Read This

For our last episode of 2024, Michael heads back to Fitzroy Pool to find out what people are reading as the weather warms up. Plus, some of our previous guests offer book recommendations for the summer holidays. Reading list: Memoirs of a Dutiful Daughter, Simone de Beauvoir, 1958 The Slap, Christos Tsiolkas, 2008 Ritual, Chloe Elizabeth Wilson, 2025 The Shadow of the Wind, Carlos Ruiz Zafón, 2001 I Could Not Believe It, Sean DeLear, 1979 Unlicensed: Bootlegging as Creative Practice, Ben Schwartz, 2024 Deadly Embrace, Jackie Collins, 2001 Of Love and Other Demons, Gabriel García Márquez, 1993 The Season, Helen Garner, 2024 The Safe Keep, Yael van der Wouden, 2024 All Fours, Miranda July, 2024 Time’s Monster, Priya Satia, 2020 The Lovers, Yumna Kassab, 2022 Deep Water, James Bradley, 2024 The Tribe, Michael Mohammed Ahmad, 2014 Edith Trilogy, Frank Moorhouse, 1992-2011 The Even More Complete Book of Australian Verse, John Clarke, 1994 You can find these books and all the others we mentioned at your favourite independent book store. Socials: Stay in touch with Read This on Instagram and Twitter

Best known for his thought-provoking explorations of sexuality and identity across generations, British author Alan Hollinghurst rose to international stardom after his 2004 novel The Line of Beauty was awarded the Booker Prize. In his seventh novel, Our Evenings, Alan adopts the memoir format, offering a delicate meditation on memory, loss, and the passage of time. On this week’s episode, Michael is joined by Alan on Zoom to discuss his life and career and why this book is as close as Alan will get to writing his own memoir. Reading list: The Swimming Pool Library, Alan Hollinghurst, 1988 The Folding Start, Alan Hollinghurst, 1994 The Line of Beauty, Alan Hollinghurst, 2004 The Sparsholt Affair, Alan Hollinghurst, 2017 Our Evenings, Alan Hollinghurst, 2024 Theory and Practice, Michelle de Kretser, 2024 You can find these books and all the others we mentioned at your favourite independent book store.  Socials: Stay in touch with Read This on Instagram and Twitter Guest: Alan Hollinghurst

John Safran has been a fixture in Australian media since his breakthrough in 1997 with ABC TV's Race Around the World. After several TV series of his own that explored ideas about faith, race and culture, John made the shift to book-length journalism. This week, Michael sits down for a conversation with John about his latest book, Squat, and he reveals the deeper story behind his week living in Kanye West’s Malibu mansion. Reading list: Murder in Mississippi, John Safran, 2013 Depends What You Mean By Extremist, John Safran, 2017 Puff Piece, John Safran, 2021 Squat, John Safran, 2024 Glyph, Ali Smith, 2024 You can find these books and all the others we mentioned at your favourite independent book store.  Socials: Stay in touch with Read This on Instagram and Twitter Guest: John Safran

Historian and author Professor Clare Wright’s award-winning work is about righting the wrongs of Australian history. Across three books she takes a historical artefact and uses it to understand the voices that are too often missing from the historical record: the Eureka flag, the suffragette banner, and now the Bark Petitions. This week, Michael sits down with Clare for a conversation about her new book Naku Dharuk The Bark Petitions. Reading list: The Forgotten Rebels of Eureka, Clare Wright, 2014 You Daughters of Freedom, Clare Wright, 2018 Naku Dharuk The Bark Petitions, Clare Wright, 2024 The Season, Helen Garner, 2024 You can find these books and all the others we mentioned at your favourite independent book store.  Socials: Stay in touch with Read This on Instagram and Twitter Guest: Clare Wright

The Robodebt scheme is considered by many to be one of the Australian government’s worst scandals. Senior Reporter for The Saturday Paper and Walkley Award-winning journalist Rick Morton followed the case closely and he documents the crisis and its devastating effects in his latest book. This week, we bring you Michael’s conversation from Canberra Writers’ Festival with Rick as they discuss Mean Streak. Reading list: Mean Streak, Rick Morton, 2024 One Hundred Years of Dirt, Rick Morton, 2023 My Year Of Living Vulnerably, Rick Morton, 2022 Words to Sing the World Alive, Jasmin McGaughey, 2024 You can find these books and all the others we mentioned at your favourite independent book store.  Socials: Stay in touch with Read This on Instagram and Twitter Guest: Rick Morton

