Books On The Go

Anna and Annie discuss the 2023 Booker Prize Longlist.   Our book of the week is The Late Americans by Brandon Taylor. A novel about friends and lovers set in Iowa City, it is both intimate and explores wider issues in contemporary life and art. Taylor was short-listed for the Booker Prize for Real Life and won the Story Prize for his collection Filthy Animals.  The Late Americans is an instant national bestseller and was a Most Anticipated Book of the year by Vogue, Elle, Oprah Daily, the Washington Post, Buzzfeed and Vulture.   Coming up: Chai Time in Cinnamon Gardens by Shankari Chandran. Follow us! Instagram: @abailliekaras and @mr_annie Email: booksonthegopodcast@gmail.com Facebook: Books On The Go Litsy: @abailliekaras   Credits Artwork: Sascha Wilkosz

Anna and Amanda discuss Elizabeth Gilbert pulling her novel The Snow Forest from publication because of its Russia theme. Our book of the week is This Other Eden by Paul Harding. Based on a true story, an island community of castaways and misfits is disrupted when a well-meaning but racist preacher enters their lives.  It has biblical feels yet resonates today.  Described as 'a harrowing tale of paradise lost' (New York Times) and 'sure to be a stand-out of 2023' (Los Angeles Times), since we recorded this episode it has been long-listed for the Booker Prize. Coming up: The Late Americans by Brandon Taylor. Follow us: Instagram: @abailliekaras and @vibrant_lives_podcast Email: Booksonthegopodcast@gmail.com Facebook: Books On The Go Litsy: @abailliekaras   Credits Artwork: Sascha Wilkosz

Anna and Amanda discuss the Women's Prize winner Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver. Our book of the week is The Escape Artist: The Man Who Broke out of Auschwitz to Warn the World by Jonathan Freedland.  This tells the true story of Rudolf Vrba who escaped from Auschwitz with Fred Wetzler and their attempt to tell Jewish leaders the truth about the Final Solution and prevent more deaths.  A Sunday Times Best-Seller and shortlisted for the 2022 Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction, we could not put this down. Coming up: This Other Eden by Paul Harding. Follow us! Facebook: Books On The Go Instagram: @abailliekaras and @vibrant_lives_podcast Twitter: @abailliekaras Litsy: @abailliekaras   Credits Artwork: Sascha Wilkosz

A special episode:  Anna chats with author Ennis Ćehić about his debut collection of short stories, Sadvertising. Ćehić is based in Melbourne and Sarajevo and writes about displacement, creativity and existentialism. The stories in Sadvertising are set in the advertising world and explore the tension between art and capitalism.  Satirical and very funny, with elements of meta-fiction and the surreal.  "A work of thrilling, audacious verve and wit ... deserves a standing ovation" (Christos Tsiolkas) and "powerful, inventive and self-assured" (Australian Book Review).  We loved this book! Ennis recommends: Hunger by Knut Hamsen translated by George Egerton Authors Rachel Cusk , Deborah Levy and Ottessa Moshfegh The Appointment by Katharina Volckmer The Shakespeare and Company podcast Coming up:  This Other Eden by Paul Harding Follow us: Instagram : @abailliekaras and @enniscehic Facebook: Books On The Go Twitter: @abailliekaras Litsy: @abailliekaras Credits Artwork: Sascha WIlkosz

A special episode: Anna chats with author Christine Keighery about her new novel The Half Brother. Christine Keighery has written over 35 novels for children and young adults (as Chrissie Perry).  The Half Brother is her first novel for adults.  It's a psychological suspense story about a family, secrets and coercive control. Described as "sinister, suspenseful and tightly written, with an ending I didn't see coming" (Vikki Wakefield).  There are no spoilers in this episode so you'll have to read it to see what the twist is! Follow us: Instagram: @ abailliekaras Twitter: @ abailliekaras Litsy: @ abailliekaras Facebook: Books On The Go Email: booksonthegopodcast@gmail.com Christine: chrissieperry.com   Credits Artwork: Sascha Wilkosz 

Anna and Amanda discuss The Great Fire by Shirley Hazzard.  This novel set in Japan and Hong Kong in 1947 explores the colonial era with a forbidden love story at its centre.  Described as "the last masterpiece of a vanished age of civility" (Wall Street Journal) it won the 2003 Miles Franklin Award and the National Book Award for Fiction and was shortlisted for the 2004 Orange Prize. We also recommend Shirley Hazzard: A Writing Life by Brigitta Olubas. Follow us! Facebook: Books On The Go Email: booksonthegopodcast@gmail.com Instagram: @abailliekaras and @vibrant_lives_podcast Twitter: @abailliekaras Litsy: @abailliekaras Credits Artwork: Sascha Wilkosz

A special episode: Anna chats with author Kylie Needham about her debut novel, Girl In A Pink Dress. Girl in a Pink Dress centres on Frances, an artist in her 40s who is invited to her former lover's exhibition opening in Sydney.  A beautiful, spare novel that explores the idea of two artists living together and female rage, against the backdrop of the Australian landscape.  Described as "a quiet triumph" (Heather Rose) and "breathtakingly good" (David Wenham), we loved this book. Kylie recommends: Can A Woman Who Is An Artist Ever Just Be An Artist? by Rachel Cusk The Days of Abandonment by Elena Ferrante The New Yorker The Writer's Voice Podcast The Witch Trials of J. K. Rowling Podcast Coming up: The Great Fire by Shirley Hazzard. Follow us! Instagram: @abailliekaras and @kylieneedhamwriter Facebook: Books On The Go Twitter: @abailliekaras Email: booksonthegopodcast@gmail.com   Credits Artwork: Sascha Wilkosz  

Anna and Annie discuss the Stella Prize shortlist (belatedly!) Our book of the week is The New Life by Tom Crewe.  A brilliant debut novel about two marriages and sexual freedom in 1890s London, it evokes the time and place beautifully but feels modern and resonates today.  It reminded us of Colm Tóibín, with "the spirit of Forster" (Washington Post). Coming up: The Great Fire by Shirley Hazzard. Follow us! Instagram: @abailliekaras and @mr_annie Facebook: Books On The Go Email: booksonthegopodcast@gmail.com Credits Artwork: Sascha Wilkosz  

Anna, Annie and Amanda react to the 2023 Women's Prize Shortlist and give our winner predictions. And Annie has news! The shortlist is: Black Butterflies by Priscilla Morris Pod by Laline Paull Fire Rush by Jacqueline Crooks Trespasses by Louise Kennedy The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O’Farrell Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver Coming up: The New Life by Tom Crewe and The Great Fire by Shirley Hazzard. Follow us! Facebook: Books On The Go Email: booksonthegopodcast@gmail.com Instagram: @abailliekaras , @vibrant_lives_podcast , @mr_annie   Credits Artwork: Sascha Wilkosz

Annie, Anna and Amanda discuss the shortlist for the 2023 Stella Prize and give their winner predictions. The shortlist is: We Come With This Place by Debra Dank  big beautiful female theory by Eloise Grills  The Jaguar by Sarah Holland-Batt  Hydra by Adriane Howell  Indelible City by Louisa Lim  Bad Art Mother by Edwina Preston Coming up: The Great Fire by Shirley Hazzard and our Women's Prize Shortlist episode. Follow us! Instagram: @abailliekaras , @mr_annie and @vibrant_lives_podcast Email: Booksonthegopodcast@gmail.com Facebook: Books On The Go Twitter: @abailliekaras and @mister_annie Credits Artwork: Sascha Wilkosz