija join us for this chat with Soaliha. 

It goes without saying that due to misrepresentations of Autism in media and popular culture, many Autistic people miss out on seeing themselves, their unique experiences and their triumphs, platformed or seen. In the new anthology Someone Like Me, award-winning author Fiona Wright reflects on her experience of anorexia – with the unique perspective of an autism diagnosis in her mid-thirties, and the knowledge as many as half of all people with anorexia may be autistic.Edited by Clem Bastow and Jo Case, the collection of stories features twenty-five Autistic women and gender-diverse writers who share their personal stories and challenge these stereotypes. This groundbreaking anthology covers a wide range of topics, from relationships and spontaneous dance parties to the natural world, eating disorders, intense passions, and religion. We'll be interviewing another contributor - leading activist Khadija Gbla - so watch this space, and be sure to grab a copy. Just a disclaimer - Fiona's story includes discussion of anorexia, so listen with care. 

Acclaimed wildlife scientist Vanessa Pirotta has been mugged by whales, touched by a baby whale and covered in whale snot (just casually - as you do). Pirotta’s enthusiasm and deep knowledge of whales shine through in her book Humpback Highway as she explores a variety of timely topics – from why whale snot and poo are important for us and the ocean to the life cycle of whales, the challenges humans present to these marine giants, and new technologies - so we can see where they swim, listen to them talk and even spy on them underwater.This week at Missing Perspectives, we're keen to platform leading women in STEM - and we couldn't of a better person to interview. This episode was proudly sponsored by NewSouth Books.

Hello, friends - we're back with a really special episode! Soaliha Iqbal got to sit down with Samah Sabawi to discuss Samah's book Cactus Pear For My Beloved. It's a really moving conversation.Samah shares the story of her parents, and many like them, who were born while their parents were being forced to leave their homelands. Cactus Pear For My Beloved is a narrative memoir of her own family's story from before the Nakba in 1978 until now - and draws on Samah's PhD in post memory within the context of generational trauma and exile.As you can imagine, this book is more timely than ever - and absolutely a must-read.

TW: Discussion of violence against womenWe are only 41 weeks into the year — which means we have surpassed the much-quoted statistic of one woman being killed every week in Australia. By the time this podcast is edited and published, it’s probable that another woman will have been killed by an intimate partner. Around the world, a woman is killed every 11 minutes.It was with this heavy heart that Soaliha Iqbal spoke to Kate Fitz-Gibbon, a Professor at Monash University, who has dedicated her life to researching the causes of (and solutions to) violence against women in Australia.“2024 has been a horrific year on top of horrific decades for women's safety. But this year does feel particularly challenging,” she tells Missing Perspectives.Fitz-Gibbon is an internationally recognised expert in domestic and family violence, femicide, perpetrator interventions, and the impacts of policy and practice reform in Australia and internationally. She is the chair of Respect Victoria, and also a published author. Her most recent book, Our National Crisis: Violence Against Women and Children, highlights the alarming reality of domestic violence in Australia, where we haven’t made nearly as much progress as we should have in the fight against men’s violence.This is a really important and timely episode - have a listen and let us know what you think. 

Introducing a **very** different episode this week, just to shake things up here at Booksmart. Because honestly, why not?This week, Tash sits down with the iconic Dr Jen Gunter for an equally iconic conversation.Dr Gunter is also known as "Tik Tok and Twitter's Resident Gynecologist", having used the platform to debunk myths about women's health, amassing a huge following in the process. The Canadian-American gynecologist, New York Times columnist, author and most important truth teller in women’s health, is passionate about setting the record straight on dubious wellness product claims, misconceptions about basic anatomy and confusion over reproductive rights. Her opinions – that most supplements are a waste of money, underwire bras do not cause cancer, you actually can get an IUD if you’ve never been pregnant, and your vagina should not smell like a pina colada – are shared with her hundreds of thousands of followers.Buckle up, because this is quite the episode - and we guarantee you'll learn some new things along the ride.

We're excited to bring you a really special episode this week. Our Editorial & Partnerships Lead Alicia got to sit down with the wonderful Alyssa Huynh for a chat about her new (debut!) book Safe Space.ICYMI: In 2020, Alyssa began sharing her thoughts on racism and connection to cultural identity through her Instagram account @alyssahuynhwritings and quickly gained a following for her commentary and anti-racism advocacy. You might also know Alyssa from her work with publications like Mamamia, The Latch, Sydney Morning Herald and the Shameless podcast.She's a force to be reckoned and we're so excited to share this episode (and please grab a copy of this book STAT if you haven't already!).

“I had to relearn how to live after nearly dying. It felt like a rite of passage no-one else had ever experienced, a journey there was no map for, and for so long afterwards, I was lost to myself. This book is for anyone who is interested in knowing more about life. And maybe a little about death, too. "Queensland-based writer Carly-Jay Metcalfe was born with cystic fibrosis, survived a double-lung transplant at the age of twenty-one and faced a rare cancer at the age of thirty. What she has endured should have killed her, but her humour, courage and optimism became her best survival skills. From her hospitalised childhood to her many friendships, loves and losses, Carly-Jay shares the fickle nature of life with candour and warmth in her powerful new book Breath.  This episode is a must-listen.

If Dr Mykaela Saunders isn't on your radar, then we are changing that today. Mykaela is a Koori/Goori and Lebanese writer, researcher, editor and teacher. Her incredible speculative fiction collection Always Will Be (casually) won the David Unaipon Award and has taken the literary world by storm. In this new thought-provoking collection, Mykaela poses the question: what might country, community and culture look like in the Tweed if Gooris reasserted their sovereignty? She imagines different scenarios for how the local Goori community might reassert sovereignty - reclaiming country, exerting full self-determination, or incorporating non-Indigenous people into the social fabric - while practising creative, ancestrally approved ways of living with changing climates.Be sure to grab a copy of Always Will Be today.

Shankari Chandran was once told that her stories weren't 'Australian enough.' She later went on to win the prestigious Miles Franklin Award - an annual literary prize awarded to "a novel which is of the highest literary merit and presents Australian life in any of its phases". Here at Missing Perspectives, we are huge fans of Shankari - it's actually  the second time we've hosted her on our podcast (be sure to listen to our episode on her last book, Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens). This week, Shankari joins Hannah to talk about her incredible new book Safe Haven that is making huge waves. Safe Haven is about displacement and seeking refuge—but ultimately it is a story about finding home—and the lengths you’ll go to find safety and love. This is an episode not to be missed - and a really timely one too.

Everyone. We know we say that every episode of Booksmart is special, but this one is PARTICULARLY so (we promise). And it's poetry too, so even better. This week, Hannah Diviney got to sit down with proud Wiradjuri poet Jeanine Leane to discuss her new work of poetry titled Gawimarra: Gathering. We don't want to spoil the collection, or this discussion, but here's the poetry in a nutshell: 'Gawimarra: Gathering' moves from deeply tender meditations on Country, culture and kinship, to experimental archival poems dissecting the violence and destruction of the settler-colony. Jeanine Leane’s poems are richly palpable in texture, imagery and language, layering the personal with the political, along with a sharp-tongued telling of history. Cleverly divided into three parts, ‘Gathering’, ‘Nation’ and ‘Returning’, Gawimarra weaves back and forth in a dedication to strong matriarchs, and the core acts of gathering and returning – memory, language, history – resonate powerfully throughout. This remarkable book is the result of decades of poetic, political, and cultural work and reflection.