Rachel Kushner always seemed destined to become a writer. At just five years old, her unconventional parents had her working in a feminist bookstore. Now, several decades and three award-winning novels later, she is back with a new book that follows a spy-for-hire who infiltrates a commune of eco-activists in rural France. This week, Michael joins Rachel on Zoom for a conversation about Creation Lake, which was shortlisted for the 2024 Booker Prize. Reading list: Telex from Cuba, Rachel Kushner, 2008 The Flamethrowers, Rachel Kushner, 2013 The Mars Room, Rachel Kushner, 2018 Creation Lake, Rachel Kushner, 2024 Orbital, Samantha Harvey, 2024 You can find these books and all the others we mentioned at your favourite independent book store.  Socials: Stay in touch with Read This on Instagram and Twitter Guest: Rachel Kushner

Santilla Chingaipe was born to tell stories. The Zambian-born filmmaker, historian and author, has spent her career exploring settler colonialism, slavery, and contemporary migration in Australia and she has just released her first book of non-fiction. This week, Michael is joined in studio by Santilla to discuss Black Convicts, which was inspired by the critically acclaimed and award-winning documentary, Our African Roots. In it, she offers a fresh understanding of the ways in which empire, slavery, race and memory have shaped this nation. Reading List: Black Convicts, Santilla Chingaipe, 2024 You can find these books and all the others we mentioned at your favourite independent book store.  Socials: Stay in touch with Read This on Instagram and Twitter Guest: Santilla Chingaipe

It is more or less impossible to imagine Australian literature of the past half century without Tim Winton. From his debut, An Open Swimmer to his epic Cloudstreet, the four-time Miles Franklin Award winner is beloved by generations of readers. This week, Michael sits down with Tim to discuss his latest novel, Juice, a gripping tale of determination, survival, and the limits of the human spirit. Reading list: That Eye, The Sky, Tim Winton, 1986 Lockie Leonard, Tim Winton, 1990–1997 Cloudstreet, Tim Winton, 1991 Dirt Music, Tim Winton, 2001 Breath, Tim Winton, 2008 Juice, Tim Winton, 2024 You can find these books and all the others we mentioned at your favourite independent book store.  Socials: Stay in touch with Read This on Instagram and Twitter Guest: Tim Winton

Musician and writer Nardi Simpson is a Yuwaalaraay woman from freshwater country in north-west New South Wales. Her debut novel was 2020’s critically acclaimed and multi-award-winning Song of the Crocodile. Now she is back with her second novel, which explores creation, belonging, and the precious fragility of a life. This week, Michael sits down with Nardi for a wide ranging conversation about her new book, The Belburd. Reading list: Song of the Crocodile, Nardi Simpson, 2024 The Belburd, Nardi Simpson, 2024 Midnight and Blue, Ian Rankin, 2024 The Ledge, Christian White, 2024 You can find these books and all the others we mentioned at your favourite independent book store.  Socials: Stay in touch with Read This on Instagram and Twitter Guest: Nardi Simpson

In just three books Robbie Arnott has established himself as a writer to trust. Flames (2018), The Rain Heron (2022) and Limberlost (2022) were all rapturously reviewed and garnered a hefty swag of award nominations and wins. This week, Michael sits down with Robbie to discuss his new novel, Dusk, which explores loss and redemption and survival in Tasmania’s high country.  Reading list: Flames, Robbie Arnott, 2018 The Rain Heron, Robbie Arnott, 2020 Limberlost, Robbie Arnott, 2022 Dusk, Robbie Arnott, 2024 Paris In Ruins, Sebastian Smee, 2024 You can find these books and all the others we mentioned at your favourite independent book store.  Socials: Stay in touch with Read This on Instagram and Twitter Guest: Robbie Arnott

There are few people in this country as obsessed with understanding the cultural and social potential of Australian cuisine as New Zealand-born chef Ben Shewry. And there are even fewer who have managed to combine that passion with the highest echelons of success. This week, Michael sits down with Attica’s head chef to discuss his new memoir, Uses for Obsession, and Ben share’s why he wanted to write a kind of antidote to the macho chef culture we’ve all come to expect. Reading List: Uses for Obsession, Ben Shewry, 2024 A Bit on the Side, Virginia Trioli, 2024 You can find these books and all the others we mentioned at your favourite independent book store.  Socials: Stay in touch with Read This on Instagram and Twitter Guest: Ben Shewry

Melanie Cheng began her writing career as an author of short stories. Her first collection, Australia Day, was published in 2017 to much acclaim. Her second novel, The Burrow, follows a Melbourne family forced to confront the tragedy of their shared past. This week, Michael sits down for a conversation with Melanie about family, connection, and the power of narrative medicine. Reading list: Australia Day, Melanie Cheng, 2017 Room for a Stranger, Melanie Cheng, 2019 The Burrow, Melanie Cheng, 2024 Intermezzo, Sally Rooney, 2024 You can find these books and all the others we mentioned at your favourite independent book store.  Socials: Stay in touch with Read This on Instagram and Twitter Guest: Melanie Cheng

Rumaan Alam is the author of four novels. He broke out in 2020 with his New York Times best-selling novel Leave the World Behind. This week Michael sits down with Rumaan for a conversation about his latest novel, Entitlement, and they discuss class, desire, and the influence of Sylvia Plath. Reading list: Rich and Pretty, Rumaan Alam, 2016  That Kind of Mother, Rumaan Alam, 2018 Leave the World Behind, Rumaan Alam, 2020 Entitlement, Rumaan Alam, 2024 Intermezzo, Sally Rooney, 2024 You can find these books and all the others we mentioned at your favourite independent book store.  Socials: Stay in touch with Read This on Instagram and Twitter Guest: Rumaan Alam

Richard Osman wears many hats, from television producer to comedian to podcaster. Now, however, he’s best known as a bestselling author for his series The Thursday Murder Club. Richard’s new series is called We Solve Murders and this week, he sits down with Michael to discuss it and he reveals the piece of advice he gave to Pierce Brosnan. Reading list: The Thursday Murder Club, Richard Osman, 2020 The Man Who Died Twice, Richard Osman, 2021 The Bullet That Missed, Richard Osman, 2022 The Last Devil To Die, Richard Osman, 2023 We Solve Murders, Richard Osman, 2024 Max Perkins: Editor of Genius, Berg, A. Scott,1978 Stone Yard Devotional, Charlotte Wood, 2023 You can find these books and all the others we mentioned at your favourite independent book store.  Socials: Stay in touch with Read This on Instagram and Twitter Guest: Richard Osman

Malcolm Knox began his career as a journalist for the Sydney Morning Herald, back in the 90s. His breakout was in 2004 when, as literary editor, he broke the story of the fake Jordanian memoirist, Norma Khouri for which he won a Walkley Award. Since then he has written more than a dozen books of nonfiction and has been publishing fiction since 2000. The First Friend is his seventh novel. Reading list: The Wonder Lover, Malcolm Knox, 2015 Bluebird, Malcolm Knox, 2020 The First Friend, Malcolm Knox, 2024 The Temperature, Katerina Gibson, 2024 You can find these books and all the others we mentioned at your favourite independent book store.  Socials: Stay in touch with Read This on Instagram and Twitter Guest: Malcolm Knox

Caoilinn Hughes is an Irish poet and writer whose debut novel Orchid And The Wasp was published in 2018 to rave reviews. Her third and latest novel, The Alternatives, might be her best yet, and this week she sits down with Michael to discuss it.  Reading list: Gathering Evidence, Caoilinn Hughes, 2014 Orchid And The Wasp, Caoilinn Hughes, 2018 The Wild Laughter, Caoilinn Hughes, 2020 The Alternatives, Caoilinn Hughes, 2024 Enter Ghost, Isabella Hammad, 2023 Long Island Compromise, Taffy Brodesser-Akner, 2024 You can find these books and all the others we mentioned at your favourite independent book store.  Socials: Stay in touch with Read This on Instagram and Twitter Guest: Caoilinn Hughes

Rodney Hall might be the greatest Australian writer you’ve never heard of. He is a two-time Miles Franklin Award winner and has published dozens of books of fiction, poetry and memoir across his long career. Now 88, Rodney has just released his 14th novel titled Vortex and it might be his best. This week, Michael sits down with Rodney to discuss his new book and why writing is always a collaborative process between author and reader. Reading list: The Ship on the Coin: A Fable of the Bourgeoisie, Rodney Hall, 1972 Just Relations, Rodney Hall, 1982 Kisses of the Enemy, Rodney Hall, 1987 Captivity Captive, Rodney Hall, 1988 The Second Bridegroom, Rodney Hall, 1991 The Grisly Wife, Rodney Hall, 1993 The Island in the Mind, Rodney Hall, 1996 The Day We Had Hitler Home, Rodney Hall, 2000 The Last Love Story, Rodney Hall, 2004 Love Without Hope, Rodney Hall, 2007 Popeye Never Told You, Rodney Hall, 2010 A Stolen Season, Rodney Hall, 2018 Vortex, Rodney Hall, 2024 I Claudius, Robert Graves, 1934 Claudius the God, Robert Graves, 1935 The White Goddess, Robert Graves, 1948 An Experiment in Criticism, C.S. Lewis, 1961 The New Science, Giambattista Vico, 1725 Death at the Sign of the Rook, Kate Atkinson, 2024 You can find these books and all the others we mentioned at your favourite independent book store.  Socials: Stay in touch with Read This on Instagram and Twitter Guest: Rodney Hall

Roxane Gay is a prominent American author, professor, and cultural critic known for her unflinching honesty, quick wit, and razor-sharp intellect. She has gained acclaim for her essays, fiction, and memoirs that explore identity, gender, race, and body image. This week, Roxane joins Michael for a conversation about what it means to be a public intellectual and how this has shifted throughout her career. Reading list: Ayiti, Roxane Gay, 2011 An Untamed State, Roxane Gay, 2014 Bad Feminist, Roxane Gay, 2014 Difficult Women, Roxane Gay, 2017 Hunger: A Memoir of (My) Body, Roxane Gay, 2017 The Banks, Roxane Gay, 2019 Opinions: A Decade of Arguments, Criticism, and Minding Other People's Business, Roxane Gay, 2023 Jazz, Toni Morrison, 1992 The Source of Self-Regard: Essays, Speeches, Meditations, Toni Morrison, 2019 You can find these books and all the others we mentioned at your favourite independent book store.  Roxane Gay appears at Carriageworks in Sydney, as part of the Festival of Dangerous Ideas (24-25 August) and at Melbourne Town Hall (27 August), presented by the Wheeler Centre and Now or Never. For more information head to their websites. Socials: Stay in touch with Read This on Instagram and Twitter Guest: Roxane Gay

Elif Shafak is an award-winning British Turkish novelist whose work has been translated into fifty-five languages. She is a self-described “citizen of the world” and has become a notable public intellectual and human rights activist. Elif's latest novel, There are Rivers in the Sky, stretches across millennia, following a single drop of water. This week, Michael chats with Elif about her new book and why she is not just a storyteller but a silence teller, too. Reading list: The Bastard of Istanbul, Elif Shafak, 2006 The Forty Rules of Love, Elif Shafak, 2009 Honour, Elif Shafak, 2011 10 Minutes 38 Seconds In this Strange World, Elif Shafak, 2019 The Island of Missing Trees, Elif Shafak, 2021 There are Rivers in the Sky, Elif Shafak, 2024 Orlando: A Biography, Virginia Woolf, 1928 When Cops Are Criminals, Veronica Gorrie, 2024 You can find these books and all the others we mentioned at your favourite independent book store.  Socials: Stay in touch with Read This on Instagram and Twitter Guest: Elif Shafak

Eric Beecher is a news man. As a journalist, he’s worked for some of the most well-respected newspapers in the world, including the Sydney Morning Herald and the Wall Street Journal. As his career progressed, Eric climbed the media ladder: he’s currently the head of Private Media, which runs the website, Crikey. This week, Michael sits down with Eric to discuss his new book, The Men Who Killed the News. Reading list: The Men Who Killed the News, Eric Beecher, 2024 Woo Woo, Ella Baxter, 2024 You can find these books and all the others we mentioned at your favourite independent book store.  Socials: Stay in touch with Read This on Instagram and Twitter Guest: Eric Beecher